ActivTrades vs Swissquote Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and Swissquote 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
Score 4.2 / 5
2 bonusesSwiss banking heritage with exceptional fund security, the broadest asset range in retail trading, and FINMA oversight - though minimum deposits are high.
Our Verdict
Too close to call0.1 pts apart
ActivTrades and Swissquote are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.2/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
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 1.7 pips for Swissquote, 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
Swissquote offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 5, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
ActivTrades edges out Swissquote with a higher editorial score (4.3/5 vs 4.2/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
ActivTrades vs Swissquote: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 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▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Gland, Switzerland |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $1,120 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 1.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 100:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA DFSA FINMA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit Swissquote |
ActivTrades vs Swissquote 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
Swiss banking heritage with FINMA regulation and bank-level fund security
Broadest multi-asset range including real stocks, bonds, and options
Listed on the Swiss stock exchange (SIX)
FCA and DFSA regulated for UK and UAE clients
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
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
Very high minimum deposit (CHF 1,000, approximately $1,120)
Spreads wider than ECN peers on standard account
Primarily suited to larger, more sophisticated accounts
Inactivity fee applies
No 24/5 live chat
ActivTrades vs Swissquote: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
ActivTrades
criteria wins
0
Swissquote
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades vs Swissquote: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, ActivTrades ranks higher with a score of 4.3/5 vs 4.2/5 for Swissquote. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; ActivTrades and Swissquote may each suit different trader profiles.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to Swissquote's spreads from 1.7 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 Swissquote requires at least $1120. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and Swissquote 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 Swissquote offers up to 100:1. 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 Swissquote offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; Swissquote exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 5.
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Score 4.2 / 5
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