ActivTrades Review

Review sections

• Investor Protection & Regulations
• Tradable Products
• Account Opening
• Deposit & Withdrawals options
• Web & Desktop Trading Platforms
• Mobile Trading Platforms
• Trading Features
• Commissions & Spreads
• Bonus & Promotions
• Customer Support
• Research
• Trader Education
• Trading Experience
• FAQ
• Conclusion

ActivTrades Video Review

Investor Protection & Regulations

“ActivTrades is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), as well as The Securities Commission of the Bahamas.”

ActivTrades is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) under ActivTrades PLC, as confirmed on the FCA register below:

ActivTrades is also regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas under ActivTrades Corp. According to the broker, this entity is to further develop its South American market and cater for non-EU clients.

According to the broker’s website, ActivTrades PLC offers further protection to clients through the following features:

• Negative balance protection policy.
• Holding client funds in segregated accounts.
• Offering enhanced client money protection through additional insurances.

We have listed the most important protections to look for in a !!broker:

• Segregation of client funds. Keeping client funds in segregated bank accounts from the ones used for the broker’s corporate capital negates the risk of accounting errors. All of ActivTrades’ entities comply with this requirement.
• Negative balance protection. Negative balance protection is a safety mechanism that removes the risk of a trader’s losses exceeding their account balance. This is especially important in volatile markets. All ActivTrades subsidiaries provide negative balance protection.
• Compensation scheme. A compensation scheme protects traders against the broker’s liabilities in the unlikely event that the company should become insolvent. ActivTrades has issued an ‘excess of loss policy’ by Lloyds that is available to clients of all 5 entities; it is in excess of $10,000 and up to $1,000,000. Additionally, clients of the FCA-regulated entity are also protected under FSCS by up to a maximum of GBP 85,000; clients of the CMVN-regulated entity are covered under SIIL by up to a maximum of EUR 20,000; and clients of the CSSF-regulated entity are protected under ICS by up to EUR 25,000.
• Maximum leverage. Capping the maximum leverage limits the maximum market exposure to retail traders. Top-tier regulators usually allow a maximum leverage of 1:30, while offshore brokers can allow a maximum leverage of anywhere between 1:500 to 1:2000.

ActivTrades does not accept clients from Afghanistan, Åland Islands, Al-Qaida & Taliban, Belarus, British Columbia, Burma/Myanmar, Canada, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Serbia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Iraq, Japan, Liberia, Libya, North Korea (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea), Poland (business decision), Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, U.S. Virgin Islands, USA, United States Minor Outlying Islands, Yemen, Zimbabwe.

Tradable Products

“ActivTrades PLC offers users the ability to trade on more than 1,000+ instruments via CFD and Spread Betting products on Forex, Indices, Commodities Shares and ETFs,”

ActivTrades PLC offers a wide range of tradable instruments via CFD and Spread Betting products and include 50+ Forex pairs, 35+ Indices, 15+ Commodities, 500+ Shares and 24 ETFs. Below is a list of just some of the available markets for trading:

* Details regarding the available assets are taken from the ActivTrader PLC platform and website and are correct at the time of this review.

Trading costs such as spreads and commissions vary depending on the account type and trading platform being used which are both discussed further down this review. For example, according to the broker’s statement, the target spread on EUR/USD is 0.50 pips with no commission and no requotes.

Account Opening

“ActivTrades PLC offers multiple types of trading accounts called an Individual Account, Professional Account, Islamic Account and a free demo account.”

An Individual Account with ActivTrades PLC offers a variety of features:

• Negative balance protection.
• Enhanced client insurance on client funds.
• Direct execution as a non-dealing desk broker.
• Multiple account currency funding: EUR, USD, GBP, CHF.
• 24 hours a day, 5 days a week support.
• Various funding and withdrawal methods.
• Minimum account funding £500.
• ESMA restricted leverage limits.

A Professional Account is offered to those who are eligible under ESMA regulations where users can keep some protections such as best execution, segregated accounts, negative balance protection and FSCS protection and enhanced insurance while waiving some protections such as leverage restrictions, risk warnings and incentives.

The broker also offers Islamic Accounts for swap-free trading, as well as access to a free demo trading account. To open a live Individual Account users can simply click on the Open Account tab in the Accounts section from the broker’s homepage. From here, users are redirected to the broker’s account opening page:

After inputting name, email, password and telephone contact information, users are redirected to the next page which asks for employment, savings and account funding details, as well as their trading preferences. After this, users are then asked details regarding their trading experience. If the broker is satisfied with your answer, it will redirect to the next page called Declarations and finally, in accordance with standard KYC and AML procedures, users are asked to verify identity and address.

Users can also submit these at a later date. After clicking the submit button, users are then directed towards their ActivTrades Personal Area where they can view application statuses, funding methods, platform downloads, access to education and proprietary trading tools such as Smart Pattern and Smart Forecast.

For users who would like to open a Free Demo Account, it is very simple. By clicking on the ‘Try Free Demo’ link in the Accounts page users can open a free MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 or ActivTrader account, as shown below:

After clicking Try Now, users can access a free ActivTrader demo account instantly with no registration required:

Deposit & Withdrawals options

“ActivTrades PLC offers clients a variety of ways to fund their trading accounts which includes bank transfer, credit/debit card, Neteller, Skrill, PayPal and Sofort.”

ActivTrades PLC offers clients a variety of ways to fund their trading accounts with all methods commission-free with the exception of non-EEA debit and credit cards. Processing times can be within 30 minutes and on the same day.

Withdrawals are also commission-free with the exception of USD bank transfers. Both deposits and withdrawals can be made in the ActivTrades Personal Area.

Web & Desktop Trading Platforms

“ActivTrades PLC offers the ability to trade from the globally-recognised MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms, as well as its own advanced ActivTrader platform, all accessible on Web and Desktop.”

ActivTrades offers traders the ability to trade on a variety of trading platforms that can be easily accessed from the secure ActivTrades Personal Area. This includes MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and the ActivTrader platform.

ActivTrades MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

The MetaTrader suite of trading platforms are the world’s most commonly used. However, there are some differences between MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. For example:

MetaTrader 5 gives users access to an economic calendar directly from the platform whereas MetaTrader 4 does not. There are also more timeframes and order types available on the MetaTrader 5 platform, as shown in the table above. Users can also trade Share CFDs from the MetaTrader 5 trading platform.

ActivTrades ActivTrader Platform

The broker’s ActivTrader Platform offers the ability to trade via Web Browser and with no downloads necessary. The platform itself offers one-click trading, a variety of timeframes and a large selection of different technical trading indicators.

There are also some advanced features of the platform as detailed on the broker’s website and include:

• Progressive trailing stop feature
• Hedging abilities
• Pullback order
• Market sentiment indicators
• 14 chart types and a wide range of technical indicators
• Simple to use and fast execution

The ActivTrader platform is covered in more detail in the video review. A screenshot of the trading platform can be found below:

Mobile Trading Platforms

“ActivTrades offers traders the ability to trade on the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 mobile trading app, as well as on the ActivTrader Mobile Trading App for iOS and Android operating systems.”

ActivTrades clients can download the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and ActivTrader Mobile Trading App through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for Android. Users can also trade on these mobile trading apps through iOS or Android tablets.

ActivTrader Mobile Trading App

The ActivTrader mobile trading app allows users to:

• Trade multiple asset classes such as Forex, Indices, Shares and Commodities
• Open positions directly from real-time charts
• Create personalised watchlists
• Access advanced order functionalities
• Trade and manage your account on the move
• Access live chat support

The ActivTrader mobile trading app is covered in more detail in the video review.

Trading Features

“ActivTrades PLC offers a wide range of proprietary trading tools for both the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms such as Smart Order, Smart Forecast, Smart Pattern and more.”

Clients trading with ActivTrades are offered an array of unique proprietary trading tools for both the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms. These include:

• Smart Order. This feature extends the functions of MetaTrader 4 by allowing users to open and close positions with a single click, place OCO orders or scheduled closure of your positions by equity or by a specific date.
• Smart Lines. This add-on allows traders to automate orders on trend lines set by the user.
• Smart Forecast. This tool indicates probably price changes and gives the trader estimates for different price objectives.
• Smart Pattern. This MetaTrader 4 add-on automatically detects chart patterns and scans historical data to generate detailed statistics about potential upcoming market movements.

These are just a few of the Smart Tools available with ActivTrades. However, some are only available to live account holders but can be accessed through the ActivTrades Personal Area:

Commissions & Spreads

“Trading costs with ActivTrades vary depending on the market being traded but are very competitive and transparent. All non-Share CFD markets are commission-free to trade on.”

ActivTrades PLC offers traders a very competitive pricing model, with features shown below:

The broker provides lots of information regarding commissions and spreads on its website and is very transparent. Example spreads are shown below:

Forex Trading

Indices

Commodities

Shares

There are various fees associated with Share trading with ActivTrades, as detailed on the broker’s website:

Bonus & Promotions

“ActivTrades PLC clients are offered no bonuses or promotions due to ESMA rules. ActivTrades Corp clients with accounts regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas are offered a cashback and refer-a-friend bonus promotions.”

Due to ESMA rules accounts opened with the branch of ActivTrades PLC regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority are offered no bonus or promotion offers.

However, accounts opened with the branch of ActivTrades Corp, regulated by the Securities Commission of the Bahamas are currently offered two bonus promotions: Cashback and Refer-a-Friend but these can change over time.

Customer Support

“ActivTrades PLC offers 24 hours a day, 5 days a week customer support through a variety of mediums including Live Chat, Call Back and an Online Enquiry Form for multiple languages.”

ActivTrades PLC offers customer support 24 hours a day, 5 days a week through Live Chat, an online Call-Back form and an online Enquiry Form for multiple languages including English, French, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Chinese, Bulgarian, Russian, Melayu.

After clicking on the Live Chat icon to speak to an operator, one was available in just a few seconds. The operator was helpful when asking questions regarding their services, as shown below:

• Address: ActivTrades PLC, 1 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YN, UK
• Phone:
  • Main: +44 (0) 207 6500 500
  • English Desk: +44 (0) 207 6500 567
• Email:
• • Support Desk: englishdesk@activtrades.com
  • Institutional Desk: institutional_en@activtrades.com
• Social:
  • facebook.com/ActivTrades/
  • twitter.com/activtrades_uk
  • linkedin.com/company/activtrades/
  • YouTube ActivTrades

Research

“ActivTrades PLC offers limited trader research but does have brief daily market analysis news on its website along with an economic calendar.”

The broker provides access to brief daily market analysis from its website as shown below:

The articles are brief yet informative with text commentary and charts.

Trader Education

“ActivTrades PLC offers some trader education material but this is mainly around how to use MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the Smart Tools package and the ActivTrader platform.”

Clients of ActivTrades have a wide variety of educational videos and PDFs on using MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the Smart Tools package and the ActivTrader platform.

The broker also provides access to webinars from guest speakers covering different trading topics.

Trading Experience

“ActivTrades PLC offers simple, transparent and competitive trading accounts across a variety of asset classes and on a variety of trading platforms which come with a large library of supportive videos and handbooks.”

From our observations, the broker’s offering is suitable for both beginner and advanced traders. Across the different trading accounts, users can enjoy commission-free trading on non-Share CFDs such as Forex, Indices and Commodities.

Users can access the globally-recognised MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms. However, the broker also offers its own advanced, yet simple to use, ActivTrader platform for web and mobile. A wide range of educational videos and manuals are provided on using all of the platforms offered.

The broker also provides access to some impressive trading tools such as the SmartForecast, SmartPattern and SmartCalculator, among others. Customer support is also fast and responsive.

FAQ

Is ActivTrades PLC regulated?

Yes, ActivTrades PLC is regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Where is ActivTrades PLC based?

The ActivTrades head office is based at 1 Thomas More Square, London E1W 1YN, United Kingdom.

How does ActivTrades PLC make money?

ActivTrades primarily makes money through spreads, swaps and commissions on certain tradable asset classes.

How do I deposit in ActivTrades PLC account?

Funds can be deposited into a trading account via bank wire transfer, credit/debit card, Neteller, PayPal and Sofort.

What is the min. deposit for ActivTrades PLC?

The minimum deposit to open a trading account is £500.

How do I withdraw money from ActivTrades PLC?

Withdrawals can be made from ActivTrades through the Personal Area and can be done via bank wire transfer, Neteller, Skrill and PayPal, among others.

What is the max leverage in ActivTrades PLC?

The maximum leverage offered by ActivTrades is 1:400 for Professional clients.

How do I open an account with ActivTrades PLC?

An account can be opened at the click of a button on the ActivTrades website and can be done in just a few steps.

Does ActivTrades PLC use MetaTrader?

Yes, both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Conclusion

“ActivTrades PLC is a multi-asset class CFD and Spread Betting broker offering to trade on more than 1,000+ instruments covering cross Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares and ETFs on the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platform, as well as their own advanced ActivTrader platform for Mac, PC, iOS and Android systems.”

ActivTrades PLC was founded in 2001 and is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The broker also operates another entity, ActivTrades Corp, which is authorised and regulated by The Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB).

The broker was recognised by the Sunday Times Fast Track 100 as the 90th fastest growing company in the UK for 2017. ActivTrades PLC not only offers a negative balance protection policy but also segregated accounts and enhanced client money protection, as well as competitive spreads and a no requotes policy.

Through ActivTrades PLC users can open an Individual Account, Professional Account, Islamic Account and a free demo trading account and trade on more than 1,000+ financial instruments via CFDs or Spread Betting covering Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares and ETFs.

Users can trade on the globally-recognised MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 trading platforms, as well as their own advanced, ActivTrader platform for Mac, PC, iOS and Android systems. The broker also provides access to advanced trading tools and features such as Progressive Trailing Stops, SmartOrder 2, Smart Lines, SmartForecast, SmartPattern and more.

ActivTrades PLC provides customer support 24 hours a day, 5 days a week via Live Chat, Telephone and an Online Enquiry Form. Market analysis and trader research are limited but there are educational videos on the different trading platforms provided.

• Regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
• More than 1,000+ tradable assets across Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares and ETFs.
• Commission-free trading available.
• Wide range of trading platforms offered with advanced trader tools.