B
activtrades logo

activtrades

8.4/10
Direct FX logo

Direct FX

6.9/10
10/10WinnerRegulation3/10
0/10FeesWinner10/10
9/10PlatformsTied9/10
10/10WinnerEducation & Research6/10
10/10WinnerDeposits & Withdrawals4/10
10/10SupportTied10/10

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Overview

activtrades was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in United States, while Direct FX was established in 2006 and is based in New Zealand. activtrades holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Direct FX is regulated by Unregulated among others. activtrades serves 12,000,000+ clients worldwide; Direct FX has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at activtrades and $1 at Direct FX.

activtrades wins this category
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
Min. Deposit$250$1
RegulationFinancial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), Pepperstone Markets Limited is incorporated in The Bahamas (number 177174 B), Licensed by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) number SIA-F218Unregulated
Founded20112006
CountryUnited StatesNew Zealand
Clients12,000,000+10,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between activtrades and Direct FX, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Direct FX has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at activtrades). activtrades charges withdrawal fees while Direct FX does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. activtrades applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Direct FX does not. activtrades charges deposit fees; Direct FX does not. Overall, Direct FX scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Direct FX wins this category
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
Min. Deposit$250$1
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesYes
CFD FeesYesYes

Platforms

activtrades offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Direct FX supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.

Tied
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsNot available

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how activtrades and Direct FX compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. activtrades scores higher overall in education and research.

activtrades wins this category
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
Forex EducationYesNo
CFD EducationYesYes
Weekly WebinarsYesYes
Daily CommentaryYesYes
Trading CentralYesYes
AutochartistYesNo

Deposits & Withdrawals

Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. activtrades accepts 5 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller), while Direct FX supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). activtrades uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill and Neteller among the two brokers. activtrades scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.

activtrades wins this category
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
Bank TransferYesYes
Credit CardYesYes
PayPalYesNo
SkrillYesNo
NetellerYesNo

Support

Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both activtrades and Direct FX offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. activtrades supports 8 languages and Direct FX supports 2, giving activtrades broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

Tied
FeatureactivtradesDirect FX
Live ChatYesYes
Phone SupportYesYes
Email SupportYesYes
LanguagesEnglish, Spanish, Polish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, and ArabicEnglish, and Chinese