Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Vantage 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.
Vantage and ActivTrades are both well-established online brokers, with Vantage having been founded in 2009 and ActivTrades in 2001. Neither company is publicly traded nor operates as a bank. When it comes to regulatory credentials, both Vantage and ActivTrades hold two Tier-1 licenses, marking them as highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. They also each hold a Tier-2 license, which further supports their reliability.
In terms of Trust Score ratings from ForexBrokers.com, Vantage stands out with a score of 90, placing it in the highly trusted category. Meanwhile, ActivTrades holds a score of 81, ranking it as a trusted broker. These scores reflect the companies' compliance with regulatory standards and their history in the financial industry, making them both solid choices for investors seeking reliability and security in online trading.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
If you’re comparing commissions and fees at Vantage versus ActivTrades, Vantage earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 in the Commissions and Fees category at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4/5 stars and ranks #21 of 63. Vantage can deliver lower all-in costs on its commission-based accounts, though pricing varies by account type and the entity that holds your account. ActivTrades keeps things simple with one main account and average spreads that are a bit better than the industry norm, though not among the very cheapest brokers.
Vantage offers three account types: Standard STP (spread-only), RAW ECN, and PRO ECN. Typical EUR/USD pricing cited by Vantage: Standard around 1.30 pips (Mar 2023). RAW averages about 0.15 pips plus a $3 commission per side ($6 round turn), for an all-in cost near 0.75 pips. PRO reduces the commission to $2 per side ($4 round turn) and is the best-priced option, but eligibility depends on the Vantage entity (e.g., wholesale client status in Australia or a $10,000 minimum under the Cayman entity). Vantage’s Active Trader program offers $2–$8 per standard lot in rebates based on balance and monthly volume, but it’s only available on the higher-spread Standard account.
ActivTrades offers an Individual Account by default, with Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across these account types and there’s no separate active-trader or volume pricing. Average EUR/USD spreads were 0.98 pips in May 2024 (spreads can vary during volatile or rollover periods). Your final costs will depend on the instruments you trade and the platform you use, but overall ActivTrades prices slightly below the industry average without matching the lowest-cost leaders.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.72 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Vantage and ActivTrades both let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot contracts, and both support copy trading. Each also offers cryptocurrency CFDs—though neither allows you to buy actual crypto. In terms of variety, ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols versus Vantage’s 1,000. Forex traders may prefer Vantage’s wider selection of currency pairs (61 vs. 49 for ActivTrades).
If you want exchange-traded shares, neither broker offers access to U.S.-listed stocks; however, ActivTrades does provide exchange-traded securities on certain international markets, while Vantage does not. Reflecting their lineups, ForexBrokers.com rates ActivTrades 4 stars for Range of Investments (ranked 25th of 63) and Vantage 3.5 stars (ranked 32nd of 63). In short, ActivTrades edges ahead on overall market coverage and international shares, while Vantage appeals to traders focused on forex pairs.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
Vantage and ActivTrades line up closely on platform features. Both brokers provide free demo (paper) accounts, their own proprietary platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), offers copy trading, and lets you place orders directly from charts. While both deliver solid charting experiences, the exact counts of built-in technical indicators and the number of watch list columns weren’t specified and can vary by platform setup—so it’s smart to check these in a demo if you rely on specific studies or detailed watch lists.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, Vantage and ActivTrades each earn 4 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 rankings, Vantage places #20 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades comes in at #26 out of 63. If you want MT4/MT5 plus a proprietary platform, demo access, and the ease of trading from charts on both web and desktop, either broker will fit the bill; your choice may come down to personal preference after test-driving their demos.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Vantage and ActivTrades both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, includes 30 technical studies for charting, and lets you draw trendlines with drawings saved automatically. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, making them solid choices for traders who want reliable charting and timely notifications on the go.
There are a few differences to note. Neither broker syncs watchlists between the mobile app and the web platform, so symbols you add in one place won’t appear in the other. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, ActivTrades ranks slightly higher at #21 out of 63 brokers, while Vantage sits at #24. If you want a small edge in overall app ranking, ActivTrades has it; otherwise, both offer similar tools and features for everyday mobile trading.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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.
Vantage and ActivTrades both cover the essentials for market research. Each broker offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar with global events, and forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Both also include a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Neither broker currently integrates research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
The key difference is in built-in analytics: Vantage adds Autochartist and Trading Central for trade ideas and technical insights, while ActivTrades does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for research, with Vantage ranked #20 out of 63 brokers and ActivTrades ranked #26. If you want more integrated tools to help spot opportunities, Vantage has the edge; if you mainly need news, commentary, and a reliable calendar, both will do the job.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
New to trading? Both Vantage and ActivTrades make it easier to start learning. Each broker runs online client webinars at least once a month and provides at least 10 beginner-friendly videos covering forex and CFD topics, platform know-how, and trading basics. As you progress, both libraries also include at least 10 advanced videos aimed at experienced traders, so you can keep building skills over time.
For quality, both are rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education by ForexBrokers.com. Among 63 brokers reviewed for Education, Vantage ranks #23 and ActivTrades ranks #30, giving Vantage a slight edge for beginners who want a more competitive learning lineup, though both deliver helpful videos and ongoing webinars to build confidence.
| Feature |
Vantage
|
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 Vantage is better than ActivTrades. Vantage finished with an overall rank of #24, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
Vantage rounds out its MetaTrader platform suite offering with support for multiple social trading platforms, content powered by Trading Central and a proprietary mobile app. However, Vantage trails industry leaders in key areas such as research and education.
| Feature |
Vantage
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 90 | 81 |
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Vantage vs ActivTrades: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading for investors seeking crypto exposure without owning the underlying asset.
Comparing online brokers Vantage and ActivTrades for deposit and withdrawal methods: neither supports ACH/SEPA, both support bank wires and Skrill, only Vantage offers PayPal, 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 | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review | ActivTrades Review |
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| Regulation | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 90 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | No | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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). | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1000 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 61 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.32 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.72 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Vantage | 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 | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Vantage Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | Vantage | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 90 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Vantage Review | ActivTrades Review |
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