What We Tested
- Account type: Standard Retail Account ($500 starting balance for test)
- Platform: AvaTradeGO and MT4
- Trading period: 5 months, 85 trades executed
- Pairs tested: EURUSD, GBPUSD, Indices CFDs
- Withdrawal tests: 3 successful (Skrill, Credit Card, Bank Wire)
- Support tests: 5 inquiries via live chat and dedicated support
Testing confirmed the high regulatory compliance and the stability of the proprietary AvaTradeGO platform. Focus was placed on spread stability during market news releases.
Regulation & Safety
AvaTrade is one of the most globally regulated brokers, holding over 9 licenses, making it a leader in client fund safety:
- ASIC (Australia) – Tier-1 regulation, client fund segregation.
- Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) – Tier-1 regulation, strong oversight within the EU.
- FSA (Japan) – Tier-1 regulation, compliance with strict Japanese standards.
- FSCA (South Africa) – Local oversight, provides regional trust.
- ADGM/FSRA (Abu Dhabi) – Regulation in the Middle East.
Spreads & Execution
| Pair/Asset | Avg Spread (Commission-Free) | Execution Model | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.9 pips | Market Maker | $0 |
| GBP/USD | 1.5 pips | Market Maker | $0 |
| S&P 500 CFD | 0.4 points | Market Maker | $0 |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | 0.35 points | Market Maker | $0 |
All trading is commission-free, with costs built into the spread markup. Spreads are competitive for a commission-free model.
Execution Model and Quality
- Execution Model: Market Maker (No Dealing Desk/NDD execution used for certain flow)
- Fill Reliability: High stability. Orders are filled instantly at quoted spreads.
- Requotes: Rarely observed. Orders are executed instantly.
- Speed: Fast enough for general trading and swing strategies.
AvaTrade prioritizes spread stability and guaranteed fills, typical of a professional Market Maker. While not offering raw ECN spreads, the execution is highly predictable for manual trading.
Social and Copy Trading Ecosystem
AvaTrade excels in providing external and internal copy trading solutions for clients:
- AvaTradeGO Social: Integrated social feed and simple copy trading within the mobile app.
- DupliTrade: Full integration with this third-party copy trading provider.
- ZuluTrade: Integration with this large social trading platform.
- Benefit: Allows passive and beginner traders to easily diversify and automate their strategy by copying professional traders.
The availability of multiple leading copy trading systems sets AvaTrade apart, providing a safe, regulated environment for social investing.
Account Types & Fees
Standard Retail Account (Single Tier)
- Min deposit: $100
- Spreads: From 0.9 pips (markup included)
- Commission: $0 on all assets
- Leverage: Up to 1:30 (regulatory standard in EU/AU)
- Best for: All retail traders preferring simplicity and fixed cost.
Other Fees
- Deposit fees: $0 (all methods)
- Withdrawal fees: $0 (all methods)
- Inactivity fee: $50/quarter after 3 months of no trading/logins.
- Swap rates: Standard overnight financing applies.
Deposits & Withdrawals (Tested)
AvaTrade supports fast funding and fee-free withdrawals (broker side):
| Method | Amount | Processing Time | Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card/Debit Card | $300 | 1 business day | $0 | Return to source policy |
| Bank Wire | $1,000 | 3-5 business days | $0 | Safe and reliable for large amounts |
| Skrill/Neteller | $200 | Same day (6 hours) | $0 | Fastest e-wallet options |
Know exactly
Who to trust
The market is flooded with garbage EAs designed only to sell subscriptions. We test popular forex robots. Stop guessing and start using data-backed automated solutions.
Live Tests Active
"90% of Expert Advisors on the market use toxic strategies like Grid or Martingale to fake their backtests. Our lab identifies these patterns before they blow your account."
Disclaimer: The information provided in our rankings is based on real-money testing and verified logs. This is not financial advice. Automated trading involves significant risk of capital loss. Always trade responsibly.
Platforms & Tools
- AvaTradeGO: Proprietary mobile and web platform. Excellent for simple trading and includes social features (Avatrade Social).
- MetaTrader 4 & 5 (MT4/MT5): Full support for EAs, custom indicators, and automated trading.
- DupliTrade: Third-party automated copy trading system.
- ZuluTrade: Third-party social trading platform integration.
Our Take: AvaTrade offers a comprehensive platform suite. The core MT4/MT5 support is essential for EAs, while AvaTradeGO and DupliTrade provide easy-to-use solutions for beginners and social traders.
AvaProtect Risk Management Tool
AvaProtect is a unique proprietary tool allowing traders to purchase protection against losses for a defined period (up to one day):
- Function: Pay a small premium upfront to guarantee zero loss on a trade during the protection period.
- Use Case: Perfect for holding trades through major news events (NFP, CPI) where high volatility is expected.
- Availability: Exclusive to the AvaTradeGO platform.
While paying a premium eats into potential profits, AvaProtect is a valuable tool for risk-averse traders, providing guaranteed loss protection during high-risk times.
Customer Support (Tested)
AvaTrade offers multilingual support 24/5 (in some regions 24/7):
- Live Chat/Email: Highly responsive, available 24/5 in key markets.
- Phone Support: Available via local numbers in 30+ countries, high quality.
- Quality: Customer service is known for its professionalism and speed in handling basic and account-related issues, aligning with its Tier-1 status.
The local phone numbers and extensive language support make AvaTrade's service very accessible globally.
PROS
- Regulated by 9+ major authorities (CBI, ASIC, FSCA, etc.)
- Excellent safety profile and fund security
- Commission-free trading on all assets
- Comprehensive platform support (MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, DupliTrade)
- Strong focus on supporting social and copy trading
- Mobile-friendly proprietary platform (AvaTradeGO)
CONS
- Spreads are wider than ECN brokers (avg 0.9 pips EUR/USD)
- High inactivity fee ($50/quarter) after just 3 months
- Market Maker execution model (conflict of interest)
- Minimum deposit required ($100) is higher than some rivals
Who Should Use AvaTrade?
- Great fit: Beginners and intermediate traders who prioritize the absolute highest regulatory trust (9+ licenses) and prefer a commission-free, stable platform experience for MT4/MT5 and social trading.
- Good fit: Traders who want the flexibility of social trading (DupliTrade/ZuluTrade) and traditional MT4/MT5 trading in one place.
- Not ideal: Algorithmic traders or scalpers who must use raw ECN spreads for maximizing per-trade profit.
Final Verdict
AvaTrade's strongest selling point is its regulatory foundation, boasting over 9 licenses globally, including the Central Bank of Ireland and ASIC. This ensures maximum fund safety and stability.
The broker is highly versatile, supporting both the industry-standard MT4/MT5 platforms for EAs and proprietary solutions like AvaTradeGO and DupliTrade for social trading. This flexibility appeals to a broad audience.
The primary drawback is cost: while commission-free, the typical 0.9 pip spread on EUR/USD is significantly higher than ECN rivals. Additionally, the $50 quarterly inactivity fee is punitive and requires active account management.