Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs ActivTrades, 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 it comes to the Trust Score ratings from ForexBrokers.com, IG and ActivTrades differ in their levels of assurance. IG, founded in 1974, boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, making it highly trusted. It stands out as a publicly traded company and operates as a bank, offering a solid reputation in the financial market. Moreover, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses, indicating its high level of trustworthiness, along with 2 Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its credibility.
By comparison, ActivTrades, which began operations in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81, placing it in the trusted category. Although it is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank, the broker manages to maintain an authoritative presence in the market. ActivTrades is backed by 2 Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a commendable level of trust, and 1 Tier-2 license, further substantiating its reliability.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IG generally comes out cheaper for active forex traders, while ActivTrades is competitive but lacks volume-based discounts. IG is rated 5/5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Commissions & Fees, whereas ActivTrades is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #29 out of 63.
IG offers both spread-only CFD pricing and a commission-based DMA option (Forex Direct) with the L2 Dealer platform. Typical CFD spreads on EUR/USD were about 0.69 pips during main trading hours in July 2023, averaging 0.98 pips across the full day (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Its Forex Direct account averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023; after commission, the all-in cost was around 0.82 pips at lower tiers, and can fall with higher volumes thanks to tiered commissions (from $60 per million down to $10 per million per side for very large traders). IG also offers spread rebates on CFD accounts for eligible professionals: 10% off above £50 million in monthly forex volume and up to 20% off above £300 million, which can push effective costs close to 0.60 pips. As with most brokers, spreads can widen during quieter hours.
ActivTrades uses one main account (plus Professional and Islamic options) with no separate pricing for high-volume traders and no active-trader discounts. Fees depend on the asset and platform, and spreads can vary during the session and around rollover. For reference, ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024—slightly better than industry averages but not among the very lowest-cost offerings.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs ActivTrades: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. IG offers a far larger catalogue with 19,537 tradeable instruments and 97 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 instruments and 49 pairs. Both support cryptocurrency trading via CFDs, and IG also lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
For exchange-traded shares, IG supports direct share dealing on both U.S. exchanges (such as NASDAQ: AAPL) and international markets, while ActivTrades offers international shares but not U.S.-listed shares. ActivTrades includes copy trading; IG does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, IG scores 5 stars and ranks #4 of 63 brokers, whereas ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #32—underscoring IG’s broader market access.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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.
IG and ActivTrades both check key boxes for platform access and practice trading: each offers a free demo account, an in‑house platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web platform. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and let you place trades directly from price charts. The main differences are that ActivTrades adds copy trading and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IG does not offer those two features.
For platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #32. Choose IG if you want a highly polished, in‑house platform experience across web and desktop. Choose ActivTrades if MT5 and copy trading are priorities alongside MT4.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and ActivTrades each offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saved chart annotations. IG packs 33 technical studies in its app versus 30 with ActivTrades. A key difference is watchlists: IG syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not, which can matter if you move between devices during the day.
Independent ratings also set them apart. IG’s mobile apps earn 5 stars and rank #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #19. If seamless watchlist syncing and a few extra built-in indicators are priorities, IG has the edge; if you want solid core features across iPhone and Android, ActivTrades still delivers.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and ActivTrades both keep traders informed with daily market commentary, an economic calendar covering global events, and a sentiment tool that shows the share of long vs. short positions. Each also streams forex news from leading outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, helping you track headlines that can move prices.
Where they differ is in extra research features. IG adds Autochartist pattern scanning, TipRanks analyst insights, and Acuity Trading tools like Signal Centre, while ActivTrades does not include these add-ons. Neither broker offers Trading Central. This gap shows in the scores: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #31. If you want more third-party tools and ideas in one place, IG is the stronger pick; if you only need the essentials, ActivTrades covers the basics.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and ActivTrades both provide forex and CFD education for beginners, with at least 10 pieces of learning content such as articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker also runs ongoing client webinars at least once a month. For structured learning, both offer 10+ beginner videos to help you get started and 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper.
Where they differ is in overall quality and recognition. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, signaling a top-tier experience for new traders. ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #38, making it a decent choice if you want helpful videos and regular webinars, but IG is the stronger pick for a fuller, beginner-friendly education path.
| Feature |
IG
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 IG is better than ActivTrades. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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IG allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas ActivTrades does not support buying actual (delivered) crypto and only offers cryptocurrency CFDs.
IG vs ActivTrades: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not Skrill, while ActivTrades offers Skrill and bank wires but lacks ACH/SEPA and PayPal.
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 | IG | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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 | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | IG | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | ActivTrades Review |
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