ActivTrades vs ADS Securities Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and ADS Securities across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesFCA-regulated UK broker with 23 years of history, SMSG membership, and a proprietary ActivTrader platform featuring built-in volatility protection - strong in southern European markets.
VS
Score 4.3 / 5
2 bonusesUAE-headquartered broker regulated by FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market) and FCA, providing institutional-quality execution and capital markets access to GCC institutional and high-net-worth retail traders.
Our Verdict
Too close to call
ActivTrades and ADS Securities are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.5 pips.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
ActivTrades has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
ADS Securities offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.3/5, but ActivTrades requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $2000 for ADS Securities), making it more accessible for new traders.
ActivTrades vs ADS Securities: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $2,000 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 200:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA FSRA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit ADS Securities |
ActivTrades vs ADS Securities Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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
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
FSRA (ADGM) and FCA dual regulation - institutional-grade UAE framework
Institutional prime brokerage liquidity for tight spreads
Multi-asset including equities and fixed income
FIX API available for algorithmic and professional clients
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
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
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
$2,000 minimum deposit - not accessible to entry-level retail traders
Primary focus on institutional and HNW clients; limited retail tools
Less suitable for traders seeking educational support or copy trading
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
ActivTrades vs ADS Securities: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
ActivTrades
criteria wins
1
ADS Securities
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | ADS Securities |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 |
ActivTrades vs ADS Securities: Frequently Asked Questions
ActivTrades and ADS Securities share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Both ActivTrades and ADS Securities offer spreads starting from 0.5 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Consider commissions and account types when evaluating total trading costs.
ActivTrades has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and ADS Securities hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: ActivTrades has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; ActivTrades offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while ADS Securities offers up to 200:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and ADS Securities offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; ADS Securities exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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