Overall Rating: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5.0)

ActivTrades is a UK-headquartered forex and CFD broker established in 2001, offering trading across a wide range of markets including forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. Known for its strong FCA regulation, advanced proprietary platforms, and client fund protection up to £1 million, ActivTrades is positioned as a secure and feature-rich broker for serious traders. This ActivTrades review covers its platforms, pricing, regulatory standing, and whether it’s the right fit for your trading strategy.

Key Features

ActivTrades offers a comprehensive trading experience with both MetaTrader access and its own advanced platform.

• Trading Platforms:
  • MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
  • ActivTrader: Proprietary web and mobile platform with 14 chart types, sentiment tools, and risk management features
• Instruments: Trade over 1,000 assets, including forex pairs, global equities, ETFs, indices, precious metals, oil, and cryptocurrencies
• Account Types: Single account with customisable features for retail or professional clients
• Smart Tools: Access to SmartForecast, SmartPattern, SmartCalculator, and SmartLines plug-ins for MT4/MT5

Regulation and Security

ActivTrades is one of the most trusted brokers in the UK and EU, offering a high level of client protection.

• FCA Regulated (UK) – FRN 434413
• CSSF Regulated (Luxembourg) – For EU clients
• SCB Regulated (Bahamas) – For international clients
• Client Fund Segregation: All client funds held in segregated accounts at top-tier banks
• Negative Balance Protection: Standard for all accounts
• Additional Insurance: Up to £1 million extra protection per client via Lloyd’s of London
• FSCS Coverage: UK clients protected up to £85,000 in the event of insolvency

Pricing and Costs

ActivTrades offers tight spreads and commission-free trading on many instruments, with optional commission-based models for professionals.

• Spreads:
  • Forex: From 0.5 pips (EUR/USD average ~0.8 pips)
  • Indices: From 0.23 points (e.g., DAX 30)
• Commissions:
  • Shares: From $0.02 per share, minimum $1
  • Forex/CFDs: Commission-free or custom commission for pro setups
• Minimum Deposit: $500
• Deposit & Withdrawal Fees: Free for most methods
• Inactivity Fee: £10/month after 12 months of inactivity

Educational Resources and Customer Support

ActivTrades provides extensive education and multilingual support, especially strong for beginners and intermediate traders.

• Education:
  • Webinars, eBooks, video tutorials, live trading sessions, and platform guides
• Market Research: Daily technical and fundamental analysis, economic calendar, and blog
• Customer Support:
  • Available 24/5 via live chat, email, and phone
  • Multilingual support in 14+ languages

Risk Management Tools

ActivTrades offers powerful tools across its platforms to help traders manage risk and volatility effectively.

• Risk Orders: Includes stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stops, and guaranteed stop-loss orders
• Volatility Alerts: Built into the ActivTrader platform
• Leverage:
  • Retail EU/UK: Up to 1:30
  • Professional: Up to 1:400, subject to qualification
• Risk Analytics: MT4/MT5 plug-ins for margin, trade size, and correlation analysis

Pros and Cons

Pros

• FCA, CSSF, and SCB-regulated with high financial transparency
• Client protection up to £1 million
• Proprietary ActivTrader platform with advanced tools
• Free and powerful MT4/MT5 plug-ins
• Extensive educational and research content

Cons

• Higher minimum deposit than some beginner brokers
• No social or copy trading platform
• Limited crypto CFD selection compared to competitors

Conclusion: Is ActivTrades the Right Choice?

ActivTrades is a highly secure and well-equipped broker offering premium tools, strong regulation, and advanced platforms. With MT4, MT5, and its own ActivTrader suite, it appeals to both traditional and tech-savvy traders. Its £1 million insurance, FCA regulation, and broad market access make it ideal for traders who value safety and execution quality.

For traders seeking a trusted, professional-grade broker with robust risk protection and competitive pricing, ActivTrades stands out.