ActivTrades Review
FCA Regulated · Since 2001
MT4 · MT5 · ActivTrader
1,000+ Instruments
Leverage up to 1:400
ActivTrades at a Glance — Brand Profile & Stats
Who Is ActivTrades?
ActivTrades is a London-based FX & CFD broker founded in 2001, serving 100K+ clients across 140+ countries.
- 20+ years in the market
- FCA-regulated, UK-headquartered
- Known for its ActivTrader platform
Why it matters: A 2001 founding date and FCA licence put ActivTrades among the more established, better-regulated retail brokers.
Trustpilot & Reputation
★ 3.9 / 5 on Trustpilot from 1,250+ reviews, 72% rated 5-star.
- Praised: platform, regulation, support
- Criticised: occasional fee/withdrawal issues
Honest take: A solid majority-5-star score — read recent reviews on fees and service before depositing.
Account Types
A focused account line-up:
- Individual — standard retail
- Professional — 1:400 + cashback
- Demo — free practice
- Islamic — swap-free
Regulation & Safety
Multi-jurisdiction, tier-1 included:
- 🇬🇧 FCA (434413)
- 🇧🇸 SCB Bahamas · 🇱🇺 CSSF Luxembourg
- Segregated funds + enhanced protection
Why it matters: FCA regulation plus segregated accounts and supplementary fund protection make ActivTrades strong on safety.
Platforms, Markets & Trading Tools
MT4 & MT5
Full MetaTrader support:
- 7 MT4 + 2 MT5 servers
- EAs, indicators & algos
- Desktop, web & mobile
Why it matters: Robust MT4/MT5 infrastructure means reliable execution for EA and manual traders alike.
ActivTrader Platform
The sleek proprietary platform:
- TradingView-powered charts
- Progressive Trailing Stops
- Web & mobile, modern UI
Why it matters: ActivTrader pairs TradingView charts with smart order tools — a genuine step up from stock MetaTrader.
Markets & Instruments
Broad CFD coverage:
- Forex — major, minor & exotic pairs
- Indices & commodities
- Shares & ETFs (CFDs)
Tools & Education
Research & learning:
- Market analysis & SmartTools
- Economic calendar & signals
- Webinars & education
Top ActivTrades Alternatives
Exness
Huge volumes, instant withdrawals, high leverage.
Pick if: you want fast payouts and tight pricing. Read our full Exness review →
IG
FCA-regulated, 17,000+ markets, long track record.
Pick if: you want maximum market breadth. Read our full IG review →
XM
Global broker, strong education & bonuses.
Pick if: you value education and promotions. Read our full XM review →
Pepperstone
Fast execution; MT4/5, cTrader & TradingView.
Pick if: you want low-cost algo trading. Read our full Pepperstone review →
ActivTrades Account Types Explained
Individual Account
Standard retail account.
- Spreads from ~0.5 pip
- Up to 1:30 leverage (retail)
- Full instrument access
Professional Account
For eligible pro traders.
- Up to 1:400 leverage
- Cashback & account manager
- Eligibility criteria apply
Honest take: Pro status removes retail protections — only suitable for experienced, well-capitalised traders.
Demo Account
Risk-free practice.
- Virtual funds, live prices
- Test ActivTrader & MetaTrader
- No real-money risk
Islamic Account
Sharia-compliant option.
- No swap/rollover interest
- Available on eligible accounts
- Subject to approval
Pros & Cons of ActivTrades
Pros
- Tier-1 FCA regulation (since 2001)
- Enhanced/supplementary fund protection
- MT4, MT5 & sleek ActivTrader
- TradingView-powered charts
- Spreads from 0.5 pip
- 100K+ clients, 140+ countries
Cons
- Retail leverage capped at 1:30
- US clients not accepted
- 1:400 only via Pro (criteria apply)
- No cTrader
- Some fee/withdrawal complaints
Bottom line: A well-regulated, platform-strong broker — excellent for traders who value FCA oversight, fund protection and the ActivTrader/TradingView experience.
ActivTrades Fees, Spreads & Pricing
ActivTrades uses competitive spread-based pricing with no separate commission on most retail accounts.
| Item | ActivTrades |
|---|---|
| EUR/USD spread | from ~0.5 pip |
| Commission | none on standard CFDs |
| Leverage | 1:30 retail · 1:400 pro |
| Deposit/withdrawal | cards, bank wire, e-wallets |
| Inactivity | may apply after dormancy |
Why it matters: Spread-only pricing keeps costs simple; check the exact spread for your instrument and watch the inactivity fee on dormant accounts.
ActivTrades vs Exness vs IG
How does ActivTrades compare with two popular brokers? Read our full Exness review and IG review for the detail behind this table, or compare with Pepperstone and XM.
| Metric | ActivTrades | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2008 | 1974 |
| Regulation | FCA, SCB, CSSF | CySEC, FCA* | FCA, ASIC |
| Own platform | ActivTrader | Exness Terminal | IG platform |
| Instruments | 1,000+ | 100+ | 17,000+ |
| Trustpilot | 3.9/5 | 4.0/5 | 4.0/5 |
Verdict: IG wins on sheer market breadth; Exness on withdrawal speed; ActivTrades on platform quality (TradingView) and enhanced fund protection. All three are well-regulated.
If you specifically want another UK-regulated broker, also compare our ATFX review, LMAX review and Admirals review.
Why Choose ActivTrades as Your Trading Partner?
ActivTrades is a London-based, FCA-regulated broker founded in 2001, combining MT4, MT5 and its sleek, TradingView-powered ActivTrader platform across 1,000+ instruments. It adds segregated funds and enhanced account protection.
Retail leverage is capped at 1:30 and US residents aren't accepted, but for traders who value strong regulation, fund safety and a genuinely good proprietary platform, ActivTrades is a high-quality choice.
Restricted Countries
ActivTrades does not onboard clients from sanctioned jurisdictions and certain regulated markets. Typically not accepted:
ActivTrades does not accept US clients; higher leverage requires Professional status. Verify eligibility with support before funding.
Video Guides & Reviews
Frequently Asked Questions