ActivTrades vs IG Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and IG 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
IG invented spread betting in 1974 and remains the benchmark for experienced UK and European traders: unmatched market breadth, a genuinely excellent proprietary platform, and regulatory credibility that few brokers can match - at the cost of slightly higher charges than specialist ECN desks.
Our Verdict
IG winsby 0.5 pts
IG edges ahead with a score of 4.8/5 vs ActivTrades's 4.3/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
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
Recommended
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads from 0.5 pips vs 0.6 pips for IG, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
ActivTrades has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.5 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
IG offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
IG edges out ActivTrades with a higher editorial score (4.8/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs IG: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 5.0 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2001 | 1974 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA ASIC DFSA CMVM BaFin Finansinspektionen Finanstilsynet FMA CBI KNF Finanstilsynet |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit IG |
ActivTrades vs IG 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
LSE-listed with FCA and ASIC regulation - among the most credible regulatory stacks in retail CFDs
19,000+ markets including weekend crypto, volatility indices, and EM pairs - genuine breadth, not a padded count
Proprietary platform with ProRealTime charts, Reuters news, and DMA equity routing built in
Spread betting available for UK clients - tax-free gains on the same account used for CFD trading
No minimum deposit and no deposit or withdrawal fee on standard methods
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
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
Market maker on forex - not suitable for scalpers who need sub-0.1 pip raw ECN spreads
Inactivity fee of £12/month kicks in after 24 months with no trades
Onboarding verification is slower than smaller or offshore brokers
Customer support quality drops outside UK business hours
ActivTrades vs IG: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
ActivTrades
criteria win
0
IG
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| 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 IG: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, IG ranks higher with a score of 4.8/5 vs 4.3/5 for ActivTrades. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and IG may each suit different trader profiles.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to IG's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither ActivTrades nor IG requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and IG 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: 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 IG offers up to 30:1. 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 IG offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; IG exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView.
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Score 4.3 / 5
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