A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and FXTM 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.
CySEC and FCA-regulated broker with broad emerging-market reach, strong copy trading via MyFXBook integration, and a low $10 minimum deposit that makes it accessible to first-time traders.
ActivTrades and FXTM are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads from 0.5 pips vs 1.5 pips for FXTM, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
ActivTrades offers more exclusive platform options: ActivTrader, a proprietary platform.
ActivTrades edges out FXTM with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $10 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 1.5 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA FSCA CySEC FSC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit FXTM |
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
Low $10 minimum deposit on Micro accounts
Strong copy trading via FXTM Invest platform
Extensive education - webinars, video courses, and market analysis
Multilingual support in 20+ languages
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
Standard account spreads are not ECN-competitive
Platform choice limited to MT4 and MT5
Mauritius FSC entity offers less investor protection than FCA/CySEC
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 4.2/5 for FXTM. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and FXTM may each suit different trader profiles.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to FXTM's spreads from 1.5 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 FXTM requires at least $10. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and FXTM 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 FXTM offers up to 1000:1. 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 FXTM offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; FXTM exclusively offers MetaTrader 5.
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