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ActivTrades vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs IFC Markets, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

ActivTrades
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 80
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1267
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Regulation

ActivTrades (founded 2001) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are both privately held and not banks. On ForexBrokers.com’s 0–99 Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted; 80–89 trusted; 70–79 average risk; 60–69 high risk; below 59 not trusted), ActivTrades scores 80, placing it in the “trusted” range, while IFC Markets scores 73, which the site classifies as “average risk.”

In terms of oversight, ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses (the highest level, viewed as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and one Tier-2 license (trusted), compared with IFC Markets’ one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. In plain terms, ActivTrades has a broader mix of top-tier and mid-tier regulatory approvals than IFC Markets.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2001 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5

Fees

Comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades generally offers slightly tighter pricing than the industry average, while IFC Markets is costlier on its standard account but can sharpen prices for active traders with its ECN option. ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 of 63 for Commissions and Fees on ForexBrokers.com; IFC Markets also scores 4 out of 5 stars, ranking #32 of 63.

At ActivTrades, pricing centers on a single Individual Account (with Professional and Islamic alternatives). Spreads are identical across account types; the Professional label mainly changes margin requirements, not pricing. There’s no dedicated high-volume plan or active-trader pricing. Costs vary by asset and platform, and spreads can widen during rollover. As a guide, the average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024—slightly better than the 1.08-pip industry average, though not the very lowest available.

IFC Markets lists an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips on its standard offering, which is higher than the 1.08-pip industry average. Its ECN account can be more competitive for frequent traders, with an effective EUR/USD cost near 1.1 pips after including the 0.005% commission charged on both sides of each trade. IFC Markets also has no inactivity fees and provides active-trader discounts, which can further reduce total trading costs.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.08 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.92 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

ActivTrades offers a wider range of investments with 1,267 tradeable symbols compared with 630 at IFC Markets. Both brokers support 49 forex pairs and let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. Direct ownership of U.S.-listed shares isn’t available at either broker, but both provide access to exchange-traded shares on international markets. Each broker supports copy trading. Neither offers purchasing actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs.

For Range of Investments, ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks 25th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 31st. If you want a larger selection of instruments, ActivTrades has the edge, though IFC Markets still covers the main asset types many traders look for.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1267 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 49 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes Yes
Disclaimers Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients).

Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.

Trading platforms and tools

ActivTrades and IFC Markets are closely matched for trading platforms and tools. Both offer a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both provide Windows desktop downloads and web-based platforms. Each also supports copy trading and lets you place trades directly from price charts, making it easy to move from analysis to execution.

On performance measures, both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s 63-broker lineup, ActivTrades is ranked #26, while IFC Markets is #29. If a slightly higher ranking matters to you, ActivTrades gets the edge; otherwise, the feature sets are very similar, so your choice may come down to personal preference and platform feel.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

ActivTrades and IFC Markets both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, 30 technical indicators for charting, trendline drawing, and auto‑saving of chart drawings. In terms of user feedback, both brokers hold a 4‑star rating for their mobile trading apps.

The standout difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs watchlists across mobile and web, while ActivTrades does not. For overall placement in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, ActivTrades ranks #21 out of 63 brokers, ahead of IFC Markets at #34. Choose IFC Markets if synced watchlists matter most, or ActivTrades if a higher category ranking is your priority.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing ActivTrades vs IFC Markets for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar for global events, and sentiment tools that show the share of long vs short positions. Neither offers research add-ons from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The key difference is news: ActivTrades streams forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not.

On overall research quality, ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. If premium real-time news matters to your trading, ActivTrades has the edge; if you mainly need commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data, either broker can work.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

For beginners comparing ActivTrades vs IFC Markets on education, both brokers deliver plenty of learning content. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos on trading topics, giving new traders a clear path from basics to more complex ideas. ActivTrades stands out with ongoing live webinars (at least one per month), which can help beginners ask questions and learn in real time. IFC Markets does not run monthly educational webinars, so its strength leans more toward on-demand videos rather than live lessons.

In terms of recognition, ActivTrades earns 4 stars for Education, while IFC Markets earns 3.5 stars. However, in the Education category ranked by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers, IFC Markets sits at #25 and ActivTrades at #30. If you value live, scheduled learning, ActivTrades has an edge with its regular webinars; if you prefer self-paced video study, IFC Markets offers a solid catalog for getting started with forex and CFD education.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than IFC Markets. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

ActivTrades is a long-standing brand that offers a proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, and support for the award-winning TradingView and MetaTrader (MT4 and MT5) platforms. ActivTrades also delivers a selection of custom add-ons, indicators, and trading tools for traders who prefer to use MetaTrader. Drawbacks for trading with ActivTrades include a smaller selection of tradeable symbols and fewer educational resources than what’s available from the best forex brokers.

Feature ActivTrades logoActivTrades
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 80 73
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with ActivTrades or IFC Markets?

ActivTrades vs IFC Markets: neither online broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

ActivTrades vs IFC Markets: for deposit and withdrawal methods, neither broker supports ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both allow bank wire transfers, ActivTrades offers Skrill while IFC Markets does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified.

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Overall Rating ActivTrades IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 80 73
Winner check_circle
Review ActivTrades Review
Broker Screenshots ActivTrades IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
ActivTrades ActivTrader mobile app watchlist light mode. ActivTrader platform web. ActivTrader research weekly outlook articles. ActivTrades educational articles macro analysis.
Regulation ActivTrades IFC Markets
Trust Score info 80 73
Year Founded info 2001 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info
Tier-1 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) ActivTrades IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) ActivTrades IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info No Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No
Investments ActivTrades IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1267 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 49 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info No No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes Yes
Disclaimers Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients).
Cost ActivTrades IFC Markets
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.08 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.92 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding ActivTrades IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info $0 $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms ActivTrades IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools ActivTrades IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading ActivTrades IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info No Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info Yes Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research ActivTrades IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info No No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education ActivTrades IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs ActivTrades IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review ActivTrades Review
Overall ActivTrades IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 80 73
Winner check_circle
Review ActivTrades Review
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