Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of ActivTrades vs Xtrade, 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 in 2001, ActivTrades is a well-established online broker that brings a sense of security with its two Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. With an additional Tier-2 license, ActivTrades reinforces its credibility. The firm, not publicly traded and not a bank, holds a Trust Score of 81 out of 99, categorizing it as trusted by industry standards. This offers a reassuring level of credibility to those looking to entrust their money with a broker that has a solid regulatory foundation.
Set up in 2003, Xtrade carries a reputation bolstered by one Tier-1 license and another Tier-2 license, marking it as a broker with a respectable level of trust. Although also not publicly traded and not a bank, Xtrade holds a Trust Score of 74 out of 99, placing it in the average risk category. Clients seeking an option that balances reasonable trust with experience might find Xtrade appealing. Both brokers provide opportunities for investment, but ActivTrades edges forward slightly in terms of regulatory assurance and trust score.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades has an edge over Xtrade on pricing clarity and typical spreads. ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and is ranked #29 by ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees, while Xtrade is rated 2.5 stars and ranked #64. ActivTrades’ spreads tend to be slightly better than the industry average (though not the very lowest), and it shares useful data such as a 0.98-pip average on EUR/USD in May 2024. Xtrade does not provide average spread figures, making like-for-like comparisons more difficult.
At ActivTrades, costs depend on the assets you trade and the platform used. There’s one main Individual Account plus Professional and Islamic options; spreads are the same across these account types, with the Professional designation mainly affecting margin requirements. There’s no dedicated high-volume account and no active-trader pricing, and like most brokers, spreads can shift intraday and may widen around rollover.
Bottom line: Based on the available data and third-party rankings, ActivTrades is the more competitive choice for pricing transparency and typical spreads (4 stars; ranked #29), whereas Xtrade’s lower rating and absence of average spread data point to weaker fee competitiveness (2.5 stars; ranked #64).
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing ActivTrades vs Xtrade for range of investments: ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols, while Xtrade lists 482. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts; Xtrade has a slight edge in currency pairs (56 vs 49). Neither broker lets you buy U.S.-listed shares outright, but ActivTrades does provide access to exchange-traded securities on select international markets (such as London), whereas Xtrade does not. Both brokers offer cryptocurrency trading via CFDs (not actual coins). ActivTrades also supports copy trading; Xtrade does not.
For Range of Investments, ActivTrades is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 32nd out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Xtrade’s 3.5 stars and 50th place. Choose ActivTrades if you want more total symbols, international exchange-traded access, and copy trading. Pick Xtrade if your focus is primarily forex and you want a slightly larger list of currency pairs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 ActivTrades vs Xtrade for trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms, and web-based trading with the ability to place trades directly from charts. ActivTrades stands out with a Windows desktop platform plus full MetaTrader support (MT4 and MT5), along with copy trading. Xtrade does not offer a Windows download, MT4, MT5, or copy trading, focusing instead on its in-house and browser-based experience.
For platform quality and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates ActivTrades 4 stars and ranks it #32 out of 63 brokers, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #59. If you want desktop software, MetaTrader compatibility, and copy trading, ActivTrades is the stronger fit. If you prefer a straightforward web platform and a proprietary setup, Xtrade may suit your needs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
ActivTrades vs Xtrade: both brokers offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, but their features differ. ActivTrades includes stock and forex price alerts, while Xtrade does not. Neither app supports watchlist symbol syncing. Charting is stronger on ActivTrades, with 30 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, and auto-saving for drawings. Xtrade does not list mobile technical studies and lacks trendline drawing and auto-save for chart annotations.
In ratings, both apps earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, yet their standings diverge: ActivTrades ranks 19th out of 63 brokers, while Xtrade ranks 54th, according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want alerts and richer charting tools on your phone, ActivTrades is likely the better fit; if you only need basic trading access on iPhone or Android, Xtrade may still do the job.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
ActivTrades vs Xtrade: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and provide an economic calendar. Neither platform includes research tools from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The key difference is sentiment data: ActivTrades offers a sentiment-based trading tool that shows long/short positioning across instruments, while Xtrade does not.
In independent assessments, ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want sentiment insights alongside news and calendars, ActivTrades has the edge. If you only need straightforward research basics—daily commentary, quality news, and an economic calendar—Xtrade covers those needs.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Choosing between ActivTrades and Xtrade for forex and CFD education? For beginners, ActivTrades stands out: it runs client webinars at least monthly and provides 10+ beginner videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you progress. Xtrade, by contrast, does not host monthly educational webinars and does not meet the 10-video mark for either beginner or advanced topics, so its in-house learning path is shorter.
That gap shows in the independent ratings. ActivTrades earns 4 stars for Education and ranks 38th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks 46th. If you value structured videos and regular webinars to build skills from day one, ActivTrades is the more education-focused choice, whereas Xtrade may suit traders who prefer to learn elsewhere.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that ActivTrades is better than Xtrade. ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
ActivTrades is a long-standing brand that offers a proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, and support for the award-winning TradingView and MetaTrader (MT4 and MT5) platforms. ActivTrades also delivers a selection of custom add-ons, indicators, and trading tools for traders who prefer to use MetaTrader. Drawbacks for trading with ActivTrades include a smaller selection of tradeable symbols and fewer educational resources than what’s available from the best forex brokers.
| Feature |
ActivTrades
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Xtrade
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 |
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In this ActivTrades vs Xtrade comparison, both online brokers do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
ActivTrades vs Xtrade: ActivTrades does not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal, but offers Skrill and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (Visa/Mastercard not specified), while Xtrade also lacks ACH/SEPA and its support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires 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 | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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) | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1267 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 49 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | N/A | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | ActivTrades | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 81 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Xtrade Review |
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