Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Founded in 1996, OANDA stands out for its trustworthiness in the online brokerage world. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, OANDA achieves a high level of confidence with a Trust Score of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. A key factor contributing to this top rating is its possession of seven Tier-1 licenses, which signals a strong reputation for reliability in the industry.
On the other hand, ActivTrades, established in 2001, holds a Trust Score of 81 from ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a trusted broker but not reaching the same heights as OANDA. While it is also neither publicly traded nor a banking institution, ActivTrades backs its credibility with two Tier-1 licenses and an additional Tier-2 license. This structure provides a sturdy base for reliability, although it does not match the extensive regulatory oversights that OANDA boasts.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, ActivTrades generally comes out cheaper than OANDA for forex trading. On EUR/USD, ActivTrades reported a 0.98-pip average spread in May 2024, while OANDA’s average under its standard, commission-free pricing was 1.61 pips in July 2024. OANDA’s “core pricing” lowers the spread but adds a commission of $5 per 100,000 per side (about $10 per round turn), which brought the sample all-in cost to about 1.4 pips—still higher than ActivTrades’ quoted average. In short, if your priority is the tightest day-to-day spreads, ActivTrades tends to be the more cost-effective pick.
OANDA offers two pricing paths: default (spread-only) and core pricing (lower spreads plus commission), with core requiring a $10,000 minimum deposit. A notable perk is flexibility in trade size—OANDA lets you trade down to 1 unit, which is helpful for testing or fine-tuning risk. High-volume traders in select regions can also earn rebates of $5–$17 per million. OANDA publishes a trailing average of spreads for transparency, though it doesn’t provide a fixed-period average that makes one-to-one comparisons easy.
ActivTrades keeps it simple with one main account and the same spreads across its Individual, Professional, and Islamic accounts—there’s no special “active trader” pricing or high-volume discount, and actual spreads can widen during rollover like at many brokers. Bottom line on value: ActivTrades earned 4 stars and ranks #21 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while OANDA also earned 4 stars but ranks #30 of 63. Cost-focused traders may lean toward ActivTrades, whereas those who want ultra-small trade sizes or volume rebates might prefer OANDA.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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OANDA vs ActivTrades: for range of investments, OANDA offers 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while ActivTrades lists 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot. Each earns 4 out of 5 stars for range of investments; in ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, OANDA is #20 of 63 and ActivTrades is #25.
When it comes to assets beyond forex, OANDA provides exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on both U.S. and international exchanges, while ActivTrades offers exchange-traded securities on international markets only—not U.S. exchanges. For crypto, OANDA lets you buy actual coins and also trade crypto CFDs; ActivTrades offers crypto CFDs but not actual, delivered cryptocurrency. Both support copy trading.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
OANDA and ActivTrades both give traders flexible, modern platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade in a web browser or on a Windows desktop platform, use copy trading, and place orders directly from price charts.
Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com. However, OANDA ranks higher at #16 out of 63 brokers, while ActivTrades is #26. If platform standing is important to you, that slight edge favors OANDA; otherwise, the two are closely matched on core features.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both OANDA and ActivTrades offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, 30 technical studies for charting, and the ability to draw trendlines that auto-save. One limitation is the same for both: watchlists created in the mobile app don’t sync with your online account, so changes you make on one device won’t carry over automatically.
Where they differ most is reputation and ratings. OANDA’s mobile trading app earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #21. If you want a top-rated mobile experience, OANDA has the edge. ActivTrades remains a capable choice, but if synced watchlists are important, note that neither broker offers this feature today.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
OANDA and ActivTrades both deliver daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each broker also provides a sentiment tool to view long-versus-short positioning, plus an economic calendar for upcoming events. The key difference is add-on research: OANDA includes Autochartist for pattern recognition and trade ideas, while ActivTrades does not. Neither broker currently offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
For overall research quality, OANDA is rated 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades is rated 4 stars and ranks #26. If you want deeper technical scanning alongside daily insights and high-quality news, OANDA has the edge. If your priority is the essentials—commentary, news, sentiment, and a calendar—ActivTrades covers the basics well.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing education for beginners, both OANDA and ActivTrades make it easy to start learning forex and CFD trading. Each broker hosts at least one educational webinar every month and offers 10 or more beginner-focused videos that explain core topics in plain language. As you grow, both also provide 10+ advanced videos to help you move beyond the basics.
In third‑party reviews, OANDA comes out ahead: it holds a 5‑star Education rating and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #30. If you’re new and want ongoing webinars plus a solid video library, either broker fits; if you prefer higher‑rated education with more depth as you progress, OANDA is the stronger choice.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than ActivTrades. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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ActivTrades
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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OANDA vs ActivTrades: OANDA lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas ActivTrades offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support delivered crypto purchases.
Comparing online brokers OANDA vs ActivTrades for deposits and withdrawals: OANDA supports ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal (both unavailable at ActivTrades); both brokers offer Skrill and bank wire transfers, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | OANDA | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | ActivTrades Review |
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