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.
Founded in 2001, ActivTrades is an online broker known for holding two Tier-1 licenses, making it a highly trusted option in the industry according to ForexBrokers.com. With a Trust Score of 81, it is considered a trusted platform, although it is not publicly traded nor a banking institution. ActivTrades also holds one Tier-2 license, further enhancing its credibility among traders.
Established in 2006, IFC Markets also provides online brokerage services but holds no Tier-1 licenses, aligning it with brokers of average risk. According to ForexBrokers.com, its Trust Score is 73, falling within the average risk category. Like ActivTrades, IFC Markets is neither publicly traded nor a bank, and it holds one Tier-2 license, offering some level of trust to its customers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | ||
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, ActivTrades offers a slightly more competitive edge than usual industry rates, though it doesn’t reach the level of the most affordable forex brokers. The brokerage provides several account options, including an Individual Account, Professional Account, and Islamic Account, catering to a variety of trading needs. However, there's no specific account for high-volume traders nor any special pricing for active traders. Typical spreads are disclosed, but they can fluctuate during trading sessions and especially during rollover periods. For the EUR/USD currency pair, the average spread in May 2024 was 0.98 pips. ActivTrades has been rated 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #28 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for commissions and fees.
IFC Markets, on the other hand, has an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44, which is higher than the industry average of 1.08, making it somewhat less competitive in comparison. However, its new ECN account offers improved spreads of 1.1 pips, though this includes a 0.005% commission on each side of a trade. Additionally, IFC Markets does not charge inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which could provide some cost savings for long-term users. Boasting the same 4-star rating as ActivTrades but ranked #39, IFC Markets shows that while there are financial benefits to their fee structure, they fall a bit behind in direct comparison.
Both brokers have their strengths and drawbacks when it comes to commissions and fees. ActivTrades may appeal more to traders looking for competitive standard spreads and a variety of account choices, while IFC Markets could be more attractive to active traders who benefit from lower effective spreads and no inactivity fees. Each has earned a 4-star rating for their fee structures, but ActivTrades ranks higher overall, suggesting a slight advantage in broader cost-effectiveness.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | ||
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment offerings of ActivTrades and IFC Markets, both online brokers allow traders access to Forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. ActivTrades provides a wider selection with 1267 tradable symbols compared to IFC Markets’ 630. Both brokers offer an equal range of 49 tradable Forex pairs, making them competitive in this category. While neither broker provides the option to trade U.S. exchange-traded securities like Apple shares, both grant access to international exchanges, allowing clients to invest in companies like Vodafone. Additionally, copy trading is a feature available on both platforms, facilitating strategy sharing and mirroring among traders.
In terms of cryptocurrency, neither broker offers the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, though they do provide cryptocurrency derivatives for trading. ActivTrades takes the lead with a four-star rating for its range of investment options, surpassing IFC Markets' 3.5-star rating. This distinction is further reflected in ActivTrades' higher ranking of 31 out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, compared to IFC Markets' position at 43. Overall, ActivTrades offers a broader spectrum of investment opportunities, slightly edging out IFC Markets in terms of both variety and investor recognition.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | ||
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of ActivTrades and IFC Markets, both brokers provide an array of features catering to different trading needs. They each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is perfect for beginners or those looking to test strategies without financial risk. Both companies offer proprietary platforms, Windows-based desktop software, and convenient web-based trading platforms. Whether you’re a fan of MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), you’ll find support for these popular platforms on both brokers. Enthusiasts of copy trading will be pleased to know that both ActivTrades and IFC Markets provide this service, enhancing community-driven investment strategies.
For traders keen on technical analysis, both platforms support trading directly from stock charts and offer the same number of drawing tools, totaling 15. However, if you value detailed watch lists, ActivTrades may have the upper hand, offering 11 columns compared to IFC Markets’ 7. When it comes to overall rating in Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers score a commendable four stars. However, in the ranking by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades is positioned slightly higher at #30 out of 63 brokers, compared to IFC Markets at #36. This slight edge could make a difference for traders who are comparing these platforms' handling of data and user interaction.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | ||
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When choosing between ActivTrades and IFC Markets for mobile trading, both brokers offer user-friendly apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They include popular features such as price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and multiple time frame views for both stock and forex charts. Users can also enjoy real-time quotes and the ability to create watchlists which sync seamlessly between the mobile app and their online account, though this syncing feature is exclusive to IFC Markets. Both platforms support up to 30 technical studies, providing users with comprehensive tools for analysis.
Despite both apps receiving a solid four-star rating, ActivTrades holds a competitive advantage in the market with a rank of 19 out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, compared to IFC Markets, which is ranked at 52. Traders seeking a slightly higher-rated app experience with synchronization of watchlists might prefer ActivTrades; however, both options are equipped to meet the trading needs of users on the go.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of ActivTrades and IFC Markets, both online brokers provide daily market commentary and access to economic calendars, making them useful for staying informed on current and upcoming global events. Investors will find that ActivTrades stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, providing a strong advantage for those who rely on high-quality information. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools, which reveal the ratios of long or short positions across various instruments, aiding traders in making informed decisions. However, neither ActivTrades nor IFC Markets currently provide research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
In terms of research ratings, ActivTrades takes a slight lead with a four-star rating compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. This difference adds up in their respective rankings, where ActivTrades is positioned at #30 and IFC Markets at #40 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. These ratings suggest that while both brokers offer valuable insights, ActivTrades may provide a slightly more comprehensive research experience to enhance trading strategies and decision-making.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | ||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | ||
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
ActivTrades and IFC Markets both provide a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex and CFDs through a variety of educational resources. ActivTrades stands out by offering a range of webinars, conducting at least one online educational session per month, and maintaining an easily accessible archive for later viewing. This provides added flexibility for those who wish to learn at their own pace. ActivTrades also specializes in creating beginner-focused videos, with over ten available, while also catering to experienced traders seeking advanced learning, reflected in their four-star rating for educational offerings.
IFC Markets, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive educational experience with an investor dictionary that defines over 50 investing terms, which can be particularly beneficial for those needing clarification on complex topics. IFC Markets also presents a collection of over ten educational videos specifically aimed at beginners and advanced traders alike. Although it does not host regular live webinars or provide an archive of them, IFC Markets is highly regarded, with a 3.5-star rating for its educational resources and a higher ranking of #30 in comparison to ActivTrades' #38. Both platforms offer ample learning opportunities, yet they cater to slightly different needs and preferences of traders starting out in the market.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 |
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Both ActivTrades and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives instead.
When comparing online brokers ActivTrades and IFC Markets in terms of deposit and withdrawal options, ActivTrades does not offer ACH or SEPA transfers, while IFC Markets also lacks these options; neither broker supports PayPal transactions, but both ActivTrades and IFC Markets allow deposits and withdrawals via Visa or Mastercard and bank wires, with ActivTrades also offering Skrill.
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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| Trust Score | 81 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | IFC Markets | |
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