Comparison of ActivTrades and Swissquote
| Feature | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2001 | 1996 |
| Broker Type | MM | STP |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | FINMA, CSSF, FCA, DFSA, SFC, MAS |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), CFXD, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬈ High |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:400 | 1:400 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1000 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CHF, CAD, AUD, TRY, PLN, SEK, NOK, SGD, XGD, HUF, CZK |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA), Visa, Mastercard |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 6 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | $10 for standard bank withdrawals; card withdrawals 1.9 % (SEPA) / 0 % (non-SEPA) |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | esisuisse / FGDL |
| Protection Size | £85 000 | CHF 100 000 / €100 000 |
| 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, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities, Bonds |
| Review | ActivTrades Review | Swissquote 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 Swissquote
Swissquote is Switzerland’s flagship online banking and brokerage group, supervised by FINMA and listed on SIX (SQN). Combining a Swiss bank account with a multi-asset trading hub, it offers 70+ FX pairs, 400+ CFDs on MT4/MT5, the proprietary CFXD platform and TradingView. Retail leverage is capped at 1:100 (EU 1:30), spreads start from 1.7 pips on Standard and 1.1 pips on Prime, while client funds enjoy segregated custody and deposit insurance up to CHF 100 000/€100 000. The broker best suits safety-minded traders who value Swiss banking regulation, high-volume FX/CFD professionals needing FIX/API connectivity, and diversified investors seeking direct access to global exchanges from a single account. Beginners with very small deposits may find the USD 1 000 entry threshold and inactivity fee less attractive than at zero-commission fintechs.
Pros
- Bank-licensed, publicly traded and multi-jurisdictionally regulated
- 70+ FX pairs and 400+ CFDs; real stocks on 30+ exchanges
- Choice of MT4/MT5, proprietary Advanced Trader & FIX API
- Retail negative-balance protection and segregated funds
- Comprehensive research, Autochartist, free market news
Cons
- High minimum deposit ($1 000) and tiered account pricing
- Spreads above industry average on Standard account
- Inactivity fee after 6 months
- No support for Skrill/Neteller/PayPal funding
ActivTrades & Swissquote Regulation
| Feature | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Companies | ActivTrades Corp, ActivTrades PLC, ActivMarkets - Empresa de Investimento, S.A., ActivTrades Europe SA, ACTIVTRADES CORRETORA LTDA | Swissquote Bank Ltd; Swissquote Bank Europe Ltd; Swissquote Ltd (UK); Swissquote MEA Ltd; Swissquote Asia Ltd; Swissquote Financial Services (Malta) Ltd; Swissquote Pte. Ltd; Swissquote Tech Hub Bucharest S.R.L; Swissquote Capital Markets Ltd; Swissquote South Africa (Pty) Ltd |
Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | Switzerland, Luxembourg, UK, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malta, Singapore, Romania, Cyprus, South Africa |
Regulators | SCB, FCA, CMVM, CSSF, CONSOB, CVM | FINMA, CSSF, FCA, DFSA, SFC, MAS |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | esisuisse / FGDL |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | CHF 100 000 / €100 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Pro | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $1 | $1 000 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.5 | 1.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:100 |
| Stop Out | 30% | 30% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Premium |
| Min Deposit | — | $10 000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.1 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1.4 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:100 |
| Stop Out | — | 30% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, SEK | USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CHF, CAD, AUD, TRY, PLN, SEK, NOK, SGD, XGD, HUF, CZK |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, AstroPay | Bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA), Visa, Mastercard |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 6 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $10 for standard bank withdrawals; card withdrawals 1.9 % (SEPA) / 0 % (non-SEPA) |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), ActivTrader, TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), CFXD, TradingView |
Execution Speed | 5 ms | 9 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | high |
Trading Assets
| Asset | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 49 | 76 |
Indices | 31 | 26 |
Stocks | 1035 | 305 |
Cryptocurrencies | 12 | 2 |
Bonds | 6 | 3 |
Metals | 3 | 16 |
Energies | 7 | 9 |
Soft Commodities | 9 | 5 |
ETFs | 75 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | ActivTrades | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Email | englishdesk@activtrades.bs | fx@swissquote.com |
Phone | +12426035200 | +41448258777 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | ||
TikTok | — | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing ActivTrades and Swissquote, 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.