Vantage FX or ActivTrades – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Vantage FX and ActivTrades in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Established in 2009, Vantage provides trading on more than 1,000 short-term CFD products to over 900,000 clients. Forex CFDs are available from 0.0 pips on the RAW account via TradingView, MT4, or MT5. Regulated by ASIC, Vantage ensures that client funds are kept in separate accounts. Traders looking to copy strategies will benefit from a wide array of social trading tools.
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
Vantage upholds a high trust score through its solid reputation, backed by premier regulation from the FCA and ASIC.
Vantage has enhanced its trading tools for experienced traders, introducing AutoFibo EA to pinpoint potential market reversals.
ECN accounts offer competitive terms, featuring spreads starting at 0.0 pips and a commission of $1.50 per trade side.
The trading software suite is outstanding, featuring the acclaimed MT4 and MT5 platforms.
The broker recently expanded its range of CFDs, offering more trading opportunities.
Vantage addresses the needs of passive investors through user-friendly social trading on ZuluTrade and Myfxbook.
With a minimal deposit requirement of just $50 and no funding fees, this broker stands out as an excellent option for novice traders.
Hedging and scalping strategies are fully permitted without any short-term restrictions.
Opening a live account is both straightforward and swift, requiring under 5 minutes to complete.
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 unfortunate that some clients must register with the offshore firm, which provides reduced regulatory safeguards.
To access optimal trading conditions, a substantial deposit of $10,000 is required. This includes a commission of $1.50 per transaction per side.
Based on tests, average execution speeds of 100ms to 250ms are slower compared to other options.
Regrettably, cryptocurrencies are accessible solely to clients in Australia.
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
Most Trusted Broker Global - International Business Magazine Award 2025
Best Global Broker - Ultimate Fintech Awards LATAM 2025
Best Forex Affiliate Program - Global Brand Awards 2025
Best CFD Broker Global - Global Brands Magazine 2024
Best Trade Execution - Global Forex Awards 2023
Best Multi-Asset Broker Global - Global Business and Finance Magazine 2023
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
Vantage provides a comprehensive trading app with a sleek design and user-friendly interface, making market analysis and trading simple. Although switching to horizontal mode may take a few seconds, it offers excellent chart views. This small delay is offset by easy access to indicators, drawing tools, an economic calendar, newsfeed, market analysis, and FX TV.
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
3.6
4.9
Android App Rating
3.9
3.8
Margin Trading
Yes
Yes
MetaTrader 4
Yes
Yes
MetaTrader 5
Yes
Yes
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
Yes
Yes
Autochartist
No
No
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
No
STP Account
Yes
Yes
ECN Account
Yes
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
No
Yes
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
Yes
Yes
Auto Trading
Myfxbook AutoTrade, Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Yes (APIs), Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes
No
Copy Trading Platform
Traders benefit from social and copy trading at Vantage through MetaTrader, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, and Myfxbook. ZuluTrade stands out as a leading social trading network. It employs an advanced algorithm to rank top signal providers.
Social Trading
Yes
No
Trade Signals
Yes
Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
Yes
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
JPY
HKD
SGD
PLN
USD
EUR
GBP
CHF
Commodities
Gold
Silver
Gasoline
Copper
Palladium
Platinum
Cocoa
Coffee
Orange Juice
Cotton
Sugar
Wheat
Oil
Natural Gas
Gold
Oil
Natural Gas
Wheat
Copper
Cocoa
Coffee
Corn
Orange Juice
Palladium
Platinum
Silver
Soybeans
Sugar
CFD
Traders can engage in leveraged speculation on over 1,000 financial markets, with leverage reaching up to 1:2000 based on regional regulations. One can take positions on both increasing and decreasing prices in currencies, commodities, indices, and shares, without needing to own the actual asset. A wide range of CFD trading platforms offers the flexibility to trade on desktop, web, or mobile, ensuring a smooth experience.
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
1:30 (UK and EU), 1:400 (Global & Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.0
0.6
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5
0.8
Oil Spread
0.01
0.03
Stocks Spread
0.01
Variable
Forex
Vantage provides over 55 currency pairs, exceeding the industry norm, giving traders ample opportunities. With a robust liquidity pool, forex spreads start at 0.0 pips on the ECN account, often beating other options. Additionally, there are no commissions, deposit fees, or hidden charges.
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
55+
50+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5
0.8
EURUSD Spread
0.0
0.5
EURGBP Spread
0.5
0.8
Currency Indices
USD
USD
Cryptocurrency
Trade cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin around the clock, with leverage as high as 1:200, and no overnight charges. Utilise risk management tools such as price alerts and stop losses. The Vantage app provides a superior live news feed, ensuring you stay informed about the crypto market wherever you are.
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.