Comparison of ActivTrades and Expert Option
| Feature | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 2014 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Instant |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | SVGFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | ExpertOption |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | - N/A |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:1 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $10 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Wire, WhatsApp Pay, Google Pay, Binance Pay, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $50 per month after 3 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | FinancialCommission.org |
| 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, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Expert Option 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 Expert Option
ExpertOption is a binary options broker launched in 2014. With a $10 minimum deposit and a proprietary web/mobile platform, it lets beginners trade 60+ assets across forex, stocks and commodities in deals from 30 seconds to 8 hours. The company is a Category A member of the Financial Commission, which provides up to €20 000 compensation in case of disputes. Although not regulated by top-tier authorities and unavailable in the US, EU and dozens of other countries, ExpertOption attracts 70 million+ clients thanks to social trading, priority withdrawals for Gold+ tiers and payouts up to 95% on successful trades.
Pros
- Low $10 entry barrier with $1 trade size
- Payouts up to 95 % on binary option contracts
- Social trading feed and copy-trade feature
- Member of the Financial Commission (€20 k protection fund)
- 24/7 multilingual live-chat support
Cons
- Not supervised by FCA, ASIC or CySEC
- Only proprietary platform – no MT4/MT5 or cTrader
- Short expiries unsuited to many strategies
- Limited education compared with larger CFD brokers
ActivTrades & Expert Option Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | EOLabs LLC |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | St Vincent & the Grenadines |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | SVGFSA |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | FinancialCommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
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% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Binary Options | ||
| Account | — | Binary Options |
| Minimum Deposit | — | $10 |
| Option Types | — | Call/Put |
| Minimum Stake | — | $1 |
| Payout | — | from 25% to 95% |
| Expiration Time | — | from 30 seconds to 8 hours |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Wire, WhatsApp Pay, Google Pay, Binance Pay, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $50 per month after 3 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | ExpertOption |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | 80 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | N/A |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 17 |
Indices | 31 | 11 |
Stocks | 1035 | 25 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 0 |
Bonds | 6 | 0 |
Metals | 3 | 4 |
Energies | 7 | 1 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 0 |
ETFs | 75 | 16 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | help@eo.support |
Phone | +12426035200 | — |
Telegram | — | Telegram |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and Expert Option, 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.
More Comparisons
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.