A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and FP Markets 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.
True ECN pricing, all three major platforms, strong ASIC regulation, and IRESS integration for share CFDs - a complete package for active traders.
FP Markets edges ahead with a score of 4.5/5 vs ActivTrades's 4.3/5. 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.
FP Markets offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.5 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
FP Markets has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
FP Markets offers more exclusive platform options: TradingView, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, IRESS.
FP Markets edges out ActivTrades with a higher editorial score (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2005 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Sydney, Australia |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | ASIC CySEC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 TradingView MetaTrader 5 cTrader IRESS |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit FP Markets |
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
True ECN pricing from 0.0 pips + $6 round-turn commission
Supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader - all three major platforms
IRESS platform for direct-access share CFD trading
Strong ASIC and CySEC regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
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
IRESS platform has a monthly fee for lower-volume traders
Customer support primarily oriented toward Australian trading hours
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, FP Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5 for ActivTrades. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and FP Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
FP Markets 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 FP Markets requires at least $100. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and FP Markets 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; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ActivTrades offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while FP Markets offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
FP Markets 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 FP Markets offers MetaTrader 4, TradingView, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, IRESS; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; FP Markets exclusively offers TradingView, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, IRESS.
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