Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 and ActivTrades are well-known online brokers with different profiles. Plus500, founded in 2008, is publicly traded, while ActivTrades, founded in 2001, is privately held. Neither company is a bank.
Safety and regulation: ForexBrokers.com gives Plus500 a Trust Score of 99 (90–99 = highly trusted) and ActivTrades a Trust Score of 80 (80–89 = trusted). Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 (top-tier) licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses. Based on these independent ratings, Plus500 carries the higher trust designation, though both are regulated across multiple regions.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades comes out slightly ahead of Plus500 overall. Plus500’s pricing is a little above the industry average, with no retail discounts and no active trader pricing, though some eligible Professional clients may receive cash rebates. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than average. Plus500 earns a 4.0-star rating and is ranked #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
ActivTrades also sits near the middle of the pack, but its spreads are a bit better than the industry average. It does not offer a special pricing tier for high-volume traders, and spreads are the same across account types, including Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts. For EUR/USD, ActivTrades reported an average spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is lower than Plus500’s. ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #23 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
For everyday traders, the main difference is that ActivTrades generally offers tighter spreads, while Plus500 is a bit more expensive on core forex pricing. Both brokers are fairly comparable in this category, but ActivTrades has the edge if keeping trading costs down is your top priority.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 offers more choice than ActivTrades. Plus500 lists 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual delivered crypto. Plus500 also stands out for share dealing, with access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while ActivTrades offers international shares only.
ActivTrades does have one area where it edges ahead: copy trading, which Plus500 does not offer. Still, for investors looking for the wider selection overall, Plus500 comes out stronger in this category. That is reflected in ForexBrokers.com’s ratings too, with Plus500 scoring 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranking #16 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 and ranks #26.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and ActivTrades both give traders a free demo account and a web-based platform, and each also offers its own in-house platform. For beginners who want to practice first, that makes both brokers easy to try without risking real money. Plus500’s platform is simpler in scope, with no Windows desktop download, no copy trading, and no support for MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5. ActivTrades offers more platform choice, including a Windows desktop app, copy trading, and access to both MT4 and MT5.
When it comes to trading tools, ActivTrades has the edge for active traders because it lets users trade directly from charts, while Plus500 does not. That wider toolkit helps explain why ActivTrades is a stronger pick for platform features overall, even though Plus500 is rated slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at 4.5 out of 5 stars compared with ActivTrades’ 4 stars. In the same category, Plus500 is ranked #14 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades sits at #28.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and ActivTrades both give traders easy access to mobile trading on iPhone and Android, and both apps include price alerts plus the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Where Plus500 stands out is charting depth and convenience: its mobile app offers 115 technical studies, compared with 30 for ActivTrades, and it also syncs watchlists between the app and online account so updates carry across devices. Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades still offers a solid mobile trading experience, especially for traders who value simple chart use and saved work. Its app also supports iPhone and Android, price alerts, and trendline drawing, and it does automatically save chart drawings, which Plus500 does not. However, ActivTrades does not sync watchlists between mobile and web, and its mobile app is rated 4 out of 5 stars with a ranking of #21 out of 36, placing it behind Plus500 overall for mobile trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research features such as daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. The two brokers also go in different directions when it comes to outside research sources: ActivTrades includes forex news from top-tier providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, Plus500 offers Trading Central tools, which ActivTrades does not, while neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Looking at overall research quality, Plus500 comes out ahead with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 rank out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars and #28. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but Plus500 has the edge for built-in research tools, while ActivTrades stands out more for its access to major news sources.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning tools, both Plus500 and ActivTrades give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex or CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 videos for beginners as well as 10 more for advanced traders. That means either platform can help a newcomer get started and continue learning as their skills grow.
Even so, Plus500 comes out ahead for education overall. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. In simple terms, both brokers cover the basics well, but Plus500 is the stronger pick if education is a major factor in your decision.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than ActivTrades. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the Plus500 vs ActivTrades comparison, neither broker offers actual (delivered) cryptocurrency purchases, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Comparing online brokers Plus500 and ActivTrades for deposit and withdrawal methods: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers; Plus500 accepts PayPal while ActivTrades does not; both support Skrill and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | ActivTrades Review |
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