Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs FOREX.com
ActivTrades vs FOREX.com: the differences
| Compare |  ActivTrades |  FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $100 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, BondsCovers more | Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | FCA, NFA/CFTC, ASIC |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | 74% |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Not confirmed |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Investor protection (FSCS up to GBP 85,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers SCB, CMVM, FSC.
- Regulators: only FOREX.com offers NFA/CFTC, ASIC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $100.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers Stocks, ETFs, Bonds.
- Features: only ActivTrades offers Fractional shares.
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.
FOREX.com
FOREX.com suits UK retail traders who want one commission-free account covering forex, CFDs and crypto under a named UK regulator. The trade-off is the price of entry: a $100 minimum deposit sits well above the €4.64 median across the brands compared here.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherAccount fee sits at $0 so holding costs stay contained | 8.3Commission-free pricing with a 1.2% EUR/USD spread, though the $100 minimum deposit is steep against the €4.64 site median. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherCoverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex across shares and leveraged products | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.5Oversight includes FCA, SCB and CMVM with FCA cover for reassurance | 9.8Higher |
Pick ActivTrades if, pick FOREX.com if
Pick ActivTrades if cost, offer, minimum deposit, and markets matter most.
Pick FOREX.com if trust matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | ActivTrades | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 1 of 147 | 48 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 1 of 145 | 46 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 1 of 122 | 39 of 122 |
Where these facts come from
ActivTrades
- activtrades.com: 12 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- help.activtrades.com: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026
FOREX.com
- compareforexbrokers.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | FOREX.com | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $100above the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | 74%above the median | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.45% |
| EUR/USD spread | Not confirmed | 1.2%highest quarter | 0.65% |
Median across 134 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
FOREX.com
Pros
- Commission-free pricing means the 1.2% EUR/USD spread is the cost you can actually see before you trade
- Regulated in the UK by the FCA, in the US by the NFA/CFTC and in Australia by the ASIC
- UK clients have investor protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind the firm
Cons
- The $100 minimum deposit sits above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage, so entry is the main hurdle
- Retail accounts lose money at 74%, above the 70.15% median for the brands compared here
- The range stops at forex, CFDs and crypto, without the shares, ETFs and futures that appear in stocks, etfs and forex
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
FOREX.com
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want one commission-free account across forex, CFDs and crypto
- Traders who want a demo account to size up the platform before funding the $100 deposit
- People who put weight on a named UK regulator and FSCS up to GBP 85,000
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone starting with a small sum, since CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5 against a $100 entry here
- Share and ETF investors, because eToro's range runs to stocks, etfs and forex
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.
FOREX.com
What does it cost to trade forex on FOREX.com?+
Pricing is commission-free, so the cost sits in the spread rather than a separate deal charge. The euro against the dollar carries a spread of 1.2%, and that figure is the one to watch if you trade often or in size. The commission-free model runs across the account, not on one pair alone.
How much do I need to deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That is a clear step up from the €4.64 median across the brands compared here, and well above $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage. Plan the funding before you open, because the threshold applies at the account level.
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