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 and ActivTrades are both well-established online brokers, having been founded in 2004 and 2001, respectively. Neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank. In terms of regulatory credentials, Trading 212 holds three Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com standards, and has a Trust Score of 80. ActivTrades, on the other hand, holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, earning a slightly higher Trust Score of 81.
Both brokers are closely matched in terms of industry trust and regulatory recognition, with slight differences in their licensing. Trading 212's advantage lies in its additional Tier-1 license, while ActivTrades is bolstered by its Tier-2 license. As they operate under similar frameworks, prospective clients can feel assured of their safety and reliability when choosing either platform for their trading needs.
| 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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Trading 212 and ActivTrades, both brokers offer appealing options for traders, but have distinct differences. Trading 212 provides two account types: Invest, for trading shares, and CFD, for trading CFDs. With a low minimum deposit of 10 euros for the CFD account, it grabs attention with its zero-commission trading claims. However, traders should be aware of the spread fees, particularly for popular pairs like the EUR/USD, which averaged 2.7 pips in April 2025. This spread is higher than the industry average, positioning Trading 212 unfavorably against leading CFD and forex brokers. Ultimately, Trading 212 earns a 4-star rating for commissions and fees but falls to the 49th spot out of 63 on ForexBrokers.com's ranking.
In contrast, ActivTrades offers its primary "Individual Account," along with options for Professional and Islamic accounts. The broker caters to a range of traders with these options but does not provide an account specifically tailored for high-volume or active traders. Spreads are typically consistent across account types, with Islamic accounts conforming to Sharia laws. ActivTrades' commissions and fees are highly asset-dependent, and the broker's average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips for May 2024 is slightly better than industry averages but does not surpass the leading low-cost forex brokers. With no active trader pricing, ActivTrades also receives a 4-star rating, yet it ranks higher than Trading 212, securing the 28th position out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Both Trading 212 and ActivTrades offer competitive trading environments, but their differences in spreads and account offerings can sway a trader's decision based on individual needs and trading volumes. Despite equal star ratings for commissions and fees, ActivTrades' higher rank highlights its relative standing in the trading community. These comparisons are essential for traders looking to make informed decisions when choosing between these online brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the range of investments, Trading 212 and ActivTrades both offer opportunities that cater to various traders, but with clear differences. Trading 212 provides a notably wider array of tradeable symbols with a tally of 7,868, compared to ActivTrades's offering of 1,267. For forex enthusiasts, Trading 212 takes the lead again, providing access to 146 tradeable forex pairs, whereas ActivTrades covers 49 pairs. Both platforms facilitate forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, Trading 212 stands out by allowing clients to buy exchange-traded securities directly on U.S. exchanges, furnishing the chance to own shares like Apple. This is in contrast to ActivTrades, which doesn't offer U.S. exchange-traded securities but does allow purchases on international exchanges, similar to Trading 212. Both brokers permit trading in cryptocurrency derivatives but not the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
ActivTrades offers an advantage in the form of copy trading, an option not available with Trading 212. Ratings for the range of investments favor Trading 212 with a 5-star score as opposed to ActivTrades, which earns 4 stars. The broader selection and direct access to U.S. securities contribute to Trading 212's higher ranking of #15 out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com in this category, significantly ahead of ActivTrades's #31 ranking. Each platform meets distinct needs, but Trading 212 edges ahead for those prioritizing a broader range of tradeable options and direct access to U.S. stocks.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades, both online brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, which is a great feature for anyone looking to dabble in trading without risking real money. Each broker offers a proprietary platform tailored to user needs; however, their offers diverge in other areas. Trading 212 lacks desktop trading software but compensates with a web-based platform, whereas ActivTrades offers both a desktop platform for Windows and a web-based option. Further enhancing its versatility, ActivTrades also supports popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), options missing in Trading 212’s lineup. Additionally, ActivTrades supports copy trading, offering users the ability to mirror successful trades - a feature Trading 212 does not support.
For those interested in technical analysis, the two brokers offer distinct advantages. Trading 212 provides 20 different drawing tools, surpassing the 15 offered by ActivTrades, and both allow direct trading from stock charts. Traders who prioritize detailed monitoring of investments will appreciate ActivTrades' watch lists, which offer 11 customizable fields compared to Trading 212’s five. While both brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 #20 out of 63 brokers, placing it ten spots higher than ActivTrades, which is ranked at #30. This suggests that while both platforms are strong contenders, Trading 212 might have a slight edge in this category based on broader industry rankings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Trading 212 and ActivTrades offer fully functional mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, making them accessible for trading on the go. Both apps provide crucial features like real-time stock and forex price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on charts. While users can enjoy a diverse range of time frames on both platforms, Trading 212 edges ahead with watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring consistency between mobile and online accounts—a feature ActivTrades does not currently provide.
When it comes to technical studies offered for chart analysis, Trading 212 provides a significantly larger selection with 104 studies, compared to ActivTrades' 30. Both apps perform well in allowing users to create watchlists with real-time quotes and ensuring charting drawings are auto-saved for ease of use. Despite these differences, the two apps are evenly matched in their overall ratings, each earning 4 out of 5 stars from users. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings, Trading 212 is slightly ahead at #17, while ActivTrades is ranked #19 among 63 brokers, indicating a small preference for Trading 212 in the realm of mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades in terms of market research, both brokers cater to traders seeking insights from top-tier sources. While neither provides technical analysis tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, they both offer forex news from reputable firms such as Bloomberg and Reuters. ActivTrades takes a slight lead with daily market commentary, a feature not available with Trading 212. This additional resource could be beneficial for traders looking to stay updated with regular insights.
Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, giving traders a clearer view of market positions across various instruments. They also feature economic calendars to keep traders informed about global news events. Despite these similarities, ActivTrades earns a higher research rating of 4 stars, compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, ActivTrades is ranked #30 among 63 brokers for research by ForexBrokers.com, outperforming Trading 212, which holds the #44 position. This suggests that ActivTrades might be slightly better suited for traders prioritizing comprehensive market research.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Trading 212 and ActivTrades for educational resources aimed at beginners, both platforms provide a good range of materials on forex and CFDs. Both brokers offer more than 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, to help newcomers get started. Trading 212 and ActivTrades also feature comprehensive searchable archives of recorded webinars, and both offer more than 10 beginner-friendly educational videos. Additionally, both brokers cater to experienced traders with advanced educational videos. However, Trading 212 takes the lead with an investor dictionary featuring over 50 definitions, a feature not available with ActivTrades.
One area where ActivTrades stands out is in offering online client webinars at least once per month, providing ongoing, interactive learning opportunities that Trading 212 does not offer. Despite having slightly fewer unique features, ActivTrades garners a higher rating of 4 stars for education compared to Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. Interestingly, Trading 212 holds a higher educational ranking at #20 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades ranks at #38. In summary, both brokers are well-equipped to educate beginners, but their offerings diverge in terms of unique resources and user ratings.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 #31, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
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 | 80 | 81 |
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Both Trading 212 and ActivTrades provide users with the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
Trading 212 and ActivTrades both support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but Trading 212 uniquely offers ACH, SEPA, and PayPal options, whereas ActivTrades exclusively provides Skrill for these transactions.
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 | 80 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 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 | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | ActivTrades Review |
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