Would you like an opinion on ActivTrades before opening an account there? Then you’re in the right place!
ActivTrades is known for providing a worthwhile trading experience, particularly for beginners in Forex and CFD trading. The company, based in London, offers a German-language training portal and German-speaking technical support. We wanted to verify if this reputation is justified by formulating our own opinion on ActivTrades.
Is ActivTrades a reliable broker for stocks? Into which markets and instruments can one invest with ActivTrades? How high are the fees of ActivTrades? How good is ActivTrades’ trading platform? What is the customers’ opinion on ActivTrades? What does ActivTrades’ training offering look like for an inexperienced investor? Is it really suitable for beginners? We answer all these questions!
ActivTrades: Summary
Our opinion on ActivTrades is positive: excellent customer support, a wide selection of short and long-term tradable instruments, an ideal platform for market analysis, and good execution. Qualities that make ActivTrades a recommendable broker for a beginner in CFD and Forex trading.
Our ActivTrades opinion in a nutshell:
- Nice selection of tradable currencies and CFDs
- Reliable broker licensed in several countries
- Competitive fees
- Ideal learning content for beginners
- Our opinion on ActivTrades is positive ✅
CFDs are complex trading instruments that carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 84% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
ActivTrades Experience Report: The Analysis in Detail!
Following the summary of our opinion on ActivTrades, we now move onto a detailed analysis of the offerings! Trading platform, tradable instruments, pricing, customer service, and educational offerings… everything has been analysed in detail.
ActivTrades rating: available instruments and markets
Our opinion on ActivTrades and its range of instruments and markets is positive: a fairly good selection of underlying assets that can be traded, with stock CFDs (660) and ETF CFDs (500), currency pairs (48). CFDs on commodities (15), indices (27) and bonds (5) complete the offering, in which cryptocurrencies are unfortunately missing. It should be noted that not all of these instruments will necessarily be accessible, as the limited risk account, for example, only provides access to CFDs.
An important first point is that there are three accounts at ActivTrades, each corresponding to a certain customer profile:
- The Limited Risk Account: This account is intended for those who are just starting out or have very little trading experience. It only provides access to CFDs and, very importantly, the possibility to set guaranteed stop losses on your orders.
- The Standard Account: This classic account is intended for more experienced traders who wish to trade with CFDs and Forex. This account provides access to more instruments than the limited risk account, but without guaranteed stops.
- Professional Account: This account is reserved for professional traders, i.e., for individuals who meet the criteria set out in the EU regulations (portfolio of €500,000, at least one year of experience, at least 40 transactions in the last 12 months).
Here are the key facts about the instruments that the Forex and CFD broker ActivTrades offers:
- A wide range of stock CFDs and ETFs: Stocks and ETFs are the main instruments ActivTrades offers, and they are traded via a CFD (Contract for Difference) rather than directly. This has the advantage of enabling trading with limited capital, knowing that the client can trade with just 5% of the total capital that they need to invest in the instrument. For example, in a €10,000 transaction, the client can invest only €500 as margin, the rest is ‘borrowed’ by ActivTrades via the leverage mechanism (which in this example is 1:20).
- The disadvantage for the client is that they do not directly own the stocks and ETFs, as a CFD is an instrument targeting price speculation and does not grant dividend rights.
- Diverse currency offering: Another main instrument class of ActivTrades are the offered currency pairs, which are numerous and very diverse. Among the 48 available pairs are therefore the major currency pairs, including of course the pair EUR/USD. They are supplemented by a wide range of minor currency pairs and exotic currency pairs. Another plus: ActivTrades allows trading from €1,000 (instead of €100,000) and allows retail clients to use leverage of up to 1:30, i.e., to trade with only 3.33% of the required capital!
- The only regret is that ActivTrades does not offer more currency pairs, but this is relative as most traders prefer to trade with the major currency pairs due to lower transaction costs (spreads).
- The absence of cryptocurrencies: One deficiency in ActivTrades’ offering concerns cryptocurrencies, especially Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple… Most CFD brokers offer at least two cryptocurrencies for trading via CFD. These products are indeed popular, especially Bitcoin, which is very popular with traders due to its volatility.
- Guaranteed stop-loss orders: The guaranteed stop-loss order is a characteristic feature of ActivTrades’ Limited Risk Account and is designed to protect the client in all their positions, regardless of the market situation. Specifically, this function means that a client can place a stop on their order and their transaction will be closed at the closing price specified by the client, with any deviation from the actual closing price borne by ActivTrades.
- Very practical for a beginner, considering that in situations of high volatility or sudden market swings, there is very often a difference between the price at which the client intends to close a position and the final execution price.
In our opinion, ActivTrades is the broker of choice for the trader/investor starting with CFDs and Forex. Primarily because of its offering of stock CFDs and ETFs, even though the other CFDs are somewhat limited compared to other brokers. The Limited Risk Account, available only in Germany, is ideal for those starting with CFD trading!
ActivTrades Rating: Fees
Our opinion of ActivTrades and its fees is positive: ActivTrades’ fees are generally low. Competitive spreads are offered for all currency pairs, notably an average spread of 0.7 pips for the EUR/USD pair. Another practical advantage for traders is that commissions are included directly in the spreads, for both currencies and CFDs, except for stock CFDs and ETFs.
It is important to note that ActivTrades compensates itself through 4 categories of fees:
A commission: Cost for the execution of the transaction, which is charged when the position is opened, and again when it is closed.
A spread: small difference between the purchase price of an instrument and its selling price, which corresponds to a margin of the broker.
A swap: small daily financing interest, which is calculated when an instrument is held beyond a stock exchange day session, due to the funds ‘borrowed’ by the broker as part of the leverage.
Additional fees: related to secondary services such as withdrawals, fees for connection to stock exchanges, penalties for inactivity, etc
After these explanations about the composition of the broker’s fees, the following should be noted about ActivTrades’ fees:
- Low commissions on stock CFDs and ETFs: A strength of ActivTrades is the low commissions on stocks and ETFs. For example, on Euronext stocks, you only pay 0.01%, with a minimum of just £1, which is very competitive! Added to this is the spread, which varies depending on the security, but is still very competitive.
- No commissions on other CFDs: An essential piece of information to remember is that ActivTrades has included its commissions in the spreads for all other CFDs: indices, commodities, bonds. This practice, which is widespread among CFD brokers, proves to be very practical as it avoids multiple calculations. Thus, you will find very competitive spreads on CFDs on spot indices, such as the CFD FRA40 and the CFD DAX30, which are very popular among traders. However, we regret a small lack of transparency from the broker regarding its average spreads: These are not displayed on the broker’s website.
- Competitive foreign exchange spreads: ActivTrades’ spreads are overall competitive, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.7 for example, which is very interesting, especially as the commissions are included in this spread.
- However, we regret a small lack of transparency from the broker in terms of its average Forex spreads: These are not displayed on the broker’s website.
- No inactivity fees for dormant accounts: A major advantage of ActivTrades is the abolition of inactivity fees, which are very common with other Forex & CFD brokers. So, there are no penalty fees if you don’t trade for a certain period of time.
In our opinion, ActivTrades is a really competitive broker in terms of fees: Brokerage fees, spreads and ancillary costs are low, making it an ideal broker for beginners. The only (small) criticism of ActivTrades would be that the average spreads are not displayed on the broker’s website, but this is common practice among many competing brokers.
CFDs are complex trading instruments that carry a high risk of losing money quickly due to leverage. 84% of retail investor accounts lose money trading CFDs with this provider.
ActivTrades review: The trading platforms
Our opinion of ActivTrades and its trading platforms is positive: The excellent and very popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 are offered by ActivTrades for free on desktop and mobile devices. The main advantages of MT4, which has 10 million+ users, include chart-based order placement and automated trading. In addition, there’s the outstanding ActivTrader web app, which synchronises with your open positions on MetaTrader.
At ActivTrades, the client can use one of the following three platforms depending on their focus and experience:
- MetaTrader 4 (Desktop and mobile): Particularly optimised for Forex trading, MT4 is the most popular software among private traders around the world.
- MetaTrader 5 (Desktop and mobile): Particularly optimised for CFD trading, MT5 is a newer version of MetaTrader and also very popular among traders.
- ActivTrader (Web): This is the broker’s web-based platform that can be used with a conventional web browser like Chrome or Safari.
To start with searching for trading signals and entering orders at ActivTrades, you should consider the following:
- A variety of orders to protect your capital: In addition to the classic orders, ActivTrades, with its SmartOrder 2 tool layered on its trading platforms, offers several types of orders. These new order types allow you to add additional options to your transactions to protect your capital. For example, you can close your positions on time, partially close positions by setting profit targets, execute an order at a specific time… In short, many personalised possibilities that MT4 and MT5 do not offer in their base versions!
- Guaranteed Stop-Loss Order: The guaranteed stop-loss order is a peculiarity of ActivTrades’ Limited Risk Account and is designed to protect the customer in all his positions, regardless of the market constellation. In concrete terms, this function means that a customer can place a stop on his order and his transaction will be closed at the closing price specified by the customer, with any deviation from the actual closing price being borne by ActivTrades.
- Very convenient for a beginner, considering that in situations of high volatility or sudden market swings there is very often a difference between the price at which the customer intends to close a position and the final execution price.
- SmartForecast: SmartForecast is a very powerful tool for technical analysis. It consists of an indicator that combines chart retracements and trend analyses to draw a simple picture of a currency pair or index. It automatically calculates supports and resistances, depending on the time unit (15 minutes, 1 hour), and shows the level of volatility. It also gives hints on the possible direction of the course. This consists of a scenario of price development with 3 price targets, which are updated in real time.
- Trading signals with the SmartPattern tool: As a customised indicator for MT4 and MT5, SmartPattern scans and recognises recurring patterns by scanning historical data. For a currency pair like EUR.USD, it can create statistics on potential movements that are easily recognisable directly in your charts and save you a lot of time in “finding” possible trades. SmartPattern is aimed at traders of all levels!
Regarding the user interface, customization, and ergonomics:
- A highly customizable interface: A very practical aspect of the MetaTrader solutions is their advanced chart module, which allows for a very extensive customization. The market window displays the real-time quotes of your instruments. The charts can be displayed in 9 different time ranges (1 hour, 30 minutes, 15 minutes…). 6 order types are usable, with the possibility to create an order directly on a chart.
In addition, you can use 50+ technical indicators to conduct an analysis of market movements and identify trading opportunities. You can save your templates to reuse them on other charts, and search historical data without much difficulty
Regarding security:
- Reassuring security on the account: When it comes to the security of the trading account, ActivTrades has quite a bit to offer. You will find the option to activate two-step authentication to log into your account. In other words, each time you enter your username and password, you must enter a code received via SMS to gain access to your customer area.
In our opinion, ActivTrades also succeeds in distinguishing itself regarding the trading platforms. To stand out from competing brokers who also offer MetaTrader 4 and 5, ActivTrades relies on various personalized tools, such as SmartOrder 2, which brings a whole range of personalized orders. For the beginner, the advantage lies in the larger number of options to protect their capital and improve their trading skills under all conceivable market conditions. With a demo account, you can discover these numerous options for 30 days!
ActivTrades Review: Customer Service
Our opinion of ActivTrades’ customer service is positive: The technical support is responsive and can be reached via live chat, telephone, and email. Their team of telephone advisors can be reached via the following channels: live chat, telephone (on +44 (0) 2076 500 570), email, and through a callback request form. An arrangement that is indeed appropriate, with German-speaking advisors, considering that the broker indicates an average response time via email of less than 27 minutes.
- Good technical support in German: A reassuring aspect of the British broker is that technical support is available in German from Monday to Friday between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm by telephone (on +44 (0) 2076 500 570).
- Diverse contact possibilities: ActivTrades’ customer service is available 24/7 via live chat, callback form, email, and telephone, is professional, and generally provides relevant answers.
- No physical representation in France: A slight disadvantage is that ActivTrades does not have an office in Germany, but rather in other European capitals, namely in Milan, Sofia, and recently also in Luxembourg. A lack that one must put into perspective, as that’s the whole appeal of an online broker, and one that one will not necessarily feel given the many available contact options.
In our opinion, ActivTrades performs its role efficiently. This quality of service is also confirmed by the numerous positive reviews of the broker’s technical support. The German desk is reactive and available and quickly provides solutions to customers’ problems.
ActivTrades review: The educational offer
Our opinion of ActivTrades’ offering of educational resources is very positive: comprehensive, high-quality and mostly free of charge. With a demo account, you can test the platforms from start to finish, but not for longer than 30 days. An entire section of the customer portal is dedicated to technical analysis, as ActivTrades indeed possesses an e-learning portal that contains all educational resources and for all levels!
Here are the key aspects of this offer:
- A demo account valid for 30 days: With €10,000 of virtual money, a demo account allows you to test the ActivTrader platform from start to finish (also MT4 and MT5). It’s opened without registration and in less than 5 minutes, but is still limited to 3 days and is extended to 30 days if you leave your contact details, always without obligation. Thus, you can practice in a risk-free environment with real market data!
- Self-learning resources for technical analysis: Another advantage is that ActivTrades has an area on its portal dedicated exclusively to market analysis! This contains opinions from analysts and comments on announcements. The articles follow a uniform charter: an advanced analysis, illustrated with screenshots from ActivTrader or MetaTrader. Their quality is high and all levels are addressed.
- Excellent webinars and videos: A much-used resource by ActivTrades are the webinars, which are all kept and accessible via the customer portal. They are led by experts from ActivTrades and external speakers. Note that they are free and of good quality. The commented videos are mainly aimed at beginners and those new to the platform. They primarily focus on handling ActivTrader.
- Personal coaching: Very useful to start with the help of an expert. Personal coaching revolves around the use of the platforms, the additional modules for MT4 and MT5, account management, the use of your personal area, and other aspects of ActivTrades trading platform!
In our opinion, ActivTrades is an essential broker for beginner profiles. Self-study occupies an important place in the resources offered, but you also find personal coaching, which is rather unusual among competing brokers. Its learning content can be put into practice on a demo account that is valid for 30 days.
Is ActivTrades reliable?
Yes, ActivTrades is reliable. ActivTrades PLC is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and is registered with the ACPR and the AMF. Through the European Passport mechanism, ActivTrades is indeed entitled to offer its services in Germany in accordance with European regulations (BuFin Directive). As essential elements of investor protection, ActivTrades offers protection against negative balances and guaranteed protective stops.
Here are the main elements to remember about ActivTrades and its regulation:
- A broker regulated in the UK: ActivTrades, a broker regulated in the UK, is supervised by the FCA, the British regulatory authority. The advantage for customers is that UK financial services rules are known to be particularly thorough and strict. For example, they require that customer funds must be managed separately from the broker’s operating funds. At ActivTrades, customer funds are invested with partner banks.
- High deposit protection: As an important safeguard in the event of the broker’s bankruptcy, there is £85,000 coverage for ActivTrades customer deposits, provided by the British Investor Compensation Fund (known as the FSCS). An additional insurance of up to €1,000,000 is taken out by ActivTrades for its customers at Lloyd’s, a global insurance specialist. A very important insurance, the usefulness of which must be relativized, as a bankruptcy of ActivTrades is highly unlikely.
- Protection against negative balances: Another advantage of ActivTrades are the 2 mechanisms to protect against losses on CFDs. On the one hand, according to British and European regulations, there is a margin closing rule, so that a retail client cannot lose more than his capital on any trade. Such a mechanism therefore excludes any obligation of the customer to provide the broker with additional funds and is intended to protect the trader from over-indebtedness. This protection applies to all customers with a standard account. On the other hand, English customers benefit from an even more advantageous mechanism, namely guaranteed protective stops. Such a mechanism goes even further by limiting the trader’s loss to the margin that was only invested in the trade, instead of the capital available on the account. This protection applies to the limited risk account, which complies with the Sapin-2 law.
In terms of reliability, ActivTrades has all the important guarantees: authorization, registration with the ACPR, not on the AMF’s blacklist, important protection for deposits, protection against negative balances. As a basic guarantee, British authorization allows the customer to take legal action in the event of a dispute, even though this will lead to the British regulatory authority and not the AMF. Another useful protection is the guaranteed protective stop mechanism, which allows beginners to trade in an environment with limited risk.
ActivTrades Avis: Fazit!
Our overall opinion of ActivTrades is positive: excellent customer support, a wide range of short and long term tradable instruments, an ideal platform for market analysis, and good execution. Qualities that make ActivTrades a recommendable broker for a beginner in CFD and Forex trading.
In terms of tradable instruments, ActivTrades offers a good selection of stock CFDs (660), ETF CFDs (500), and currency pairs (48). CFDs on commodities (15), indices (27), and bonds (5) complete the offer, which unfortunately does not include cryptocurrencies. It should be noted that not all these instruments are necessarily accessible, as the limited risk account, for example, only offers access to CFDs.
Regarding the platform and execution quality, ActivTrades offers the excellent and very popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 free of charge on the desktop and mobile. The main advantages of MT4, which has 10 million+ users, include chart-based order execution and automated trading. This is supplemented by the excellent ActivTrader web app, which synchronizes with your open positions on MetaTrader.
The standard account and limited risk account are the two accounts for private investors. The special feature of ActivTrades’ Limited Risk Account is the guaranteed stop-loss order, which protects the customer in all his positions regardless of the market situation. Specifically, this means that a customer can place a stop for his order and his transaction will be closed at the closing price specified by the customer, with any deviation from the actual closing price being borne by ActivTrades.
ActivTrades’ fees are overall low. The spreads are competitive for all currency pairs, with an average spread of 0.7 pips for the EUR/USD currency pair. Another practical advantage for traders is that the commissions are included directly in the spreads, for both currencies and CFDs, except for stock CFDs and ETFs.
ActivTrades’ spreads are overall competitive, with an EUR/USD spread of 0.7 for example, which is very attractive, especially since the commissions are included in this spread.
On the topic of education and customer service: ActivTrades has a section on its portal dedicated entirely to market analysis! This includes analyst opinions and comments on announcements. The articles follow the same guidelines: a developed analysis illustrated with screenshots from ActivTrader or MetaTrader. Their quality is high and all levels are addressed. A demo account with 10,000 virtual € allows you to test the platform from beginning to end.
ActivTrades’ desk performs its role efficiently. The responsive technical support is available via live chat, by phone, and by email. Its team of telephone advisors can be reached via the following channels: live chat, telephone (on +44 (0) 2076 500 570), email, and via a callback request form.
ActivTrades offers beginners an excellent trading experience, thanks to a flawless investor protection policy, transparent and competitive pricing, and a responsive support team. With its top-notch educational resources, ActivTrades is also an ideal broker for further education!
CFDs are complex trading instruments that carry a high risk of losing money quickly due to leverage. 84% of retail investor accounts lose money trading CFDs with this provider.