A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and RoboForex 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.
IFSC Belize-regulated broker with a genuine ECN/STP execution model, multiple platform options including cTrader, and a broad 12,000+ instrument range that goes beyond most forex-focused competitors.
ActivTrades edges ahead with a score of 4.3/5 vs RoboForex's 4/5. 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.
RoboForex 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.
RoboForex has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
RoboForex offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
ActivTrades edges out RoboForex with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 3.6 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Belize City, Belize |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $10 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $20/lot |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 2000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FSCA CySEC IFSC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 cTrader Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit RoboForex |
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
12,000+ instruments including real stocks and ETFs
cTrader available with full Level II and cAlgo
Multiple account types from Cent to ECN
R Trader proprietary platform with built-in analytics
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
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
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize - offshore, limited protection
ECN commission of $20 round-turn is higher than IC Markets ($7)
Very high leverage (2000:1) amplifies risk significantly
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | RoboForex |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | 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 |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4/5 for RoboForex. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and RoboForex may each suit different trader profiles.
RoboForex 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 RoboForex requires at least $10. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ActivTrades holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMVM, SCB), providing stronger investor protections. RoboForex 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; 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 RoboForex offers up to 2000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
RoboForex charges $20 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 RoboForex offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; RoboForex exclusively offers MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary Web/Mobile.
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