Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs TopFX, 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 and TopFX are both reputable online brokers, but they differ in their regulatory credentials and trust scores. Established in 2001, ActivTrades has built a solid regulatory reputation and holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted. Additionally, they possess a Tier-2 license, making them a trusted broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, placing them in the "trusted" category. In contrast, TopFX, which was set up in 2010, holds one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. Their Trust Score of 67 categorizes them as "high risk," indicating a less favorable trust rating compared to ActivTrades.
Neither ActivTrades nor TopFX is publicly traded or operates as a bank, offering potential investors similar levels of corporate independence. While both brokers are dedicated to providing services to their clients, potential users may prioritize their decision based on the regulatory standings and trust scores that highlight how each broker navigates financial regulations. These scores and licenses serve as a quick comparison point for traders concerned with security and compliance when selecting an online broker.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
| 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 | 1 |
ActivTrades and TopFX both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 rankings, ActivTrades is #29 of 63, while TopFX is #41 of 63. On EUR/USD, ActivTrades reported an average spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is slightly better than the industry average but not the lowest available. TopFX’s RAW account posted an all-in cost of about 0.88 pips in July 2024 (0.33-pip average spread plus the commission equivalent of 0.55 pips per round turn), roughly in line with the industry average, while its ZERO account averaged 1.03 pips with no commission. Actual costs can vary by market conditions and trading platform.
ActivTrades keeps pricing straightforward with one main Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic options. The Pro account mainly changes margin requirements (and therefore potential leverage); spreads are the same across account types. There’s no special high-volume or active trader pricing. Fees depend on the asset you trade, and spreads can widen during quieter periods such as rollover.
TopFX offers two clear choices: the spread-only ZERO account, and the commission-based RAW account on MetaTrader and cTrader. The RAW account charges 2.75 EUR per side (5.50 EUR per standard lot round turn) and, paired with its low average spreads, can deliver competitive all-in costs on major pairs. The ZERO account removes commission but uses wider spreads. Minimum deposit depends on your chosen payment method.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | Depends on payment method |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.03 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
ActivTrades vs TopFX for range of investments: ActivTrades lists 1,267 tradeable symbols, while TopFX offers 655. In forex, TopFX provides 60 currency pairs compared with 49 at ActivTrades. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. Each also lets you trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows buying actual (delivered) crypto.
For exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), neither broker offers access to U.S. exchanges; however, ActivTrades does provide international exchange-listed shares, while TopFX does not. Copy trading is available at both. In this category, ForexBrokers.com rates ActivTrades at 4 out of 5 stars (ranked 32nd of 63) and TopFX at 3.5 out of 5 stars (ranked 47th of 63). Choose ActivTrades if you want more overall symbols and access to international shares; consider TopFX if your focus is a larger set of forex pairs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 655 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 60 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
ActivTrades and TopFX both offer free demo (paper) accounts, web and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. ActivTrades also provides its own proprietary platform and supports MetaTrader 5, while TopFX does not offer MT5 or an in-house platform. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and workflow, both let you trade directly from charts and include 15 drawing tools. Watchlists are more detailed at ActivTrades with up to 11 columns, compared to 7 at TopFX. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both earn 4 out of 5 stars, with ActivTrades ranked 32nd out of 63 brokers and TopFX ranked 46th.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ActivTrades and TopFX both check the key boxes for mobile trading. Each offers iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and solid charting tools: 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and auto-saving for chart drawings.
One limitation is shared: neither app syncs watchlist symbols between mobile and your online account. In terms of third-party recognition, both earned 4 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks ActivTrades higher at #19 out of 63 brokers, compared with TopFX at #52. If you want similar features with a higher independent ranking, ActivTrades has the edge; if you’re already with TopFX, you’ll still get a capable mobile experience.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 it comes to market research, ActivTrades stands out for delivering daily market commentary, alongside top-tier forex news and a handy economic calendar. Both ActivTrades and TopFX provide forex news from sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, plus sentiment tools that show the ratio of long and short positions, and an economic calendar for upcoming events. Independent ratings reflect the gap: ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while TopFX holds 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #61.
The biggest difference is in third‑party research tools. TopFX includes Autochartist and Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, while ActivTrades does not offer either. ActivTrades also does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools; for TopFX, availability of TipRanks and Acuity Trading isn’t clearly stated. If you value daily commentary and news coverage, ActivTrades is appealing. If you prefer built-in scanning and analyst tools like Autochartist and Trading Central, TopFX has the edge.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
ActivTrades vs TopFX for beginner education: ActivTrades clearly offers more learning tools. It provides a full forex and CFD education library with at least 10 pieces, runs monthly client webinars, and lets you search an archive of past sessions. Beginners can also tap into at least 10 intro-level trading videos, plus 10 for advanced topics as they progress. By contrast, TopFX does not meet these thresholds for articles or videos, does not host monthly educational webinars, and does not offer a searchable webinar archive. Neither broker includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms.
Ratings echo this gap: ActivTrades earns 4 stars for Education and ranks #38 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while TopFX holds 3 stars and ranks #62. If you want structured forex and CFD education with ongoing webinars and a sizeable video library, ActivTrades is the stronger choice. TopFX may suit traders focused on other factors, but for beginner-friendly learning resources, it is more limited.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | 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 TopFX. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #62.
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
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TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 67 |
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Both ActivTrades and TopFX do not allow customers to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both ActivTrades and TopFX provide options like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, only TopFX supports PayPal transactions, whereas neither platform offers ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | TopFX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 655 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 60 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). |
| Cost | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.88 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | Depends on payment method | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | 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 Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | TopFX Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | TopFX Review |
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