ActivTrades vs IG Comparison: Which Is Better for Traders?
We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.
Who is better - ActivTrades or IG?
Our pick: ActivTrades
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - ActivTrades looks preferable to IG.
ActivTrades scored 4.3/5 and ranks 24 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas IG has 4.1/5 and ranks 38.
This is not financial advice. See the full comparison below.
Who is ActivTrades suitable for?
ActivTrades is suitable for beginners who value simplicity and educational materials and experienced traders who prefer MetaTrader and a wide range of instruments.
Who is IG suitable for?
Broker IG.com is suitable for traders of all levels, offering reliability, convenience, a wide selection of instruments, and good customer support.
Comparison Table of ActivTrades and IG
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.3/5 | 4.1/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2000 | 1973 |
| Regulated in Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates |
| Minimum Deposit |
|
|
| Spread | from 0.5 points | from 0.165 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:200 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Review | ActivTrades Review | IG Review |
ActivTrades Review
ActivTrades is suitable for beginner traders who value simplicity and intuitive trading platforms, as well as a variety of educational materials to improve their skills. Moreover, this broker can be a suitable option for experienced traders who prefer to trade various instruments and use the powerful features of the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView platforms.
However, for traders with more specific requirements, such as a variety of trading accounts or individual conditions for professional traders, ActivTrades may be less attractive.
Pros and Cons of ActivTrades
Pros
- Wide range of trading assets.
- A wide variety of trading platforms.
- Extensive training materials including webinars, videos, articles and guides.
- Professional Support Team.
Cons
- Lack of diversity in trading accounts.
ActivTrades is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
IG Review
IG is a highly regulated broker with licenses from reliable financial authorities, providing clients with high funds protection. Thanks to narrow spreads, traders can effectively manage their costs and increase the profitability of their operations. Quality trading platforms and advanced analytical tools support informed trading decisions, while extensive educational resources make IG attractive to traders of all experience levels.
Pros and Cons of IG
Pros
- Licenses from regulators with a high level of credibility.
- Tight spreads.
- A variety of markets and products.
- Extensive set of analytical tools and content.
- Quality educational resources for different levels of traders.
Cons
- Limited choice of trading accounts.
- High trading fee on DMA account.
- Inactivity fee.
- Limited choice of payment methods.
IG is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Reliability
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2000 | 1973 |
| Regulated in Countries | Bahamas, United Kingdom, Portugal, Luxembourg, Brazil | United Kingdom, Bermuda, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France, Sweden, Switzerland, United States, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Africa, United Arab Emirates |
| Regulators | SCB SCB FCA FCA CMVM CMVM CSSF CSSF CONSOB CONSOB CVM CVM | FCA FCA BMA BMA BaFin BaFin FSAN FSAN AFM AFM CONSOB CONSOB CNMV CNMV ACPR ACPR FI FI FINMA FINMA NFA NFA CFTC CFTC ASIC ASIC NZ FMA NZ FMA JFSA JFSA JFFA JFFA MAS MAS FSCA FSCA DFSA DFSA |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades - highly regulated, transparent broker with a good reputation. International regulation and client fund protection make it a reliable choice.
IG
The company is subject to numerous international regulators, ensuring a high degree of transparency.
Account Opening
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
|
|
ActivTrades
The account opening process at ActivTrades is quite accessible for most traders, but verification can take a significant amount of time.
IG
The account opening process is simple, fast, and convenient for traders of any experience level.
Pros
- No minimum deposit required.
- Quick registration process (5-10 minutes).
Cons
- Necessity to provide extensive personal and financial information.
- Verification may take a couple of days.
- There is a possibility of being denied account opening.
Account Types
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 2/5 | 2.5/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
|
|
| Minimum Deposit |
|
|
| Spread | from 0.5 points | from 0.165 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:200 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Demo Account | ||
| Swap-free Account |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers 2 trading accounts suitable for most traders, but some options are missing.
Pros
- Availability of an Islamic account.
Cons
- No STP/ECN accounts.
- Lack of fixed spread accounts.
- Investment accounts (PAMM, copy trading) are not offered.
IG
IG offers a limited selection of accounts, meeting the basic needs of traders, but not accommodating specific requirements.
Pros
- Availability of DMA account for professional traders.
- Premium service offered for high-value clients.
- Free demo account for practice and training.
Cons
- Absence of Islamic and investment accounts.
- No fixed spread accounts and cent accounts.
Commissions
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 3.7/5 | 3/5 |
| Spread | from 0.5 points | from 0.165 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 1 | 1.1 |
| Commission per Lot | $6.48 |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers average commissions with tight spreads, but high swap rates and inactivity fees.
IG
IG provides an average level of commissions, with low spreads but high transaction fees on DMA accounts.
Pros
- Low spreads.
- No fees for deposits/withdrawals.
Cons
- High transaction fee on DMA account.
- Inactivity fee.
- Currency conversion fee and guaranteed stop fee.
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5/5 | 3.7/5 |
| Account Funding Methods |
|
|
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers a variety of convenient methods for depositing and withdrawing funds.
Pros
- Diversity of payment systems.
- Most transactions are commission-free.
- Fast processing of requests.
Cons
- No options for using cryptocurrencies.
IG
Broker IG offers an average level of services for deposits/withdrawals, not charging a fee, but has limitations on available methods.
Pros
- No commission for funding and withdrawal.
- PayPal available as a deposit/withdrawal option.
- Transparent information about limits.
Cons
- Absence of cryptocurrencies and most electronic wallets.
- Withdrawal processing time can take up to 5 business days.
- Restrictions on the minimum withdrawal amount.
Markets and Products
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Forex | 49 | 99 |
| Precious Metals | 3 | 11 |
| Energy Carriers | 7 | 9 |
| Soft Commodities | 9 | 20 |
| Indices | 31 | 46 |
| Stocks | 1035 | 13000 |
| ETF | 75 | 5400 |
| Bonds | 6 | 19 |
| Cryptocurrency | 12 | 15 |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers a wide range of trading instruments, providing access to all major markets, making it attractive to various traders.
IG
IG offers an extensive range of products and markets for trading, with an impressive selection of CFDs, options, and thematic baskets.
Trading Platforms
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers diverse trading platforms, each catering to different trading needs, combining efficiency, advanced features, and user-friendly interfaces.
Pros
- Multiple platforms including MT4, MT5, ActivTrader, and TradingView integration.
- Advanced tools and features for comprehensive market analysis.
- Customization options and social trading aspects in TradingView.
IG
IG offers a variety of trading platforms, including MetaTrader 4, IG Trading Platform, and L2 Dealer, catering to traders of all levels.
Analytics
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades provides extensive analytical resources, including market analysis, economic calendar, technical analysis tools, trading signals, and ideas.
IG
IG provides an impressive array of research and analytical tools that will appeal to traders of any experience level.
Education
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
ActivTrades
ActivTrades offers high-quality and diverse educational materials that will be useful for traders of any level.
IG
IG offers high-quality and comprehensive educational materials suitable for traders of various levels.
Customer Support
| Broker | ActivTrades | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Email Support |
|
|
| Hotline Phones |
|
|
| Social Media |
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
LinkedInActivTrades
ActivTrades' technical support is commendable for its professionalism, diverse communication channels, and 24/5 availability.
Pros
- Highly professional and knowledgeable staff.
- Multiple contact options including phone, chat, and email.
- 24/5 availability.
IG
IG provides fast and professional support.
Comparisons of ActivTrades and IG with other brokers
Conclusion
ActivTrades stands out as the better overall pick, while IG trails on aggregate criteria.
ActivTrades scored 4.3/5 and ranks 24 in our rating; IG has 4.1/5 and ranks 38.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: ActivTrades or IG?
ActivTrades comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.3/5, position 24) versus IG (score 4.1/5, position 38).
Which broker is better for beginners: ActivTrades or IG?
ActivTrades is often a smoother start thanks to simpler onboarding and stronger baseline metrics. Still, your tools and budget should drive the final choice.
Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — ActivTrades or IG?
It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.
What trading platforms are available with ActivTrades and IG?
ActivTrades: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ActivTrader, TradingView. IG: MetaTrader 4, IG Trading Platform, L2 Dealer. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with ActivTrades and IG?
ActivTrades: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Bonds, Cryptocurrency. IG: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Bonds, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by ActivTrades and IG?
ActivTrades: Individual, Pro. IG: CFD, DMA. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by ActivTrades and IG?
ActivTrades: Neteller, Skrill, AstroPay, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. IG: PayPal, Bank Transfer, Credit and Debit Cards. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — ActivTrades or IG — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
