Switch Markets vs ActivTrades

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

Switch Markets vs ActivTrades Comparison Table 2026
Switch Markets ActivTrades
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4.2
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3.4
Switch Markets is ranked #39 among CFD brokers. ActivTrades is ranked #18 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Switch Markets is a CFD brokerage offering diverse assets. It provides MT4 and MT5 platforms, thousands of instruments, and tools like copy trading and premium VPS hosting. 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
  • Switch Markets provides exceptional trading tools: a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar, various trading calculators, and a new AI-driven trading assistant.
  • Gain free access to MarketMovers' educational materials, market insights, and personalised coaching—benefits rarely offered by other brokers.
  • Traders can use MetaTrader's Trading Signals for copy trading, allowing them to replicate expert positions instantly.
  • Switch Markets has enhanced its portfolio with additional instruments and streamlined account structures. It provides a strong infrastructure for algorithmic traders, including a complimentary premium VPS for eligible participants.
  • Switch Markets offers clients with a $50 balance four complimentary tools: a VPS, AlgoBuilder AI using natural-language prompts, Trackatrader for advanced analytics, and PineConnector.
  • 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
  • Switch Markets' regulatory standing has declined since its ASIC licence expired in 2024, when it ceased operating as a Corporate Appointed Representative under OneRoyal.
  • The global firm is offshore-registered with the VFSC through Royal CM LTD, a red-tier regulator offering limited client financial protection.
  • Although better, spreads remain uncompetitive for Standard account holders, averaging 1.5 pips on EUR/USD by our analysis.
  • This broker mainly supports MetaTrader, lacking proprietary software or apps. However, the PineConnector bridge enables direct trade execution from TradingView charts.
  • 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
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Forex, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Shares, Crypto CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Bonds, ETFs, Futures, Cryptos (location dependent)
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
VFSC FCA, CMVM, SCB, FSC, BACEN, CVM
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android 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
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4.8
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4.9
Android App Rating
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4.6
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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
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No No
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes 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
Switch Markets provides cost-effective copy trading through the MetaTrader platform.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
MT4 Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$0 €/£10
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CHF
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Copper
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Precious Metals
  • Cotton
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Wheat
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Orange Juice
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Silver
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
CFD
Switch Markets provides numerous CFD instruments with rapid order execution averaging 76 ms. Commissions are competitive at $7 per round turn for Pro accounts. Unique support features include over 20 trading calculators, a free journal, and coaching. 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 (EU), 1:1000 (Global) 1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.2 0.6
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5 0.8
Oil Spread
2.0 0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable Variable
Forex
The offering of over 60 major, minor, and exotic currency pairs is quite competitive, particularly with Pro account spreads starting at 0 pips. Seasoned traders can utilise VPS hosting and Expert Advisors to execute algorithmic trading strategies efficiently. 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
60+ 50+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.8
EURUSD Spread
0.1 0.5
EURGBP Spread
0.6 0.8
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
Switch Markets now offers over 60 crypto CFDs, a significant increase from the original 6. This expanded range includes both major cryptocurrencies and altcoins. Users can deposit and withdraw using BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, and USDTRC20, appealing to traders focused on crypto. 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 Variable
Coins
  • BTC
  • BTC
  • XMR
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • NEAR
  • ZEC
  • LNK
  • APE
  • DOG
  • RIP
  • RIP
  • ONE
  • BNB
  • DSH
  • AVE
  • SHB
  • BCC
  • ETC
  • ADA
  • VET
  • XTZ
  • SOL
  • CHZ
  • NEO
  • BSV
  • IOTA
  • ATO
  • UNI
  • COMP
  • BAND
  • FTM
  • DOT
  • ALG
  • MEL
  • XLM
  • THT
  • POL
  • SND
  • TRX
  • SUSHI
  • QTUM
  • ICP
  • CELO
  • SNX
  • ALICE
  • KAVA
  • AVX
  • TRP
  • KSM
  • YFI
  • CKE
  • MNA
  • EOS
  • FIL
  • 1INCH
  • DEFI
  • EGLD
  • WAV
  • AXS
  • XEM
  • ENS
  • KNC
  • 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
Switch Markets ActivTrades
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