Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
Founded in 1996, OANDA stands out for its trustworthiness in the online brokerage world. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, OANDA achieves a high level of confidence with a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. A key factor contributing to this top rating is its possession of seven Tier-1 licenses, which signals a strong reputation for reliability in the industry.
On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a trusted broker but not reaching the same heights as OANDA. While it is also neither publicly traded nor a banking institution, ActivTrades backs its credibility with two Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license. This structure provides a sturdy base for reliability, although it does not match the extensive regulatory oversights that OANDA boasts.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fee structures of online brokers OANDA and ActivTrades, both brokers hold a four-star rating for commissions and fees, reflecting their competitive yet distinct offerings. OANDA ranks #34 out of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades ranks slightly higher at #28. OANDA’s forex trading expenses are relatively high due to its effective spreads, which are notably wider than those of leading brokers. However, OANDA offers automated execution across its accounts, which can be advantageous for some traders. Its core pricing structure, requiring a $10,000 minimum deposit, is designed to offer lower spreads—around 0.4 pips on the EUR/USD pair—paired with a $5 per-side commission per $100,000 worth of currency traded. This results in a total cost slightly under its default pricing structure.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers marginally better spreads than the overall industry average though not as competitive as the top low-cost forex brokers. With a primary account called the "Individual Account," along with Professional and Islamic account options, ActivTrades doesn't cater to high-volume traders specifically, nor does it provide active trader pricing. Spreads are generally consistent across its account types, with the EUR/USD pair averaging at 0.98 pips in May 2024. Conversely, OANDA also provides enhanced pricing transparency by publishing trailing average spreads, though it doesn't offer fixed-period average spread data, which can complicate precise comparisons.
Both OANDA and ActivTrades feature unique aspects; OANDA’s flexibility stands out with its ability to trade in much smaller lots than typical micro lots, extending down to 1 unit. Additionally, its Elite Trader program offers rebates and TradingView subscription perks for high-volume traders. Meanwhile, ActivTrades caters to its diverse clientele with Islamic Account options and a demo account for practice. Ultimately, your choice might hinge on specific trading requirements and the importance of automated execution versus slightly tighter spreads.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
OANDA vs ActivTrades: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, but OANDA covers more markets overall. OANDA lists 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 pairs. OANDA also lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks on both U.S. and international exchanges, while ActivTrades offers exchange-traded shares on international markets only (no U.S. shares).
Both brokers support copy trading and let you trade crypto via derivatives; only OANDA also allows buying actual cryptocurrency. For Range of Investments, each earns 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com, with OANDA ranked 27th of 63 brokers and ActivTrades ranked 31st. If you want the widest symbol count, access to U.S. shares, and the option to buy real crypto, OANDA has the edge; if you mainly need forex and international shares, ActivTrades covers the essentials.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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.
OANDA and ActivTrades both cater to traders with a wide range of features available on their trading platforms. Offering simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, they allow users to practice before trading with real money. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms, giving traders a unique experience tailored to their needs. Additionally, they offer popular third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Traders can access these platforms through Windows desktop downloads or web-based options, making it convenient to manage trades from a variety of devices. Copy trading is also available with both brokers, although neither supports platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
While OANDA and ActivTrades display a strong offering in trading tools, some differences are notable. OANDA is equipped with 74 drawing tools for charting, enabling more detailed technical analysis compared to ActivTrades, which offers 15. On the other hand, ActivTrades presents more watch list customization with 11 columns, over OANDA's 6. Both brokers allow users to trade directly from stock charts, providing streamlined trading processes. Rated equally at 4 out of 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools, OANDA ranks higher at #15 compared to ActivTrades at #31 in ForexBrokers.com's analysis of 63 brokers. These rankings reflect a slight edge in offering and execution, offering traders insights into which platform may better suit their trading style.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of OANDA and ActivTrades, both brokers offer a compatible app for iPhone and Android users. They each provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and view multiple time frames on charts. Users can create watchlists with real-time quotes on both platforms, although neither broker supports syncing changes made on mobile apps with their online accounts. Additionally, both apps allow access to 30 technical studies for chart analysis and auto-save chart drawings efficiently.
However, there are notable differences. OANDA’s mobile app stands out with its prestigious five-star rating and top-ten ranking, at number seven, among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ActivTrades receives four stars and is ranked 19th. This suggests that while both apps are feature-rich, OANDA users might enjoy a slightly more refined or user-friendly mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| 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 OANDA and ActivTrades for market research, both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers also offer sentiment-based trading tools and maintain an economic calendar to keep users informed about global events. However, OANDA stands out by offering technical analysis tools from Autochartist, whereas ActivTrades does not. Neither broker integrates research tools from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
OANDA outshines ActivTrades in ratings and rankings, receiving 5 stars for research and securing the fifth spot among 63 brokers in the Research category according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ActivTrades is given 4 stars and ranks 30th. These differences make OANDA a more robust choice for those placing a high value on research options.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA and ActivTrades both provide beginner-friendly education for forex and CFD trading. Each offers at least 10 learning pieces—such as articles, videos, and archived webinars—and hosts monthly client webinars. You can search their webinar archives to find topics that suit your needs. Both brokers also supply 10+ beginner videos to cover the basics, along with 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up.
The key difference is that OANDA includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, which can help newcomers grasp market language; ActivTrades does not. Reflecting the overall learning experience, ForexBrokers.com rates OANDA 5 stars for Education and ActivTrades 4 stars, with rankings of #19 and #38 out of 63 brokers, respectively. If you want a glossary and higher-rated learning path, OANDA has the edge; if your focus is webinars and videos, both are strong options.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than ActivTrades. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #12, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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When comparing online brokers, OANDA allows users to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas ActivTrades only offers the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives and not actual delivered cryptocurrency.
In comparing online brokers OANDA and ActivTrades, OANDA supports a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options including ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal, which ActivTrades does not offer, while both brokers provide options for Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | 93 | 81 | |
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| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
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