ActivTrades Broker Review

Written by Christopher Lewis

Christopher Lewis

Christopher Lewis is a professional trader and author specialized in Forex and Crypto trading.

, | Updated: July 15, 2026

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• Go to:
• General Information
• Account Information
• Trading Information
• Spreads
• Leverage
• Deposit Methods
• Regulations and Security
• Account Types and Features
• Trading Platforms
• Trading Instruments
• Trading Conditions
• Deposits And Withdrawals
• Customer Support
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion
›

Established in 2001, ActivTrades is a London-based forex broker and CFD provider with a global reach extending to more than 100,000 retail clients across over 170 countries. The company holds licences from tier-one regulators such as the FCA in the UK and the CMVM in Portugal. It serves international customers under offshore licences issued by the authorities in the Bahamas and Mauritius. Traders have access to more than 1,000 financial markets, including over 50 currency pairs, indices, commodities, shares, cryptocurrencies and bonds.

Christopher Lewis is a US based Forex trader and analyst who trades across all sessions and pairs. He contributes forecasts, videos, and signals to major platforms like DailyForex.com, FXEmpire.com and Investing.com

Expert opinion by Christopher Lewis:

ActivTrades offers forex, commodities, crypto, bonds, indices, shares, and ETFs. It has its own proprietary trading platform as well as TradingView, and MetaTrader 4/5. ActivTrades offers educational webinars as well as seminars and has been in business since 2001. Founded in Switzerland before moving to London, ActivTrades now has offices around the world, and is regulated by authorities in Brazil, Portugal, the Bahamas, and the United Kingdom.

ActivTrades Contact Information

The broker caters to customers of all experience levels, offering comprehensive educational resources, free demo accounts and a user-friendly proprietary platform. Experienced traders can benefit from TradingView’s advanced charting capabilities. The broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and its successor, MetaTrader 5.

ActivTrades prioritises client safety by offering negative balance protection and holding client funds in segregated accounts at top-tier banks such as Barclays, RBS and Citibank. In partnership with Lloyd’s, the broker provides enhanced investor compensation of up to €1 million per claim. Setting up an account is straightforward, with minimum deposit requirements varying by account type. Together, these factors make ActivTrades suitable for both beginners and experienced traders.

General Information about ActivTrades

Account Information

Account Types	Demo Account, Pro Account, Individual Account, Islamic Account
ECN Account
Pro Account
MAM Account

Trading Information

Markets	Bonds CFDs, Commodity CFDs, Crypto CFDs, ETF CFDs, Forex CFDs, Index CFDs, Share CFDs
Min Contact Size	0.01
Max Contract Size	100
Min Account Balance	USD0
Scalping Allowed
Hedging Allowed
PAMM Trading
Swap-free Trading

Spreads

Leverage

Deposit Methods

Visa Card
MasterCard
Paypal
Credit/Debit Card
Amex
Bank/Wire Transfer
Crypto
Bitcoin
Skrill
Neteller
Google Pay
Apple Pay
Payid
USDT
Tether
Astropay

Regulations and Security

As of January 2025, ActivTrades operates as a regulated forex and CFD broker under the oversight of several prominent financial authorities. These include the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários (CMVM) in Portugal, the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB), the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários (CVM) in Brazil and the Central Bank of Brazil (BACEN). Each regulatory body enforces strict standards of financial conduct, requiring ActivTrades to comply with recognised industry practices.

ActivTrades adheres to key regulatory requirements, such as segregating client funds from its operational accounts, maintaining adequate capital reserves and operating transparently. The broker is also regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Mauritius, further extending its global regulatory coverage.

Although ActivTrades is not authorised by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA), it goes beyond standard regulatory requirements by offering additional insurance protection for client funds. This cover exceeds mandatory limits, providing traders with additional peace of mind.

This comprehensive regulatory framework demonstrates ActivTrades’ commitment to providing clients across multiple regions with a secure, compliant and transparent trading environment.

Account Types and Features

ActivTrades offers a range of account types designed to accommodate different trading styles and experience levels. Each account includes features intended to meet the specific needs of individual traders:

• Individual Account

  Intended for retail traders, this account provides access to a broad range of financial instruments, including forex, CFDs, indices and commodities. Traders benefit from competitive spreads, leverage options and negative balance protection.

• Professional Account

  Designed for experienced traders, this account offers higher leverage levels, subject to eligibility criteria, as well as lower margin requirements and priority access to trading tools. However, it does not offer the same negative balance protection mandated for retail accounts.

• Islamic Account

  A swap-free account option that complies with Sharia law. No interest is charged on overnight positions, while the account otherwise maintains the same trading conditions as other account types.

• Demo Account

  Suitable for beginners and traders looking to test their strategies, the demo account provides virtual funds and access to real-time market conditions.

Steps to Open an Account

Opening an account with ActivTrades is straightforward:

1. Sign-Up: Visit the ActivTrades website and complete the online registration form, providing personal details such as your name, email address and contact number.
2. Account Selection: Choose the preferred account type based on your trading needs and experience.
3. Verification: Submit the required documents for identity and address verification, such as a passport and utility bill, in compliance with Know Your Customer (KYC) regulations.
4. Deposit Funds: Once verified, deposit funds into the trading account using one of the available payment methods.
5. Start Trading: Access the platform, select your preferred instruments and begin trading.

ActivTrades provides a user-friendly and secure onboarding process that is accessible to both new and experienced traders.

Trading Platforms

ActivTrades offers a diverse selection of advanced trading platforms for beginners and professional traders. These platforms provide intuitive interfaces, robust analytical tools and reliable trade execution.

• ActivTrader: ActivTrades’ proprietary platform is designed for ease of use without compromising functionality. It offers advanced features such as trailing stops, real-time market sentiment analysis and hedging capabilities. ActivTrader is available on desktop, web and mobile devices, giving traders greater flexibility.
• MetaTrader 4 (MT4): One of the industry’s most widely used platforms, MT4 is designed for forex and CFD trading. It features over 30 technical indicators, customisable charts, one-click trading and support for Expert Advisors (EAs), which can be used to automate trading strategies.
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): An enhanced successor to MT4, MT5 supports more asset classes, additional technical tools and built-in economic calendars. It supports both hedging and netting modes, making it suitable for multi-asset trading.
• TradingView: Known for its intuitive design and comprehensive charting tools, TradingView gives traders access to a wide range of technical indicators, drawing tools and social trading features. Its integration with ActivTrades enables order execution directly from charts, combining detailed analysis with streamlined trading functionality.

Platform Highlights

• Mobile Compatibility: All platforms are optimised for iOS and Android devices, enabling traders to manage positions while on the move.
• Customisation Options: From custom indicators to automated trading tools, the platforms can accommodate individual trading preferences.
• Reliability and Speed: ActivTrades provides robust security protocols, fast order execution and minimal downtime across its platforms.

Trading Instruments

ActivTrades provides an extensive range of trading instruments across several asset classes, giving traders multiple options for diversifying their portfolios. Below is a detailed breakdown of the available instruments:

• Currency Pairs

  • Overview: ActivTrades offers over 50 currency pairs, including popular major pairs such as EUR/USD, GBP/USD and USD/JPY, as well as minor and exotic pairs such as USD/TRY and ZAR/JPY.
  • Leverage: Retail traders can access leverage up to 1:30 on major currency pairs, while professional clients may qualify for higher leverage levels. This flexibility allows traders to control larger positions with a smaller margin.
  • Spreads: Spreads start from 0.5 pips on major pairs such as EUR/USD. Spreads may vary depending on market conditions and account type.

• Indices

  • Overview: ActivTrades provides CFDs on a variety of global indices, including major benchmarks such as the S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, FTSE 100 and DAX 40.
  • Leverage: Leverage on indices is capped at 1:20 for retail clients, allowing traders to gain exposure to index price movements while managing their margin requirements.
  • Spreads: Competitive spreads are available, starting from 0.5 points on indices such as the FTSE 100. No overnight swap charges apply to certain index CFDs, which may make them suitable for longer-term strategies.

• Commodities

  • Overview: The available commodities include precious metals such as gold and silver, energy products such as crude oil and natural gas, and agricultural commodities such as wheat and coffee.
  • Leverage: Commodity trading is available with leverage of up to 1:10 for retail traders, allowing for more efficient use of trading capital.
  • Spreads: ActivTrades offers tight spreads, starting from $0.01 on silver and $0.30 on crude oil. This can help traders manage their costs in volatile markets.

• Shares

  • Overview: ActivTrades offers CFDs on global shares from leading markets, including stocks listed on the NYSE, NASDAQ and LSE. Fractional share trading is available, making high-value stocks more accessible.
  • Leverage: Shares can be traded with leverage of up to 1:5 for retail clients, providing a capital-efficient way to gain exposure to equities.
  • Spreads: Spreads vary by stock but remain competitive. ActivTrades also charges low commissions on share CFDs, providing greater cost transparency.

• Cryptocurrencies

  • Overview: ActivTrades provides cryptocurrency CFDs on popular digital assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple and Litecoin. These instruments allow traders to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying assets.
  • Leverage: Cryptocurrency CFDs are available with leverage of up to 1:2 for retail traders, in line with regulatory requirements.
  • Spreads: Tight spreads are available, and traders do not need to set up a digital wallet. This makes cryptocurrency CFD trading more straightforward and accessible.

• ETFs

  • Overview: ActivTrades supports trading on a wide selection of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) through CFDs. These instruments allow traders to gain exposure to a basket of assets, such as stocks, commodities or bonds, through a single transaction.
  • Leverage: ETFs can be traded with leverage of up to 1:5 for retail clients.
  • Spreads: Competitive spreads are available on ETFs, supporting cost-efficient and flexible trading.

• Key Features

  • Execution: ActivTrades offers fast execution speeds, helping to minimise slippage even during periods of high market volatility.
  • Diversity: The broad selection of instruments allows traders to access opportunities across global markets.

Trading Conditions

ActivTrades offers favourable trading conditions for both novice and experienced traders. These conditions focus on competitive pricing, fast execution and transparency.

• Spreads and Commission

  ActivTrades provides competitive spreads across its asset classes, starting from 0.5 pips on major forex pairs such as EUR/USD. Index CFDs, such as the FTSE 100, feature spreads beginning at 0.5 points, while spreads on commodities such as crude oil start from $0.30. Share CFDs are subject to low commissions, providing greater cost transparency for equity traders.

• Leverage

  Leverage options at ActivTrades align with global regulatory standards intended to promote responsible trading. Retail clients can access leverage up to:

  • 1:30 for major forex pairs
  • 1:20 for minor forex pairs and indices
  • 1:10 for commodities
  • 1:5 for shares and ETFs
  • 1:2 for cryptocurrencies

  Professional traders who meet the eligibility criteria may qualify for higher leverage, providing additional flexibility in capital allocation.

• Execution Speeds

  ActivTrades provides fast order execution with minimal slippage. Its technology is designed to execute trades in milliseconds, including during periods of high market volatility.

• Minimum Deposit

  Minimum deposit requirements vary by account type, allowing traders to select an account that suits their available capital and trading needs.

• Other Features

  • No Dealing Desk (NDD): ActivTrades uses an NDD model, providing traders with direct market access without broker intervention.
  • Negative Balance Protection: Retail traders are protected from losing more than their account balance, providing additional security during volatile market conditions.
  • Swap-Free Options: Islamic accounts provide swap-free trading in compliance with Sharia law.

With competitive spreads, compliance with regulatory leverage limits and fast execution speeds, ActivTrades provides an efficient trading environment suited to the needs of modern traders.

Deposits and Withdrawals

ActivTrades provides a selection of secure and efficient deposit and withdrawal methods, helping traders manage their funds conveniently.

Deposit Methods

ActivTrades supports the following options:

• Bank Transfers: Processing takes 1 to 3 business days.
• Credit/Debit Cards: Instant deposits via Visa and Mastercard.
• E-Wallets: Instant processing through Skrill, Neteller and PayPal.
• Local Payment Methods: Available in some regions for added convenience.

Withdrawal Methods

Withdrawals are generally processed quickly, typically within 24 hours for e-wallets and cards. Bank transfers may take 2 to 5 business days.

Fees and Charges

• Deposits: Generally free, although third-party fees may apply.
• Withdrawals: ActivTrades does not charge withdrawal fees, but third-party charges may apply depending on the payment method.

Minimum and Maximum Limits

• Minimum Deposit: Standard Account: $1,000; Islamic Account: $500; Professional Account: $2,000.
• Withdrawal Limits: Limits vary by method but are designed to be user-friendly.

Security

All transactions are encrypted, providing a high level of security for client funds and data.
ActivTrades combines fast processing times, low fees and secure transactions to make it easier for traders to manage their funds.

Customer Support

ActivTrades provides accessible customer support 24 hours a day, five days a week, to assist with trading-related enquiries. The team focuses on providing traders with a smooth and efficient support experience.

Contact Methods

• Live Chat: Available for immediate assistance and quick issue resolution.
• Email: For non-urgent matters, clients can contact support by email and expect a response within 24 hours.
• Phone Support: Provides direct communication with experienced agents for urgent concerns.
• Multilingual Support: Assistance is available in multiple languages to serve a global client base.

Additional Resources

ActivTrades offers a comprehensive FAQ section, educational resources and trading guides to help clients navigate the platform and find answers to common questions independently.

Support Quality

Clients generally report high levels of satisfaction with ActivTrades’ customer service, particularly the professionalism and promptness of its responses. The support team is knowledgeable and works to resolve issues quickly.

ActivTrades’ 24/5 support, multiple contact channels and user-friendly help centre give traders access to assistance when needed.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

ActivTrades is a reputable broker offering a diverse range of trading instruments, competitive conditions and advanced platforms. It provides a secure and regulated trading environment for traders of different experience levels. With responsive customer support, fast execution speeds and a selection of educational resources, ActivTrades is a solid option for traders seeking flexibility and reliability.

Although it offers a broad selection of features and tools, some traders may find the retail leverage limits restrictive, and its services are not available in every country. For traders within its supported regions, however, ActivTrades remains a competitive brokerage option for accessing global financial markets.

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