Written by Richard Perry
Richard Perry is a recognised expert in technical analysis and market strategy, with significant experience in currency and equity markets. He has set up his own shingle called Perry Market Analysis, providing consultancy analysis of major markets, including research via webinars, videos and written analysis.
, | Updated: May 13, 2025

If you are a retail trader looking for a forex broker, then AvaTrade is certainly an option you should consider. With protection against potential excessive losses and solid social trading functionalities, AvaTrade is great for newbies and intermediate traders alike.

In this broker review, we will highlight all the important factors you need to consider when deciding whether AvaTrade is the right broker for you. The broker has earned an aggregate score of 4.6/5 on Trustpilot’s website. The score is based on a total of 9,623 customer reviews as of May 12, 2024, with 76% of them giving a 5-star score and 13% of customers rating the broker’s services with 1 star.

AvaTrade Summary
Year Founded2006
Minimum Deposit$100
Tradable InstrumentsForex, stocks, commodities, indices, cryptocurrencies, bonds, treasuries, options, exchange-traded funds (ETFs)
Open an AccountHow to Open an Account at AvaTrade
Trading CostsSpreads, Fees, and Commissions at AvaTrade
Trustpilot Score
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TrustPilot Review Count
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Licenses by Regulator Tier
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Number of Available FX Pairs
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Key Pros and Cons

If you are tight on time, here are a few key pros and cons to consider before you start using the services of AvaTrade.

Key Pros

  • Over 1,000 tradable markets
  • Competitive fixed spreads on offer
  • Partial trading losses coverage via AvaTrade Protection
  • Negative balance protection for all clients

Key Cons

  • Lacks an FCA license for the UK
  • Does not accept customers from the US
  • One account type only, STP and ECN accounts unavailable
  • High administrative and inactivity fees

Company Information

AvaTrade was founded in 2006 by Emanuel Kronitz and Negev Nosatzki. The company started its life under the brand name AvaFX, but branched out to become a cross-asset brokerage firm and rebranded as AvaTrade in 2013.

The broker’s global client base has now grown to over 300,000 registered traders, who place over 2 million orders per month and generate a monthly trading volume of over $70 billion, according to AvaTrade.

A Global Presence – The company has its headquarters in Dublin, Ireland, but also maintains regional offices in several other countries, including:

Dublin, Ireland (main office)
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Road Town, British Virgin Islands
Milan, Italy
Herzliya, Israel
Sydney, Australia
Tokyo, Japan
Limassol, Cyprus
Warsaw, Poland

Catering to Traders Worldwide

One of the impressive features of AvaTrade is its truly global reach, which is something that will appeal to traders all around the world. Their website is configured for 22 separate countries and regions and supports at least 15 different languages.

Multiple Industry Awards

AvaTrade has won multiple industry accolades from reputable outlets, such as The European, International Business Magazine, FXEmpire, and Daytrading.com.

Management

The AvaTrade management team is also highly experienced as each of its members boasts a solid industry background.

They are headed by CEO Daire Ferguson (former Senior Treasury Manager of Bristol Myers Squibb), CFO Sairi Hemmendinger (previously working for PwC), and Chief Compliance Officer Ian Webb, who was formerly employed by Citco Bank Nederland and Deutsche Bank.

Why Trade with AvaTrade?

If you are in a bit of a rush, here are some of the most important features of trading with AvaTrade that we like.

AspectWhat we like
RegulationLicenses from multiple financial regulators
TradingA wide range of instruments, including stocks and crypto
Pricing/CostsCompetitive spreads
PlatformsMT4, MT5, AvaOptions and a proprietary browser-based WebTrader platform
Mobile TradingAvaTradeGO is an excellent app with multiple functionalities.
Social TradingDupliTrade/ZuluTrade are available, but the AvaSocial app also allows you to copy other traders.
ProtectionNegative balance protection and AvaProtect are available.
EducationAn excellent selection of educational articles for traders

Regulation

Most discussions of a broker’s regulation tend to revolve around the number of licenses it holds. This is because the more regulatory bodies oversee the broker, the more it has to adhere to the rules.

AvaTrade boasts a solid regulatory background, considering its divisions fall under the regulatory scope of several financial watchdogs. Here is a breakdown of all regulators overseeing the broker:

RegionEntityAuthority
IrelandAvaTrade EUCentral Bank of Ireland (CBI) – primary regulator
AustraliaAva Capital Markets AustraliaAustralian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
JapanAvaTrade JapanFinancial Futures Association of Japan(FFAJ)
Middle EastAvaTrade Middle EastAbu Dhabi Global Markets Financial Regulatory Service Authority (FRSA)
British Virgin IslandsAvaTradeBVI Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC)
South AfricaAva Capital MarketsFinancial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)
Cyprus (EU)DT Direct Investment Hub Ltd.Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)

Importantly though, there is one interesting omission from the list of regulators as the broker does not hold a license from the UK’s FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). The FCA is a world-renowned regulator, requiring stringent compliance from the brokers it oversees. The company still complies with the 1:30 cap on retail leverage under its CySEC and CBI licenses but services customers from the UK with its CBI license. Professional traders from these regions can access leverage of up to 1:400, however.

AvaTrade’s licenses enable the broker to cater to the diverse needs of clients the world over. Traders must simply decide which entity best fits their needs and register there.

As is so often the case with brokers from outside the US, AvaTrade lacks authorization from the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Despite this, AvaTrade does have a partnership with the Canadian broker Friedberg Direct, which provides Canadian traders with access to the AvaTrade product suite.

While having many licences certainly improves the level of trust, the absence of UK authorization is considered a downside. However, AvaTrade compensates for this omission by holding licenses from multiple other strict regulators.

Regulation

  • The multi-jurisdiction regulation improves customer trust.
  • Partner of the popular Canadian broker Friedberg Direct.
  • The lack of a CFTC license prevents the broker from accepting US traders.
  • Does not hold a license from the FCA in the UK.

KYC Procedure for Account Creation and Depositing

We signed up to join AvaTrade and it took us about ten minutes to complete our registration. The questions and information asked were all fairly basic and typical of what you are required to do when signing up for a broker.

Just go to the website and click the “Register Now” button to get going. Here are the steps that we had to take to sign up:

  1. Add Contact Details – add in your name, email address and telephone number. Or simply use your Facebook or Google logins.
  2. Further Contact Details – enter your date of birth and address.
  3. Trading Experience – answer the questions about how much you have traded in the past year and what volume.
  4. Trading Knowledge – assessment of your professional qualifications and experience in leveraged trading.
  5. Choose a Password – select a strong password for your account.
  6. Choose Your Platform – the broker offers MT4, MT5, and AvaOptions
  7. Select Your Base Currency – the options include USD, EUR, GBP, and CHF.
  8. Financial Status and Funding – finally, you are required to disclose your estimated annual income, your savings, how much you intend to invest and the source of your funds. This may seem a little uncomfortable to you, but is, nonetheless, a standard industry requirement.
  9. Now that you have set up your account, you must upload some documents for AvaTrade to check. You will be asked to prove your identity and provide proof of address.
  10. Proof of ID – you must prove your identity by uploading photos of one of the following documents:
    • Passport
    • National ID card
    • Driver’s License
  11. Proof of residency – upload a photo of a utility bill or bank account statement.
    When you complete your registration and upload your documents, you must wait for AvaTrade to verify your account. The verification is done within one business day.

    However, there is also one more thing before you can start trading, as you must fund your account. To open a Standard account with AvaTrade, there is a minimum deposit requirement of $100 (or €100/£100).

Account Opening

  • The signup process is fairly standard.
  • The registration requires around 10 minutes.
  • Includes a questionnaire to assess your experience in leveraged trading.
  • A minimum deposit of $100 is required for opening a Standard account.

Account Types

Broadly speaking, there are two main accounts that you can open with AvaTrade:

  • Standard Account – this is the default account option for all retail traders.
  • Professional Account – qualifying traders are offered narrower spreads and higher leverage limits.

There are three significant differences between Professional and Standard accounts.

  • Spreads are tighter for professional traders.
  • Leverage limits are much higher with professional accounts.
  • Cryptocurrencies can be traded with leverage of 1:2 or 1:100, depending on the account type.

Standard Account

This is the basic trading account but the exact features depend on the region you register from. Traders in Europe are restricted to forex leverage of just 1:30. Outside of Europe, the restrictions are not as stringent as the leverage on Standard accounts is up to 1:400.

 

Furthermore, European retail customers can trade cryptocurrencies with maximum leverage of 1:2 only.

Premium Account

Firstly, the spreads are tighter. EUR/USD spreads are narrower at 0.6 pips for professional traders compared to 0.8 pips for retail customers.

 

This means that opening or closing a 1-lot position in EUR/USD will cost $6 with a professional account and $8 with a standard account.

 

Leverage limits are different for professional accounts but professional traders waive their right to the protections available to EU retail customers. The leverage limit increases from 1:30 to 1:400 for professional clients.

 

Professionals can also use higher maximum leverage of 1:100 when trading cryptocurrencies on margin.

The qualifying criteria for professional accounts are quite stringent:

  1. Trading Activity – over 10 large-volume transactions per quarter over the past four quarters.
  2. Experience – having professional experience in the financial sector for at least one year.
  3. Portfolio Size – its size should be greater than $500,000.

Other Available Accounts

Other accounts are available but they come with some restrictions:

  • Spread Betting Account – Clients in Ireland can open a spread betting account. This is similar to a CFD trading account, but the earnings are generally not subject to capital gains taxes.
  • Islamic Account – Traders who comply with the Sharia law and profess Islam have access to swap-free accounts without overnight financing charges (interest).
  • AvaOptions – A Vanilla Options account is also available to sufficiently experienced customers.

What You Do Not Get at AvaTrade

It is also important to consider the account types and functionalities that are unavailable at AvaTrade. Here are several account features AvaTrade does not offer but some other brokers do:

  • STP or ECN Accounts – All accounts at AvaTrade rely on the dealing-desk order execution model, which means you cannot get direct market access at AvaTrade and accounts with spreads from zero pips are unavailable.
  • Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders – Some brokers offer guaranteed stop-loss orders to help protect traders from fast-moving and gapping markets but AvaTrade does not offer this feature. The broker compensates for this omission with AvaProtect, which covers your trading losses within a specific period in exchange for a small fee.

Account Types

  • Standard and Professional accounts are available.
  • Spread betting is available in select countries.
  • Islamic accounts are also on offer.
  • No STP/ECN accounts with zero spreads.
  • Guaranteed stop-loss orders are unavailable.

Trading Fees and Other Costs

All brokers need to earn money in some way, with clients’ trading costs covering the brokers’ operational expenses and allowing them to offer their services. It is preferable for trading costs to be as low as possible, as no one likes spending their hard-earned money on covering high expenses.

There are several types of trading costs you can incur and generally, they can be divided into two categories:

  • Trading Fees – spreads, commissions, and overnight financing charges.
  • Non-Trading Expenses – account opening, inactivity, and currency conversion fees.

Let’s break these down into sections and see what they are at AvaTrade.

Costs/feesWhat is this?With AvaTrade?
TRADING FEES
SpreadsThe expenses resulting from the difference in bid and ask prices. Wider spreads lead to higher costs.Competitive spreads of 0.8 pips on EUR/USD.
Spreads are also fixed.
CommissionA flat fee paid upon opening and closing a positionZero commissions
Financing ChargesThe cost of holding open positions overnight after the trading day endsStandard formula
NON-TRADING FEES
Deposit FeesFees charged by the broker to fund your accountNone at AvaTrade
(see more in Deposit Methods below)
Withdrawal FeesFees charged by the broker to withdraw money from your accountNone at AvaTrade
(see Withdrawal Methods below)
Inactivity FeesFees charged on dormant trading accounts$10 per month after 2 months of inactivity
Administration FeesCharged for account maintenance after longer periods of inactivity$100 after 12 months

Trading Costs

AvaTrade is a market maker operating its own dealing desk, and can generate revenue in one of two ways:

  • Firstly, from the spreads incorporated into trades. This is the difference between the bid price (the price you get when you sell) and the ask price (the price you get when you buy).
  • Secondly, market makers can act as counter parties, taking the opposite side of client positions. When the trader makes a profit, the broker loses money, and vice versa.

At BestBrokers.com, we will tell you all there is to know about the trading and non-trading costs at AvaTrade so that you can easily determine whether the broker is suitable for you or not.

Spreads

We believe that AvaTrade’s spreads are competitive. As a result of the dealing-desk model, AvaTrade offers fixed spreads. This is good because you always get the same spreads, no matter when you trade. Some brokers with variable spreads tend to offer better trading conditions but prices at AvaTrade are still favorable compared to other market makers.

Commodity trading is subject to standard spread or ‘Spread Over Market.’ For example, the typical spread for trading gold CFDs is 27 pips.

The table below shows how AvaTrade compares to its closest competitors when it comes to the most widely traded forex pairs. On average, some rival brokers tend to have wider spreads, although this is not always the case. Their minimum spreads are sometimes lower than AvaTrade’s fixed spreads.

InstrumentAvaTrade

fixed
IG Markets

  • min
  • average
FXCM

  • min
  • average
OANDA

  • min
  • average
EUR/USD0.80.60.860.00.21.02.4
GBP/USD1.20.91.840.00.51.33.6
USD/JPY1.30.70.960.00.21.12.4
USD/CHF1.31.51.950.00.41.33.3
AUD/USD0.90.61.070.00.21.03.1
USD/CAD1.81.32.140.00.41.52.9
NZD/USD1.41.82.520.00.41.12.9
AvaTrade Spreads on Major Forex Pairs for Retail and Pro Accounts
InstrumentRetail SpreadPro Spread
EUR/USD0.8 pips0.6 pips
GBP/USD1.2 pips0.9 pips
USD/JPY1.3 pips1.1 pips
USD/CHF1.3 pips0.9 pips
AUD/USD0.9 pips0.8 pips
USD/CAD1.8 pips1.5 pips
NZD/USD1.4 pips1.3 pips

Commissions

AvaTrade charges no commissions as it profits mainly from the spreads.

Spreads & Commissions

  • Competitive fixed spreads.
  • Zero commissions on trades.

Financing Charges

You incur these charges when holding open positions overnight. The fees change daily, depending on the interest rates of the currencies involved in a pair. Based on the direction of your position, these swaps can be negative or positive.

The formula for calculating overnight financing charges that AvaTrade uses is fairly standard and is as follows:

Trade Amount x Daily Interest Rate = Overnight Financing Fee Paid

Deposit Fees

AvaTrade has zero deposit fees, a fairly standard policy at most brokers. For more details, see Deposit Methods.

Withdrawal Fees

AvaTrade has no withdrawal fees, which is also very good. Some brokers charge extra for second withdrawals requested within the same month and the additional fees often start from $25 for wire transfers. For more details, see Withdrawal Methods.

Inactivity Fees

Despite the lack of deposit and withdrawal fees, you may have additional costs if your account remains inactive for a certain period.

If you have not used your account for two consecutive months, you will incur an inactivity fee of $10 or the equivalent in your base currency. The fee is charged on a monthly basis and is deducted from the client’s available live balance.

Compared to most brokers, this fee is relatively low. On the downside, inactivity fees typically range from $10 to $15 per month and are deducted after one year of dormancy. You could say that 24 months is a relatively long timeframe, 12 months is average and 6 months is a short timeframe. AvaTrade’s inactivity fees kick in after just 2 months.

Administration Fees

There is one more inactivity charge to consider. On top of the monthly inactivity fee, you will be charged $100 annually after one year of dormancy.

If you trade in US dollars, have a balance below $2,000, and have not used your account for 12 consecutive months, you will be charged a $220 inactivity fee ($10 monthly fee for 12 months plus a $100 annual administration fee). This is hugely expensive compared to rival brokers:

  • Forex.com only starts charging an inactivity fee of $12 per month after 12 months.
  • OANDA charges a $10 inactivity fee per month after 12 months.

Inactivity Fees

  • AvaTrade has high administration fees for inactivity.
  • The broker charges $10 per month for inactivity.
  • The $10 fee comes into effect after 2 months of inactivity.
  • There is also a $100 administration fee, charged annually after 12 months of inactivity.

Overall on Fees

AvaTrade compares well to rival brokers in terms of trading costs, offering low fixed spreads and zero commissions. Another thing we like about this broker is the absence of deposit or withdrawal fees. However, AvaTrade imposes high administration fees on top of standard inactivity charges, which is rarely seen at other brokers.

All in all, AvaTrade is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to overall expenses, offering significantly better trading conditions to active customers.

Trading Fees and Other Costs

  • Trading costs are low, with competitive fixed spreads and zero commissions.
  • The absence of deposit and withdrawal fees is also a positive.
  • Inactivity and administration fees on dormant accounts are high.

Desktop Trading Platforms

AvaTrade has a few platforms you can trade on. Let’s start by looking at the main options available:

  • WebTrader – AvaTrade’s proprietary browser-based platform.
  • MetaTrader 4 – MT4 is still considered the benchmark platform for retail traders.
  • MetaTrader 5 – MT5 is the upgraded version of MT4.

Now, let’s have a look at each platform in more detail:

WebTrader

AvaTrade’s proprietary platform is web-based and can be loaded in most modern browsers, so there is no need to download it on your desktop computer. The design is sleek and easy to navigate.

Here is what we like:

  • The simple, well-structured layout contains separate categories for the different asset classes.
  • The information in the trade editor enables traders to easily calculate their profits, losses, costs, and overnight financing charges.
  • The Live Chat function is available directly on the platform.

However, the charting capabilities are slightly more limited compared to those of some rival proprietary platforms, like the one used by CMC Markets, for example.

MT4 & MT5

The vast majority of traders have probably encountered the MetaTrader software at some stage of their trading journey, as almost all brokers offer it to their retail clients. Launched in 2005, MT4 is seen as the industry benchmark for traders. Many brokers are also offering MT5, the upgraded version of its predecessor.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is good for charting and technical analysis and is compatible with most devices, including desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. At AvaTrade, the MT4 platform also offers Guardian Angel, a risk assessment add-on that gives users feedback on their trading decisions and helps them develop and improve their skills.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is the improved version of MT4 that supports a wider selection of asset classes, including shares, commodities, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), CFDs, and cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum, and more). Some of the other upgrades include:

  • More order types (6 in MT5 versus 4 in MT4)
  • More available timeframes (21 to choose from in MT5 versus just 9 in MT4)
  • 38 technical indicators (only 30 in MT4)
  • 37 graphical and annotation objects (24 in MT4)

Other Platforms & Functions

Aside from the MetaTrader software suite, there are other trading platforms available to desktop users at AvaTrade.

AvaOptions – Rival brokers rarely offer a separate trading platform for this instrument but AvaTrade clients can trade options via the specialized AvaOptions platform.

Automated TradingDupliTrade and ZuluTrade enable copy trading and are both available at AvaTrade. DupliTrade is available to European customers, while ZuluTrade allows you to follow and copy over 10,000 traders from more than 190 countries around the world.

Desktop Platforms

  • A good selection of desktop platforms.
  • WebTrader is a decent proprietary platform but better ones are available.
  • MT4 and MT5 are, of course, on offer.
  • AvaOptions is a good addition for options traders.
  • Social trading is possible as well.

Mobile Trading Platforms

AvaTrade has a good selection of mobile trading software.

AvaTradeGo is the proprietary mobile platform of the broker that borrows heavily from the desktop version of its WebTrader. The app is available on iOS and Android and has good functionality, with access to many tutorials and abundant educational content. It even offers a free demo account to the benefit of those, who are still learning the ropes and do not yet want to risk real money.

Here is what we like about AvaTradeGO:

  • Charting features are available.
  • Users have access to market sentiment information.
  • Social trading notifications.
  • AvaProtect is also available here.
  • Users can see current market trends.

AvaSocial is AvaTrade’s dedicated copy trading app. Social trading is growing in popularity and AvaSocial reflects this as it enables you to:

  • Follow and copy the positions of the best traders.
  • Learn by asking mentors questions and join various trading groups.
  • Discover new trading strategies.
AvaTradeGOAvaSocial (Copy Trading App)
Min. System RequirementsAndroid 7.0; iOS 14.0Android 9.0; iOS 13.0
User RatingGoogle Play: 4.5 / 5; App Store: 4.3 / 5Google Play: 3.2 / 5; App Store: 4.9 / 5
User ReviewsGoogle Play: 10,300+ reviews; App Store: 24 ratingsGoogle Play: 143 reviews; App Store: 9 ratings
Supported LanguagesEnglish, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Turkish, Swedish, Danish, Chinese, Thai, Spanish, Japanese, and 10 other languagesEnglish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Vietnamese, Spanish, Chinese
Forex Pairs50+50+
Other Tradable AssetsStocks, indices, commodities, options, futures, ETFsStocks, commodities, indices
FeaturesLive signals for forex majors, trading alerts, demo trading, real-time monitoring of forex trends, advanced charts, multilingual support, AvaProtectAutomated copy trading, mentor groups, live updates from copied traders, chat groups
Biometric AuthenticationYesYes
2-Factor AuthenticationYesYes

Mobile Trading Platforms

  • AvaTradeGo is a good mobile app that is an extension of the proprietary WebTrader platform.
  • AvaSocial is a dedicated social trading app, which is a solid feature.

Trading Instruments

At AvaTrade, there is a wide range of tradable instruments, with 8 different asset classes to choose from. We think this is a strong selection, given the availability of forex options, cryptocurrencies, and ETFs, which some brokers do not offer. We were slightly underwhelmed by the selection of bond markets, while the range of currency pairs is fairly standard with 53 pairs.

Asset ClassNumber of instrumentsSelection
Forex53Average
Indices33Good
Commodities27Good
Bonds2Poor
Stocks625Good
FX options44Good
ETFs59Strong
Cryptocurrency17Strong

Forex

There are 53 currency pairs to trade here, which is a relatively reasonable selection that aligns well with the competition. However, some brokers boast a greater diversity, with OANDA and Forex.com offering between 70 and 80 pairs.

Indices

There are a total of 33 indices to choose from. All major indices are available, with 19 main indices in addition to several sector indices such as FAANG, AIRLINES, and GREEN ENERGY. This is a decent selection.

Commodities

There are a total of 27 commodity markets, including all precious metals (gold, silver, and more), energies, and soft commodities. AvaTrade is a little light on base metals as only copper is available, but the selection is good overall.

Bonds

Only two bonds are on offer, namely EURO-BUND and JAPAN GOVT BOND. There are no treasuries, gilts, or other markers involving major government debt. The options are severely limited at the moment.

Stocks

Most brokers offer the greatest variety in the stock category, and AvaTrade is no exception to this general rule, as it offers hundreds of options to traders.

The website contains a total of 625 stocks to trade, and 500 of them are US stocks. There are also major German, UK, French, Italian, Dutch, and Canadian stocks. Overall, we consider this a decent enough selection.

Cryptocurrencies

There are 17 cryptocurrencies to trade (Bitcoin, Ripple, Ethereum, and others), ensuring a good enough variety for crypto enthusiasts to sink their teeth into.

Other Asset Classes

AvaTrade also offers 57 ETFs (exchange-traded funds) in addition to 44 forex options. The selection is good, considering that few brokers facilitate options trading to begin with.

Trading Instruments

  • An average selection of forex pairs
  • Good for trading stocks, commodities, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies
  • The availability of forex options is a plus.
  • Overall, the selection of tradable instruments is solid.

Trade Execution

AvaTrade uses a dealing-desk model of order execution, which basically means it operates as a market maker. This comes with several benefits for traders, but the model also has some downsides you should be aware of. Let’s first list the advantages of the dealing-desk model.

  • Fast Trade Execution – all orders are processed in-house and are never routed to the interbank market.
  • Low Spreads – AvaTrade offers relatively low fixed spreads.
  • No Commissions – AvaTrade generates revenue mainly from the spreads and charges no additional commissions upon opening and closing positions.

However, the dealing-desk model has several drawbacks, starting with the conflict of interest that could possibly arise. AvaTrade sometimes uses external liquidity providers to hedge trades in order to control risk. In cases where trades are not hedged, AvaTrade takes the opposite side of its clients’ positions.

Effectively, this means that the broker may sometimes trade against its clients. It is important to take this into account and assess to what extent you will feel comfortable when there is a possibility that your broker will trade against you.

AvaTrade currently does not offer STP (Straight-Through Processing) or ECN (Electronic Communication Network) order execution.

Trade Execution

  • Uses a dealing-desk pricing model
  • Fast order execution, low spreads, and no commissions
  • This also means AvaTrade may take opposite positions against its clients.
  • No STP or ECN execution

Deposit Methods

To open a live account with AvaTrade, you must meet the minimum deposit requirement of 100 units in your base currency:

  • USD-Denominated Account – $100
  • EUR-Denominated Account – €100
  • GBP-Denominated Account – £100
  • AUD-Denominated Account – AU$100 (only available to Australian clients)

AvaTrade also recommends that you deposit at least 1,000 to 2,000 units in your preferred base currency to adequately enjoy the full range of products on offer.

The broker does not charge additional fees for depositing. This is a fairly standard practice but is always important to confirm in advance. There are several methods you can use to fund your account:

  • Debit/Credit Card
  • Wire Transfer – note that it may take up to 7 business days for the funds to reflect in your balance.
  • E-Wallet (such as PayPal, Skrill, Webmoney, or Neteller) – this solution is unavailable to Australian or EU clients.
MethodClearing TimeNotes
Debit/Credit CardInstantUnavailable to Canadian traders
Wire TransferCan take up to 7 business daysProcessing times depend on your bank and country
E-WalletWithin 24 hoursNot available to EU or Australian customers

The funding process is simple – just click on the “Deposit” section of your account and select the method you would like to use.

Deposit Methods

  • A good selection of deposit options
  • No fees are charged on deposits
  • Fast clearing of funds for credit-card and e-wallet deposits

Withdrawal Methods

The withdrawal process is relatively quick at AvaTrade. Some withdrawals are released within minutes, but the process may take 1 to 2 business days in some cases. We consider this processing timeframe adequate enough.

Due to international anti-money laundering requirements, the method of withdrawal has to be the same as the payment solution you used to fund your account. You must withdraw up to 200% of your deposit (your total deposit plus 100% profit on top). After that, you can switch to a different withdrawal method.

There are no additional expenses related to withdrawals from your AvaTrade account. Some brokers charge extra for more than one withdrawal per calendar month, but thankfully, this is not the case at AvaTrade.

Withdrawal Methods

  • The prompt withdrawal processing is a definite plus.
  • Withdrawals are returned to the original deposit method due to standard anti-money laundering regulations.
  • The absence of withdrawal fees is a positive.

Customer Support Contacts

Contacting AvaTrade’s customer service center can be done through all the usual communication methods. However, we were a bit disappointed with the email option, which we will discuss further below. In the meantime, here are the available support contacts:

Support ContactAvailableResponse
FAQ & Help Center – provide extensive information24/7Website
Online Chatbot – AvaGuide24/7Instant
Telephone Line24/5Within minutes
“Email”24/5Within a few hours

First and foremost, we liked the fact that AvaTrade’s website can be accessed in a multitude of different languages. Just go to “About Us” and click on “Trading Websites” to choose the language you prefer.

  1. FAQ and Help Center
    There is an extensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) on the website, with several sub-sections on different topics, so you can quickly find answers to your inquiries. The section covers technical issues, general support, trading platforms, and account management, and is available 24/7.
  2. Online Chatbot (AvaGuide)
    If you fail to find answers to your questions in the FAQ section, you can consult the AvaGuide online chatbot or ask it to transfer you to a member of the customer support team. The bot’s responses are automated and instant.
  3. Telephone Lines
    If you prefer to interact with a person, there is also an extensive list of 37 different telephone numbers on the website, which includes countries from around the world.

    • 21 countries in Europe
    • 7 countries in Asia
    • 4 countries in South America
    • 2 countries in Africa

    The telephone is apparently staffed only on weekdays, that is 24/5.

  4. Email
    There is no specific email address for contact, but you can send an inquiry through the website’s built-in email system. Add your contact details, the type of inquiry, and your question. The response time is usually relatively short. We received a response within 24 hours of submitting our inquiry. AvaTrade calls this service ‘Email,’ but we disagree. It is more of a messaging service where you need to enter your contact information to receive a reply. You have to provide phone details as well as an email address, so this is more of a marketing tool.

Support Contacts

  • An extensive FAQ section
  • Provides live support via a chatbot
  • Plenty of telephone lines for different countries
  • No dedicated email contact

Research and Educational Materials

The Education hub on the AvaTrade site is jam-packed with content, covering a variety of topics to educate traders at all levels. It is an impressive collection of information that will certainly be of great help to inexperienced customers, who are just starting on their trading journey.

The broker offers a multitude of articles on topics such as:

  • Trading for beginners – explaining the basics of trading
  • Technical analysis indicators
  • Fundamental analysis indicators
  • Trading strategies and risk management guides

If you prefer, you can also watch various educational videos. And if that is not enough, you can sign up for a free e-book where there is even more to digest.

For registered clients, there is the “Sharp Trader” Academy, where you can get more content related to technical and fundamental analysis in addition to video and written educational materials.

Trading Central

Trading Central, which sends trading signals to the platform, is also available. You can access analysts’ opinions and trading ideas, as well as news streamed within the MT5 platform.

Research & Education

  • An excellent education hub covering all manner of trading topics
  • Registered members gain access to the broker's research team.
  • Hosts regular webinars
  • Additional materials, available through Trading Central

Security and Money Guarantees

At Bestbrokers.com, we believe that the protection of client funds is one of the most important factors when choosing a broker. The good news is your money is in safe hands with AvaTrade. Depending on the country, the broker offers:

  • Full segregation of client funds
  • Investor compensation scheme (for European traders)
  • Negative balance protection
  • AvaProtect

Let’s look at these features in more detail.

All reputable brokers segregate their clients’ funds, keeping them separate from their own assets. This means that if the company goes bankrupt, your account is protected. European clients of AvaTrade are also covered by the ICCL (Investor Compensation Company Limited), which is the Irish equivalent of an investor compensation fund. The ICCL can compensate up to 90% of your losses, with a limit of €20,000 per investor. However, this protection is not available to clients outside of Europe.

We believe that the ICCL protection is important for AvaTrade’s European customers. However, it is worth noting that if AvaTrade had a license from the FCA in the UK, then the compensation limit would be significantly higher, up to £85,000.

One strong advantage of trading with AvaTrade is that all retail accounts are protected against negative balances. This means that clients cannot lose more money than they initially deposited – excellent news for novice traders.

Another innovative feature we like about AvaTrade is that clients can take advantage of AvaProtect for specific trades. In exchange for a one-time fee (described as a ‘modest hedging fee’) paid when opening a trade, your position is protected for a certain period. If you close it within your chosen period, you can be fully compensated for losses up to $1 million. It is important to note that you must trade through the WebTrader or AvaTradeGO platforms to become eligible for AvaProtect.”

Security and Money Guarantees

  • The IRCC compensation of up to €20,000 is good, but it could be higher if the broker had an FCA license.
  • Negative balance protection is available for all accounts.
  • AvaProtect provides additional protection for a fee.

Conclusion

According to BestBrokers.com, AvaTrade is a good broker and is definitely a suitable option for beginner traders. Taking stock, we see that the broker has the following advantages:

  • Solid licenses (despite the lack of FCA authorization)
  • A good range of desktop and mobile trading platforms
  • A large variety of tradable markets
  • Low spreads and no commissions whatsoever
  • Robust social and automated trading functionalities

Our only complaints are related to:

  • The lack of a UK license
  • The absence of STP or ECN accounts
  • The high inactivity fees, although this should not bother active traders

Overall, we believe AvaTrade is a good broker for online trading.

Overall

  • AvaTrade is a solid choice for online traders.
  • Low trading costs
  • A good selection of available markets and instruments
  • Strong education content
  • Slightly lags behind due to the lack of a UK license, high inactivity fees, and the absence of DMA accounts
Written by R. Perry