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Broker Comparison

ActivTrades vs Coinbase

Compare ActivTrades and Coinbase side by side: fees, regulation, platforms.

ActivTrades

ActivTrades

Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads

ActivTrades is a multi-asset CFD and spread betting broker founded in 2001, regulated by the FCA, offering fo…

VS
Coinbase

Coinbase

Crypto investors seeking regulated access

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet acr…

Head-to-head comparison

ActivTrades vs Coinbase
Feature ActivTrades Coinbase
Minimum deposit - -
Stock trading fee $0.02 per share ($1 min) for US share CFDs; percentage-based commission for European shares (see broker's current schedule); 0.10% (min £1) for UK shares -
Regulators FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC, BACEN, CVM FinCEN, CFTC, FCA, CSSF
Best for Forex and CFD traders seeking tight spreads Crypto investors seeking regulated access
Markets & account
Stocks
-
ETFs
-
Forex
-
CFDs
-
Crypto
-
Bonds
-
Futures
-
Spread Betting
-
Demo Account
-
Margin
-
Savings Vaults
-
Multi Currency
-

Pros & cons

ActivTrades

ActivTrades

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
Coinbase

Coinbase

Pros

  • Regulated in the US (FinCEN, CFTC), UK (FCA), and EU (CSSF MiCA licence)
  • Publicly listed on Nasdaq with audited financial disclosures
  • Approximately 98% of digital assets held in cold storage
  • Advanced Trade provides a maker-taker fee structure with rates as low as 0.00% maker
  • Access to 350+ cryptocurrencies and 550+ trading pairs
  • Staking available for ETH, SOL and other assets with in-app rewards
  • Coinbase Wallet offers self-custody and access to DeFi and dApps
  • Coinbase One subscription removes eligible trading fees up to monthly limits

Cons

  • Simple interface fees are high - spread plus variable fee can exceed 1% for small purchases
  • No stocks, ETFs, forex, or CFD products
  • No demo account
  • Staking carries a significant commission on rewards (approximately 25% for Ethereum)
  • May 2025 data breach affected approximately 70,000 customers via bribed support contractors
  • Advanced products and leverage remain limited compared to some global crypto exchanges
  • Crypto assets are not protected by FDIC or SIPC schemes
ActivTrades

ActivTrades

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.

Visit ActivTrades Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Coinbase

Coinbase

Coinbase is a US-based crypto exchange offering spot trading, futures, staking, and a self-custody wallet across 350+ cryptocurrencies, with regulated access in the US, UK, and EU.

Visit Coinbase Read review

Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

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