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Online Brokers Last update: 03 Mar, 2024

AvaTrade: Pros, Cons, & Fee Review

Trade CFDs Exclusively

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Written by

Josep Garcia

Josep Garcia

Upcashwise Advisor

I'm Josep Garcia, originally from Barcelona. I launched my own website in 2016, focusing on personal finance, which has been live since 2018. Since then, I've continuously produced online content related to personal finances, covering topics like banking and investment products, and also creating videos on these subjects. In 2023, I decided to deepen my expertise in finance and obtained my EFPA (#37363) certification in financial advisement.

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upcashwise.com is fully supported by its readers. If you register or buy a course using our links, we may receive a commission. This does not affect our ratings, methodology or partners. We don’t offer investment advice, our content is purely educational.

AvaTrade, an international CFD broker since 2006, initially debuted as AvaFX. It has garnered significant popularity, boasting over 400,000 + clients. Operating as a regulated broker in seven countries, including Ireland, Australia, and Japan, AvaTrade offers a user-friendly platform with competitive spreads.

Josep Garcia, financial expert at Upcashwise.com

I want to share my insights based on my experience using AvaTrade. I’ve personally tested and used their system with my own account. On top of that, I hold the EFPA (European Financial Advisor #37363) certification. Let me share my findings with you.

Josep GarciaFinancial Advisor

However, several questions remain crucial for you to know if it’s a good option. For example, what is the range of financial instruments available, are there any hidden fees, and can you trust this trading platform.

Note: Bear in mind that any investment comes with a risk of losing your capital and that when you trade in derivatives such as CFDs, which are more complex and use leverage, that risk is increased. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with AvaTrade; before you start, it’s important to understand how these trades work.

AvaTrade Review Verdict

AvaTrade caters to investors focused solely on derivatives, including CFDs and Forex options. For purchasing stocks, ETFs, or cryptocurrencies, consider alternatives such as Trading 212, eToro, or Interactive Brokers. Also, note that AvaTrade may not have the widest variety of CFDs compared to other platforms.

The Pros & Cons of AvaTrade

Pros

Opening an Account

Account opening is quick, easy, and fully online.

Economic Calendar

The economic calendar is impressive, one of the best I’ve used. It alerts you to economic and financial events impacting transactions, like new UK unemployment data.

Easy to use

The AvaTrade platform is intuitive but lacks some features – details below.

Trading Calculator

A trading calculator is available to determine trading costs (spread) for specific instruments.

Regulation

AvaTrade is regulated in trustworthy countries like Ireland, Australia, and Japan.

Cons

Assets on Offer

Although AvaTrade provides a variety of CFDs and currency pairs, platforms like Trading 212, DEGIRO and XTB may offer a broader range. Additionally, AvaTrade doesn’t facilitate investments in non-derivative assets such as ETFs or stocks.

Inactivity Fee

The steep inactivity fees charged by AvaTrade after just three months are a significant drawback for me.

Charts

AvaTrade’s chart analysis system falls short of expectations, lacking features such as price comparisons with other assets and indices, and the ability to make annotations.

Non-Guaranteed Stop-Loss

Setting a stop-loss order in AvaTrade to automatically close positions at a certain price is possible, but it’s not guaranteed during high volatility periods, which is common among similar brokers.

AvaTrade In Detail

Criteria

Comment

Country and Regulation ?

4

AvaTrade is regulated in several countries, including Ireland, Australia, South Africa, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, and the British Virgin Islands. While it welcomes clients from many nations, there are exceptions, such as the United States, Iran, and Belgium.

Deposit Fees ?

4.5

Funding your AvaTrade account can be done through credit and debit cards, as well as wire transfers. A minimum deposit of € 100 (or the equivalent in local currency) is required. AvaTrade accounts are available in euros, US and Australian dollars, or British pounds, depending on your location.

Demo Account ?

There’s also a demo account limited to 21 days. However, it appears you can extend this period by contacting the support team. You’ll have a virtual balance of $100K, allowing you to test the platform without risking your own money.

Stocks

It’s not possible to trade real stocks, as AvaTrade is a CFD broker.

ETFs & Mutual Funds

AvaTrade limits trading to CFDs (derivatives), excluding direct purchase options for ETFs or investment funds.

Bonds

Not possible to invest in bonds either when using AvaTrade.

Derivatives

AvaTrade offers a variety of CFDs (around 1,500 +), including around 700 on stocks from UK, European, and US markets. 14 CFDs on crypto like Bitcoin and Ethereum, about 30 CFDs on major indices, approximately 30 CFDs on commodities such as gold, crude oil, and copper, CFDs on European and Japanese bonds, and roughly 60 on ETFs. However, some alternatives provide a wider range of instruments.

Forex

The only way to invest in currency pairs is by using a CFD. Remember, this does not constitute a direct investment in the underlying currency.

Cryptos

While direct cryptocurrency purchases are not available on AvaTrade, it does provide the opportunity to trade in cryptocurrency CFDs.

Other Products

It’s possible to trade in Forex options too.

Types of Orders ?

4.5

With AvaTrade, you can trade using market, limit, stop-loss, and take-profit orders. However, it’s important to note that these orders are not guaranteed. For example, in volatile market conditions, an order like a stop-loss will be executed at the next available price.

Leverage ?

Leverage levels vary by country; your location dictates the amount of leverage available. Different instruments offer varied leverages, e.g., in the UK, leverage ranges from 2:1 for crypto CFDs to 30:1 for Forex CFDs. Unlike other CFD platforms like eToro, AvaTrade doesn’t allow reducing trade leverage.

Trading Fees ?

AvaTrade charges a spread between the bid and ask prices, a common revenue method for most trading platforms. The spread varies depending on the type of CFD traded. For example, spreads for stock CFDs are typically higher (more costly) than those for ETFs.

Overnight Fees ?

If you have any open positions at the end of the day (10 PM GMT), AvaTrade will charge a small amount of interest on those positions. However, please bear in mind that this interest, charged daily, can accumulate quickly.

Inactivity Fees ?

Non-use of AvaTrade for 3 months incurs a fee of $50, recurring every 3 months of inactivity. Additionally, after 12 months of non-use, an ‘administration fee’ of $100 is charged by AvaTrade.

Other Fees

There doesn’t seem to be any other fees.

Available Platforms

5

AvaTrade offers a web-based trading platform and supports third-party apps like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They also have user-friendly mobile apps for Android and iOS devices, rated around 4.5 on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

Charting ?

4

AvaTrade offers basic chart customization and various chart styles, but lacks advanced features compared to platforms like XTB or Plus500. It doesn’t support price comparisons. You can choose from different chart timescales and overlay around 50 analyses on charts.

Research ?

3.5

It lacks a dedicated system for providing news alerts relevant to users’ investments. However, it does offer an economic calendar, which can be valuable in anticipating major economic and financial events.

Education and Guides

4.5

AvaTrade offers numerous detailed articles explaining how the platform works. Additionally, its education section includes many mini-tutorials that cover the fundamentals of trading. AvaTrade also creates educational videos.

Alerts

4.5

The online trading platform lacks flexibility; it doesn’t offer features like price alerts. However, by installing the mobile app, you can enable push notifications on your phone.

Support ?

4

You can contact AvaTrade through phone or chat, though the latter may not always be available. Additionally, messages can be sent using the contact form. Please note, however, that support is unavailable during weekends.

Overall Rating ?

3.9

AvaTrade, a well-regarded broker, is regulated in numerous countries. In my view, AvaTrade’s primary drawbacks include its excessive inactivity fees and a limited offering of investment products like real stocks, ETFs, or bonds – check out Trading 212 or XTB for more variety.

Is AvaTrade Secure?

AvaTrade goes to great lengths to ensure a secure platform where your investments are protected against theft or hacking by cybercriminals. For instance, it employs SSL encryption and implements several security protocols, including McAfee Secure, which, although its specifics are unclear, enhances overall security.

That said, I would prefer the implementation of two-step authentication, similar to what DEGIRO or eToro offer. This process would involve AvaTrade requesting identity confirmation via a verification code sent to your mobile, akin to many banking apps. Such a feature would add an extra layer of security to your account, which, regrettably, is not currently available.

Who Regulates AvaTrade?

If you have concerns about AvaTrade’s legitimacy, rest assured it is regulated in several reputable countries, with multiple regulatory bodies overseeing its activities.

AvaTrade regulation
AvaTrade Regulation & Countries

AvaTrade is regulated by the following authorities:

  • Central Bank of Ireland, adhering to rules set by EU guidelines
  • Financial Services Agency of Japan
  • Australian Securities and Investments Commission
  • Investment Industry Regulatory Organisation of Canada
  • British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission
  • Abu Dhabi Global Market’s Financial Regulatory Services Authority

* Note: It’s all very nice that they comply with this regulation, but it’s one of those places that are considered tax havens, so I imagine it’s not the strictest of standards for them to follow.

AvaTrade Fees

Before starting to trade derivatives with AvaTrade, it’s important to consider the associated fees.

AvaTrade Non-Trading Fees

I like it that AvaTrade doesn’t charge any fees for the following:

  • Creating your account
  • Deposits made from within the platform
  • Withdrawals of funds

However, AvaTrade imposes a significant inactivity fee for dormant accounts. Note that this fee is applied if you do not make a trade for three months, and accumulates an additional $50 every subsequent three-month period. It’s important to be mindful of this when you register.

AvaTrade Trading Fees

AvaTrade charges what are effectively spreads, not traditional fees, when you make a trade.

AvaTrade Fees
AvaTrade spread example

AvaTrade uses a spread system, offering one price for selling and another for buying. This spread, integrated into the transaction cost, is AvaTrade’s primary means of revenue.

Example of AvaTrade Fees:

Below is a comparison of AvaTrade’s fees across various products to illustrate the spreads, these are examples and may not be the most recent ones.

AvaTrade Margin AvaTrade Daily Swap Points
GBP/USD 1.6 -0.0049% (long)

-0.0047% (short)

DJ30 3.00 over market -0.0058% (long)

-0.0058% (short)

FTSE100 0.50 over market -0.0058% (long)

-0.0058% (short)

Crude oil 0.03 -0.0053% (long)

-0.0053% (short)

Gold 0.28 -0.0053% (long)

-0.0053% (short)

Apple 0.13% -0.0166% (long)

-0.0111% (short)

Barclays 0.16% -0.0166% (long)

-0.0111% (short)

Learn more www.AvaTrade.com

Bear in mind that the fees fluctuate; the table above refers to the fees as of 24 January 2023.

Available Products & Markets

The bottom line is, AvaTrade limits investment options to a narrow range of financial products. Essentially, it only offers investment opportunities in derivatives. Therefore, for investments in stocks, investment funds, ETFs, or cryptocurrencies, seeking an alternative platform would be advisable.

On the other hand, it can serve as your entry point into the world of trading through CFDs (contracts for difference). These products are ideal for short-term speculation due to their low trading cost, specifically the spread, as mentioned earlier.

When dealing with financial derivative products, such as a CFD on Apple shares, it’s crucial to recognize that you are not purchasing the actual Apple shares. Instead, you are investing in a derivative product, the price of which is tied to the actual share price. These are typically riskier investments.

Avatrade available instruments
Avatrade available instruments

These are the types of CFDs in which AvaTrade allows you to invest:

  • CFDs on Forex: For those interested in Forex trading, AvaTrade offers a solid selection of the most traded currency pairs, including EUR/USD, EUR/GBP, and others. The platform provides access to just over 55 currency pairs for trading.
  • CFDs on stocks: AvaTrade provides CFDs on approximately 700 different stocks from multiple markets, including the US and Europe. However, it’s important to note that competitors such as XTB and eToro offer a broader selection.
  • CFDs on ETFs: These products are highly favoured by investors for pooling numerous assets into one; certain ETFs encompass thousands of instruments. However, with only 60 CFDs on ETFs available, AvaTrade doesn’t have the most extensive portfolio in this category.
  • CFDs on commodities: If you want to invest in derivatives of products like gold, oil, cocoa, or even copper, AvaTrade offers you the opportunity. Its portfolio comprises approximately 30 different commodities.
  • CFDs on indices: Another highly popular short-term investment strategy involves trading entire indices, such as the S&P 500 or the DAX 30. While AvaTrade does provide access to some ‘exotic’ indices, like the Cannabis Index, it’s worth noting that they offer fewer than 25 of them. This might not meet the requirements of all investors.
  • CFDs on Cryptocurrencies: Please note that if you wish to purchase real cryptocurrencies, AvaTrade does not provide this option. They exclusively offer CFD trading. For actual cryptocurrency purchases, consider using eToro. AvaTrade offers CFDs on a selection of 14 cryptocurrencies.
  • CFDs on bonds: AvaTrade has only 2 CFDs on bonds (fixed interest): one is on European bonds and the other on Japanese bonds.

How Does AvaTrade Work?

AvaTrade offers two account types: retail investor accounts and professional investor accounts.

The key difference is higher risk trade access for professional traders, including increased leverage levels. Professional investor accounts may not be available in all countries.

AvaTrade Platform
AvaTrade web platform

You should also be aware that there are several ways to invest using different platforms:

  • AvaTrade Web Trader: AvaTrade’s web interface for trading derivatives via modern browsers like Chrome, Safari, or Firefox. Well-designed and fairly intuitive, but lacks some features, such as advanced chart analysis.
  • Android and iOS: Smartphone-compatible platform available on Android and iOS. I, personally, find navigating investment platforms on a phone quite awkward.
  • External platforms: Third-party platforms connecting to AvaTrade’s services, like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5. These aren’t the most intuitive, and beginners will struggle to get around.
  • Unlike many brokers, AvaTrade does allow you to trade Forex options. However, it requires a specific account.

AvaTrade Alternatives

Trading212

No fees for Stocks and ETFs

4.4

XTB

Best for Stocks & ETFs for Free

4.2

eToro

Social investing

4.1

It is very likely that you aren’t convinced that AvaTrade is your best option to invest your money with. If so, I’ve curated a list of alternatives that may be useful for you.

Trading 212

Online broker Trading 212
Online broker DEGIRO

Investors looking to trade real stocks or ETFs may find a wide variety of assets available on Trading 212. You can invest in shares and ETFs from North America, Europe, etc. However, please note that Trading 212 does not offer Options trading, and its services are primarily available to users residing in EU countries (such as Germany, The Netherlands, France, or Spain) and to investors located in the UK and Switzerland.

Visit Trading 212

XTB

Alternativa XTB a AvaTrade
Alternativa XTB a AvaTrade

XTB aims to provide a combination of investments in stocks, ETFs, and CFDs. This European-based online broker enables users from several countries to open accounts, including Spain, Brazil, Portugal, France, the UK, and Argentina. However, it’s important to note that XTB is not available for customers in the United States. Additionally, it’s worth noting that while XTB offers a wide range of assets, their selection may not be as extensive as that of platforms like eToro or Trading 212.

Visit XTB

eToro

etoro is an alternative to plus500
etoro is an alternative to AvaTrade

eToro is one of the world’s largest investment platforms, and you’ve probably come across their online ads. This broker enables users to invest in real ETFs and stocks (only fractional investments), as well as trade CFDs in commodities, forex, and stocks. They also offer a crypto exchange for buying and selling digital currencies. Plus, even US-based users can open an account with this popular trading platform.

Visit eToro

AvaTrade Review: Parting Thoughts

After reviewing AvaTrade in-depth and providing my insights, you should now have a clear idea of whether this is a suitable option for you. Before concluding, I’d like to remind you of a few AvaTrade key aspects.

AvaTrade is a decent choice, exclusively, if you plan to trade in CFDs (derivatives). It does not offer the option to invest in stocks, ETFs, or other financial products. If you’re interested in those, consider exploring XTB or Trading 212.

While its web platform is user-friendly, it may not be the most comprehensive available. Additionally, AvaTrade’s CFD portfolio isn’t the most diverse. Platforms like eToro and XTB provide a wider range of options.

Although it’s not regulated by the UK’s FCA, AvaTrade maintains offices and is regulated in reputable countries, including Ireland and Australia.

In conclusion, I hope this article has addressed some of your questions. If you have any additional concerns or queries about AvaTrade or its alternatives, please feel free to leave a comment, and I’ll do my best to help out.

Learn more

AvaTrade FAQ

AvaTrade is an Irish CFD Forex broker regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (among other countries, including Cyprus and Australia). AvaTrade allows its users to trade CFDs (derivatives) of stocks, bonds, ETFs, commodities, Forex, and indices.

The platform is intuitive and user-friendly, but it could provide additional features for technical analysis and charting. Please note that there is an inactivity fee if you don’t use the broker for an extended period.

AvaTrade is located in Ireland (Dublin), although its parent company is located in the British Virgin Islands; interesting location, right?

On top of Ireland, AvaTrade has offices in Spain, Japan, Australia, France, Italy, China and Mongolia – this is partly explained because AvaTrade has acquired some brokers in the past like ArtCo (Japan) or YouTradeFX (Australia).

AvaTrade is a rightly established company. It’s authorised and regulated by several reputable regulatory bodies, such as the Central Bank of Ireland, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa. So yes, it’s not a scam, although that doesn’t mean it’s risk-free.

Regulated brokers like AvaTrade are required to follow strict rules to make sure the clients’ funds are safe (e.g. not mixed with the company’s assets). However, AvaTrade is a CFD provider, this comes with a lot of risk, so please make sure to understand this.

AvaTrade is an international company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It was founded in 2006 and since then, it has grown and expanded globally. Although AvaTrade is a privately owned company, hence the structure of its ownership is not public. However, the company was founded by Emanuel Kronitz and Negev Nosatzki.