Avatrade Review: The Ultimate Guide for Traders

Avatrade is an online brokerage and trading platform that allows users to trade forex, cryptocurrencies, stocks, indices and more. Founded in 2006, Avatrade is regulated in several jurisdictions and serves customers globally.

In this Avatrade review, we’ll cover everything you need to know about this broker to decide if it’s right for you.

Discover more top trading platforms by visiting our Best Trading Platforms page.

What we liked about Avatrade

• Multiple top-tier trading platforms like MT4, AvaTradeGO and AvaOptions
• Tight spreads starting from just 0.9 pips on forex pairs
• Regulation in multiple major jurisdictions like Australia and EU
• DupliTrade allows newbies to learn from pros
• Deep selection of tradable instruments across forex, crypto, stocks, indices

What we didn’t like about Avatrade

• Higher spreads on certain exotic currency pairs
• Mobile app lacks some advanced features of desktop platform
• High minimum deposit for premium account types

Who is Avatrade for?

When choosing a broker, it’s important to evaluate which types of traders they are most suitable for. Here’s a rundown of what types of traders Avatrade is likely to appeal to most:

Beginner Forex Traders – Avatrade is an excellent choice for those just getting started in forex trading. Their minimum deposit is low at $100, they offer a free demo account for practice, and have abundant educational resources. For first-time forex traders, Avatrade provides an ideal environment to build skills.

Intermediate Traders Seeking Automation – With platforms like MT4 and MT5 that support automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), Avatrade caters nicely to technical traders looking to automate strategies. The ability to backtest EAs makes strategy building straightforward.

Multi-Asset Traders – With a diverse assets across forex, crypto, stocks, commodities and indices, Avatrade suits traders looking to diversify their portfolio in a single account. The depth of markets allows ample opportunity to spread risk.

Frequent/High Volume Traders – For active traders who transact regularly in larger sizes, Avatrade’s tiered account types offer attractive discounts on spreads, extra services and dedicated support. Lower trading costs benefit such high activity accounts.

Casual/Part-time Traders – Thanks to low minimums and micro accounts, Avatrade also works for traders who participate casually or part-time. You can trade mini lots infrequently while paying competitive spreads. Ideal for hobbyists.

In summary, Avatrade appeals most to beginners, intermediate automation traders, multi-asset traders, high volume traders and casual hobbyists. Their combination of features serves a wide spectrum of trader types.

If you are looking for an online trading platform that accepts PayPal as a deposit and withdrawal method, take a look at the eToro reviews.

Avatrade Overview

Avatrade offers the ability to trade on:

• Forex – Over 50 major, minor and exotic currency pairs.
• Cryptocurrencies – Major cryptos like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin.
• Stocks – CFDs on stocks from top global exchanges.
• Indices – CFDs on major indices like S&P 500, NASDAQ 100.
• Commodities – CFDs on commodities like gold, silver, oil.

Some key features of their trading platform include:

• Cutting edge trading platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions.
• Automated trading supported through Expert Advisors and API connections.
• DupliTrade – traders can copy others’ strategies.
• Trading Central charting tools, analysis and trade alerts integrated.
• Mobile apps available for Android and iOS.

Avatrade Regulation and Licensing

When selecting a broker, it’s critical they have proper regulation and oversight in place to ensure trustworthiness. Avatrade maintains licenses and authorization from several top-tier regulators globally:

• Australia – Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
• Ireland – Central Bank of Ireland
• Japan – Financial Services Agency (FSA)
• South Africa – Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA)

Additionally, Avatrade falls under regulation from the European MiFID2 directive which provides further supervision and reporting requirements for investment firms.

Being regulated across multiple major jurisdictions ensures Avatrade adheres to strict standards around capital requirements, handling of client funds, trade transparency, dispute resolution and more.

Traders can research Avatrade’s regulatory registrations for peace of mind. Between multiple licenses and segregated client fund accounts, your money remains protected trading with a fully authorized broker.

When assessing forex brokers, prioritize those like Avatrade who invest in proper licensing a

Avatrade Platforms & Tools

As an experienced trader, I’ve used a wide range of trading platforms over the years. Avatrade stands out by offering a diverse selection of powerful yet easy-to-use platforms.

For technical traders, MetaTrader 4 and 5 should be your go-to choice. The charting and customizability of these platforms is simply unmatched. You can analyze price action using every indicator under the sun and test automated strategies with Expert Advisors. Avatrade’s execution is fast and they offer a deep selection of tradable instruments on MT4/MT5. These platforms cater perfectly to discretionary and algorithmic traders alike.

Alternatively, if you prefer simplicity, Avatrade’s AvaTradeGO web and mobile apps provide a streamlined trading experience. The clean interface lets you execute one-click trades easily with just the essentials on screen. As a seasoned trader, I appreciate that AvaTradeGO still grants access to features like stop-losses, price alerts, integrated news and seamless account management. It’s a great blend of simplicity without compromising core functionality.

For options traders specifically, AvaOptions stands out as the ideal platform. It provides deep liquidity across forex and stock optionsCoupled with charts displaying thegreeks in real-time, AvaOptions becomes a powerful solution for deploying options strategies. The risk management tools are extensive, allowing you to maximize returns while limiting risk on options trades.

Overall, Avatrade hits it out of the park when it comes to trading platforms. Their choice of MT4/MT5, AvaTradeGO and AvaOptions caters seamlessly to every trader’s needs.

Avatrade offers users a choice of several trading platforms:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4)

• MT4 is one of the most popular trading platforms worldwide
• Offers advanced charting, technical indicators and EAs for automated trading
• Easy to customize with indicators, templates and more
• Available on desktop, web and mobile

MetaTrader 5 (MT5)

• MT5 is the newer version with more advanced features
• Adds support for additional asset classes beyond forex
• Deeper market analysis with more indicators and timeframes
• Supports EAs and algorithmic trading like MT4

AvaTradeGO

• AvaTrade’s proprietary web and mobile trading platform
• Simple and intuitive design ideal for beginners
• Live market news and analysis feeds
• Allows fast account signup right from the app

AvaOptions

• Platform designed specifically for options trading
• Provides real-time quotes and greeks for options contracts
• Lets you build options strategies easily
• Advanced risk management tools

DupliTrade – Tool for copy trading top performing traders

Avatrade offers a cool feature called DupliTrade which allows traders to automatically copy positions from top-performing traders on the platform. Here’s a quick explanation of how DupliTrade works:

• DupliTrade connects your account to signal providers – traders with proven profitable track records.
• You can browse provider profiles and statistics to analyze past performance.
• Select the providers you want to copy based on risk score, returns, drawdowns, etc.
• DupliTrade then mirrors their trades in your own account automatically.
• You can copy proportionally based on account size or have fixed copy amounts.
• If a provider makes a trade, your account will execute the same trade moments later.
• You can stop copying and disconnect at any time.

DupliTrade takes the guesswork out of trading by letting you leverage skills of the top performers on Avatrade. It’s a great tool for beginners to fast track their learning or experienced traders to supplement their own strategies. The copy trading is quick, convenient and controlled.

In addition to the platforms above, Avatrade integrates powerful 3rd party tools:

• Trading Central – Leading source of market analysis, trade alerts and educational resources.
• AutoChartist – Scans markets for popular chart patterns and trade ideas.

This combination of cutting edge proprietary platforms and 3rd party tools provides traders with everything needed to successfully analyze markets and execute trades.

Account Types

Avatrade offers several account types to match your specific trading size, style and experience level.

For newer traders, the micro account with fixed spreads is a great way to get started with a smaller minimum deposit. You’ll have peace of mind knowing costs are fixed while you build skills. Standard accounts allow you to graduate to competitive variable spreads but require more capital.

When you’re ready for the big leagues, the Platinum account offers the tightest spreads, extra services like free VPS and dedicated support. The minimum deposit is substantially higher but very worth it for active traders executing larger volumes.

If you’re a professional or institutional player, the Ava Select account offers staggering discounts on already competitive spreads along with deep liquidity access and dedicated services. The $100k minimum deposit locks in spreads as low as 0 pips in some cases – an enormous advantage for high frequency algorithmic traders.

Overall, Avatrade accounts cater to everyone – from micro accounts for newbies to Ava Select for the big guns. Every trader will find their sweet spot irrespective of deposit size and trading needs.

There are several account types to choose from including:

• Micro Account – For small deposit investors. Fixed spreads from 3 pips.
• Standard Account – For beginner to intermediate traders. Variable spreads from 1 pip.
• Platinum Account – For experienced traders. Tighter spreads and extra services.
• Ava Select Account – For advanced traders doing high volume. Deep discounts on spreads.
• Demo Account – For unlimited virtual trading to practice. Uses real time markets.

Account types with lower spreads and more benefits require higher minimum deposits.

Avatrade Features

Some of the key features offered by Avatrade include:

Minimum Deposits

You can open an account and start trading with a minimum deposit of $100. This makes Avatrade accessible even for those starting with a small account balance.

Maximum Leverage

Avatrade offers leverage up to 1:30 on forex and 1:5 on other assets. Leverage allows you to open much larger positions than your capital would normally permit. However, higher leverage also magnifies risk, so it should be used appropriately by experienced traders.

Spreads & Commissions

Avatrade offers both fixed and floating spreads depending on the account type chosen. For popular currency pairs, their typical variable spreads are around 1.1 to 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD which is considered competitive.

No commissions are charged on trades, but there are financing charges/credits applied for positions held overnight.

Customer Support

Avatrade provides customer support 24/5 through live chat, email and phone support. They have local phone numbers for over 20 countries and support in many languages.

Trading Platforms

As covered earlier, Avatrade offers a choice of desktop, web and mobile trading apps – so you can trade from anywhere.

Trustworthiness

With regulation in several major jurisdictions like Australia, Japan and Ireland, Avatrade is considered safe and trustworthy. They keep client funds secure and segregated from company funds.

Trading Resources & Education

While Avatrade’s trading platforms and markets are top tier, they also invest heavily in education. This is crucial for nurturing better traders.

Avatrade offers a ton of educational resources to help improve your trading. Trading Central provides an extensive video library covering everything from chart patterns to fundamental analysis. You can also tune into daily webinars and live market commentary to stay on top of trends and volatility.

For beginners, their video courses are extremely helpful to get up to speed on forex trading basics. They break down technical and fundamental analysis in an easy-to-understand way. More advanced traders can dig into videos on topics like identifying chart patterns, Japanese candlesticks, and order flow dynamics.

Additionally, Avatrade publishes an insightful market blog updated daily. Their economic calendar helps you keep track of volatility catalysts across forex, commodities and equities. No trader will feel left behind – whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro.

The breadth of Avatrade’s trading education is outstanding. Make sure to tap into it and level up your skills consistently as a trader. An investment in knowledge yields the best interest.

There are abundant educational resources available through Avatrade including videos, ebooks, webinars and more. This helps traders improve their knowledge and skills.

Automated Trading

For traders who want to automate their strategies, Avatrade supports automated trading through Expert Advisors and API connections. Strategies can be backtested to gauge their viability.

So in summary, Avatrade packs an impressively comprehensive suite of platforms, features and resources into a competitively priced offering.

Fees & Commissions

Avatrade earns money through spreads, financing charges on leveraged trades held overnight, conversion fees on trades in some exotic currency pairs and inactivity fees on dormant accounts. Let’s examine these in more detail:

Spreads

This is the difference between the buy and sell price quoted. It is where Avatrade earns a portion of their revenue. Typical spreads on major currency pairs range from:

• 1.1 to 1.5 pips for EUR/USD
• 0.4 pips for BTC/USD

Spreads can be fixed or variable depending on the account type. Lower spreads are available on Platinum and Ava Select accounts with higher minimum deposits.

Overnight Financing

Leveraged positions that remain open overnight incur a financing charge or credit:

• Long positions pay the financing cost
• Short positions receive the financing credit

The financing rate depends on the currency pair and benchmark rates. This is how Avatrade earns additional income on leveraged overnight positions.

Inactivity Fees

Accounts that remain inactive for 3 months incur a monthly inactivity fee of $50 until activity resumes. This covers Avatrade’s costs of maintaining inactive accounts on their systems.

Conversion Fees

There are no conversion fees for trading most major pairs like EUR/USD. But a 1% conversion fee applies when trading certain exotic currency pairs where there is low liquidity.

In summary, Avatrade earns revenue through competitive spreads, overnight financing on leveraged trades, conversion fees on exotics and inactivity fees. There are no commissions on regular trades.

Avatrade Deposits and Withdrawals

Avatrade offers several convenient ways to deposit and withdraw funds from your trading account:

Deposit Methods

• Debit/Credit Cards – Deposit quickly via Visa, MasterCard, Amex
• Bank Wire Transfer – For larger deposits from your bank account
• eWallets – Skrill, Neteller, PayPal and more
• Online Transfers – Fast transfers via Epay and more

Most deposit methods are free of charges. Processing is typically fast with funds available in your trading account on the same day in many cases.

Withdrawal Methods

• Debit/Credit Card – Withdraw to the same card used for deposit
• Bank Wire Transfer – Receive funds directly to your bank account
• eWallets – Same eWallets like Skrill can be used for withdrawals

Withdrawals are also free and processed within 24 hours in most cases. Note that withdrawals may take a few business days to reach your account based on the method chosen.

Withdrawal Limits

For accounts that remain unverified, typical withdrawal limits are $10,000 or equivalent per transaction. Verified accounts face higher limits. Overall, their withdrawal limits are reasonable for forex brokers.

In summary, Avatrade offers a fast and convenient deposit and withdrawal process overall.

Avatrade Platform Tutorial

If you are new to Avatrade’s platforms, here is a quick tutorial on how to get started:

Accessing the Platforms

1. Go to Avatrade and click on Trading Platforms
2. Choose between MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions
3. Click on your platform of choice to download or access it online

Opening Demo Account

1. From the Avatrade homepage click on Open Demo Account
2. Fill in your name, email, phone and hit Open Demo Account
3. You’ll get an email with login details for your demo account

Placing Trades

1. Log in to the platform using your demo or live credentials
2. Search for the instrument you want to trade in the Market Watch
3. Click on the instrument and choose buy/sell depending on your position
4. Set the trade size, stop loss and take profit if required
5. Click Sell or Buy to execute your trade

It’s that simple! The Avatrade platforms are intuitive even for beginners. We suggest practicing and customizing the layout using a demo account first before trading live.

Avatrade for Beginners

Here are some tips for beginners just getting started with Avatrade:

• Use the demo account extensively to familiarize yourself with the platforms and practice trading
• Start small – don’t risk more than 1-2% of capital per trade initially
• Focus on mastering one product like forex first before diversifying
• Read market analysis and education materials on their website
• Watch tutorial videos to rapidly improve your trading skills
• Choose an account type that matches your deposit size and skill level
• Stick to simple strategies like trend following to begin with
• Set stop losses on every trade to manage risk automatically

As you gain experience, you can increase position sizes, expand to other markets like stocks and crypto, use more advanced strategies like hedging and diversify your risk across multiple uncorrelated trades.

Avatrade Reviews and Reputation

Avatrade generally has positive reviews and maintains a good reputation thanks to its comprehensive trading solution, extensive regulation and industry awards. Let’s examine some key Avatrade reviews:

Trustpilot – 4.7 / 5.0

On Trustpilot, Avatrade scores an excellent 4.7 out of 5.0 based on 7800+ reviews. 74% give them the highest 5 star rating. Many positive reviews praise their competitive pricing, platform choice, responsive support and ease of use.

Is Avatrade Safe or a Scam?

With extensive regulation and authorization from Australia, Japan, Ireland and South Africa, Avatrade is certainly a safe broker by all accounts. Here are some of the key points that support its safety and legitimacy:

• Segregated client funds held at tier-1 banks
• Member of the Investor Compensation Scheme which covers deposits up to a limit
• Top-tier regulation in multiple jurisdictions
• Over 15 years in business without major complaints

Additionally, leading sites like Trustpilot show most real customer experiences are very positive in terms of service, withdrawals and overall trading.

There are certainly no signs whatsoever from regulation to customer sentiment that would indicate Avatrade is a scam. It is a well-established, award-winning forex and CFD broker with a long history in the industry.

Pros and Cons

Let’s summarize some of the key advantages and potential disadvantages of trading with Avatrade:

Final Verdict

So what’s the final verdict on Avatrade in 2023? Overall, Avatrade remains an excellent choice for forex and CFD trading.

Here’s a quick recap of its key strengths:

• Trusted broker with top-tier global regulation
• Competitive pricing on forex spreads and commissions
• Choice of robust trading platforms including MT4/MT5
• All trading styles supported from copy trading to automation
• Packed with trading tools, analysis and education resources
• Ideal for both beginners and advanced traders

From platforms to deposit methods to research capabilities and regulatory standing, Avatrade provides a well-rounded solution for traders at all skill levels.

Based on this Avatrade review, we can comfortably recommend them for online trading in 2023 across forex, stocks, crypto and more. They deliver a compelling combination of features, technology and trust.

Frequently Asked Questions About Avatrade

Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Avatrade to help you learn more about this broker.

Is Avatrade properly regulated and licensed?

Yes, Avatrade maintains licenses and regulation in several major jurisdictions including Australia (ASIC), Ireland (Central Bank of Ireland), Japan (FSA), and South Africa (FSCA). Their compliance ensures oversight on handling of client funds.

What platforms does Avatrade offer for trading?

Avatrade provides the MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, AvaOptions and DupliTrade platforms. This caters to all trading styles from beginner to advanced.

How do I open a demo account with Avatrade?

Opening a demo account is quick and easy. Simply go to Avatrade.com, click “Open Demo Account”, fill in your details and you’ll receive login credentials for the demo platform.

What is the minimum deposit for a live account?

The minimum to open a live real money account with Avatrade is $100 across all account types. This makes it very accessible even for beginner traders.

Does Avatrade offer Islamic swap-free accounts?

Yes, Avatrade does offer Islamic accounts that comply with Sharia law by not charging swap or interest on overnight positions. Useful for Muslim traders.

Is Avatrade considered a safe and trustworthy broker?

With extensive regulation, segregated client funds, 15+ years in business and a positive reputation, Avatrade is widely considered a safe choice for online trading.