Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Questrade, 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.
ActivTrades vs Questrade: ActivTrades was founded in 2001, while Questrade started in 2000. Neither broker is publicly traded or operates as a bank. If you care about safety and oversight, their regulation and Trust Scores can help guide your choice.
According to ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and one Tier-2 license (trusted), while Questrade holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. ActivTrades earns an 80/99 Trust Score and Questrade scores 85/99—both in the “trusted” 80–89 range. In short, Questrade posts a slightly higher Trust Score, while ActivTrades offers more top-tier regulatory coverage.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades comes out ahead of Questrade for most traders. ActivTrades keeps costs mainly in its spreads, which are slightly better than average overall, and it does not add a separate commission on top for standard trading. On average, its EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024, and pricing can change depending on the asset, the time of day, and market conditions. ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #23 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Questrade takes a different approach by building trading costs into the spread and, for CFDs, adding a $9.95 USD fee per unit, which can make trades much more expensive. While Questrade says spreads can be as low as 0.8 pips, real-world major-pair spreads were closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips in review, and CFD costs can add up quickly once trading fees and overnight charges are included. Questrade is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #35 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, ActivTrades is the lower-cost choice for many forex traders, while Questrade may suit investors who are comfortable with wider spreads and higher CFD-related fees. If keeping trading costs down is a priority, ActivTrades has the better overall fees profile.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.08 | 0.8 or higher |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.92 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
When comparing ActivTrades vs Questrade for range of investments, Questrade has the edge overall, earning 5 out of 5 stars and a higher ForexBrokers.com ranking at #12 out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars and #26. Questrade also offers a larger list of tradeable forex pairs, with 110 versus 49 at ActivTrades, making it a stronger choice for traders focused on currency markets.
That said, ActivTrades offers a wider total selection of tradeable symbols, with 1,267 compared with Questrade’s 675, and it stands out for access to international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, and neither offers U.S.-listed exchange-traded shares as direct stock purchases. For investors looking for more global market access and extra trading features, ActivTrades may appeal more, while Questrade is better for those who want a higher-rated range of investments and more forex pairs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 675 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 110 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No |
| 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 Questrade both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based trading platform. Each broker also lets users trade directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act on price moves without switching screens. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars, with ActivTrades ranked #28 out of 36 brokers and Questrade ranked #30.
Where ActivTrades stands out is in platform variety and extra features. It supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and it also offers copy trading, which Questrade does not. For traders who want access to popular third-party platforms and social-style trading tools, ActivTrades may feel more flexible. Questrade still covers the basics well, but ActivTrades has the edge for traders looking for more platform options and built-in trading features.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 64 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ActivTrades and Questrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves those drawings. In these basic areas, both brokers give traders the tools they need to monitor the market and manage trades on the go.
The main difference comes down to charting and syncing. Questrade offers watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app and online account stay linked, while ActivTrades does not. Questrade also provides more technical studies in its mobile charting tools, with 64 compared with ActivTrades' 30. Even so, ActivTrades has the edge in overall mobile trading app ratings, earning 4 out of 5 stars and a #21 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Questrade's 3.5 stars and #30 rank.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing ActivTrades vs Questrade for market research, ActivTrades comes out ahead for traders who want more day-to-day market coverage. ActivTrades offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with current and upcoming global events. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com research category.
Questrade, on the other hand, offers a different mix of research tools that may appeal to traders looking for third-party analysis. It does not provide daily market commentary, top-tier forex news, sentiment data, or an economic calendar, but it does include Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks market research. Questrade is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #36 out of 36, making ActivTrades the stronger choice overall for market research features.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, ActivTrades comes out ahead of Questrade in several key areas. ActivTrades offers forex and CFD education, monthly online educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner trading videos, plus 10 advanced videos for more experienced users. Questrade also provides education, but it does not match ActivTrades on these beginner-focused learning tools, and it does not offer monthly client webinars. In simple terms, ActivTrades gives new traders more ways to learn the basics and keep building their skills.
That difference shows up in third-party ratings too. ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #32 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #30. Although Questrade places slightly higher in the ranking, ActivTrades appears to offer more educational content that is easier for beginners to use, especially for forex and CFD learning.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 Questrade. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29.
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
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 |
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ActivTrades vs Questrade: ActivTrades offers cryptocurrency CFD trading, whereas Questrade does not, and neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
ActivTrades vs Questrade: for account funding and withdrawals, both brokers do not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal, both support bank wire transfers, only ActivTrades offers Skrill, and 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 | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 675 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.08 | 0.8 or higher | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.92 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 64 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Questrade Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Questrade Review |
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