Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 vs ActivTrades: Trading 212 (founded 2004) and ActivTrades (founded 2001) are both online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. Per ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 0 Tier-2 licenses, earning a Trust Score of 82/99. ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, with a Trust Score of 80/99.
On ForexBrokers.com’s scale, scores of 80–89 are “trusted” (90–99 highly trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted). Both brokers land in the trusted range, with Trading 212 showing a slight edge in Tier-1 licensing and overall score, while ActivTrades complements its Tier-1 coverage with one Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take different approaches to pricing. Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading on its CFD account, yet traders still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. It has also started sharing average spread data, which helps with price transparency, but its EUR/USD average spread of 2.7 pips in April 2025 is well above the industry average. Trading 212 ranks #28 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
ActivTrades also scores 4 out of 5 stars, and it ranks higher than Trading 212 at #22 out of 36. Its spreads are generally a little better than the industry average, though not among the lowest-cost choices in the market. For EUR/USD, ActivTrades reported an average spread of 0.98 pips for May 2024, which is much tighter than Trading 212’s. ActivTrades offers several account types, including Individual, Professional, Islamic, and demo accounts, but it does not have special pricing for active traders.
In simple terms, ActivTrades is the cheaper option on spreads for forex and CFDs, while Trading 212’s main appeal is its zero-commission message rather than low overall trading costs. If keeping spreads down is your priority, ActivTrades has the edge. If you prefer a broker that clearly promotes commission-free trading, Trading 212 may still be worth a look, but its spread costs are higher.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 offers a wider range of investments than ActivTrades, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more variety. It provides access to about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support international exchange-traded securities. However, only Trading 212 lets clients buy U.S.-listed shares such as Apple as real, non-CFD assets.
There are also key differences in other markets. Trading 212 offers actual cryptocurrency purchases, while ActivTrades does not, though both brokers do offer crypto CFDs. On the other hand, ActivTrades includes copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. Overall, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #26, reflecting Trading 212’s broader investment selection.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both give traders a web-based platform and a free demo account, so either broker can suit someone who wants to practice before trading live. Both also let you trade directly from a chart, which is useful for placing orders quickly while watching price moves. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, although Trading 212 places higher at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at #27.
The main difference is in platform choice. Trading 212 does not offer a proprietary desktop platform, Windows download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or copy trading, so its setup is simpler and more limited. ActivTrades, by contrast, offers its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop platform, MT4, MT5, and copy trading, giving active traders more ways to trade and more platform features to choose from.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 102 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, so traders can manage accounts on the go with either broker. Each app also supports stock or forex price alerts, trendline drawing on charts, and auto-saving those drawings, making it easier to track trades and review market moves from a phone or tablet. Both apps are also rated 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading.
The bigger difference is in charting and watchlist syncing. Trading 212 gives mobile users 104 technical studies, compared with 30 at ActivTrades, which may matter more to active chart watchers. Trading 212 also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and online account, while ActivTrades does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps ranking, Trading 212 places #17 out of 36 brokers, ahead of ActivTrades at #21.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, ActivTrades has a slight edge over Trading 212. ActivTrades offers daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not, which can make it easier for traders to keep up with market moves and trading ideas. Both brokers provide forex news from well-known sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and both include an economic calendar plus a sentiment tool that shows whether traders are mostly long or short on different instruments.
In other areas, Trading 212 and ActivTrades are closely matched. Neither broker offers research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #33 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27 out of 36. Overall, ActivTrades offers a bit more for market research, but both brokers cover the basics well.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | 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 comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades for beginner-friendly learning materials, both brokers give new traders plenty of video content to work through. Each offers at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so users can move from the basics to more detailed topics at their own pace. Trading 212 also provides forex or CFDs education, with enough material focused on those subjects to meet the 10-piece mark. ActivTrades does too, and it stands out by also offering online educational client webinars at least once a month, which can be helpful for beginners who want live guidance and the chance to learn from questions asked in real time.
In terms of overall education quality, ActivTrades is rated slightly higher at 4 stars compared with Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. However, Trading 212 ranks better in the ForexBrokers.com education category, placing #20 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades sits at #30. For beginners choosing between the two, Trading 212 may appeal if you want a stronger category ranking, but ActivTrades may be the better pick if live webinars and a slightly higher education rating matter more to you.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than ActivTrades. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 |
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Trading 212 vs ActivTrades: Trading 212 supports buying real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs, whereas ActivTrades offers crypto CFDs only and does not provide access to real cryptocurrencies.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires but not PayPal or Skrill, while ActivTrades offers bank wires and Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal (Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either).
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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | 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) | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | 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 |
| Investments | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
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