Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and IFC Markets, it's important to consider their foundation and trust levels. ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds two Tier-1 licenses, highlighting its recognition in the financial world. In contrast, IFC Markets, founded in 2006, currently does not possess any Tier-1 licenses but does hold a Tier-2 license, showing a moderate level of trust. Neither company is listed on the stock exchange or operates as a bank, which may be considerations for investors looking for additional layers of regulatory assurances.
Evaluating their Trust Scores, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades secures an 81 out of 99, placing it in the "trusted" category. This score suggests that users can have confidence in its services. On the other hand, IFC Markets scores a 73, indicating an average risk. This comparison provides a clearer picture for potential investors seeking assurance and stability in their online trading experiences.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
ActivTrades and IFC Markets both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they differ in how they price trades. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, ActivTrades ranks 29th out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks 40th out of 63. On headline costs, ActivTrades generally comes in lower on major forex pairs than IFC Markets’ standard pricing, though IFC’s ECN option narrows the gap for active traders.
At ActivTrades, spreads are slightly better than the industry average but not the lowest available. The broker lists target spreads that can vary during the trading day, and the average spread for EUR/USD was 0.98 pips in May 2024. ActivTrades offers an Individual Account by default, plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across these account types. There’s no account tailored for high-volume traders and no active trader pricing, and fees will depend on the assets and platform you use.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips—higher than the 1.08-pip industry average—making its standard pricing less competitive than ActivTrades. However, the new ECN account improves effective costs to about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is applied to both sides of the trade. IFC Markets also charges no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can help frequent traders, even though its typical spreads are higher than ActivTrades’ reported averages.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
ActivTrades vs IFC Markets: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs and spot, with 49 currency pairs each. Where they differ is breadth. ActivTrades lists 1,267 tradeable symbols, giving you a wider menu than IFC Markets’ 630. Both brokers also let you trade international exchange‑listed shares (not CFDs), but neither offers access to U.S.-listed shares. Each supports copy trading. For crypto, both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but you can’t buy actual coins through either provider.
For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates ActivTrades at 4 stars and IFC Markets at 3.5 stars. In the same category, ActivTrades ranks 32nd out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets ranks 44th out of 63. If having more instruments in one account matters most, ActivTrades has the edge; if your needs are simpler and you want the same core forex coverage, IFC Markets delivers similar basics.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
ActivTrades and IFC Markets are closely matched for trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Each lets you place trades directly from charts. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both earned 4 stars, with ActivTrades ranked #32 out of 63 brokers and IFC Markets ranked #37.
Details such as the number of built-in technical indicators and the number of watchlist columns weren’t specified. If you’re deciding between the two, consider whether you prefer their proprietary platforms or the familiar MetaTrader suite, and use the free demo accounts to test the web and desktop experiences before trading live.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ActivTrades and IFC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, 30 technical indicators for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines with drawings saved automatically—useful for tracking forex and stock setups on the go. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps, making them solid picks for traders who value capable charting and timely notifications.
The key difference is watchlist syncing: IFC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades ranks #19 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with IFC Markets at #53. If seamless watchlist sync matters most, IFC Markets has the edge. If overall mobile app ranking influences your choice, ActivTrades may be more appealing—though both provide similar charting tools and alert features.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
ActivTrades and IFC Markets both cover the essentials for market research, offering daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. The key difference is news: ActivTrades includes forex headlines from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while IFC Markets does not. Neither broker provides research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
For ratings, ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #41. If integrated premium news is important to you, ActivTrades is the stronger pick; if you only need commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data, IFC Markets still covers the basics.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing ActivTrades vs IFC Markets for beginner forex and CFD education, both brokers deliver plenty of video lessons for new traders and those moving into advanced topics. Each offers at least 10 beginner-focused videos and at least 10 advanced videos, helping you learn the basics and then go deeper into strategies and platform use.
ActivTrades stands out for live learning, hosting client webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not offer regular educational webinars. On scores, ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 stars. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks IFC Markets higher for Education (#30 of 63) than ActivTrades (#38 of 63). Choose ActivTrades if live webinars and a slightly higher star rating matter most; consider IFC Markets if you value its stronger category ranking and on-demand video library.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
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 #33, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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
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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 |
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ActivTrades vs IFC Markets: neither online broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
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.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | |||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | 0.98 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
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