Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Online broker Swissquote, founded in 1996, is a publicly traded company and a bank. ActivTrades, founded in 2001, is privately held and not a bank.
In terms of regulation, ForexBrokers.com data shows Swissquote holds 5 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses and has a Trust Score of 99, placing it in the highly trusted 90–99 range. ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses with a Trust Score of 80, which falls into the trusted 80–89 range.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades comes out ahead of Swissquote for most everyday forex traders. ActivTrades earns a 4-star rating and ranks #23 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees, while Swissquote holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #37 out of 36. In simple terms, ActivTrades is generally the lower-cost choice, with average EUR/USD spreads reported at 0.98 pips in May 2024, while Swissquote’s pricing is usually higher and varies more by region and account type.
Swissquote’s fees depend on whether you open an account through its U.K., Luxembourg, or Swiss branch. Its U.K. accounts tend to be the cheapest of the three, with the commission-based Elite account charging $5 per round-turn trade plus tighter spreads for traders who deposit at least $10,000. Even so, Swissquote’s Standard and Prime accounts still show wider spreads, such as 1.3 pips on EUR/USD for Standard and 0.6 pips minimum for Prime. In Luxembourg, spreads range from about 0.8 to 1.5 pips, while the Swiss branch starts around 1.7 pips on EUR/USD for its Standard account.
ActivTrades is simpler to understand because it offers one main Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic Account options, with no special pricing for high-volume traders. Its spreads are usually a bit better than the market average, though they can change during busy trading times. For traders focused on keeping costs low, ActivTrades is the stronger pick overall, while Swissquote may appeal more to clients who value the brand and banking connection, even if that means paying a bit more.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | N/A | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 comparing Swissquote and ActivTrades for range of investments, Swissquote comes out ahead overall. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, plus copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. However, Swissquote gives traders access to more than just derivatives: it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, along with the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency. ActivTrades also supports international exchange traded securities, but it does not offer U.S.-listed shares or delivered crypto.
In terms of choice, ActivTrades lists more tradeable symbols overall, with 1,267 compared with Swissquote’s 472, but Swissquote offers more forex pairs, with 80 versus 49. That wider mix of markets helps explain why Swissquote is rated 5 stars for range of investments and ranked #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and ranks #26. For investors looking for a broader spread of asset types, Swissquote has the stronger offering.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both give traders a wide choice of platform options, including free demo accounts, a proprietary trading platform, web-based access, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets you trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while reviewing price action. In short, both firms cover the main tools most traders look for, whether they prefer to practice first or trade on desktop, browser, or through popular third-party platforms.
Where they differ is in overall platform quality and market standing. Swissquote scores slightly higher for Trading Platforms and Tools, with 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars. Swissquote is also ranked #12 out of 36 brokers in this category, while ActivTrades is ranked #28, which suggests Swissquote has the edge if you are comparing platform features and trading tools alone.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts and place trades on the go with either broker. Each app includes stock and forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, trendline drawing, and auto-saving for chart drawings. One key limitation for both is that watchlists do not sync between the mobile app and the online account, so changes made in one place will not appear in the other.
Where the two brokers differ is in overall mobile app quality and ranking. Swissquote is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and is ranked #12 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #21. For traders who want a slightly higher-rated mobile experience, Swissquote has the edge, though both brokers offer many of the same core mobile features.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both give traders a solid set of market research features, including daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. Both brokers also earn strong marks for research overall, making either one a good option if you want regular updates and basic tools to help you follow the markets.
The main difference is in the extra tools they provide. Swissquote includes Autochartist for chart-based trade ideas and technical analysis, while ActivTrades does not. ActivTrades, on the other hand, offers a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, which Swissquote does not. In terms of research ratings, Swissquote comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #15 ranking by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades has 4 stars and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and ActivTrades both give beginners a solid range of learning materials, including forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find help whether they are just starting out or ready to build on their skills. In this area, the two brokers are similar in what they offer, so beginners can expect access to a good mix of articles, videos, and live online sessions from either platform.
Where Swissquote pulls ahead is in overall education quality. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #19 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32. For beginners who want the stronger educational package, Swissquote has the edge, though ActivTrades still provides plenty of useful learning tools to get started.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than ActivTrades. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #12, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
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ActivTrades
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the Swissquote vs ActivTrades online broker comparison for crypto, Swissquote allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas ActivTrades offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not provide delivered coins.
Swissquote vs ActivTrades: For deposits and withdrawals, Swissquote supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while ActivTrades supports Skrill and bank wire but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | N/A | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | ActivTrades Review |
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