Switch Markets vs ActivTrades

Switch Markets or ActivTrades – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Switch Markets and ActivTrades in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Switch Markets vs ActivTrades Comparison Table 2025
Switch Markets ActivTrades
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3.8
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4
Switch Markets is ranked #52 among CFD brokers. ActivTrades is ranked #57 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Switch Markets is a multi-asset CFD brokerage regulated by ASIC and SVGFSA. The brand provides trading services on MT4 and MT5 platforms with leverage up to 1:500. It offers more than 2000 instruments and includes features like copy trading services and free 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 a good selection of trading tools, such as a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar, and VPS access. I value the variety of forex calculators available.
  • I discovered 14 easy deposit methods and 5 base currencies. With average processing times of just 1 minute and 2 seconds, traders will find this particularly appealing.
  • I am impressed by the free access to HowToTrade's educational resources, community forum, and market analysis, all without requiring a deposit.
  • Traders can utilise the MetaTrader Trading Signals to mirror the actions of seasoned traders instantly.
  • The £50 minimum initial deposit for both account types is quite competitive relative to other brands.
  • 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
  • I am somewhat worried that the international firm is governed by the SVGFSA, an offshore regulator known for offering minimal financial security to clients.
  • In my view, Standard account holders face relatively high spreads, averaging 1.5 pips for EUR/USD, which are not particularly competitive.
  • 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
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Commodities 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
ASIC FCA, CMVM, CSSF, SCB
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

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
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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
No 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
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes No
Auto Trading
Yes - Equinix Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Switch Markets provides low-cost trading services through the MetaTrader 4 platform, allowing traders to copy strategies efficiently.
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
€/£10
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CHF
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Wheat
  • Copper
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Corn
  • Orange Juice
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Silver
  • Soybeans
  • Sugar
CFD
Switch Markets provides over 180 CFD instruments, offering leverage up to 1:500 and swift order execution in under 76 milliseconds. Commissions are competitive, at $7 per round turn for Pro account holders. 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
1:500 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 competitive, particularly with Pro account spreads starting at 0 pips. Seasoned traders can utilise leverage up to 1:500 on the widely-used MT4 platform. 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 offers just six crypto CFDs, but the available leverage of 1:3 is appealing. Additionally, deposit options include BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, and USDTRC20, which is advantageous for traders. 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
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • 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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