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 are both fairly competitive on commissions and fees, but XTB comes out a little ahead overall. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Its pricing is mostly spread-based, with a Standard account available to most retail traders and a commission-based Professional account limited to eligible professionals in the U.K. and Europe. In Q4 2023, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip. For active traders, XTB also offers its Lower Spread Group, which can rebate part of the spread when monthly trading volume reaches certain levels.
ActivTrades earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #21 out of 36 brokers for Commissions and Fees. It offers a main Individual Account, plus Professional, Islamic, and demo accounts, but it does not have a special pricing plan for high-volume traders. Its fees depend on the market you trade, and spreads can change during the trading day. ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024, which is slightly better than XTB’s average, but it does not offer an active trader discount program.
In simple terms, XTB may be the better fit if you want the chance to lower costs through higher trading volume, while ActivTrades may appeal if you want straightforward account choices and slightly tight average spreads. Both brokers are around the industry average, but XTB has the stronger overall rating and ranking for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.92 |
| 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.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than ActivTrades, with 10,900 tradeable symbols compared with 1,267. It also provides more forex pairs, with 71 available versus 49 at ActivTrades. Both brokers let clients trade forex as CFDs, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports buying actual delivered crypto.
When it comes to share investing, XTB stands out because it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while ActivTrades only offers international exchange traded securities and does not provide U.S.-listed shares. ActivTrades does have copy trading, which XTB does not. Overall, XTB is rated 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 36 for Range of Investments, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranked #25.
| Feature |
XTB
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 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 and ActivTrades both give traders a free demo account, plus their own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform you can use in your browser. Each broker also lets you trade directly from a price chart, which can make placing orders faster and easier. For trading platforms and tools, XTB scores higher overall, with a 4.5-star rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
The biggest difference is that ActivTrades offers more platform choices for active traders, including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while XTB does not offer those options. That makes ActivTrades a stronger pick for traders who want MT4 or MT5, or who like following other traders. Still, if you prefer a simpler setup with a highly rated proprietary platform and strong web and desktop access, XTB stands out as the better-rated choice in this category, while ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and ranks #26 out of 36.
| 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 apps for iPhone and Android, and each includes price alerts, trendline drawing tools, and auto-saving for chart drawings. Neither broker offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and online account, so changes made in one place do not carry over to the other. For everyday mobile trading, both apps cover the basics well and should feel familiar to most users.
The main difference is in charting depth and overall ratings. XTB gives mobile traders 39 technical studies, compared with 30 at ActivTrades, and it also earns a higher score for Mobile Trading Apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars versus 4 stars for ActivTrades. On ForexBrokers.com, XTB ranks #8 out of 36 brokers in this category, while ActivTrades ranks #21, making XTB the stronger choice for traders who want a more feature-rich mobile app.
| 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 both give traders access to daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with key global events. Neither broker includes research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, so their research offering is fairly similar at a basic level.
The main difference is in overall research quality and ranking. XTB earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and is ranked #9 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #26. For traders who want stronger market research, XTB has the edge.
| 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.
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’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 |
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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 | 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) | 10900 | 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 | 0.92 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 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 | 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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | ActivTrades Review |
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