Comparison of ActivTrades and HYCM
| Feature | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1977 |
| Broker Type | MM | STP |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | FCA, CySEC, CIMA, SVGFSA, DFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, AED |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, BTC (Bitcoin) |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | ✔ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
| Protection Size | £85 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✖ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | HYCM Review |
About ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a well-regarded Forex and CFD broker known for its robust trading platforms, extensive range of financial instruments, and strong regulatory compliance. Established in 2001, ActivTrades serves clients globally, offering access to major and minor currency pairs, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more. The broker provides multiple trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5, as well as its proprietary ActivTrader platform, catering to both desktop and mobile users. ActivTrades is regulated by several top-tier financial authorities, ensuring a secure and trustworthy trading environment. Additionally, the broker offers a variety of account types to accommodate different trading styles and experience levels, complemented by comprehensive educational resources and responsive customer support. With competitive spreads, flexible leverage options, and efficient withdrawal processes, ActivTrades stands out as a reliable choice for both novice and experienced Forex traders.
Pros
- Regulated by multiple reputable financial authorities
- Offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the proprietary ActivTrader platform
- Provides access to Forex, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and more
- Extensive tutorials, webinars, and market analysis tools available
- Offers tight spreads across numerous trading instruments
- Multilingual support available through various channels
Cons
- Maximum leverage available might be lower than what some experienced traders seek
- The proprietary ActivTrader platform offers fewer customization options
About HYCM
HYCM (formerly Henyep Capital Markets) is a multi-asset forex and CFD broker with more than four decades in the industry and a trio of top-tier licences from the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU) and DFSA (UAE). Traders can choose between fixed- or variable-spread accounts on MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, accessing 1 ,300+ instruments that cover currencies, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies. With minimum deposits from just 100 USD, leverage up to 1 : 500 (region-dependent) and a rich catalogue of webinars, e-books and market reports, HYCM appeals to both first-time traders and seasoned professionals looking for tight pricing under a strong regulatory umbrella.
Pros
- Strong regulation from FCA, CySEC and DFSA with segregated client funds
- Choice of Fixed, Classic or Raw accounts-spreads from 0.0 pips on Raw or zero-commission Fixed pricing
- Full support for MT4 and MT5 on desktop, web and mobile
- 1 ,300+ tradeable instruments spanning forex, stocks, indices, commodities and crypto
- Extensive educational suite: weekly webinars, video tutorials and downloadable e-books
- Fast funding and withdrawals via cards, e-wallets and local bank transfers
Cons
- No proprietary platform or integrated copy-trading/social-trading tools
- Raw account carries a commission of 4 USD per lot per side, which may deter micro-lot traders
- High-tier research tools (Trading Central, Autochartist) gated behind larger deposits or higher trading volume
- Cryptocurrency deposits not supported, limiting funding flexibility for some clients
ActivTrades & HYCM Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | HYCM Capital Markets (UK), HYCM (Europe) Ltd, HYCM Ltd, HYCM Capital Markets (DIFC) Limited |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | United Kingdom, Cyprus, Cayman Islands, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | FCA, CySEC, CIMA, SVGFSA, DFSA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | — |
| Min Deposit | $1 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.5 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | — |
| Stop Out | 30% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Classic |
| Min Deposit | — | $100 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1.2 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
Zero Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Raw |
| Min Deposit | — | $200 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.1 |
| Fee | — | $8 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
Fix Spread Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Fixed |
| Min Deposit | — | $100 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Fixed |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1.5 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:5000 |
| Stop Out | — | 50% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, AED |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Neteller, Skrill, Perfect Money, BTC (Bitcoin) |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | 12 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 72 |
Indices | 31 | 27 |
Stocks | 1035 | 1080 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 28 |
Bonds | 6 | 0 |
Metals | 3 | 5 |
Energies | 7 | 3 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 4 |
ETFs | 75 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | support@hycm.com |
Phone | +12426035200 | +442088167812 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and HYCM, ActivTrades comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.