AvaTrade is one of the popular CFD and FX brokers globally. One of the aspects that have contributed to its popularity is its comprehensive licensing and regulation. It is regulated by various bodies in different countries; an aspect that strengthens its image as a reliable and competent broker. However, they are not regulated in probably the most important country: the UK. A look at its features and trading conditions shows that it is suitable for traders with different levels of experience. Keep on reading our AvaTrade review to find out if this is the firm for you!
Some of its attractive features include a responsive customer care structure that has various ways of contacting the company, an array of beneficial educational resources, competitive spreads, and huge leverage. It also boasts of having several trading platforms and a wide range of financial instruments including bonds and ETFs. These features have helped the broker attain its position as one of the renowned FX/CFD brokers in the world.
AvaTrade Review: Pros and Cons
Pros
- A free demo account whose opening process is straightforward
- High leverage of up to 400:1
- Has over 200 asset offerings
- Impressive and comprehensive educational resources
- An array of advanced trading platforms
Cons
- No UK office and not regulated by the UK FCA
- High inactivity fees
- Limited deposit and withdrawal methods compared to some of its competitors
Who is AvaTrade Recommended For?
In our AvaTrade review, we reach to the conclusion that it is a broker for worldwide traders who are looking for a trustworthy and reliable broker whose trading conditions favour individuals with small, medium, or large capital levels. With a leverage of up to 400:1, low spreads, and reduced commissions, AvaTrade clients have a high chance of trading successfully and making substantial returns. It also helps that the broker uses advanced trading platforms such as MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, and AvaOptions. Additionally, if you are a trader who is interested in copy trading and/or spread betting, you should consider this broker.
Top AvaTrade Features
VPS
AvaTrade offers a free Virtual Private Server (VPS) that allows its customers to avoid latency and maintain connectivity to the trading platform in use. Indeed, these two aspects are crucial to every trader. As such, AvaTrade’s free VPS is one of its attractive features for most clients.
Spreads
AvaTrade has competitive spreads; an aspect that has increased its popularity in the trading world. Its spreads differ depending on the financial instruments. Below is an example of the spreads for bonds, which start from 0.03 pips. To view the specific spread for a particular asset, head to the firm’s site and select ‘Trading Info’ followed by ‘Financial Instruments’.
Trading Platform
AvaTrade’s trading platforms include the Meta Trader 4 platform (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). They Are both highly regarded trading platforms globally. While MT5 has more advanced features, they both have beneficial aspects such as charting tools, programmed trading with qualified advisors, and custom indicators. You will be able to use the MQL4 and MQL5 marketplace with MT4 and MT5 respectively.
The company also have other trading platforms including the AvaTradeGO app, AvaOptions app, and automated trading. To compare the trading platforms and identify the one that suits you best, head on to AvaTrade’s website and go to ‘Trading Platforms’.
With reference to the trading platforms’ mobile compatibility, AvaTrade clients can conduct web, mobile, or Mac trading.
Spread Betting Accounts
Spread betting entails trading the financial markets. Spread bettors usually choose the amount they intend to bet per point move or pip for a particular trading instrument. It is particularly attractive to traders residing in countries such as the UK and Ireland where the resultant profits are exempted from levies. The screenshot below shows an example of spread betting.
One of the reasons why you should consider spread betting with AvaTrade is that you will have access to a personal account manager in addition to a responsive customer care team. What’s more, AvaTrade is a trusted broker hence you don’t have to worry about misappropriation of your funds. AvaTrade’s spread betting account also contains over 200 financial instruments including bonds, equities, indices, and FX pairs. There are certain differences between spread betting and FX/CFD trading with AvaTrade as shown below.
Support Channels
AvaTrade has a responsive customer care team that is available at any time during the working days. To reach them, visit their site and use the phone number that is applicable to your location. The representatives speak different languages to accommodate clients in different nations within Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Middle East, South America, and North America.
There is also an email setup on their ‘Contact Us’ page that will help you reach the company for any questions or concerns. Additionally, the ‘Live Chat’ option on their website allows customers to talk to one of AvaTrade’s experts instantly.
Education
AvaTrade has numerous educational resources. Firstly, there is the ‘trading for beginners’ section on its website. The incorporated topics are meant to educate beginners on various aspects of FX and CFD trading. Its professional trading, economic indicators, and order types sections also have detailed information that is beneficial to beginners and experienced traders alike.
The company also has a blog whose content is meant to increase traders’ knowledge on market news as well as the applicable trading strategies. Its eBook and trading videos are also part of the firm’s vast educational resources. You can get the eBook by inputting your personal details and then clicking on ‘Get your eBook’. AvaTrade also has an all-inclusive FAQ section with answers to all the questions you may have about the company and trading in general.
AvaTrade Review
| Regulation & Licensing | Ava Trade EU Ltd: Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (No: C53877).
Ava Trade Ltd: Regulated by B.V.I Financial Services Commission. Ava Capital Markets Pty: Regulated by South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA No: 45984) Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd: Regulated by ASIC (No: 406684) Ava Trade Japan K.K.: Regulated by FSA (No: 1662) and FFAJ (No: 1574) Ava Trade Middle East Ltd: Regulated by Abu Dhabi Global Markets and the Financial Regulatory Services Authority (No: 190018). |
| Accepted Jurisdictions | Worldwide |
| Assets Offered | Currencies: majors, minors, and exotics commodities: e.g natural gas, crude oil, soybean, corn
precious metals: silver, gold, platinum cryptocurrencies: e.g Ripple, Ethereum, Bitcoin, Litecoin indices: e.g DAX, S&P 500, NASDAQ Stocks: e.g Apple, Google, Facebook FxOptions: majors, minors, and exotics ETFs: e.g Energy Select Sector SPDR, MSCI Brazil Index Fund Bonds: Euro-Bond, Japan Govt Bond |
| Platforms Available | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Automated trading, AvaOptions, AvaTradeGO |
| Mobile Compatibility | Yes, it is mobile compatible. It allows mobile trading, Mac trading, and web trading. |
| Payment Types Accepted | Credit card, e-payments (Skill, Neteller, WebMoney), and wire transfer |
| Language | Over 14 languages including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, Deutsch, Japanese, and French |
AvaTrade Review: Account Types
AvaTrade has a simple account structure. In addition to the demo account, it has two other account types that are suitable for most traders. These accounts are the standard account and the Islamic account.
| Features | AvaTrade Standard Account | AvaTrade Islamic Account |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD |
| Available Leverage | 1:400 | 1:400 |
| Minimum Deposit | $£€AUD 100 | $£€AUD 100 |
| Starting Spreads | From 0.03 pip | From 0.03 pip |
| Commission Per Trade | No | No |
| Decimal Pricing | 4 decimal places | 4 decimal places |
| Trading Instruments | FX, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, FXOptions, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies | FX, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, FXOptions, ETFs, Bonds |
| Min. Lot Size per Trade | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Max. Lot Size Per Trade | 50 | 50 |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Swap/Rollover Free | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading Support | Yes | Yes |
AvaTrade Review of Regulation
AvaTrade is a reliable broker that is keen on complying with all the applicable laws. Traders from various parts of the world can trade with AvaTrade confidently since its operations are regulated and licensed by several regulatory bodies across the globe. The company is regulated as follows:
- Ava Trade EU Ltd: Regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (No: C53877).
- Ava Trade Ltd: Regulated by B.V.I Financial Services Commission.
- Ava Capital Markets Pty: Regulated by South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA No: 45984)
- Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd: Regulated by ASIC (No: 406684)
- Ava Trade Japan K.K.: Regulated by FSA (No: 1662) and FFAJ (No: 1574)
- Ava Trade Middle East Ltd: Regulated by Abu Dhabi Global Markets and the Financial Regulatory Services Authority (No: 190018).
AvaTrade Spreads and Costs
AvaTrade’s spreads depend on the financial instrument. Its spreads have become even more competitive in the recent past after the company reduced them by up to 50% towards the end of 2019. Moreover, the broker does not charge any commission on its standard and Islamic account holders.
Non-trading fees
Non-trading fees encompasses all the charges that are not directly linked to trading. with AvaTrade, one such fee is the inactivity fee. If no trading activity has been conducted in your account for 3 consecutive months (90 days), an inactivity fee of $€£ 50 is deducted from your account. Furthermore, if you no trading activity is executed on your account for 12 consecutive months, an annual administration fee of $£€ 100 is deducted from your account. As for deposits and withdrawals, the company does not charge its clients any fees.
AvaTrade Customer Service
AvaTrade has a responsive customer care team as part of its efforts to enhance client satisfaction. To contact them, you can visit their site and use the phone number that is applicable to your location. The firm has different contacts assigned to various countries within Europe, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Middle East, South America, and North America. The good thing with this system is that you will get to speak to a representative who speaks your language.
You can also present your concerns or queries to the company through the email setup on their ‘Contact Us’ page. The company’s customer service framework also comprises of a ‘Live Chat’ option that allows customers to talk to one of AvaTrade’s experts instantly.
AvaTrade Review: Account Opening Process
AvaTrade’s account opening process is straightforward. For a beginner, it is helpful to start with the firm’s demo account in order to enhance your trading skills and knowledge. To do so, click here. The first step will be to input your personal details including your name, email address, and phone number. Once you have completed that step, you will receive an email with your login details. At this point, you can start trading with the $100,000 virtual funds availed to you.
For the experienced traders, open a live account by going to the broker’s website and clicking on ‘Register Now’. A prompt that is similar to that of opening a demo account will appear on your screen. If you previously worked with a demo account and you now feel well-equipped to trade with a real account, simply login into your demo account and then click on ‘Upgrade to Real’. You will be required to input additional personal details such as your date of birth, address, and set your password. Additionally, you will need to select the trading platform you intend to use as well as your preferred base currency.
Minimum Deposit
The minimum amount of funds that you need to deposit into your trading account to start trading with AvaTrade depends on your account’s base currency. For the USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD accounts, you can deposit a minimum of $ 100, €100, £ 100, and AUD 100 respectively.
Deposit and Withdrawal Fees
The company’s global customers can deposit funds into their trading account either through wire transfer or credit card. E-payment platforms such as WebMoney, Skrill, and Neteller are also applicable for Australian and EU clients. In line with the set anti-money laundering laws, you can only withdraw funds from your trading account through the payment method you used to fund the account.
AvaTrade does not charge its clients any fees for deposits or withdrawals.
AvaTrade Review: Education Offering
AvaTrade is keen on ensuring that its clients advance their trading skills by availing an array of educational resources. To begin with, it has detailed information on the ‘trading for beginners’ section. The incorporated topics are meant to enlighten beginners on various aspects of FX and CFD trading. its professional trading, economic indicators, and order types sections also have comprehensive information that is beneficial to traders with different levels of experience.
AvaTrade also has a blog whose content is meant to enhance traders’ knowledge on market news as well as effective trading strategies. The site also has numerous trading videos that are helpful to beginners and experienced traders alike. Its eBook is another element of the firm’s vast educational resources. What’s more, you can get it by simply filling in your personal details and then clicking on ‘Get your eBook’. Its comprehensive FAQ section will also answer all the questions you may have about the company and trading in general.
To benefit from AvaTrade’s educational resources, visit their site and click on ‘Education’.
Conclusions
Clients from all over the world can confidently trade with AvaTrade since it is regulated and licensed by regulatory bodies in different countries. It further complies with the enacted financial laws including the anti-money laundering regulations.
With reference to its top features, AvaTrade has impressive trading platforms, leverage, educational resources, and a customer care structure. It offers a wide array of asset offerings including ETFs and bonds. While it has high inactivity fees, it has competitive spreads and no commissions. Based on all these features, AvaTrade is definitely a reliable broker that is keen on meeting the varying needs of traders.
AvaTrade FAQs
Q: What can I trade on AvaTrade?
A: AvaTrade provides a wide array of financial instruments across the major markets. With over 200 asset offerings, you can trade in currencies, commodities, precious metals, indices, FxOptions, cryptocurrencies, bonds, ETFs, or stocks.
Q: What is the minimum amount I can deposit into my account to start trading with AvaTrade?
A: You should deposit $£€AUD 100 via wire transfer, e-wallet, or your credit card.
Q: What is the minimum trading volume needed before I am able to withdraw my bonus?
A: You should have executed at least 10,000 in your account’s base currency within 6 months for every $1 bonus. If you don’t trade this volume within the stipulated timeframe, your bonus will be reversed from your account.