A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and AMarkets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FCA-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.
SVG FSA-regulated broker with genuine ECN conditions on MT4, MT5, and cTrader, a well-regarded PAMM system, and an established following in Russia, Ukraine, and Central Asia.
ActivTrades edges ahead with a score of 4.3/5 vs AMarkets's 3.8/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
AMarkets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.5 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
ActivTrades has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
AMarkets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
ActivTrades offers more exclusive platform options: ActivTrader, a proprietary platform.
ActivTrades edges out AMarkets with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 3.8/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 3.4 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 3000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | SVGFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit AMarkets |
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
MT4, MT5, and cTrader all available
Competitive $6 round-turn ECN commission
Mature PAMM platform with full performance transparency
No inactivity fee
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
SVG FSA registration only - no meaningful retail investor protection
No EU or Tier 1 licensed entity
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a risk amplifier
No top-tier regulatory licence
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | AMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 3.8/5 for AMarkets. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and AMarkets may each suit different trader profiles.
AMarkets offers tighter spreads starting from 0 pips, compared to ActivTrades's spreads from 0.5 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ActivTrades has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while AMarkets requires at least $100. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ActivTrades holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMVM, SCB), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
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 AMarkets offers up to 3000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
AMarkets charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader and AMarkets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; AMarkets exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, cTrader.
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