Vantage vs ActivTrades UK Broker Comparison

Which is the Better Trading Platform: Vantage vs ActivTrades

Choosing between Vantage and ActivTrades often boils down to what you prioritise in a trading broker. Vantage is seriously impressive when it comes to competitive spreads, fast execution, and platform variety, while ActivTrades excels and wins some serious brownie points for its security, proprietary tools, and advanced risk management features.

But which broker suits you best? Let’s dive into the details to find out.

1. Key Features Comparison

Here’s the short version: Both brokers are as goo as each other, it’s simply a matter of what your trading preferences are! Vantage is ideal for traders focused on forex and CFD markets, offering tight spreads and a variety of platforms like MT4, MT5, and TradingView. ActivTrades caters more to traders looking for additional security, proprietary tools, and unique features like negative balance protection and market sentiment indicators.

2. Fees and Spreads: Who Saves You More?

Vantage Fees

Vantage keeps costs low, particularly for active traders. Their Raw ECN account offers spreads starting at 0.0 pips on major forex pairs like EUR/USD, with a £5 commission per round turn per lot. If you prefer commission-free trading, the Standard account offers spreads starting at 1.0 pips.

For CFDs, spreads on indices like the S&P 500 are tight, and there are no commission fees for indices or commodities. Overnight fees apply but are competitive.

ActivTrades Fees

ActivTrades’ spreads start slightly higher, at 0.5 pips on forex pairs like EUR/USD, with no additional commissions on most accounts. Their share CFDs, however, come with a 0.05% commission per trade, which can add up for frequent traders.

Unlike Vantage, ActivTrades does not charge an inactivity fee, making it more beginner-friendly for traders who take breaks.

Verdict

If you’re an active forex or indices trader, Vantage edges out with its ultra-tight spreads on the Raw ECN account. However, ActivTrades’ lack of inactivity fees and straightforward pricing might appeal to less frequent traders.

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3. Trading Platforms: Who Has the Edge?

Vantage Platforms

Vantage excels in platform variety. Whether you prefer the classics like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5)or the advanced charting tools of TradingView, Vantage has you covered. Their platforms are tailored for every trader, from beginners to algo traders and scalpers.

With TradingView integration, you can seamlessly analyze charts and place trades directly, making it a favorite among technically inclined traders.

ActivTrades Platforms

ActivTrades leans on its proprietary ActivTrader platform, designed for simplicity and speed. It’s packed with features like built-in market sentiment tools, advanced risk management options, and a sleek interface. For those who prefer third-party tools, MT4 and MT5 are also available.

Verdict

Both offer proprietary platforms – ProTrader for Vantage and ActivTrader for ActivTrades. However, ActivTrades’ proprietary platform adds unique tools and is perfect for traders who value simplicity with advanced functionality.

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4. Range of Tradable Assets: Breadth vs Depth

Vantage Assets

Vantage offers access to 1,000+ instruments, including:

• 60+ forex pairs
• Indices like the S&P 500 and FTSE 100
• Commodities such as gold, silver, and oil
• A growing selection of shares CFDs

Vantage focuses on the most popular markets, ensuring traders have access to what they need without overwhelming them with excess.

ActivTrades Assets

ActivTrades provides a slightly smaller range but still around 1,000 tradable assets, but the variety is more evenly spread across:

• Forex
• Commodities
• ETFs
• Shares (with a solid range of 500+ stocks globally)

Verdict
While both brokers offer a solid selection, we noticed in our testing that Vantage is better for forex and indices traders, while ActivTrades caters more to traders looking for diversified options and offers a wider selection of Stock CFDs. However, for his one we’d have to give it a tie given the similar number of assets available.

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5. Regulation and Security: Who Keeps You Safer?

Vantage Regulation

Vantage is regulated by top-tier authorities, including ASIC (Australia), the FCA (UK), and CIMA (Cayman Islands). UK traders benefit from FCA oversight, ensuring funds are held in segregated accounts and covered by FSCS protection up to £85,000.

ActivTrades Regulation

ActivTrades takes regulation a step further, with oversight from the FCA (UK), CSSF (Luxembourg), and SCB (Bahamas). In addition to FSCS protection, ActivTrades offers £1 million excess insurance, making it one of the safest brokers for UK traders.

Verdict

Both brokers are highly secure, but ActivTrades’ additional insurance gives it an edge for traders who prioritise fund safety.

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6. Customer Support

Vantage Support

Vantage offers 24/5 support via live chat, email, and phone. Their response times are fast, and their team is knowledgeable, particularly about forex and indices trading.

ActivTrades Support

ActivTrades matches Vantage’s availability with 24/5 multilingual support. During testing, their team stood out for their attentiveness and ability to resolve queries efficiently.

Verdict

It’s a tie. Both brokers offer excellent support, but ActivTrades’ multilingual team might have the edge for non-English speakers.

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7. Educational Resources

Vantage Education

Vantage provides an incredible range of educational resources, including webinars, tutorials, e-books, articles and market analysis. Their Vantage Academy section of the website is like a whole website in-and-of itself and is honestly almost as good as the XTB education resources, so it’s an impressive feat for a much smaller team.

ActivTrades Education

ActivTrades offers a well-rounded educational suite, including webinars, tutorials, and trading guides. Their resources are often updated (you will get notifications, emails and regular updates from them on market analysis and opportunities if you sign-up, and they cater to a range of traders; including risk management strategies and market sentiment training.

Verdict

If there is something we can all agree on, it’s just how detailed and thorough both brokers are when it comes to their educational offering. They are extremely diligent when it comes to providing all the resources needed for beginner all the way through to more advanced traders with their respective Vantage Academy and ActivTrades ‘Education’ section. However, just given the breadth and depth of educational content, we have to give this one to Vantage.

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Final Verdict

Criteria	Winner
Fees and Spreads	Vantage
Platforms	ActivTrades
Asset Range	Tie
Regulation	ActivTrades
Customer Support	Tie
Education	ActivTrades

Overall Winner: It’s a Draw!

It’s hard to pick a definitive winner between Vantage and ActivTrades because both excel in different areas.

• Choose Vantage if you want tight spreads, fast execution, and platform variety. It’s a great choice for forex and indices traders who love flexibility and speed.
• Choose ActivTrades if you prioritize security, proprietary tools, and robust educational resources. It’s particularly well-suited to stock traders and those new to trading.

Still unsure? Why not check out out our broker reviews or the individual reviews for ActivTrades and Vantage Markets? Ultimately, we recommend opening a demo account with both as the best broker is the one that feels right for your trading style. 

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Who Should You Choose?

Choose Vantage if you’re looking for a broker with tight spreads, low-cost trading, and a wide variety of platforms like MT4, MT5, and TradingView (it’s also a top-rated broker on TradingView…). It’s an excellent choice for forex and indices traders who value fast execution and platform flexibility.

Choose ActivTrades if you prioritize security, advanced trading tools, and a user-friendly proprietary platform like ActivTrader. With their added £1 million client insurance and strong FCA oversight, they’re a top pick for traders seeking maximum safety and broader market options.

Still undecided? Why not open demo accounts with both brokers to explore their platforms and features firsthand? That way, you can find the one that best suits your trading style and preferences.

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our other broker comparisons, such as Pepperstone vs ActivTrades or IG vs City Index, for even more insights before making your decision!