Two regulated brokers face off: ActivTrades with a proprietary platform and support vs ACY Securities with broad instruments and TradingView integration. The tension centers on regulation, fees, and platform choice.
ActivTrades wins on editorial score over ACY Securities (4.3 vs 4.0), anchored by stronger trust and regulation.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ActivTrades if…
Choose ActivTrades if you prioritize strong regulation and a proprietary platform with volatility protection. You also benefit from a zero minimum deposit, transparent pricing, segregated client funds, no deposit fees, and 24/5 multilingual support.
Choose ACY Securities if…
Choose ACY Securities if you seek broad instrument access, including 2,200+ CFDs and TradingView integration for browser-based trade execution. It offers raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with a $7 round-turn commission and ASIC regulation.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ACY Securities offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | ACY Securities |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ActivTrades rates 4.3/5 and ACY Securities rates 4/5. ActivTrades has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
ACY Securities starts from 0 pips, tighter than ActivTrades's 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, while ACY Securities requires at least $50. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and ACY Securities hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ActivTrades lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while ACY Securities lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ACY Securities charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ActivTrades are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, while ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. ActivTrades has exclusive access to ActivTrader. ACY Securities has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView.
ActivTrades is best for safety & regulation due to FCA licensing, segregated funds, and investor protection.
ACY Securities is best for active traders with raw ECN spreads and 2,200+ instruments.
ACY Securities is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
ActivTrades wins for platform choice with a proprietary ActivTrader and MT4 support.
ActivTrades is best for beginners due to zero minimum deposit and clear pricing.
ACY Securities leads instrument variety with 2,200+ CFDs.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $50 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | ASIC FSA Seychelles |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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