Two brokers clash over regulation, protection, and platform depth. This matchup weighs fund safety and proprietary tech against offshore oversight and broader access.
ActivTrades edges AMarkets on editorial score due to stronger regulation and fund protection. AMarkets offers higher leverage and multiple platforms but operates under offshore regulation.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose ActivTrades if…
Choose ActivTrades if you want FCA regulation and private fund protection plus a proprietary trading platform.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you prefer ECN stock CFDs with MT4/MT5 and copy trading, despite offshore regulation.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
ActivTrades has FCA regulation and private fund insurance up to GBP 1,000,000.
| Editorial score | 3.7/ 5 | 3.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | AMarkets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
ActivTrades rates 3.7/5 versus 3.2/5 for AMarkets. ActivTrades edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
AMarkets lists tighter spreads from 0, compared with ActivTrades's 0.5. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, while AMarkets requires at least $100. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
ActivTrades holds top-tier regulation (FCA, CMVM, SCB), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
ActivTrades stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ActivTrades lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while AMarkets lists up to 3000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for ActivTrades are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, while AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. ActivTrades has exclusive access to ActivTrader. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5.
Neither ActivTrades nor AMarkets is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
ActivTrades scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
ActivTrades is best for active traders with a proprietary platform and broad equity CFDs.
ActivTrades attracts beginners with a $0 minimum deposit and no inactivity fee.
ActivTrades offers access to 10 exchanges, more than AMarkets.
ActivTrades offers commission-free standard accounts, lowering trading costs.
Equally matched; neither offers fractional shares or ISA/SIPP wrappers.
| N/A |
| 0.6 pips |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | SVGFSA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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