ActivTrades Review

Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads

FCA CMVM SCB FSC BACEN CVM

Founded 2001 · United Kingdom

Why investors choose this broker

FCA-regulated with FSCS coverage up to £85,000
Additional private client insurance of up to £1,000,000
No commissions on forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, and bonds
Ultra-fast execution averaging 4 milliseconds

Review summary

ActivTrades is a multi-asset CFD and spread betting broker founded in 2001, regulated by the FCA, offering forex, indices, stocks, commodities, ETFs, and bonds across MetaTrader 4/5, ActivTrader, and TradingView.

Pros

FCA-regulated with FSCS coverage up to £85,000
Additional private client insurance of up to £1,000,000
No commissions on forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, and bonds
Ultra-fast execution averaging 4 milliseconds
Choice of MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and TradingView
Spread betting available for UK and Irish clients (tax-free profits)
No minimum deposit requirement
Free demo account with virtual funds

Cons

Inactivity fee of £10 per month after 52 weeks
$12.50 fee on USD bank wire withdrawals
No copy trading or social trading features
Weekend customer support unavailable
No ISA or SIPP account types
Limited educational content compared to some competitors
Crypto CFDs unavailable under FCA entity

Company background

ActivTrades was founded in 2001 by Alex Pusco as a stockbrokerage in Switzerland and relocated its headquarters to London in 2005. The broker has grown into a multi-asset firm serving retail and professional clients across Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, with offices in London, Milan, and Sofia. ActivTrades is independent with no parent group. The proprietary ActivTrader platform launched in 2016, complementing the existing MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 offering, and TradingView integration was later added.

Fees and pricing

ActivTrades charges no commissions on forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, or bond CFDs; these instruments use spread-based pricing. The EUR/USD target spread is 0.5 pips. Stock CFDs carry a commission: $0.02 per share ($1 minimum) for US shares, a percentage-based rate for European shares, and 0.10% (£1 minimum) for UK shares. There is no account opening fee, no deposit fee, and no maintenance fee. A $12.50 fee applies to USD bank wire withdrawals.

An inactivity fee of £10 per month applies after 52 consecutive weeks with no trading activity if a balance remains. A 0.3% currency conversion fee is charged on cross-currency profit and loss settlements. Overnight swap charges apply to leveraged positions held past the daily rollover, with triple swap rates on Wednesdays for forex and precious metals.

Regulation and safety

ActivTrades PLC is authorised by the FCA in the UK under licence 434413. UK clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. ActivTrades also provides a private insurance policy of up to £1,000,000 per client, underwritten at Lloyd's of London by QBE Underwriting Limited, at no extra cost. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at Tier 1 banks including Barclays, Lloyds, Citibank, and RBS. Additional regulatory entities are regulated by CMVM in Portugal, SCB in the Bahamas, FSC in Mauritius, and BACEN and CVM in Brazil.

Platform experience

ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the proprietary ActivTrader platform, and TradingView. ActivTrader is available as a web and mobile application for iOS and Android, featuring market sentiment tools, trailing stops, and one-click trading. MetaTrader 4 supports Expert Advisors and automated strategies; MetaTrader 5 adds extended timeframes and an economic calendar. A free demo account with virtual funds is available. Execution speed averages around 4 milliseconds. Spread betting accounts are available to UK and Irish clients with tax-free profits under current rules.

Pros and cons

ActivTrades' main strengths are FCA regulation, FSCS coverage, an enhanced £1,000,000 private insurance policy, commission-free pricing on most instruments, fast execution, and a multi-platform environment covering MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and TradingView. The main drawbacks are the inactivity fee after 52 weeks, a $12.50 fee on USD wire withdrawals, no copy or social trading tools, limited weekend support, and the absence of ISA or SIPP accounts.

Ready to open an account at ActivTrades?

Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

ActivTrades charges no commissions on forex, indices, commodities, ETFs, or bonds; stock CFDs carry a commission starting at $0.02 per share. An inactivity fee of £10 per month applies after 52 weeks with no trading activity.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	No commission on indices, commodities, ETFs, bonds; spread-based pricing
Margin	Overnight swap charges apply; triple rate on Wednesdays for forex and precious metals
Account	No account opening or maintenance fee
Deposit	No deposit fee
Inactivity	£10 per month after 52 consecutive weeks of inactivity (requires remaining balance)
Withdrawal	No fee for most methods; $12.50 for USD bank wire transfers
Fx Conversion	0.3% currency conversion fee on cross-currency trade profit/loss settlement
Spread Betting	Spread-based pricing; no commission

Trading platform & features

Platforms

ActivTrader
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
TradingView
Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

ActivTrades operates through entities regulated by the FCA in the UK, CMVM in Portugal, SCB in the Bahamas, and FSC in Mauritius, with Brazilian entities overseen by BACEN and CVM. UK clients benefit from FSCS coverage up to £85,000 plus an additional private insurance policy of up to £1,000,000 underwritten at Lloyd's of London.

Broker FAQs

Is ActivTrades safe?

ActivTrades is regulated by the FCA in the UK. UK clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 and by an additional private insurance policy of up to £1,000,000 underwritten at Lloyd's of London. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at Tier 1 banks.

Is ActivTrades a scam?

No. ActivTrades has been operating since 2001 and is authorised by the FCA in the UK under licence number 434413. It also holds regulatory licences from CMVM, SCB, FSC, BACEN, and CVM.

Is ActivTrades regulated and by whom?

Yes. ActivTrades entities are regulated by the FCA in the UK, CMVM in Portugal, SCB in the Bahamas, FSC in Mauritius, and BACEN and CVM in Brazil.

Does ActivTrades keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. ActivTrades holds client funds in segregated accounts at Tier 1 banks including Barclays, Lloyds, Citibank, and RBS, separate from the company's own funds.

What happens to my money if ActivTrades goes bankrupt?

UK clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. In addition, ActivTrades provides a private insurance policy of up to £1,000,000 per client underwritten at Lloyd's of London. Client funds are held in segregated accounts.

What products does ActivTrades offer?

ActivTrades offers forex, stock CFDs, index CFDs, commodity CFDs, ETF CFDs, bond CFDs, and spread betting. Spread betting is available to UK and Irish clients.

Does ActivTrades offer forex trading?

Yes. ActivTrades offers 48 or more currency pairs including majors, minors, and exotics. Forex is priced on a spread-only basis with no commissions.

Does ActivTrades offer spread betting?

Yes. Spread betting is available to UK and Irish clients. Profits from spread betting are currently tax-free in the UK and Ireland. The same instruments and platforms are available as on standard CFD accounts.

Does ActivTrades offer stock trading?

ActivTrades offers stock CFDs, not direct share ownership. Over 1,000 share CFDs are available across US, European, and UK markets. Stock CFDs carry a commission fee; other instruments are commission-free.

Does ActivTrades offer a demo account?

Yes. ActivTrades provides a free demo account with virtual funds, allowing users to practise trading on the ActivTrader and MetaTrader platforms without risking real capital.

What does ActivTrades charge for forex trading?

ActivTrades charges no commissions on forex. Pricing is spread-based, with a stated target spread of 0.5 pips on EUR/USD under normal market conditions.

What does ActivTrades charge for stock CFDs?

Stock CFDs carry a commission of $0.02 per share ($1 minimum) for US shares, a percentage-based rate for European shares, and 0.10% (£1 minimum) for UK shares.

Does ActivTrades charge a withdrawal fee?

ActivTrades does not charge withdrawal fees for most payment methods. A $12.50 fee applies to USD bank wire transfers.

Does ActivTrades charge an inactivity fee?

Yes. A fee of £10 per month is charged if the account holds a remaining balance and no trades have been executed for 52 consecutive weeks.

What is ActivTrades' currency conversion fee?

ActivTrades charges a 0.3% currency conversion fee, applied when profit and loss from an instrument is settled in a currency different from the account's base currency.

Does ActivTrades have a mobile app?

Yes. ActivTrades provides iOS and Android mobile apps for the ActivTrader platform. MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 mobile apps are also available through their respective publishers.

Is ActivTrades good for beginners?

ActivTrades offers a free demo account, the beginner-friendly ActivTrader platform, and TradingView integration. However, its product range is limited to CFDs and spread betting, which are complex leveraged instruments. The broker provides webinars and market analysis but has limited structured educational courses.

Is ActivTrades good for long-term investing?

ActivTrades does not offer direct share ownership, ISAs, or SIPPs. Its products are primarily CFDs and spread betting, which carry overnight financing charges and are not typically used for long-term investing. Traders with a shorter horizon or who actively manage positions may find it more suitable.

Bottom line

ActivTrades suits users who want a regulated CFD and spread betting broker with tight forex spreads, commission-free pricing on most instruments, fast execution, and a broad platform choice including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, and TradingView. It may not suit users who want direct share ownership, long-term investment accounts such as an ISA or SIPP, copy trading, or access to cryptocurrencies under an FCA-regulated entity.

ActivTrades

Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads

Open Account

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.