ActivTrades vs XM Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of ActivTrades and XM 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
Our Verdict
Too close to call
ActivTrades and XM are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.3/5. 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 0.6 pips for XM, 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
ActivTrades offers more exclusive platform options: ActivTrader, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.3/5, but ActivTrades requires a lower minimum deposit ($0 vs $5 for XM), making it more accessible for new traders.
ActivTrades vs XM: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2001 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $5 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free for most methods |
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ActivTrades | Visit XM |
ActivTrades vs XM 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
USD 5 minimum deposit
Strong bonus program
Multilingual support
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
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
Advanced charting tools included
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
Spreads not as tight as ECN-style brokers
Not available to US clients
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No proprietary platform
ActivTrades vs XM: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
2
ActivTrades
criteria wins
0
XM
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | ActivTrades | XM |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| 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 XM: Frequently Asked Questions
ActivTrades and XM share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to XM's spreads from 0.6 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 XM requires at least $5. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and XM 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 XM 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 XM offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4; ActivTrades exclusively offers ActivTrader; XM exclusively offers MetaTrader 5.
Ready to get started?
Open an account directly with the broker that suits you best.
Score 4.3 / 5
More Broker Comparisons
More ActivTrades comparisons
More XM comparisons
Personalised recommendation
Not sure which broker is right for you?
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker