Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
Founded just a year apart, XTB in 2002 and ActivTrades in 2001, these two online brokers offer strong regulatory credentials but differ in a few key areas. XTB, which is publicly traded, boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96, placing it in the highly trusted category. While both XTB and ActivTrades hold two Tier-1 licenses, considered highly trusted, XTB takes an edge with an additional Tier-2 license, totaling two. This contributes to its superior trust rating compared to ActivTrades, which holds one Tier-2 license and earns a Trust Score of 81, situated firmly in the trusted category.
Neither XTB nor ActivTrades operates as a bank, ensuring their focus remains on providing excellent brokerage services. While investors might find comfort in XTB's public trading status, both brokers are well-regulated, offering similar assurances in terms of safety and reliability. Despite ActivTrades not being publicly traded, its reputable licenses contribute to its credibility, though it somewhat trails XTB in trust metrics. Potential clients should weigh these aspects alongside their trading needs when choosing the right broker.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing the commission and fees structures of XTB and ActivTrades, both brokers exhibit strengths tailored to different trader needs. XTB presents two account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the latter is limited to certain clients in the U.K. and Europe, and is being gradually phased out. The average forex spread for XTB on the popular EUR/USD pair is 1 pip. Traders who prefer lower initial deposits will find XTB’s Standard account appealing, with a minimum deposit of 250 in base currency. For active traders, XTB offers rebates on spreads through its Lower Spread Group program, rewarding high trading volumes with discounts of up to 30%. XTB is praised with a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 11th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
ActivTrades, on the other hand, provides a competitive edge with slightly better-than-average spreads across its account types, with the Individual Account being the primary choice for many traders. While ActivTrades doesn't offer distinct account types specifically for high-volume traders and lacks active trader pricing, its account suite includes Professional and Islamic options, fulfilling niche requirements like lower margin needs and Sharia compliance. The average spread for the EUR/USD pair was recorded at 0.98 pips in May 2024, which provides a slight spread advantage over XTB. ActivTrades receives a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 28th by ForexBrokers.com.
To summarize, XTB may suit traders seeking structured rebate programs and straightforward account choices, whereas ActivTrades can appeal to those who prioritize marginally lower spreads and flexible account conditions. Both brokers offer competitive pricing, but XTB receives slightly higher accolades in its category rankings compared to ActivTrades.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing XTB and ActivTrades based on their range of available investments, XTB stands out with an impressive offering of 7,184 tradeable symbols, while ActivTrades provides 1,267. Both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, though XTB provides access to 71 tradeable forex pairs compared to ActivTrades' 49. For investors interested in U.S. exchange-traded securities, XTB allows clients to purchase shares such as Apple, which is not an option with ActivTrades. However, both brokers enable trading in exchange traded securities from international exchanges, meeting the needs of those looking for global opportunities.
In terms of cryptocurrency offerings, both XTB and ActivTrades support trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither broker offers actual cryptocurrency purchasing. Notably, ActivTrades offers copy trading, a feature not available with XTB. XTB is rated 5 stars for its range of investments and holds the 14th position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades carries a 4-star rating and ranks 31st. These distinctions highlight XTB as a more versatile choice for traders seeking a broad array of investment options.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 the trading platforms and tools offered by XTB and ActivTrades, both brokers provide an extensive range of options for traders. XTB and ActivTrades each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Both brokers have developed their proprietary platforms and offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms. XTB does not support copy trading, MetaTrader 4, or MetaTrader 5, whereas ActivTrades includes these features, providing more versatility for traders who rely on these popular tools.
Charting capabilities differ between the two, with XTB offering 32 drawing tools compared to ActivTrades' 15, giving XTB users enhanced chart customization options. Both platforms allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts. For watch lists, XTB provides eight columns, while ActivTrades offers eleven, allowing for more detailed monitoring on ActivTrades' platform. In terms of overall ratings for trading platforms and tools, XTB scores slightly higher with a 4.5-star rating compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB ranks 9th out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while ActivTrades ranks 30th, indicating a preference for XTB's offerings in the category.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both XTB and ActivTrades cater to iPhone and Android users, offering apps that include price alerts and real-time quotes. While both platforms provide a seamless experience with chart trendline drawing and multiple time frame viewing capabilities, XTB stands out with its 39 technical studies, compared to ActivTrades' 30, giving users a more detailed analysis toolset.
Despite their strengths, neither XTB nor ActivTrades offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online accounts. In terms of ratings, XTB edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating, ranking 8th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating, placing it 19th. Overall, both apps deliver solid functionality, but XTB's slight edge in technical offerings and higher user rating make it a preferable choice for traders seeking comprehensive mobile tools.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 the market research offerings of XTB and ActivTrades, both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay updated with the latest developments. Both platforms lack partnerships with Autochartist and Trading Central, which means they don't offer associated technical or fundamental analysis tools. However, XTB and ActivTrades do provide sentiment-based trading tools, allowing users to gauge market sentiment by showing the ratio of long and short positions across different instruments.
While neither broker includes market research from TipRanks or research tools from Acuity Trading, they both offer an economic calendar to track significant global economic events. In terms of research quality, XTB is rated 5 stars and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, surpassing ActivTrades, which holds a 4-star rating and ranks 30th. This positioning reflects XTB's slightly stronger research capabilities, giving it an edge for traders prioritizing in-depth market insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 the educational resources for beginners at XTB and ActivTrades, both online brokers make a strong case with their offerings. Each provides over ten educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring that beginners have plenty of content to learn from. Additionally, XTB and ActivTrades organize online educational webinars at least once a month, supplemented by an accessible archive of previous webinars for continuous learning. Both also cater to different skill levels, with at least ten beginner-focused educational videos and advanced content for seasoned traders as well.
Despite their similarities, XTB edges out ActivTrades slightly in overall educational quality according to ratings and rankings. XTB receives a perfect five-star rating for education and is ranked 11th out of 63 brokers in the Education category on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ActivTrades garners a four-star rating and holds a 38th place ranking, highlighting a slight divergence in user satisfaction in the educational sphere. Neither platform offers an investor dictionary with definitions of 50 investing terms, which could fill in some knowledge gaps for beginners. Nonetheless, both XTB and ActivTrades provide comprehensive learning tools, but XTB has a slightly higher standing in terms of educational acclaim.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XTB is better than ActivTrades. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both XTB and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers XTB and ActivTrades, both platforms provide fund transfer options via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, yet only XTB supports PayPal transactions while neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | 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) | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill