Two regulators, two cost structures, and two platform philosophies define this head to head. The axis of tension lies between platform choice and execution costs.
ActivTrades and Global Prime are closely matched in overall capability. ActivTrades differentiates with its proprietary ActivTrader platform.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ActivTrades if…
Choose ActivTrades if you value a proprietary platform and strong southern European support.
Choose Global Prime if…
Choose Global Prime if you prioritise raw spreads and MT4 plus cTrader access with transparent execution reports.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Global Prime offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.50 pips for ActivTrades, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 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 | Global Prime |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: ActivTrades rates 4.3/5 and Global Prime rates 4.2/5. 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.
Global Prime 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 Global Prime requires at least $200. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and Global Prime 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 Global Prime 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.
Global Prime 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 Global Prime supports cTrader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. ActivTrades has exclusive access to ActivTrader. Global Prime has exclusive access to cTrader.
Equally matched; both show strong regulation and fund segregation.
Global Prime offers raw spreads and true NDD execution, appealing to active traders.
Global Prime is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
ActivTrades wins for platform choice thanks to proprietary ActivTrader.
ActivTrades offers 1000 instruments, far beyond Global Prime's 150.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2010 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $200 |
|---|
| 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 cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | ASIC VFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | cTrader 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
ASIC regulated with published quarterly execution quality reports
Raw spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 round-turn commission
True NDD execution, no internal position matching
MT4 and cTrader available
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
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 deposit
Limited product range, forex and major CFD classes only
No proprietary platform or copy trading
No investor compensation scheme
No 24/5 live chat
No phone support
Support available in limited languages
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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