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 | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
If you’re weighing commissions and fees at XTB versus ActivTrades, both are competitively priced, though neither is the absolute cheapest. XTB is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 for Commissions and Fees (ForexBrokers.com), while ActivTrades is rated 4/5 stars and ranks #29 of 63. In head-to-head spreads on EUR/USD, ActivTrades’ 0.98 pips (May 2024) slightly undercuts XTB’s 1.0 pip average (Q4 2023), but XTB can close the gap for high-volume traders via rebates.
XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is being phased out and is mostly limited to elected professionals in the U.K. and Europe (or certain legacy clients). The minimum deposit is 250 in your base currency, and for smaller trade sizes the Standard account tends to be cheaper; at higher volumes, Standard and Pro pricing is similar. XTB’s Lower Spread Group rebates 5%–30% of the spread once you reach monthly volume tiers (from about 20 up to 1,000 lots), helping reduce costs versus peers. Overall pricing is around the industry average, trailing the very lowest-cost brokers.
ActivTrades keeps pricing straightforward with one primary Individual account plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across account types, with the Pro account mainly affecting margin and leverage. There’s no dedicated high‑volume account and no active-trader discounts. Actual costs depend on the asset and platform, and spreads can widen at rollover. In May 2024, ActivTrades’ average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips—slightly better than the industry average but still not the cheapest—earning it a 4/5 star rating and #29/63 ranking for Commissions and Fees, compared with XTB’s 4.5/5 stars and #12/63.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| 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.
Comparing XTB vs ActivTrades for range of investments, XTB offers far more variety with 7,184 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, while ActivTrades lists 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot. XTB also lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks directly on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas ActivTrades supports direct share dealing only on international exchanges, not the U.S. market. For crypto, both brokers provide cryptocurrency CFDs but not actual, delivered crypto. Copy trading is available at ActivTrades, but not at XTB.
Based on range of investments, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks 32nd. Traders who prioritize a larger selection of markets and access to U.S. and international shares may favor XTB, while those who value copy trading alongside a solid CFD lineup may lean toward ActivTrades.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 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) | 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.
XTB vs ActivTrades: both brokers offer free demo accounts, their own in-house trading platforms, Windows desktop software, and web-based platforms. Each lets you place trades directly from charts. The key differences are platform choices and social features: ActivTrades supports copy trading and offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while XTB does not provide copy trading and does not support MT4 or MT5.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #32. In short, choose XTB if you want a highly rated, proprietary platform experience, and pick ActivTrades if you value access to MT4/MT5 and copy trading alongside its own platform.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading on iPhone and Android, with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart drawings included. Neither app supports watchlist syncing across devices and the web, so changes you make in one place won’t carry over automatically. For charting depth, XTB provides 39 technical studies, while ActivTrades offers 30.
In independent ratings, XTB scores 4.5 out of 5 stars for its mobile app and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #19. If you value a wider range of built-in indicators and a higher-rated app, XTB has an edge; if you already trade with ActivTrades, its app still covers the essentials well.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and ActivTrades are closely matched for market research: both brokers publish daily market commentary, stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and include an economic calendar to track key events. Each also offers a sentiment tool that highlights the split between long and short positions. On the flip side, neither broker integrates third‑party suites such as Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre).
The difference shows up in overall quality scores. For research, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades receives 4 stars and ranks #31 out of 63. If you want stronger in-house research depth and presentation, XTB has the edge; if you’re satisfied with daily insights, sentiment data, and an event calendar without added third‑party tools, ActivTrades can still cover the essentials.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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.
Both XTB and ActivTrades make learning to trade accessible for beginners. Each provides a full forex and CFD education library with well over 10 pieces of content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. You’ll also find ongoing support through online client webinars at least once a month, plus 10+ beginner-focused videos that explain trading basics in plain language.
Where they differ is in recognition and overall depth. XTB earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #38. Both also offer 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up, but if you want the most highly rated learning path from day one, XTB gets the edge. ActivTrades remains a solid choice for beginners who value regular webinars and a sizable content library.
| 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 #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
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 81 |
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When comparing online brokers XTB and ActivTrades for cryptocurrency trading, neither supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
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 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | ActivTrades | |
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| 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 | ||
| 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 (SFC 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 SCA 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) | 7184 | 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) | 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 | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 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 | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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) | Yes | 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 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
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