IG versus ActivTrades

ActivTrades provides traders its innovative proprietary trading platform, ActivTrader, featuring market sentiment, hedging, and quality charts. It also upgrades MT4/MT5 with seven plugins, ensuring clients have a competitive core trading environment. ActivTrades maintains a superb technology infrastructure, making it an ideal broker for algorithmic traders. Beginners get interactive webinars and videos and may schedule one-on-one training sessions.

IG is a leading international broker and liquidity provider, writing CFDs based on client demand. It upgrades MT4 with 18 plugins and Autochartists, creating one of the most competitive MT4 trading environments. Traders may also use the proprietary web-based trading platform, ProRealTime, and L2 Dealer.

We have conducted an in-depth review of ActivTrades and IG to determine which presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.

Headquarters
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
Regulators
N/AFCA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20011974
Execution Type(s)
Market MakerMarket Maker
Minimum Deposit
$10300€
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Web-basedMetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
0.8 pips ($8.00)0.9 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.3 pips ($13.00)1.4 pip
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.04$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.36$0.30
Retail Loss Rate
N/AUndisclosed
Minimum Raw Spreads
N/ANot applicable
Minimum Standard Spreads
N/A0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
N/ACommission-free
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
Get StartedGet Started

Features and Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Noteworthy:

Advanced algorithmic traders can connect their solutions to the ActivTrades and IG infrastructure via API, and both brokers maintain dedicated institutional divisions.

Available Markets

Currency Pairs
N/A
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
N/A
Bonds
N/A
ETFs
Options
N/A
Futures
Synthetics
Get StartedGet Started

ActivTrades presents clients with a balanced asset selection of 1,000+ instruments, an average Forex selection, but sub-standard cryptocurrency choices. IG maintains 18,000+ assets and an industry-leading Forex selection, including three currency pairs available for weekend trading. IG Markets also provides thematic portfolios, basket trading, and out-of-hours trading, providing a better edge for traders.

Typical Spreads and Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
0.8 pips ($8.00)0.9 pips
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.3 pips ($13.00)1.4 pip
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.04$0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.36$0.30
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$105.00$90
Minimum Raw Spreads
N/ANot applicable
Minimum Standard Spreads
N/A0.8 pips
Minimum Commission for Forex
N/ACommission-free
Deposit Fee
N/A
Withdrawal Fee
N/A
Inactivity Fee
N/A$12 per month after 24 months
Get StartedGet Started

Both brokers offer a highly competitive commission-free Forex cost structure, where ActivTrades has an advantage with lower minimum spreads and costs of $5.00 versus $6.00 at IG Markets. Equity trading commissions remain identical, and a rebate program exists at both brokers, where ActivTrades extends its pricing advantage.

Security and Trust

Country of the Regulator
Brazil, The Bahamas, Luxembourg, Portugal, United KingdomAustralia, Bermuda, Switzerland, Cyprus, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, United States
Name of the Regulator
N/AFCA
Regulatory License Number
434413, 199667 B, 433, undisclosed, undisclosed195355, 378/19, 10148759, confirmed, but no regulaary license number, F001780, 41393, 1489, unconfirmed, 220440, 18923, 0509630, 54814
Regulatory Tier
1, 4, 1, 1, 2N/A
Get StartedGet Started

Both brokers offer negative balance protection and segregate client deposits. ActivTrades provides all clients with $1,000,000 in third-party liability insurance protection, while IG Markets is a UK publicly listed company and FTSE250 constituent. Both brokers have a clean regulatory record and offer an equally secure and trustworthy trading environment, as well-established multi-asset brokers.

IG vs ActivTrades – Verdict

ActivTrades

ProsCons
Upgraded MT4/MT5 trading platforms and a cutting-edge proprietary alternativeLimited choice of cryptocurrencies
Excellent order execution due to superior technology infrastructure
Outstanding educational resources for beginners
Interest payments on free margin and volume-based cash rebate program

IG

ProsCons
Excellent choice of trading platforms and superior asset selectionLimited deposit and withdrawal methods
Competitive trading costs with a volume-based cash rebate program
Outstanding trading environment for algorithmic trading, including API support
Comprehensive educational tools for beginner traders

ActivTrades and IG shine with their upgraded trading platforms, innovative infrastructure, and educational tools for beginners who get one-on-one training at ActivTrades. Both brokers offer API trading for algorithmic traders. While ActivTrades offers lower trading costs, IG bests ActivTrades in all other sectors, trading platform choices and upgrades, asset selection, and trading tools, making it an overall better choice as a broker.

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Read full IG Review

FAQs

Is IG a trusted broker?

IG ranks among the most trusted brokers. It is a UK publicly listed company and FTSE250 constituent with a clean regulatory record and approaching 50 years of experience.

Is IG broker regulated in the US?

Yes, IG is regulated in the US by the NFA and the CFTC.

Is IG a CFD broker?

IG Markets is the leading CFD broker in the industry and writes contracts based on client demand.

Which broker is better than IG?

It depends on individual preferences, but IG is one of the top five brokers globally.

Is ActivTrades an ECN?

ActivTrades is not an ECN broker but a market maker.

Is ActivTrades regulated?

ActivTrades has regulatory licenses from five regulators.

Is IG regulated in Australia?

Yes, IG operates an Australian subsidiary regulated by ASIC.

What is the minimum trade on IG?

The minimum trade size depends on the asset, but the minimum Forex trading size is 0.01 lots or 1,000 currency units.

Is IG regulated by the FCA?

Yes, IG operates under the FCA regulatory framework.

Is IG an ECN broker?

IG is not an ECN broker but a market maker.

Is IG trading good for beginners?

IG is an excellent choice for beginner traders due to its in-depth educational content and high-quality research and trading tools.

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