Written by ForexBrokers.com
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.
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.
XM Group vs ActivTrades: Both are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. XM Group was founded in 2009, while ActivTrades dates back to 2001. On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted), XM Group scores 93/99 (highly trusted) and ActivTrades scores 80/99 (trusted).
Regulation favors XM Group with a wider top-tier footprint: it holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). ActivTrades holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license. In short, XM Group carries more top-tier regulatory approvals and a higher Trust Score, while ActivTrades remains a trusted, long-established alternative.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
For commissions and fees, ActivTrades generally edges out XM Group. ActivTrades earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks #21 of 63 for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group holds 3.5/5 stars and ranks #34 of 63. ActivTrades’ pricing is a bit better than the industry average (though not the very lowest), whereas XM’s Standard account spreads are on the pricey side. XM also doesn’t publish average spread data for its commission-based XM Zero account, making like-for-like comparisons harder.
ActivTrades’ costs are mostly in the spread. It offers an Individual, Professional, and Islamic account, plus a demo; spreads are the same across account types and there’s no special pricing for high‑volume traders. The broker lists target spreads by instrument, but live spreads move with market conditions and can widen during rollover. As a reference point, the average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024 (per ActivTrades). Final costs depend on the assets you trade and the platform you choose.
At XM Group, the Standard account’s spreads trend expensive, and the lack of published average spreads for the XM Zero commission account limits visibility into true all‑in costs. Traders who prioritize tight, transparent spreads may find ActivTrades more cost‑friendly, while those considering XM should check real‑time quotes on a demo to gauge effective spreads and commissions for their preferred products.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XM Group and ActivTrades both support forex trading (CFDs/spot), copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs; neither broker lets you buy actual crypto. XM Group lists 1,394 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 symbols and 49 pairs. If you want more choices across markets and currency pairs, XM Group has the edge.
For exchange-traded securities, XM Group lets clients buy shares on U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ActivTrades offers exchange-traded shares on international markets only (no U.S.-listed stocks). Reflecting this range of investments, XM Group is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #19 of 63, while ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #25.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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.
Comparing XM Group vs ActivTrades for trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the essentials. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on Windows desktop and via a web-based platform at either broker, and both support placing trades directly from charts. One key difference: ActivTrades also provides a proprietary, in-house platform, while XM Group does not.
For ratings, both XM Group and ActivTrades earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. In the ForexBrokers.com rankings out of 63 brokers, ActivTrades sits at #26 and XM Group at #27. If you want an additional, broker-built platform alongside MT4/MT5, ActivTrades has the edge; if you’re focused on the MetaTrader experience with broad access to copy trading and demos, XM Group fits the bill.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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.
XM Group and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines. Each app earned 4 out of 5 stars for mobile trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, ActivTrades ranks #21 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group ranks #26.
The key differences come down to workflow. XM Group syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, so changes carry over across devices. ActivTrades does not sync watchlists, but it does auto-save your chart drawings—XM Group does not. If cross-device watchlist syncing matters most, XM Group may fit better; if keeping your chart annotations saved is the priority, ActivTrades has the edge.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group vs ActivTrades: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources, a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. The key difference is that XM Group includes Trading Central research tools, while ActivTrades does not.
For market research, ForexBrokers.com rates XM Group at 5 stars and ranks it #8 out of 63 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars and #26. If you want Trading Central alongside daily commentary, premium news, and sentiment data, XM Group is the better fit; if you only need the core research features, ActivTrades has you covered.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | 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.
Both XM Group and ActivTrades provide beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with well over ten learning pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each broker runs ongoing client webinars at least once a month and offers extensive video libraries covering both beginner and advanced trading topics, so newcomers can start with the basics and progress to more complex strategies at their own pace.
Where they differ is in quality scores and industry rankings. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #30. For beginners seeking top-rated lessons and frequent live sessions, XM Group has the edge, though ActivTrades remains a solid option with plenty of webinars and video content to learn from.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than ActivTrades. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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ActivTrades
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 |
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XM Group vs ActivTrades: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
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.
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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | 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 | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | 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 | XM Group | 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 | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | XM Group | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ActivTrades Review |
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