ActivTrades Review 2026

The basic trading model

ActivTrades operates as a market maker and offers leveraged trading. Its markets include forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs and bonds. Forex exposure is leveraged; share exposure is mainly through CFDs, so a share CFD does not give the trader ownership or voting rights in the underlying company. Index, commodity and bond exposure is also generally through derivatives rather than ownership of the underlying asset.

Accounts are individual or professional. Platform access includes ActivTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView. ActivTrades also offers copy and social trading through a Pelican-powered app, and API trading for connecting custom programs or interfaces.

Important regional differences

Account terms depend on the legal entity serving the client. Retail leverage caps and protections vary across jurisdictions, and some jurisdictions have higher minimum deposits. ActivTrades does not accept clients from the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Albania, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Cuba, Venezuela, Zimbabwe, Republic of Congo, Japan, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, North Korea, U.S. Minor Outlying Islands or the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Trading costs

ActivTrades uses floating spreads. Forex, indices and commodities are generally commission-free, with the trading cost built into the spread. Share CFD commissions start from 0.10% of transaction value. The averages below are instrument-specific figures, not minimum advertised spreads.

Non-trading costs

Overnight swaps apply to positions held past the daily cut-off, with rates varying by asset and market conditions. Forex and precious metals have triple swaps on Wednesday nights; most other instruments have triple swaps on Friday nights. Islamic accounts do not charge standard overnight interest, although alternative administrative fees may apply after a grace period.

Deposits are generally free, though e-wallet providers may charge up to 1.5% in some locations. Deposits or withdrawals in a currency different from the account’s base currency incur a 0.5% conversion fee. A separate 0.3% fee applies when trade profits and losses are converted from an instrument’s quote currency into the account’s base currency. Some bank-transfer withdrawals may cost up to £9 or the equivalent.

A $10 monthly inactivity fee can apply after 52 weeks without trades or login activity, provided the account still has a positive balance. Third-party payment-provider or bank charges may also apply.

Cost takeaway

The spread-based structure avoids separate forex, index and commodity commissions, but overnight financing can add up for longer-held leveraged positions. Share CFD traders should account for the transaction-value commission, while anyone funding or withdrawing in another currency should consider the conversion charge.

Account options

Professional status is not simply a way to select a higher leverage setting: eligibility depends on trading volume, portfolio size and experience, and professional clients do not retain the same retail protections. Individual account leverage and protections also depend on the serving entity.

Platform choices

Base currency and account configuration

Account base currencies include EUR, USD, GBP, SEK and CHF. Funding in a currency different from the account’s base currency can incur a 0.5% conversion fee; trade profit and loss conversion can incur a separate 0.3% charge. Demo accounts are available. ActivTrades also offers Islamic swap-free accounts and requires the hedging feature to be activated in the personal account area to hold simultaneous long and short positions on the same instrument.

ActivTrades offers leveraged exposure across several asset classes. The structure matters: share exposure is mainly through CFDs, while index, commodity and bond exposure is generally through derivatives rather than direct ownership.

Order execution

ActivTrades is a market maker. Real-time price changes can result in an order filling at a different price from the one requested. ActivTrades permits scalping and news trading and supports automated strategies through MetaTrader Expert Advisors. Its VPS hosting is complimentary for clients who meet minimum trading-volume requirements.

Leverage, margin and stop-out

The maximum leverage varies by account type, jurisdiction and instrument. Eligible professional clients can access up to 1:400 on major currency pairs. Retail clients in the UK, EU and Australia are generally capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs; retail clients with international entities may have limits up to 1:200 or, for certain assets under a particular international entity, up to 1:1000. Retail limits also vary by asset: examples include 1:20 on indices and gold, 1:10 on commodities other than gold, 1:5 on individual stocks and ETFs, and 1:2 on cryptocurrencies under standard retail restrictions. Dynamic leverage can reduce as position size or trading volume increases. The margin-call level is 100%, and the stop-out margin level is 30%.

Trading restrictions

ActivTrades permits hedging, scalping and news trading. MT4 and MT5 support Expert Advisors, and API trading is available for custom programs or interfaces. Hedging requires activation through the personal account area; the margin requirement for hedged positions is generally 10%, and swaps apply daily to both sides. Cryptocurrency access depends on the entity serving the account.

Day-to-day usability

ActivTrader is available through browsers and mobile apps, while MT4 and MT5 are available on web, desktop and mobile. TradingView also has web, desktop and mobile access. Traders seeking full EA development and testing need the desktop or VPS environment for MT4 or MT5; the mobile and browser versions do not provide that full automation environment.

1. Eligibility

ActivTrades does not accept clients from a number of jurisdictions, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Japan and several other countries. Confirm that your country is eligible before applying.

2. Registration

Choose an individual or professional account. Professional status requires eligibility based on trading volume, portfolio size and experience. Select an available platform and account base currency; currencies include EUR, USD, GBP, SEK and CHF.

3. Verification

Identity and residence verification is required before funding or trading with real money. The digital process requires proof of identity, such as a passport, national ID card or driving licence, and proof of address, such as a recent utility bill or bank statement.

4. Initial funding

There is generally no minimum deposit, although some jurisdictions may require about $250. Higher minimums may apply in Brazil and China, including $500 for China and R$100,000 for Brazil. Access to Trading Central tools and analytics on MT4 and MT5 requires a $1,000 minimum deposit.

5. Getting ready to trade

Choose between the available platforms and review the leverage, instrument access and protections attached to your entity and account classification. A demo account is available. Hedging must be activated through the personal account area if you want to hold long and short positions simultaneously on the same instrument.

Deposits

Method	Minimum	Broker Fee	Broker Processing	Expected Settlement
Wire Transfer	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	same working day to 3–5 business days	same working day to 3–5 business days
Apple Pay	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	same working day	same working day
Google Pay	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	same working day	same working day
Visa	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Neteller	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Skrill	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
PayPal	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Bitcoin Cash	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Bitcoin	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Ethereum	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Litecoin	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
USD Coin	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Tether	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Ripple	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min
Dash	$0	No broker deposit fee, provider/FX conversion fees may apply	30 min	30 min

ActivTrades accepts bank wire, cards and e-wallets, with other payment options depending on the account. Broker processing time and final settlement can differ, particularly for bank transfers. Funding in a currency different from the account base currency incurs a 0.5% conversion fee.

Withdrawals

Method	Minimum	Broker Fee	Broker Processing	Expected Settlement
Wire Transfer	No broker minimum ($0)	Up to £9 (or currency equivalent) may apply	3–5 business days to be credited	3–5 business days to be credited
Apple Pay	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Google Pay	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Visa	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Neteller	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Skrill	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
PayPal	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Bitcoin Cash	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Bitcoin	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Ethereum	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Litecoin	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
USD Coin	$20	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Tether	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Ripple	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day
Dash	No broker minimum ($0)	Free, third-party/local charges may apply	Processed within 1 business day	Processed within 1 business day

Withdrawal requests received before 12:30 p.m. UK time are typically dealt with that business day; later requests move to the following business day. This is broker handling time, not a promise that the receiving bank or payment provider will complete settlement on the same day. Currency conversion and third-party charges can affect the amount received.

Availability

ActivTrades lists support hours as 24/7 across its support channels. The published contact options include chat, phone and email.

How traders can get help

Clients can use live chat, call the UK number or email the English desk. Support is available in 12 languages, including English, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, Arabic and Chinese.

Support limitations

Customer feedback is mixed. Some users praise practical guidance and quick replies, while complaints focus on withdrawal difficulties and deposit or funding support. The experience can vary by case.

ActivTrades has offices in the United Kingdom, Bahamas, Brazil, Portugal and Mauritius, and regulation depends on the client’s legal entity. The protections described for U.K. clients should not be assumed to apply to accounts opened elsewhere.

Legal entities and regulators

The Bahamas number is ActivTrades’ company registration number; ActivTrades confirms regulation by the SCB. The protections in the table are jurisdiction-specific, and the U.K. compensation scheme does not apply globally.

Client money protections

ActivTrades segregates client funds in ring-fenced accounts with internationally recognised financial institutions, separate from company operating funds. Negative balance protection is offered on retail and professional accounts globally, so clients will not owe more than their deposited funds under that protection. Depending on account type and jurisdiction, additional insurance may cover excess losses up to $1,000,000 or €1,000,000.

Company transparency

ActivTrades was founded in 2001 and is not publicly traded.

Important distinction

Segregation, eligible compensation schemes and additional insurance concern broker failure or specified client-protection events; they do not prevent losses caused by market movements. Negative balance protection limits the account balance outcome, but it does not make leveraged trading risk-free.

What the headline claim suggests

A headline maximum leverage of 1:1000 can make ActivTrades appear to offer one uniform ceiling. In practice, the applicable maximum depends on the legal entity, client classification and instrument.

What happens in practice

Retail clients under U.K., EU and Australian rules are generally capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs. Eligible professional clients can reach up to 1:400 on major currency pairs, while some international accounts may access up to 1:200 or, for certain assets under a particular international entity, up to 1:1000. Leverage can also step down as position size or volume rises.

Moving to professional status also means reduced retail protections. A higher leverage ceiling therefore needs to be weighed against both the instrument-specific limit and the protections attached to the client classification.

Who should care most

Retail traders choosing an international entity, traders seeking high leverage, and clients considering professional status should confirm the exact terms that apply before opening positions.

Consider ActivTrades if you...

• want to choose among ActivTrader, MT4, MT5 and TradingView;
• trade leveraged forex, indices, commodities or share CFDs and understand the related financing and spread costs;
• value a generally $0 initial deposit requirement and can check any jurisdiction-specific exceptions.

You may want to look elsewhere if you...

• need the same leverage limit and client protections regardless of legal entity;
• want to own shares directly rather than trade share CFDs;
• need full programmable automation inside a browser-only platform rather than MT4 or MT5 desktop/VPS tools.

ActivTrades’ strongest proposition is the combination of four platform options with access to leveraged trading across several major markets. Its biggest compromise is that leverage, minimum funding rules and protections vary by entity, instrument and client classification. Traders who are comfortable checking those conditions before trading are most likely to accept that complexity.

This review assesses ActivTrades’ account structure, fees, markets, platforms, funding arrangements, customer support and client protections, while distinguishing broker claims from regulatory and customer-feedback information. For more detail on how brokers are assessed, see our review methodology.