In this AvaTrade review, we examine the advantages and drawbacks of trading with this online broker, analyzing its range of instruments, fees, trading platforms, account types, research capabilities, and educational resources.
Launched in 2006 as a forex-only broker, AvaTrade has expanded into other areas and now offers forex trading, futures, options, and over 1,000 CFDs in commodities, stocks, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
AvaTrade does not accept clients from United States and the United Kingdom at this time.
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Our verdict on AvaTrade
The company is recognized for its social trading platform, AvaSocial, and automated copy trading service, DupliTrade, both enhance user engagement and accessibility for beginners.
Key advantages include a comprehensive trading environment supported by multiple platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, its proprietary WebTrader, and mobile app. It also has specialist platforms AvaOptions and AvaFutures, for trading options and futures contracts.
The broker provides extensive educational resources through AvaAcademy and a dedicated blog, making it a good choice for customers at the beginning of their trading journey.
Customer support is available via chat, email, and phone during specified hours, with generally positive feedback regarding responsiveness.
Overall, AvaTrade stands out with its variety of trading platforms, educational offerings, and social trading app.
Pros
- Social trading and automatic trading available
- Trading available on a variety of financial instruments
- Free demo account with $100,000 in virtual currency
Cons
- No direct share trading
- Unavailable to US and UK clients
What can you trade and invest in on AvaTrade?
Forex
The platform got its start in forex trading, and it offers CFD trading on 53 forex pairs, including all of the major pairs. You can access forex trading through AvaTrade’s MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms, as well as its mobile app and Web Trader.
It offers leverage of up to 400:1 on forex trades outside the EU, while within the trading block the maximum is 30:1 for retail traders on 13 forex pairs to comply with ESMA regulations. For other currency pairs the highest possible leverage is 20:1. Professional traders within the EU can access the maximum leverage of 1:400.
Forex spreads on AvaTrade
Typical spreads on a selection of currency pairs
| Currency pair | Minimum trade size | Spread (pips) |
| EUR/USD | 0.01 lot or 1,000 units | 1 |
| GBP/USD | 0.01 lot or 1,000 units | 1.2 |
| USD/JPY | 0.01 lot or 1,000 units | 1.3 |
| EUR/JPY | 0.01 lot or 1,000 units | 1.8 |
CFD trading
Cryptocurrencies
AvaTrade offers CFD trading on crypto, with leverage up to 2:1 for retail traders regardless of the region. Professional traders can access leverage of 25:1 on specific cryptocurrencies.
The platform carries 18 crypto coins, including the major ones such as Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Ethereum, and seven crypto ETFs. You can place crypto trades through the MT4, MT5, WebTrader, and AvaTradeApp on the platform.
The company’s Education Centre has plenty of articles and information suited for new crypto traders.
Stocks
AvaTrade allows CFD trading on more than 630 stocks, with a leverage of 5:1. It offers stocks in the major markets. It helps traders through its AvaAcademy Education Centre, where you can view eBooks, videos, webinars, and more.
ETFs
AvaTrade offers more than 60 ETFs to trade as CFDs, giving traders the ability to trade long or short with leverage of up to 5:1. The ETFs range from crypto ETFs, sector-specific ETFs, such as mining finance or energy, as well as index-related ETFs.
Indices
AvaTrade offers CFD trading on 36 indices, from Gaming eSports to the S&P 500.
AvaTrade allows professional traders and non-EU-based clients to leverage up to 200:1 on index trades. Under ESMA, ASIC, and ADGM regulations, leverage for customers is capped at 20:1.
Commodities
The company provides CFD trading on 19 commodities, from crude oil to copper. A leverage of up to 200:1 is allowed for professional traders outside the EU. For EU retail customers, gold has a maximum leverage of 20:1, and other commodities 20:1.
Bonds
AvaTrade only lists two bonds available for CFD trading: the EURO-BUND and the Japanese Government Bond. Both have leverage of 100:1 for professional traders and non-EU retail clients. Within the EU, the maximum available leverage ratio is 5:1.
CFD spreads on AvaTrade
Typical spreads on a selection of CFD instruments
| Instrument | Spread (pips) | Max. leverage |
| Amazon | 0.13 | 5:1 |
| Apple | 0.13 | 5:1 |
| Gold | $0.27 over market | 20:1 |
| Palladium | $0.65 over market | 10:1 |
| Crude oil (WTI) | $0.03 over market | 10:1 |
| US_500 (S&P500) | 0.25 over market | 20:1 |
| GERMANY_40 (DAX) | 1.50 over market | 20:1 |
| VIX | n.a. | n.a. |
| S&P 500 SPDR (SPY ETF) | 0.13 | 5:1 |
| BTC/USD | 75.86 (unverified) | 2:1 |
| ETH/USD | 1.82 (unverified) | 2:1 |
AvaTrade deposit and withdrawal methods and costs
The broker tries to make the process of deposits and withdrawals simple. The minimum deposit to open an account is $100, or €100.
Payment methods include credit cards and wire transfers, as well as e-payment solutions such as Skrill, WebMoney, and Neteller, which are available for deposits, except for clients residing in the European Union and Australia.
It’s essential to note that credit card deposits are not an option for clients in Canada.
AvaTrade non-trading fees
The company charges an inactivity fee of $10 per month on accounts below $2,000 that have been inactive for two months. It also charges an administration fee of $100 for accounts that have been inactive for 12 consecutive months.
| Minimum deposit | $100 or €100 |
| Inactivity fee | $10 or €10 on accounts below $2,000 that have been inactive for two months |
| Administration fee | $100 or €100 on accounts that have been inactive for 12 consecutive months |
| Overnight funding (swap) fee |
Is AvaTrade safe?
Headquartered in Dublin with offices in various locations, including the UAE, Milan, Tokyo, and Sydney, AvaTrade has positioned itself as a global platform, catering to retail and professional traders.
Regulated in nine jurisdictions, we consider it a safe broker to trade with, and it implements safety features like SSL encryption and segregated accounts.
Some of the platform’s safety features include 256-bit SSL encryption, segregated accounts, and secure servers. Its accounts also have negative balance protection, meaning that traders cannot lose more than their account balance.
Furthermore, it offers an innovative risk management tool, AvaProtect , which enables clients to protect their positions against losses for a set period. This feature is ideal for beginners who may be accessing leveraged trading for the first time.
AvaSocial is a mobile trading application that fosters a social trading environment. It allows you to connect with a global community of traders, share trading ideas, and learn from others.
A core feature of AvaSocial is the ability to follow and copy the trades of other users. You can browse a list of expert traders, view their performance statistics (e.g., profitability, risk score, trading history), and choose those whose strategies align with your own investment goals and risk tolerance.
Automated trading, DupliTrade, and Expert Advisors on AvaTrade
Another way to do copy trading on AvaTrade is through DupliTrade, a platform that focuses on automated copy trading. It allows you to automatically duplicate the strategies of experienced traders directly into your AvaTrade MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 account.
DupliTrade offers a curated selection of successful strategy providers with proven trading histories. These providers often include professional traders, hedge funds, and money managers.
DupliTrade focuses primarily on automated copy trading for investors who want a “hands-off” approach to following experienced traders. It’s not a social networking platform.
AvaTrade trading platforms
AvaTrade provides a comprehensive suite of trading platforms catering to various trading styles and experience levels. Whether you prefer the established power of MetaTrader 4 and 5, the simplicity of a web-based platform, or the convenience of mobile trading, you can find a platform for your needs with AvaTrade.
We’ve already described two of the platforms in AvaSocial and DupliTrade. Here’s a little about each of the rest of its platforms:
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
MT4 is known for its user-friendly interface, reliability, and extensive features. It’s suitable for both beginners and experienced traders. It includes inactive charts with nine timeframes, three chart types, and numerous technical indicators. It also supports Expert Advisors and automated trading.
MT5 offers 21 timeframes, 38 built-in technical indicators, 44 analytical objects, and faster order execution.
AvaTrade WebTrader
AvaTrade’s proprietary web-based platform is simple to use and does not require download or installation. It allows one-click trading, offers live sentiment analysis, and integrates tools such as the AvaProtect risk-management tool.
It supports market and pending orders, and stop-loss and take-profit levels for orders. It is available through any web browser.
Demo account
AvaTrade’s demo account offers traders $100,000 of virtual currency and allows you to try out MT4, MT5, or AvaTrade’s proprietary WebTrader and mobile app (AvaTrade app).
The account will take you through to your first real trade, test your strategies without committing real funds, or backtest your historical trades.
The demo account is only good for 21 days, but it can be extended by contacting customer support.
AvaOptions
The platform is made for trading basic options on forex pairs, gold, and silver and includes risk management tools to help traders analyze and manage their option strategies.
It allows a wide range of expiration dates, from one day to one year. It is available on desktop and on mobile apps.
AvaFutures
AvaTrade’s recent launch of AvaFutures broadens its platform offerings and instrument options by introducing exchange-traded futures available on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME).
AvaTrade features, trading tools, and user experience
AvaTrade mobile app
The AvaTrade GO mobile app is available for Android or IOS phones. It allows you to access MT4 or MT5, see your trades at a glance, create watch lists, and see live financial prices and charts.
You can trade all of AvaTrade’s more than 1,000 financial instruments on the app. It also has an AvaProtect feature that, for a hedging cost, allows you to protect a specific trade against losses of up to one million dollars over a chosen time frame.
The AvaTrade GO is optimized for viewing on the phone and comes complete with all the analysis and charting tools that are available on its webtop experience.
AvaTrade charting and analysis tools
AvaTrade equips traders with charting and analysis tools across its different platforms. MetaTrader 4 and 5 offer the most advanced features and a wide range of customization options, making them popular for in-depth technical analysis.
WebTrader and AvaTradeGO provide convenient access to essential charting tools for quick analysis and trading on the web or mobile devices.
Through MetaTrader 4 & MetaTrader 5, chart types include line charts, bar charts, candlestick charts, Heiken-Ashi and Renko charts, and customizable timeframes for different trading styles.
They also have indicators, including volume indicators, various moving averages, Bollinger bands, Fibonacci retracements, and Stochastic oscillations.
Account types
AvaTrade offers several account types designed to cater to the diverse needs of its global client base.
These include the standard account, the professional account, the Islamic account, and corporate accounts. Additionally, AvaTrade offers VIP program tiers with enhanced benefits for clients meeting specific criteria.
Standard account
This is the foundational account type offered by AvaTrade and is well-suited for new and experienced retail traders. It typically features a spread-based pricing model, where the costs of trading are incorporated into the spread without charging commissions on most instruments.
Standard accounts provide access to AvaTrade’s full range of trading instruments, including forex, CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, as well as ETFs and bonds, depending on the regulatory entity.
Professional account
This is designed for experienced traders who meet specific eligibility criteria and are comfortable with higher risk.
To qualify for a professional account, clients must demonstrate sufficient trading activity over the past year, have relevant experience in the financial services sector, or possess a financial instrument portfolio exceeding €500,000.
Professional accounts often offer significantly higher leverage than retail accounts, with maximums potentially reaching 1:400 for major Forex pairs, depending on the regulatory environment. These accounts may also feature tighter spreads than Standard accounts.
However, it’s important to note that Professional Account holders may forgo some investor protections offered to retail clients, such as leverage restrictions and negative balance protection in some jurisdictions.
Islamic account
This is also known as a swap-free account, and is tailored for clients who cannot pay or receive interest due to their religious beliefs, adhering to Sharia law.
With an Islamic Account, AvaTrade ensures no overnight interest charges (swaps) on positions held longer than a day.
Instead, a fixed administration fee may be applied to specific instruments. The minimum deposit for an Islamic account is usually the same as that for a Standard account.
Corporate accounts
These are available for legal entities and require the submission of specific corporate documentation for verification.
The terms and conditions for corporate accounts, including minimum deposits and leverage, may vary and are typically assessed case-by-case.
These accounts allow companies and organizations to participate in the financial markets through AvaTrade.
VIP program
This type of account has different tiers (Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond) based on deposit amounts and trading volume.
These VIP levels offer various benefits such as dedicated account managers, premium support, expedited withdrawals, access to exclusive webinars and market insights, and even interest on available margin for higher tiers.
Membership is usually granted automatically once the required deposit or trading volume is met.
Educational resources and customer support
Education and customer support are also significant components of AvaTrade’s services and the user experience.
Educational resources
The broker offers a comprehensive suite of educational materials through its AvaAcademy, including articles, e-books, video tutorials, and webinars. It caters to traders of all experience levels and provides trading courses, quizzes, and trading guides.
This focus on education aims to empower traders with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the financial markets effectively.
AvaTrade also has an educational blog that gives up-to-date information on the markets. Another educational resource with the platform is AvaSocial, which allows novice traders to copy the trades of more experienced traders.
Customer support
Customer support is available through various channels, including phone, email, and live chat, typically operating during market hours to assist traders with any queries or technical issues they may encounter.
AvaTrade has received positive feedback for its customer service, with reviewers often highlighting its responsiveness and helpfulness. TrustPilot gives AvaTrade a 4.6 rating out of a possible 5.0.
Via phone, its customer service desk is available Monday through Friday between 5 a.m. and 9 p.m. GMT. Besides English, AvaTrade also has service representatives who speak Spanish, French, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese and German who are on call between 6 a.m. and 3 p.m. GMT.
Conclusion
Established as a forex-only trader, Dublin-based AvaTrade now offers 1,000 CFDs across various asset classes, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, options, forex, and cryptocurrencies.
It earns most accolades for its variety of trading platforms and apps, including its social platform AvaSocial, and copy trading feature DupliTrade, a demo trading account loaded with $100,000 of virtual funds, and its varied educational resources. All of these features and a responsive customer support team help make it more accessible for novice users.
While its spreads are average, the broker is a good choice for traders looking for a wide variety of forex and CFD instruments and a comprehensive range of platform choices to suit multiple trading needs.
