AvaTrade is a well-regarded global brand renowned for its wide range of trading platforms catering to forex and CFD traders. Its exceptional educational content also helped it achieve a Best in Class rating for Education and Beginners in 2024. Our tests revealed that AvaTrade is an excellent platform for copy trading, highly competitive in mobile trading, and typically in line with industry standards for pricing and research.
Is AvaTrade Safe?
AvaTrade has an excellent reputation and is highly trusted, boasting an impressive Trust Score of 94 out of 99. The company is not publicly traded and does not operate a bank. However, it is authorized by four Tier-1 regulators, which are considered highly trusted; three Tier-2 regulators, which are trusted; zero Tier-3 regulators, which have an average risk; and one Tier-4 regulator, which has a high risk. AvaTrade is a trading platform that the following Tier-1 regulators authorize: the Australian Securities & Investment Commission (ASIC), the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO), and the Japanese Financial Services Authority (JFSA). Additionally, it is regulated in the European Union via MiFID. Please visit their website to learn more about the Trust Score or where the different AvaTrade entities are regulated.
Offering of investments
The markets available at AvaTrade depend on the trading platform you use and the global entity that holds your account. If you choose MT5, you can access 1,260 symbols, while WebTrader offers nearly the same number of symbols with a few hundred on hold. The table below summarizes the investment products available to AvaTrade clients.
Cryptocurrency: Cryptocurrency trading is available at AvaTrade via CFDs, though not through buying the underlying asset directly.
Commissions and fees
AvaTrade's spreads are slightly higher than those of other brokers, at just under one pip (0.9 pips), which is still close to the industry average.
Professional traders: If you are classified as an elected professional trader, AvaTrade's Professional account spreads at 0.6 pips, and F.P. Markets are competitive.
Mobile trading apps
AvaTrade's mobile applications are designed to offer a satisfying experience to traders, including beginners. Compared to leading companies in this category, like Saxo, CMC Markets, or T.D. Ameritrade (for U.S. residents) and AvaTrade's mobile apps are more advanced. Despite this, AvaTrade continuously makes small improvements in this area, and overall, they offer a well-rounded suite of applications.
- Apps overview: AvaTrade offers mobile platforms for Android and iOS devices, such as AvaTrade AvaOptions and the MetaTrader suite (MT4 and MT5).
- Ease of use: The AvaTradeGo mobile application is similar to its web-based version and includes a comprehensive collection of syncing watchlists. It also offers a reliable volatility protection feature known as AvaProtect. This feature allows traders to mitigate the risk of an open trade by partially hedging their position with a forex option for an additional fee.
- Charting: The AvaTradeGo app offers 93 indicators on its charts, but accessing them requires multiple steps. Unfortunately, no drawing tools are available, and only three types of charts can be selected. However, Trading Central provides integrated research and related tools similar to those available on the web platform. Overall, the mobile charts provided by AvaTrade are good, but there is still room for improvement.
- AvaOptions: The AvaOptions trading platform is an excellently designed app that uniquely presents option-chain data. AvaTrade overlays strike prices on a chart, allowing traders to modify the strike price by dragging it up or down. This feature is immensely helpful. The app also provides 14 default options-trading strategies, and choosing an option plan will automatically fill the order ticket with the corresponding options contracts. However, the entire app experience is displayed only in landscape mode, which may bother some users, requiring them to hold their phone like a gaming controller.
Regarding other trading platforms, AvaTrade has an extensive offering of copy trading platforms, which helped them win the Best in Class for Copy Trading award in 2024.
- Platforms overview: AvaTrade provides its clients with a variety of trading platforms, including proprietary platforms such as AvaTrade WebTrader and AvaOptions, full access to the MetaTrader suite, as well as ZuluTrade and DupliTrade (accessible via WebTrader).
- Charting: AvaTrade's WebTrader platform provides traders with 90 indicators, 13 drawing tools, 10 time frames, and three chart types. However, compared to other popular trading platforms like I.G., Saxo, and CMC Markets, WebTrader's features could be improved. During my experience using the platform, I faced a bug that compressed the chart data, forcing me to zoom out continually by dragging up or down to adjust the prices.
- The Trading tools: AvaTrade offers a WebTrader platform with a responsive and well-designed layout. The platform has integrated a suite of trading tools from Trading Central, which is positive. However, it is important to note that alerts are only available on the mobile version. Nevertheless, the AvaProtect feature is accessible on both platforms.
- Copy trading: AvaTrade has set itself apart from the competition by continuously improving its copy trading services. With offerings like ZuluTrade, DupliTrade, and the native Signals market in MetaTrader, AvaTrade has positioned itself as a formidable competitor in the industry, putting it on par with other leaders like eToro and Pepperstone. Not resting on its laurels, AvaTrade has recently launched AvaSocial in the U.K. in partnership with Pelican Exchange, adding another layer of value to its already impressive suite of trading services.
- AvaOptions: AvaTrade provides a platform for trading forex options called AvaOptions, accessible to traders who deposit at least $1,000. The platform is available for mobile and desktop devices, but it is only compatible with Windows and requires the installation of Microsoft's .NET Framework 3.5 SP1. Although the platform is designed for professionals, its complex layout may need to be revised by experienced traders. If you're interested in trading in forex options, check out my guide, which covers the pros and cons of this practice.
Research
AvaTrade provides Trading Central research modules, but its research offering needs to be improved compared to that of the best forex brokers.
Research overview: AvaTrade offers several tools for copy trading, including ZuluTrade, AvaSocial, and DupliTrade. However, the standout feature of their research offering is Trading Central. Trading Central is fully integrated within the AvaTrade web platform and provides a range of TC-powered features, such as Market Buzz, Analyst Views, and Featured Ideas tools. Additionally, it includes an economic calendar and streaming news (available in MT5).
Market news and analysis: AvaTrade, a reputable trading platform, strives to keep its users informed and up-to-date on the latest market happenings. With this goal in mind, AvaTrade regularly publishes insightful market analysis articles on its blog that provide in-depth coverage of the most significant events and trends. These articles are written by seasoned experts who use their extensive knowledge and experience to provide accurate and reliable information to users.
In addition to the blog, AvaTrade also offers daily market video updates that are published on its Vimeo and YouTube channels. These video updates provide a dynamic and engaging way for users to stay informed about market developments. They feature expert analysts who provide insightful commentary and analysis on the latest market news, trends, and events. By offering both written and video content, AvaTrade ensures its users have access to various resources that cater to different learning styles and preferences.
Education
AvaTrade provides rich educational content from its in-house staff, AvaAcademy, and third-party providers such as Trading Central. In our 2024 Annual Awards, AvaTrade earned Best in Class honors for our Education category.
If you want to enhance your trading skills, AvaTrade is the perfect place to start. With over 100 articles and 48 educational videos, their website offers comprehensive and in-depth knowledge on a wide range of topics for beginners and advanced traders. Their AvaAcademy program is designed to cater to different experience levels and includes progress tracking and quizzes to help you master key concepts. Whether you're interested in learning about Donchian Channels or other niche subjects, their videos are available on their website, YouTube, and Vimeo.
Join AvaTrade today and take your trading skills to the next level!
Room for improvement: The AvaTraderGo and WebTrader web and mobile platforms would benefit from the addition of integrated video content despite the availability of platform tutorials.
Final thoughts
If you're looking for a trading platform that offers a rich selection of trading options, AvaTrade is worth considering. It's for more than just experienced traders; beginners can benefit greatly from the educational content provided on the platform. AvaTrade was recently awarded Best in Class for the Beginners category in the 2024 Annual Awards. With the range of tradeable markets almost doubling in the past year, there's never been a better time to get involved. And if you're a professional trader based in the E.U., you'll be pleased to know that AvaTrade is also highly competitive in this area. Take this opportunity to take your trading to the next level - sign up for AvaTrade today.
About AvaTrade
Are you looking for a reliable and flexible trading platform? Look no further than AvaTrade! Founded in 2006, AvaTrade offers multiple web, desktop, and mobile trading platforms, allowing you to trade wherever and whenever you want.
With spot forex, forex options, and CFDs on numerous asset classes, including cryptocurrencies, AvaTrade offers a broad range of trading options. Over 300,000 registered traders place more than 3 million monthly trades with AvaTrade, which has executed over $1.47 trillion in traded value since its inception.
AvaTrade is a reputable company with regulatory licenses in multiple financial hubs worldwide. The Central Bank of Ireland regulates AvaTrade's headquarters, and it's a member of the Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL), which provides eligible clients up to EUR 20,000 of maximum reimbursement in the event of their broker's insolvency.
While AvaTrade is not directly regulated in Canada, it caters to its clients through its partnership with Friedberg Direct, which has received regulatory approval. With AvaTrade, you can be confident in your trading experience and trust that your investments are safe and secure.
How long do AvaTrade withdrawals take?
AvaTrade withdrawal takes one to two business days and can vary depending on your chosen method. Keep your account updated for a smoother process, as your broker may request updated proof of I.D. and proof of address if considerable time has passed.
What is the minimum deposit at AvaTrade?
AvaTrade requires a minimum deposit of 100 units of currency to open an account, depending on your account balance denomination. It is recommended that traders start with 1,000 to 2,000 units of their preferred currency, and EUR, GBP, and AUD are all supported options.
Is my money safe in AvaTrade?
Your funds are in safe hands with AvaTrade, a highly reputable online broker that is globally regulated and authorized to hold its clients' funds. AvaTrade has a vast customer base of over 400,000 people and millions of dollars in deposits. However, it's always wise to choose a well-capitalized broker that is highly regulated to minimize counterparty risk.
AvaTrade is regulated by several top-tier jurisdictions, including the Central Bank of Ireland. The company keeps all client funds separate from its business funds, ensuring maximum security and transparency. Additionally, AvaTrade is WebTrust compliant and follows strict cybersecurity measures to safeguard client information.
- American Forex Guide