Comparison of ActivTrades and Markets.com
| Feature | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2008 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Cyprus ICF |
| Protection Size | £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, Shares, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Markets.com 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 Markets.com
Markets.com is a multi-asset CFD and FX broker, operating since 2008 under CySEC, FSCA and SVGFSA oversight. A modest $100 deposit opens the door to 50-plus currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, crypto and more on MT4/MT5, TradingView and the proprietary app, all backed by segregated client funds, negative-balance protection and multilingual 24/5 support. The broker best suits active retail traders who want flexible leverage (up to 1:500 outside the EU), floating spreads from 0.7 pips, copy-trading tools and frequent bonus promotions, yet still value basic regulatory safeguards. Long-term buy-and-hold investors may find the CFD-only model and $10 monthly inactivity fee less appealing.
Pros
- Multi-regulated (SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA)
- Low $100 entry threshold, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- Choice of MT4/MT5 and TradingView
- 50+ FX pairs and broad multi-asset CFD selection
- Negative-balance protection for all retail clients
Cons
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Only one live trading account type available
ActivTrades & Markets.com Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | Markets International Ltd, Safecap Investments Limited, Markets (South Africa) Pty Limited |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Cyprus, South Africa |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | Cyprus ICF |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.5 | 0.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | 30% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | 82 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 54 |
Indices | 31 | 36 |
Stocks | 1035 | 260 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 29 |
Bonds | 6 | 4 |
Metals | 3 | 8 |
Energies | 7 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 6 |
ETFs | 75 | 68 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Bonuses
| Bonus | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | 20%, up to $10000 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
| No Deposit Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | $1020 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | support@markets.com |
Phone | +12426035200 | +27104470539 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | ||
TikTok | — | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and Markets.com, 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.