Home
Brokers

IronFX vs ActivTrades

IronFX or ActivTrades – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare IronFX and ActivTrades in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

IronFX vs ActivTrades Comparison Table 2026
IronFX	ActivTrades

3.8	4
IronFX is ranked #18 among CFD brokers.	ActivTrades is ranked #21 among CFD brokers.
Review	Review
IronFX, established in 2010, is a highly regulated broker specialising in forex and CFDs. This acclaimed company provides access to over 500 markets for more than 1.5 million clients in 180 countries. Traders benefit from multiple account options with competitive rates via the MT4 platform, alongside 24/5 customer support available in 30 languages.	ActivTrades, a UK-based CFD and forex broker since 2001, is renowned for its award-winning services. It holds licences from esteemed regulators, including the UK’s FCA. The firm offers trading on more than 1,000 instruments across seven asset classes, with an impressive 93.60% of trades executed at the desired price.
Pros
In addition to MT4, the broker also provides various services such as copy trading, a VPS solution, and PAMM/MAM accounts. IronFX offers both fixed and floating spread accounts, appealing to novices and seasoned traders alike. Traders gain access to the renowned Trading Central research tool, featuring automated AI analytics and round-the-clock support. IronFX is a well-established firm, regulated by respected authorities such as the FCA, CySEC, and FSCA. The IronFX Academy provides outstanding educational resources for traders of all levels, from beginners to advanced.	ActivTrades provides competitive spreads, especially for forex trading, starting at 0.5 pips on major currency pairs without extra commissions. Additionally, the €/£10 inactivity fee is only applied after 52 weeks, benefiting active traders. While cTrader isn't supported, MT4, MT5, TradingView, and the broker's ActivTrader platform accommodate various trading requirements. The firm's web-based platform has proven user-friendly and visually appealing for novices during testing. ActivTrades is a reputable firm with over 20 years in the financial sector. It holds authorizations from three top-tier regulatory bodies, according to DayTrading.com's Regulation & Trust Rating. For UK traders, it offers enhanced protection with £1 million in investor compensation, surpassing the £85,000 provided by the FSCS, should the firm face insolvency. Based on our tests, ActivTrades offers swift and reliable support via live chat, email, and phone in multiple languages. This makes it an excellent choice for both traders and newcomers seeking quality assistance. With execution speeds averaging 4ms and an order completion rate of 93.6%, ActivTrades provides an outstanding platform for traders. It supports rapid strategies without imposing limits on short-term approaches.
Cons
It's regrettable the broker doesn't provide TradingView, limiting options for seasoned traders. Commissions in zero-spread accounts begin at £13.50 per lot, almost twice the industry standard. In comparison to top brokers, IronFX provides a limited range of share CFDs. The offshore BVI entity offers reduced regulatory safeguards and oversight.	The platform lacks features for copy or social trading, which is a disadvantage for traders interested in passive investing or replicating the trades of seasoned traders. This is particularly evident when compared to eToro and Vantage. The selection of over 1,000 markets includes forex, commodities, indices, and ETFs. However, the overall choice of asset classes is limited, with no stocks available outside the US, UK, and Europe. In comparison, BlackBull provides access to more than 26,000 markets. Its research tools are decent, although somewhat lacking. The expanding 'Analysis' hub is useful, but the absence of Trading Central or Autochartist means advanced technical insights are missing. This limitation may hinder traders seeking to spot opportunities in volatile markets. ActivTrades needs improvement in educational resources to compete with firms like XTB and CMC Markets. While it offers well-presented and informative webinars, the selection of courses and quizzes remains limited, hindering a more comprehensive and engaging learning experience for traders.
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 Best FX Broker 2021 - Le Fonti Award
FCA Regulated
Yes	Yes
Instruments
Forex, Indices, Shares, Futures, Commodities, Metals (all CFDs)	CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent)
Demo Account
Yes	Yes
Minimum Deposit
$100	$0
Payment Methods
Credit Card Debit Card FasaPay Neteller Perfect Money Skrill Wire Transfer	AstroPay Credit Card Debit Card Mastercard Neteller PayPal Skrill Sofort Visa Wire Transfer
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots	0.01 Lots
Regulator
FCA, CySEC, FSCA, BVI FSC	FCA, CMVM, CSSF, SCB
Mobile Apps
Android, iOS, WebTrader	iOS & Android
Trading App
	ActivTrades offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, including its own ActivTrader app, MT4, MT5, and TradingView. These provide real-time data, advanced charting, and customisable features. All apps enable intuitive trading and account management, but ActivTrader excels with its seamless experience, fast execution, and robust research tools.
iOS App Rating
2.1	4.9
Android App Rating
2.5	3.8
Margin Trading
Yes	Yes
MetaTrader 4
Yes	Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes	Yes
cTrader
No	No
AlgoTrader
No	No
OmniTrader
No	No
TradingView
No	Yes
Autochartist
Yes	No
eSignal
No	No
Trading Central
Yes	No
STP Account
Yes	Yes
ECN Account
Yes	No
DMA Account
No	No
MAM Account
Yes	No
PAMM Account
Yes	No
LAMM Account
Yes	No
Demat Account
No	No
AI / Machine Learning
No	No
Robo Advisor
No	No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes	Yes
Market Maker
Yes	Yes
P2P Trading
No	No
Spot Trading
Yes	Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader	Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes	No
Copy Trading Platform
The TradeCopier service enables aspiring investors to mirror the strategies of leading traders instantly. This tool offers novices an opportunity to learn from seasoned investors, while strategy providers have the potential to earn performance fees.
Social Trading
Yes	No
Trade Signals
Yes	Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes	No
Tournaments
Yes	No
Demo Competitions
No	No
Ethical Investing
No	No
Custodial Account
No	No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No	No
Inactivity Fee
$50	€/£10
Islamic Account
Yes	Yes
Account Currencies
USD EUR GBP AUD JPY PLN CZK	USD EUR GBP CHF
Commodities
Cocoa Coffee Copper Corn Cotton Soybeans Sugar Oil Wheat Natural Gas Gold Silver Platinum Palladium	Gold Oil Natural Gas Wheat Copper Cocoa Coffee Corn Orange Juice Palladium Platinum Silver Soybeans Sugar
CFD
IronFX offers over 300 instruments across forex, equities, commodities, and index CFDs. Leverage varies from 1:30 to 1:1000, based on the trader's account location. Exceptional technical analysis tools are available, featuring 30 built-in indicators and 9 different chart time frames.	ActivTrades specialises in CFD trading, providing access to over 1,000 instruments, including currencies, shares, indices, and commodities. Renowned for its award-winning trading environment, the broker ensures swift and dependable order execution, coupled with clear margin requirements for traders.
Leverage
1:30 (FCA), 1:30 (CySEC), 1:500 (FSCA), 1:1000 (BM)	1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
FTSE Spread
140	0.6
GBPUSD Spread<
0.8	0.8
Oil Spread
3	0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable	Variable
Forex
IronFX provides a robust choice of 80 currency pairs for traders. Utilise the market-leading MT4 platform, which includes various forex research tools. However, be aware that commission fees in zero-spread accounts are steep, starting at $13.50 per lot.	ActivTrades provides competitive fees in forex, offering excellent spreads on major pairs like EUR/USD starting from 0.5 pips, with no commission charges. The enhanced ActivTrades platform, along with the renowned MetaTrader 4, equips traders with essential tools to navigate the FX market with confidence.
Assets
80+	50+
GBPUSD Spread
0.8	0.8
EURUSD Spread
0.7	0.5
EURGBP Spread
0.9	0.8
Currency Indices
	USD
Cryptocurrency
	Trade over 15 popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Engage in trading these digital assets 24/7, with transparent fees. Access up to 1:10 leverage on leading tokens like BTC.
Spread
	Variable
Coins
	BTC ETH LTC BCH DOT EOS LINK XLM NEO ADA SOL XRP BNB XMR AVAX DOGE
Crypto Lending
No	No
Crypto Mining
No	No
Crypto Staking
No	No
Auto Market Maker
No	No

IronFX	ActivTrades
Review	Review
More Comparisons
IronFX vs	ActivTrades vs