Established in 2006, AvaTrade has offered CFDs on FX, Stocks, Commodities, Indices & Options for over a decade and has established a reputation as a reliable platform with some 400,000 registered clients. It also offers spread betting in the UK, a tax-free way to trade financial markets.
Several regulatory bodies, including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC in Australia, FSA in Japan, and the FSCA in South Africa, regulate AvaTrade. With its user-friendly interface, extensive educational resources, and competitive trading conditions, AvaTrade has gained popularity among traders worldwide.
In this review, I will be examining the various features of Avatrade to help you determine if it’s the platform for you. I’ve spent time using the platform as a trader, evaluating the tools, user experience, fee structure and security to see how it compares.
(73% of retail CFD accounts lose money)
AvaTrade Review: Our Verdict
AvaTrade has much to offer Forex and CFD traders who like the feel of their own AvaTrade platform or Metatrader.
While the product portfolio is somewhat limited, it’s fast and easy to open an account, and I especially like the copy trading functionality which is very refined.
The educational content is strong; their mobile App is very well designed, and the pricing is about average.
Overall, I see this as a great option for either beginners or serious traders, with efficient customer service should you run into any issues.
AvaTrade pros & cons
Pros
Regulated and reliable – Avatrade is regulated by several reputable regulatory bodies.
Proprietary trading platforms – AvaTrade’s own AvaTrade WebTrader and AvaTradeGO add to Metatrader.
Extensive educational resources – The platform offers webinars, eBooks, and video tutorials.
Competitive trading conditions – Avatrade offers competitive trading conditions, including tight spreads, low fees, and leverage of up to 1:400.
One of the best copy trading apps – AvaSocial, joins ZuluTrade and DupliTrade to ensure a truly class-leading copy trading experience.
Cons
Limited research tools – Avatrade’s research tools are not as extensive as some of its competitors.
Inactivity fees – Avatrade charges inactivity fees of £50 after 3 months of inactivity.
Limited customer support – Avatrade’s customer support is 24/5 rather than 24/7.
Desktop Platform (Avaoptions) can be slow to load
Fractionally more expensive than the leading competitors
Is AvaTrade safe?
AvaTrade is a regulated broker, licensed and authorised by multiple regulatory bodies in different regions, including the Central Bank of Ireland, the Financial Services Commission in the British Virgin Islands, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority in South Africa, and more.
In addition to being regulated, AvaTrade also takes several measures to ensure the security of its client’s funds. For example, the broker segregates its clients’ funds from its own, meaning clients’ money is kept in separate accounts from AvaTrade’s operational funds. This helps to ensure that the client’s money is protected in the event of the broker’s insolvency.
Furthermore, AvaTrade also uses top-tier banks to hold its clients’ funds. These banks are typically among the world’s largest and most reputable, subject to strict regulatory oversight. As a result, clients can have confidence that their funds are held in secure, trustworthy financial institutions.
The broker uses 256-bit SSL encryption across its entire website, a standard security measure that major financial institutions and other online businesses use to protect sensitive information from unauthorized access.
To further boost its security, AvaTrade also features an embedded True-Site identity assurance seal, which helps to ensure that users are on the genuine AvaTrade website and not a fraudulent copycat site.
The broker is also WebTrust compliant, as determined by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, which demonstrates AvaTrade’s commitment to protecting its clients’ data and privacy.
In addition, AvaTrade uses McAfee Secure (HackerSafe) to prevent credit card fraud and identity theft. This software is designed to identify and eliminate vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers and cybercriminals, further enhancing the security of AvaTrade’s platform.
AvaTrade’s key features
Multiple Trading Platforms
AvaTrade’s proprietary platform, AvaTrade, is designed to be user-friendly and easy to navigate, with features such as one-click trading and real-time alerts.
The MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms are also popular among traders for their advanced charting tools and customisable indicators.
Extensive Range of Instruments
AvaTrade offers a wide range of financial instruments for traders to choose from. These include Forex currency pairs, stocks, commodities, indices, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and more.
- Forex is one of the most popular instruments on AvaTrade, with over 50 currency pairs available to trade, including major pairs like EUR/USD and GBP/USD and minor and exotic pairs. Traders can access competitive spreads and leverage of up to 30:1, maximising their trading potential.
- Stocks are also available for trading on AvaTrade, with over 600 stocks from the world’s largest exchanges, such as the NYSE, NASDAQ, and FTSE. Traders can invest in companies like Apple, Amazon, and Facebook and can take advantage of leverage of up to 5:1 to enhance their trading positions.
- Commodities, including precious metals like gold and silver and energy products like oil and gas, are also available for trading on AvaTrade. Traders can access a range of commodity markets worldwide, with leverage of up to 20:1.
- Indices like the S&P 500 and NASDAQ are popular among traders seeking to invest in the broader market. AvaTrade offers over 20 major global indices, with a leverage of up to 20:1.
In addition, traders can also invest in bonds, ETFs, options, and cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Copy Trading
AvaTrade offers a copy trading service that allows beginner traders to follow and automatically copy the trades of more experienced traders. This service is called AvaTradeGO, and it is available through the broker’s mobile app.
To use the copy trading feature, traders must find a successful trader on the AvaTradeGO app, select the “Copy” button, and allocate some of their funds to follow the trader’s trades. Once the allocation is set up, the trader’s account will automatically replicate the trades of the selected trader in real-time.
Copy trading on AvaTradeGO allows beginner traders to benefit from the experience and knowledge of more experienced traders without needing to develop their trading strategies. The service also allows traders to diversify their portfolios by following multiple traders with different trading styles.
To ensure the reliability and success of its copy trading service, AvaTrade only allows verified and experienced traders to be featured on the platform. Traders who wish to be featured on the platform are subject to a strict selection process and must have a proven track record of successful trading.
Charting tools
To access trading position information on AvaTrade, traders can use the platform’s built-in tools and features, such as the Trade Dashboard, which summarises all open positions, including the instrument, position size, entry price, and profit/loss.
Additionally, Avatrade offers advanced charting tools that allow traders to view historical trading position data for a particular instrument, including open and closed positions, order flow, and market depth.
Risk Management
AvaTrade’s risk management strategies are designed to help traders mitigate potential losses and protect their trading capital.
Stop Loss Orders – This order automatically closes a position at a predetermined price level, helping to limit potential losses. Traders can set stop loss orders at a level they are comfortable with, reflecting their risk appetite.
Take Profit Orders – These orders automatically close a position at a predetermined profit level. Traders can set take profit orders at a level they are comfortable with that reflects their trading goals.
Trailing Stop Orders – This type of order automatically adjusts the stop loss level as the market moves in favour of the trade. Trailing stops can help protect profits while allowing the transaction to run as long as possible.
Position Sizing – This involves determining the appropriate size of a trading position based on the trader’s risk appetite and the size of their trading account. Avatrade provides tools to help traders calculate their position size based on their risk tolerance and the size of their accounts.
Risk/Reward Ratio – This involves calculating the potential reward of a trade versus the potential risk. Traders can use the risk/reward ratio to help determine if a trade is worth taking based on the possible return versus the potential loss.
Diversification – Spreading trading capital across multiple instruments and markets reduces overall risk. This is why AvaTrade provides access to a wide range of financial instruments.
Trading Calculator
Avatrade’s trading calculator is aimed at helping traders plan and manage their trades. It is a free tool available to all AvaTrade users and can be accessed directly from the AvaTrade website.
The trading calculator allows traders to calculate various trading metrics, including pip value, margin requirements, and position size. Traders can use these metrics to help plan their trades and determine the appropriate position size based on risk tolerance.
The trading calculator breaks down the calculations involved. Traders simply need to enter the relevant information, such as the currency pair being traded, the account currency, and the position size, and the calculator will provide the relevant calculations.
Commissions and fees at AvaTrade
Here’s a closer look at the commissions and fees you can expect when trading with AvaTrade:
Spread-based Trading – AvaTrade’s primary source of revenue comes from the spreads on its instruments, which is the difference between the bid and ask prices. The spread is typically the only cost involved in trading with AvaTrade.
Overnight Financing – If you hold a position overnight, you may be charged or receive financing fees depending on the instrument and the direction of your trade.
Inactivity Fee – AvaTrade will charge an inactivity fee of £50 per quarter if you don’t trade for three consecutive months.
Withdrawal Fees – AvaTrade does not charge deposit fees, but fees may be associated with withdrawing funds depending on your payment method.
Conversion Fees – If you deposit or withdraw funds in a currency other than your account’s base currency, you may be subject to conversion fees.
Professional Client Fees – If you qualify as a professional client, you may be eligible for lower spreads and other benefits but may also be subject to different fees.
What’s the minimum deposit at AvaTrade?
AvaTrade offers a minimum deposit of £100 for traders based in the United Kingdom to open a standard trading account. This low minimum deposit can be an attractive option for traders just starting or wanting to test the platform with a smaller account balance.
For traders in the UK, AvaTrade’s minimum deposit is in line with other brokers in the industry.
AvaTrade market research
One of the critical features of AvaTrade’s market research and analysis tools is the daily market analysis and updates. This feature provides traders with a comprehensive overview of the financial markets, including key events, trends, and market news. Traders can use this information to make informed trading decisions and adjust their strategies accordingly.
AvaTrade also provides technical analysis tools, which allow traders to analyse price trends, patterns, and other market indicators. These tools include charting tools, technical indicators, and other features that help traders identify potential trading opportunities based on historical price movements.
Fundamental analysis is another vital feature of AvaTrade’s market research and analysis tools. This feature helps traders analyse the underlying economic and financial factors influencing market movements.
Traders can use this information to identify potential trading opportunities based on macroeconomic trends, such as interest rate changes, inflation rates, and other economic indicators.
Avatrade Educational Resources
Video Tutorials – AvaTrade’s video tutorials are designed to provide traders with a visual explanation of various trading concepts. The tutorials cover many topics, including how to use the trading platform, technical analysis, fundamental analysis, trading psychology, and risk management. The videos are available on the AvaTrade website and can be accessed for free.
AvaTrade’s webinars are live online events covering various trading topics. The webinars are hosted by expert traders and industry professionals who share their insights and knowledge on specific trading strategies, market trends, and other relevant topics. Traders can attend the webinars live or watch the recorded versions later. AvaTrade also offers a schedule of upcoming webinars on its website.
Ebooks – AvaTrade offers a range of free ebooks on various trading topics. The ebooks are designed to provide traders with in-depth information on specific topics, such as forex trading, cryptocurrency trading, and trading psychology. The ebooks are available for download on the AvaTrade website and can be accessed for free.
Trading Academy – AvaTrade’s Trading Academy is a comprehensive educational resource covering all trading aspects. The Academy is designed to provide traders with a structured approach to learning, starting with the basics and progressing to advanced topics. The Academy covers technical analysis, fundamental analysis, trading psychology, risk management, and trading strategies. The Academy also offers quizzes and interactive exercises to help traders reinforce their learning.
Who is AvaTrade for?
AvaTrade is suitable for a wide range of traders and investors, regardless of their level of experience or trading style. The broker’s range of trading instruments, educational resources, and advanced trading tools make it a popular choice for traders worldwide.
AvaTrade is an excellent choice for beginner traders just starting in the trading world. The broker’s educational resources, such as video tutorials, webinars, and ebooks, can help beginners learn the basics of trading and develop their trading strategies.
The platform is also suitable for experienced traders looking for a broker with a wide range of trading instruments, advanced trading tools, and competitive trading conditions. The broker offers access to various markets, including forex, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, and provides advanced trading tools such as automated trading and social trading.
AvaTrade’s low spreads and commissions can help you save on trading costs if you’re an active trader who trades frequently. The broker also offers a range of account types, including professional accounts, which provide additional benefits such as higher leverage and lower margin requirements.
If you’re an investor who wants to diversify your portfolio, AvaTrade’s range of investment products, such as ETFs and bonds, can help you achieve your investment goals. The broker also provides access to popular investment platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and AvaOptions, which offer various investment opportunities.
AvaTrade reviews and ratings
AvaTrade receives highly positive reviews on Trustpilot, with a current score of 4.7 stars over 7 613 reviews.
73% of users award the platform 5 stars, citing the quality of customer support.
15% of users give negative reviews of only 1 star, citing withdrawal issues.
How long do AvaTrade withdrawals take?
The processing time for AvaTrade withdrawals typically ranges from one to two business days, mirroring the standard timeline observed across most forex brokers. However, you should remember that the withdrawal method you opt for could influence the precise duration.
