A
ActivTrades
3.6 / 5Score: 3 / 4
A commission-free, multi-asset powerhouse with MT4/MT5 flexibility and dual tier-1 regulation.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:400
- Spread from
- 0.5 pips
- Regulators
- FCA, CySEC
Reviewed by Experts Updated 10/16/2026
ActivTrades vs DEGIRO: Which Broker Wins in 2026?
ActivTrades and DEGIRO sit on opposite ends of the trading spectrum — one built for multi-asset CFD and forex traders, the other for low-cost stock investing. Our research gives ActivTrades the higher overall rating at 3.6/5 versus DEGIRO's 3.3/5, though DEGIRO claws back ground on raw spread pricing.
D
DEGIRO
3.3 / 5Score: 1 / 4
A stock-and-ETF focused investing platform offering some of the tightest spreads around.
- Min deposit
- $0
- Max leverage
- 1:1
- Spread from
- 0 pips
- Regulators
- FCA
Overall Winner
ActivTrades
Best for Beginners
ActivTrades
Lowest Fees
DEGIRO
Top Regulation
ActivTrades
Side-by-side comparison
Core features compared head-to-head.
| Feature | A ActivTrades | D DEGIRO |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 3.6 / 5 | 3.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2001 | 2013 |
| Headquarters | London, UK | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Regulation | FCA, CySEC | FCA |
| Fees & Limits | ||
| Min Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission | None | $1.75/lot |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:1 |
| Platforms & Markets | ||
| Trading Platforms | MT4, MT5, Proprietary Web | Proprietary Web, Proprietary Mobile |
| Markets Offered | Forex, Cfd, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Crypto | Stocks, Indices, Commodities |
Trading & non-trading fees
Min Deposit
ActivTrades
$0
DEGIRO
$0
Spreads From
ActivTrades
0.5 pips
DEGIRO
0 pips
Commission
ActivTrades
None
DEGIRO
$1.75/lot
Deposit Fees
ActivTrades
None
DEGIRO
None
Withdrawal Fees
ActivTrades
None
DEGIRO
None
Pros & cons
A
ActivTrades
Pros
- Higher overall rating of 3.6/5 in our independent research
- No commission charged on trades
- Significantly higher maximum leverage at 1:400
- Backed by two respected regulatory licences (FCA and CySEC)
- Supports industry-standard MT4 and MT5 platforms for automation and custom tools
- Wider range of tradable markets including crypto and forex
- No minimum deposit required to open an account
Cons
- Spreads start slightly wider at 0.5 pips compared to DEGIRO's 0 pips
- Leverage this high introduces greater risk for inexperienced traders
- Does not offer direct stock exchange investing in the same way as DEGIRO
- Proprietary platform options are secondary to the more dominant MT4/MT5 ecosystem
D
DEGIRO
Pros
- Tightest available spreads starting at 0.0 pips
- No minimum deposit required to start investing
- Straightforward, easy-to-navigate proprietary platforms
- Regulated by the well-respected FCA
- No deposit or withdrawal fees on transactions
Cons
- Lower overall rating of 3.3/5 in our independent research
- Charges a per-lot commission of $1.75 on top of spreads
- Maximum leverage limited to 1:1, ruling out margin trading
- No support for MT4, MT5, or third-party trading platforms
- Narrower market selection with no forex or crypto access
Our expert verdict
Editor's verdict
Overall winner ActivTrades
Lowest fees DEGIRO
Best regulation ActivTrades
Better for beginners ActivTrades
ActivTrades is our recommended pick overall, earning a 3.6/5 rating compared to DEGIRO's 3.3/5 in our independent research. ActivTrades wins on leverage, regulatory breadth, platform choice, and commission-free forex/CFD trading, making it the stronger all-rounder for most active traders. DEGIRO still deserves a look if your priority is ultra-tight 0 pip spreads and you're focused primarily on stocks, indices, and commodities rather than leveraged forex trading.
Regulation & Safety
Both brokers are overseen by tier-1 regulators, which means client funds and trading conduct are held to strict standards in either case. ActivTrades, however, holds licences from both the FCA and CySEC, giving it two separate regulatory jurisdictions under which clients can be protected.
DEGIRO operates under a single FCA licence in this comparison, which is still a respected, top-tier authority, but offers less regulatory diversification than ActivTrades' dual-licence structure.
For traders who prioritize maximum oversight and the flexibility of choosing a regulatory jurisdiction, ActivTrades holds a measurable edge here. This is reflected directly in our awards, where ActivTrades is named Best for Regulation.
Fees, Spreads & Commissions
This is the one category where DEGIRO pulls ahead. DEGIRO advertises spreads from 0.0 pips, undercutting ActivTrades' starting spread of 0.5 pips on a pure pricing basis.
However, DEGIRO charges a flat commission of $1.75 per lot, whereas ActivTrades charges no per-trade commission at all. This means the real-world cost comparison depends heavily on trade size and frequency — high-volume traders may find ActivTrades' commission-free model more economical overall.
Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees and both allow account opening with a $0 minimum deposit, so there's no barrier to entry on either side. For cost-sensitive investors focused purely on stocks rather than leveraged instruments, DEGIRO's spread advantage is a genuine draw.
Trading Platforms & Tools
ActivTrades supports the industry-standard MT4 and MT5 platforms alongside its own Proprietary Web platform, giving traders access to advanced charting, automated trading via Expert Advisors, and a huge ecosystem of third-party tools.
DEGIRO relies solely on its Proprietary Web and Proprietary Mobile platforms. These are clean and functional for straightforward stock and ETF investing, but they lack the algorithmic trading support and customization depth that MT4/MT5 provide.
Traders who value automation, custom indicators, or a platform they can take to multiple brokers will find ActivTrades' MT4/MT5 compatibility a significant practical advantage.
Market Access & Leverage
ActivTrades offers a notably broader market suite, including Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, and Crypto, supported by leverage up to 1:400. This makes it a far more versatile choice for traders who want to actively trade currency pairs or use leverage to manage capital efficiency.
DEGIRO's market access is limited to Stocks, Indices, and Commodities, with maximum leverage capped at 1:1 — meaning no margin trading in the traditional CFD or forex sense.
This fundamental difference in scope is the biggest factor separating the two brokers: ActivTrades is built for active, leveraged, multi-asset trading, while DEGIRO is structured for straightforward, unleveraged long-term investing.
Company Background
ActivTrades has been operating since 2001 and is headquartered in London, UK, giving it roughly two decades of additional track record compared to DEGIRO, which was founded in 2013 and is based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
That longer operating history, combined with its broader regulatory footprint, contributes to ActivTrades' stronger overall rating of 3.6/5 versus DEGIRO's 3.3/5 in our research.
Our Verdict
ActivTrades is the stronger all-around broker in this matchup, winning our Best Overall, Best for Beginners, and Best for Regulation awards. Its commission-free pricing, wider market range, higher leverage ceiling, and MT4/MT5 support make it the more versatile platform for most traders.
DEGIRO remains a credible alternative for investors whose focus is strictly on low-cost stock, index, and commodity investing without any need for leverage or forex exposure. If tight spreads on non-leveraged products are your top priority, DEGIRO earns its Best for Low Fees award.
For the majority of readers — particularly those interested in forex, CFDs, or a more flexible leveraged trading experience — ActivTrades is our recommended pick.
Verdict summary
The bottom line — category winners and our final pick based on ratings.
Editor's verdict
ActivTrades wins overall
ActivTrades edges out DEGIRO overall based on our expert rating score.
A
Highest Rated
ActivTrades
3.6 / 5 / 5
Category winners
Overall winner
Based on overall expert rating (3.6/5).
ActivTradesBetter for beginners
Stronger onboarding and educational resources.
ActivTradesLower trading costs
More competitive spreads and baseline commissions.
DEGIROStronger regulation
Higher trust based on tier-1 regulatory oversight.
ActivTrades
Frequently asked questions
Based on our independent rating system, ActivTrades scores higher overall at 3.6/5 compared to DEGIRO's 3.3/5. ActivTrades wins out due to its broader market access, commission-free trading, higher leverage, and dual regulatory licensing, though the right choice still depends on whether you prioritize leveraged forex trading or straightforward stock investing.
DEGIRO advertises tighter raw spreads starting from 0.0 pips versus ActivTrades' 0.5 pips, but DEGIRO also charges a $1.75 per lot commission while ActivTrades charges no commission at all. Depending on your trade size and frequency, ActivTrades' commission-free structure can end up being more cost-effective overall.
Neither broker imposes a minimum deposit requirement. Both ActivTrades and DEGIRO allow you to open and fund an account starting from $0, making either platform accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both brokers are regulated by respected tier-1 authorities, but ActivTrades carries licences from both the FCA and CySEC, while DEGIRO is regulated solely by the FCA. The additional regulatory layer gives ActivTrades a slight edge in our Best for Regulation award category.
ActivTrades supports MT4, MT5, and its own Proprietary Web platform, offering extensive charting and automation capability. DEGIRO, by contrast, only offers its Proprietary Web and Proprietary Mobile platforms, which are simpler but lack MT4/MT5-style customization and algorithmic trading support.
ActivTrades supports a wide range of markets including Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, and Crypto. DEGIRO's market access is narrower, covering only Stocks, Indices, and Commodities, with no forex or crypto trading available.
ActivTrades offers leverage up to 1:400, making it suitable for traders who want to use margin actively across forex and CFD instruments. DEGIRO caps leverage at 1:1, meaning trades are effectively unleveraged and more aligned with traditional long-term investing.
Yes, there is nothing preventing you from holding accounts at both brokers simultaneously. In fact, many traders use ActivTrades for leveraged forex and CFD trading while using DEGIRO for lower-cost, unleveraged stock and ETF investing, effectively combining the strengths of each platform.
ActivTrades is our pick as Best for Beginners thanks to its commission-free pricing, $0 minimum deposit, and access to the widely-used MT4 and MT5 platforms, which come with abundant educational resources and community support. DEGIRO can still suit beginner investors who only want simple stock exposure without leverage.
Risk warning: Trading CFDs and forex involves significant risk of loss and is not suitable for all investors. Please consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.