SmartFX or ActivTrades – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare SmartFX and ActivTrades in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
SmartFX is an offshore regulated CFD and forex broker with MT5 integration and 5000+ instruments. The brand offers 24/5 customer support and one account type for simplicity. SmartFX is regulated by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC).
ActivTrades is a UK-headquartered CFD and forex broker established in 2001. The award-winning brokerage has secured licenses from trusted bodies, notably the UK’s FCA, and facilitates trading on over 1000 instruments spanning 7 asset classes, with over 93.60% of orders are executed at the requested price.
Pros
I'm pleased to see the world-renowned MetaTrader 5 terminal available, with all integrated tools including the MQL5 development environment, signals and a forex VPS
There's 24/5 multilingual customer support available via live chat, telephone and email, making it easy for clients to reach the broker during peak times
I found commission-free deposits and withdrawals on offer with instant processing times for some account funding methods
I like that beginners can access copy trading opportunities via the Social Trading network
ActivTrades offers tight spreads, particularly for forex trading with spreads starting from 0.5 pips on major currency pairs without additional commissions. The €/£10 inactivity fee doesn’t kick in for 52 weeks either, so it doesn’t penalize active traders.
Although cTrader isn’t supported, MT4, MT5, TradingView and the broker’s ActivTrader cater to diverse trading needs, with the firm’s web-accessible platform hitting the mark for beginners during testing with a slick look and feel.
ActivTrades is highly trusted, boasting 20+ years in the industry, authorization from 3 ‘green tier’ bodies under DayTrading.com’s Regulation & Trust Rating, and it goes the extra mile for UK traders with £1M in investor compensation (exceeding the £85K through the FSCS) in the event of brokerage insolvency.
ActivTrades provides fast, dependable and multilingual support based on our tests of its live chat, email, and phone assistance, making it excellent for active traders and beginners.
With execution speeds averaging just 4ms, an order fulfilment rate of 93.6%, and no restrictions on short-term strategies, ActivTrades offers an excellent environment for fast-paced strategies like trading.
Cons
I'm concerned about the general lack of transparency on the website which makes me question how much trust I can put in this broker
The offshore regulatory oversight by the Vanuatu Financial Services Commission (VFSC) raises serious security concerns for me
There's barely any additional tools and resources available, and the educational content is weak compared to top brands
I wasn't able to access any cryptocurrency trading opportunities, which is a drawback compared to similar brands
There are no copy trading or social trading features, which is a drawback for traders seeking passive investment opportunities or the ability to mimic the trades of more experienced traders, especially compared to eToro and Vantage.
There's a varied selection of 1000+ markets, such as forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs, but the range of asset classes overall is limited, notably there are zero stocks outside the US, UK and Europe, while BlackBull offers a superior 26,000+ markets.
Its research tools are good but not great, with a growing ‘Analysis’ hub but no Trading Central or Autochartist for advanced technical summaries which could help aspiring traders identify opportunities in fast-moving markets.
ActivTrades still has some way to go to match firms like XTB and CMC Markets in the education department, with some well-presented, informative webinars but limited courses and quizzes for a more comprehensive and engaging learning journey.
Awards
Safest Global Broker 2023 - International Investor Magazine
Best Online Trading Services 2023 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
Best Forex Broker Europe 2022 - Forex-Awards.com
Most Trusted Global FX Broker 2022 - International Investor Magazine
Best CFD Broker 2021 - Rankia
Safest Global Broker 2021 - International Investor Award Winners
ActivTrades provides a choice of mobile apps for iOS and Android devices. The proprietary ActivTrader app and support for MT4, MT5, and TradingView give access to real-time market data, advanced charting tools, and customizable trading features. All four apps let you trade and manage you accounts intuitively, but ActivTrades boasts the most seamless trading experience, combining the broker’s ultra-fast execution speeds with dynamic charting and research tools.
iOS App Rating
4.9
Android App Rating
3.8
Margin Trading
No
Yes
MetaTrader 4
No
Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes
Yes
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
No
Yes
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
No
STP Account
No
Yes
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
No
No
MAM Account
No
No
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
No
Robo Advisor
No
No
Negative Balance Protection
No
Yes
Market Maker
No
Yes
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
No
No
Auto Trading
Yes
Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
Trade Signals
Yes
Yes
VPS Hosting
No
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
No
No
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
€/£10
Islamic Account
No
Yes
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CHF
Commodities
Gold
Silver
Gold
Oil
Natural Gas
Wheat
Copper
Cocoa
Coffee
Corn
Orange Juice
Palladium
Platinum
Silver
Soybeans
Sugar
CFD
I think the 5000+ CFD instruments including forex, commodities, indices and stocks should serve active traders well. The MT5 platform also offers plenty of advanced tools and features to facilitate complex CFD trading strategies.
ActivTrades specializes in CFD trading, offering over 1000 instruments spanning currencies, shares, indices, commodities, and more. The broker has picked up industry awards for its CFD trading environment, delivering fast and reliable order execution with transparent margin requirements for traders.
Leverage
1:400
1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
FTSE Spread
Floating
0.6
GBPUSD Spread<
Floating
0.8
Oil Spread
Floating
0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable
Variable
Forex
I found an average range of 45+ major, minor and exotic currency pairs at SmartFX, tradable on the MT5 platform. I did appreciate the flexible leverage up to 1:400 and minimum order sizes from 0.01 lots.
ActivTrades offers its lowest fees in the forex department, with excellent spreads on majors like the EUR/USD from 0.5 pips and zero commissions, keeping pricing simple. Improvements to the ActivTrades platform, alongside access to the industry-leading MetaTrader 4, also give traders the tools they need to navigate the FX market confidently.
Assets
43
50+
GBPUSD Spread
Floating
0.8
EURUSD Spread
Floating
0.5
EURGBP Spread
Floating
0.8
Currency Indices
USD
Cryptocurrency
Trade 15+ of the most know cryptos, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Digital currencies can be traded around the clock with no hidden fees. 1:10 leverage is also available on major tokens like BTC.
