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XM Group vs ActivTrades 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

XM Group
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1394
ActivTrades
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $0
  • Trust Score: 81
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1267

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.

Regulation

XM Group and ActivTrades are both well-established online brokers, with XM Group being founded in 2009 and ActivTrades dating back to 2001. Neither company is publicly traded or holds banking status. However, they demonstrate a commitment to regulatory compliance through their licenses. XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting a strong level of trust in the industry. ActivTrades, on the other hand, holds two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating a solid trust foundation as well.

When it comes to the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, XM Group earns a high rating of 93 out of 99, showcasing it as a highly trusted broker. Meanwhile, ActivTrades has a Trust Score of 81, which places it in the trusted category. This comparison highlights XM Group's edge in regulatory trust and compliance, though both brokers maintain a respectable presence in the market.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Year Founded info 2009 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2

Fees

Comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades generally delivers sharper pricing than XM Group, though neither is the absolute cheapest. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking, ActivTrades places #29 of 63, while XM Group ranks #34 of 63.

XM Group’s standard account spreads are on the expensive side. The commission-based XM Zero account aims to lower costs, but XM does not publish average spreads for it, making it harder to gauge typical pricing. Overall rating: 4/5 stars; ranking: #34/63 for commissions and fees.

ActivTrades’ spreads are slightly better than the industry average but not as low as the leading discount forex brokers. There’s one primary Individual account (plus Professional and Islamic options), with the same spreads across account types and no active-trader or high-volume pricing. Costs vary by asset and platform, and spreads can widen during rollover. ActivTrades lists target spreads and reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024. Overall rating: 4/5 stars; ranking: #29/63 for commissions and fees.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info $5 $0
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.6 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info N/A
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

XM Group and ActivTrades both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs (but not real crypto purchases). XM Group offers a broader menu with 1,394 tradeable symbols and 55 currency pairs, compared to ActivTrades’ 1,267 symbols and 49 pairs. For stocks, each broker provides access to exchange-traded shares on international markets; however, only XM Group also lets clients buy U.S.-listed shares directly (not as CFDs), while ActivTrades does not.

For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates XM Group 4.5 out of 5 stars (ranked #25 of 63) and ActivTrades 4 out of 5 stars (ranked #32 of 63). If you want a wider selection and direct access to U.S. shares alongside international stocks, XM Group has the edge. If you don’t need U.S. stock access, ActivTrades still offers a strong variety of markets with plenty of forex pairs and CFDs.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1394 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 platforms and tools

Comparing the trading platforms and tools at XM Group and ActivTrades, both brokers cover the essentials: free demo (paper) accounts, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The standout difference is that ActivTrades also offers a proprietary, in-house platform, while XM Group focuses on third-party platforms like MT4 and MT5.

For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates both brokers at 4 out of 5 stars in Trading Platforms and Tools, with ActivTrades ranked #32 out of 63 brokers and XM Group close behind at #33. Exact counts for chart indicators and watchlist columns were not specified and can vary by platform, so it’s worth checking the platform you plan to use.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

XM Group and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android with price alerts, 30 technical studies, and the ability to draw trendlines on stock and forex charts. Key differences: XM Group syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not; ActivTrades auto-saves chart drawings, while XM Group does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, though ActivTrades ranks higher in ForexBrokers.com’s list (19th out of 63) compared to XM Group (31st out of 63).

If synced watchlists across devices matter most, XM Group’s mobile app has the edge. If you want your chart notes to auto-save and value a higher category ranking, ActivTrades may fit better. Either way, both apps cover the essentials for trading on the go with similar charting tools and alerts.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

Comparing XM Group vs ActivTrades for market research, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters-style feeds, and include a handy economic calendar. Each also offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs short positions. On the flip side, neither broker provides tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.

The big difference is that XM Group adds Trading Central research, while ActivTrades does not. That extra toolkit helps XM earn a higher Research score: 5 stars and a #8 rank out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, versus ActivTrades’ 4 stars and #31 rank. If you want more built-in analysis features, XM Group has the edge; ActivTrades still covers the essentials well.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

Both XM Group and ActivTrades offer forex and CFD education that meets the mark for beginners, with well over 10 learning pieces each. You’ll find monthly live webinars at both brokers, plus a library of beginner-friendly videos that cover trading basics, platforms, and simple strategies. Each also provides 10+ advanced videos, so you can keep learning as you gain experience.

Where they differ is in depth and recognition. XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, signaling a stronger overall learning experience. ActivTrades still delivers helpful training with a 4-star rating, but ranks #38 out of 63. If you want the widest path from beginner basics to more advanced topics, XM Group has the edge, while ActivTrades remains a solid choice with regular webinars and plenty of videos.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than ActivTrades. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.

XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.

Feature XM Group logoXM Group
ActivTrades logoActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 81
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with XM Group or ActivTrades?

XM Group vs ActivTrades: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

Online brokers XM Group and ActivTrades both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal, but they do offer Skrill and bank wire deposits and withdrawals; availability of Visa or Mastercard is not specified.

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Overall Rating XM Group ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 81
Winner check_circle
Review XM Group Review ActivTrades Review
Broker Screenshots XM Group ActivTrades
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
XM MetaTrader 5 mobile trading app XM MetaTrader 5 desktop trading platform. XM research articles market news and analysis XM educational content forex course chapters.
ActivTrades ActivTrader mobile app watchlist light mode. ActivTrader platform web. ActivTrader research weekly outlook articles. ActivTrades educational articles macro analysis.
Regulation XM Group ActivTrades
Trust Score info 93 81
Year Founded info 2009 2001
Publicly Traded (Listed) info No No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 2
Tier-2 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 2
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) XM Group ActivTrades
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes No
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info No Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) XM Group ActivTrades
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes No
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No
Investments XM Group ActivTrades
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 1394 1267
Forex Pairs (Total) info 55 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info 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 XM Group ActivTrades
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.6 info 0.98 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.8 info N/A
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding XM Group ActivTrades
Minimum Deposit info $5 $0
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info No No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms XM Group ActivTrades
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info No Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info Yes Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools XM Group ActivTrades
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 30 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading XM Group ActivTrades
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 30 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research XM Group ActivTrades
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education XM Group ActivTrades
Webinars info Yes Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs XM Group ActivTrades
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review XM Group Review ActivTrades Review
Overall XM Group ActivTrades
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 93 81
Winner check_circle
Review XM Group Review ActivTrades Review
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