Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs Exness
ActivTrades vs Exness: the differences
| Compare |  ActivTrades |  Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:Unlimited |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
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Key differences
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers SCB, CMVM, FSC.
- Regulators: only Exness offers CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers ETFs, Bonds.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
- Platforms: only ActivTrades offers ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only Exness offers MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal.
- Pricing model: only Exness offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades suits active share and CFD traders who want broad market access with commission free dealing and flexible platform choice for everyday orders. Minimum deposit sits at $0, stock trade fee sits at $0 and retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, so careful risk controls remain essential.
Exness
Exness suits beginners and day traders who want to place stock trades without a dealing charge, with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. Regulators listed are the FCA, CySEC, the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 stated for UK clients.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Account fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.6Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.5Oversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance | 9.5 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | ActivTrades | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 1 of 490 | 45 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 1 of 147 | 19 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 1 of 145 | 17 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 1 of 122 | 15 of 122 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | ActivTrades | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Licences and countries
| Country | ActivTrades | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | |
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 51024 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Sources behind this comparison
ActivTrades
- activtrades.com: 12 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- help.activtrades.com: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026
Exness
- brokerchampion.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-trading.cn.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- exness.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newyorkcityservers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2008 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10at the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing under commission free
- Minimum deposit sits at $0, below eToro at $50
- Funding terms read Free deposits and withdrawals for deposits and withdrawals
Cons
- Retail accounts that lose money sit at 84%, above the CFD median at 72.05%
- Currency conversion on funding costs 0.5% for balances held in other currencies
- Cash interest sits at 3.3%, which limits appeal for cash heavy portfolios
Exness
Pros
- A $0 stock trade fee, with the pricing model read as commission-free and low-fee.
- An inactivity fee of $0, so a dormant balance is not billed.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so moving money costs nothing.
Cons
- Retail leverage is listed at 1:Unlimited, and 70.15% of retail accounts on this site lose money.
- Regulators listed include the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA alongside the FCA and CySEC, so the entity behind an account can differ by market.
- The market list, stocks, forex and cfds, stops short of ETFs and futures, so share investors wanting those should look elsewhere.
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- New traders starting modestly with entry at $0 and practice via crypto, demo account and fractional shares
- Share traders wanting dealing at $0 across stocks, ETFs and forex with platform choice
- CFD traders wanting structured support via email, chat and phone where funding reads Free deposits and withdrawals
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders wanting crypto led dealing with very low cash entry may prefer Kraken at $1
- Traders wanting social and copy features may prefer eToro despite higher entry at $50
Exness
Who it suits
- Beginners and day traders, the audiences the brand names.
- Traders who want a $0 stock trade fee and an inactivity fee of $0 on the same account.
- Desktop and mobile users who want to trade across MT4, MT5 and Exness Terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5.
- eToro, which also covers ETFs and futures beyond the markets listed here.
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge for stock trades?+
Stock trade fee sits at $0 for share dealing. The pricing model is described by commission free, which helps keep ticket costs predictable for equity orders. Spreads and conversion charges can still apply on leveraged trades, so review order previews and statements before dealing.
Is ActivTrades regulated and safe?+
Oversight comes via FCA, SCB and CMVM, including FCA cover alongside other regional entities. Eligible balances carry protection at FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Protection applies under scheme rules and by entity, so confirm which entity serves your account during signup and keep account records.
Exness
What does Exness charge to buy a stock?+
Share dealing runs at a stock trade fee of $0, and the pricing model is listed as commission-free and low-fee. On this site's stock trade fee ranking Exness sits at 1 of 161, so the per-trade cost sits at the cheap end of the brands compared. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed for sitting still. Exness ranks 1 of 56 on this measure, at the top of the table of brands compared. Some rivals charge for unused accounts, so this saves money for anyone who opens an account and leaves it quiet for a while.
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