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.
XTB and ActivTrades are well-known online brokers with long operating histories. XTB was founded in 2002 and is publicly traded, while ActivTrades began in 2001 and remains privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
On regulation, both brokers hold two Tier-1 licenses, the highest level tracked by ForexBrokers.com. XTB also holds two Tier-2 licenses, while ActivTrades holds one Tier-2 license. XTB’s ForexBrokers.com Trust Score is 96/99, which is considered highly trusted (90–99), whereas ActivTrades scores 80/99, placing it in the trusted range (80–89).
| 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 | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB and ActivTrades both offer pricing that is close to the industry average, but XTB comes out slightly ahead in the commissions and fees category. XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account for eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe, with minimum deposits starting at 250 in base currency. Its average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip in Q4 2023, and active traders may also qualify for spread rebates through XTB’s Lower Spread Group. XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #13 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
ActivTrades also keeps costs fairly competitive, with average spreads that are a bit better than the market average but not as low as the best discount brokers. It offers an Individual Account, plus Professional and Islamic account options, along with a demo account for practice. Unlike XTB, ActivTrades does not have a special pricing program for high-volume traders, and its fees mainly depend on the markets you trade. Its EUR/USD average spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024. ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #22 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, XTB is the stronger choice on commissions and fees if you want more ways to cut trading costs, especially as a more active trader. ActivTrades is still a solid option, but it offers fewer pricing perks and sits lower in the rankings.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.06 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than ActivTrades, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more variety. XTB provides access to 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs at ActivTrades. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, but XTB goes further by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, plus the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency as well as crypto CFDs.
ActivTrades still covers the main bases, including international exchange-traded securities, copy trading, and crypto CFDs, but it does not offer U.S. listed exchange-traded shares or delivered crypto. In independent ratings, XTB earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. Overall, XTB has the broader investment selection, while ActivTrades may suit traders looking for a simpler lineup with copy trading included.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
XTB and ActivTrades both give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and a web-based trading platform, so each makes it easy to test ideas and trade from a browser. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart. XTB stands out for its higher Trading Platforms and Tools rating from ForexBrokers.com, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #9 rank out of 36 brokers, compared with ActivTrades at 4 out of 5 stars and #27.
The main difference is in desktop software and extra platform choices. ActivTrades offers a Windows desktop app, plus MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer those options. For traders who want more platform variety and social trading features, ActivTrades may be the better fit; for those who want a strong browser-based experience and a highly rated in-house platform, XTB is the more appealing choice.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each lets users set stock or forex price alerts, draw trendlines, and have chart drawings saved automatically. Both apps cover the basics well, making it easy to trade and track markets on the go. In overall mobile app ratings, XTB comes out ahead with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, while ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and ranks #21.
Where XTB stands out most is charting and account syncing. Its mobile app includes 104 technical studies, compared with 30 for ActivTrades, giving traders more tools for analysis. XTB also syncs watchlists between the mobile app and online account, so updates carry over both ways, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature. For traders who want stronger mobile charting and smoother watchlist syncing, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and ActivTrades both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Neither broker includes research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, so their built-in third-party research options are fairly limited. For everyday market tracking, both platforms cover the basics well.
Where ActivTrades pulls ahead is with forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, which XTB does not provide. That said, XTB still stands out overall for research, earning 5 stars and a #9 rank out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with ActivTrades’ 4 stars and #27 ranking. If market research is a priority, XTB has the edge in the overall comparison, even though ActivTrades offers a stronger news feed.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to education for beginners, XTB and ActivTrades both give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD learning materials with at least 10 educational pieces, monthly online client webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos plus more than 10 advanced videos. That means both platforms cover the basics and also provide content for traders who want to keep learning as they gain experience.
Even so, XTB comes out ahead overall. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers for the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and ranks #30. For beginners comparing the two, XTB appears to offer the stronger learning experience, especially if you want a wider-rated educational setup with more recognition from industry reviewers.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than ActivTrades. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
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 offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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ActivTrades
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 |
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XTB lets you buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency CFDs, while ActivTrades only offers cryptocurrency CFDs and does not provide access to buy actual crypto.
XTB vs ActivTrades: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers, both offer bank wire transfers and Skrill, only XTB supports PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 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 (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). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.06 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
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