B
activtrades logo

activtrades

8.4/10
Skilling logo

Skilling

7.5/10
10/10WinnerRegulation7/10
0/10FeesWinner8/10
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 Skilling was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. activtrades holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Skilling is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. activtrades serves 12,000,000+ clients worldwide; Skilling has 5,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at activtrades and $100 at Skilling.

activtrades wins this category
FeatureactivtradesSkilling
Min. Deposit$250$100
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-F218Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), CIF license number 357/18, Financial Services Authority (FSA) under license No. SD042
Founded20112016
CountryUnited StatesCyprus
Clients12,000,000+5,000+

Fees

Fees are a critical factor when choosing between activtrades and Skilling, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Skilling has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at activtrades). activtrades charges withdrawal fees while Skilling does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. activtrades applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Skilling does not. activtrades charges deposit fees; Skilling does not. Overall, Skilling scores higher on fees in our assessment.

Skilling wins this category
FeatureactivtradesSkilling
Min. Deposit$250$100
Withdrawal FeesYesNo
Inactivity FeesYesNo
Deposit FeesYesNo
CFD FeesYesNo

Platforms

activtrades offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Skilling 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
FeatureactivtradesSkilling
MT4YesYes
MT5YesYes
cTraderYesYes
Windows AppYesYes
iOS AppYesYes
Android AppYesYes
Trading PlatformsMT4, MT5, Mac, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, cTrader, Tablet & Mobile appsMT4, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps

Education & Research

Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how activtrades and Skilling 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
FeatureactivtradesSkilling
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 Skilling 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
FeatureactivtradesSkilling
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 Skilling offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. activtrades supports 8 languages and Skilling supports 2, giving activtrades broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.

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