Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs BDSwiss, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing AvaTrade and BDSwiss, AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and has established a stronger regulatory standing than BDSwiss, which was founded in 2012. Neither AvaTrade nor BDSwiss is publicly traded or operates as a bank. AvaTrade stands out with its regulatory credentials, holding four Tier-1 licenses considered highly trusted, in contrast to BDSwiss, which holds just one Tier-1 license. Additionally, AvaTrade has three Tier-2 licenses compared to none for BDSwiss. This places AvaTrade in a better position in terms of regulatory trustworthiness.
AvaTrade boasts a high Trust Score rating of 94 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting their highly trusted status. On the other hand, BDSwiss has a Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk based on the same rating system. These scores suggest that AvaTrade is more trusted in the regulatory landscape compared to BDSwiss, making it a potentially safer choice for users seeking a well-established online broker.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
AvaTrade generally offers lower trading costs than BDSwiss on common forex pairs. As of June 2024, AvaTrade’s typical EUR/USD spread is about 0.9 pips, which sits near the industry average. If you qualify for the Professional account, spreads can drop to about 0.6 pips. By comparison, BDSwiss’ Classic account is pricier at 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, its VIP account is around 1.2 pips, and the Raw account posts 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side (about 1.3 pips all-in).
For commissions and fees, ForexBrokers.com rates AvaTrade 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #13 of 63, while BDSwiss earns 4/5 stars and ranks #31 of 63. In short, AvaTrade tends to be the more cost-effective pick for most traders on standard pricing, and may appeal even more to eligible professionals. BDSwiss can be competitive if you prefer its Raw pricing model, but its total trading costs still typically come in higher than AvaTrade’s average spread.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade vs BDSwiss: both brokers support forex trading via CFDs/spot and offer the same number of currency pairs (53). The main difference is breadth: AvaTrade provides 1,260 total tradeable symbols, while BDSwiss lists 1,081. Neither broker offers direct, exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges, so you can’t buy shares like Apple or Vodafone outright.
Both brokers include copy trading and let you trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows purchasing actual crypto. For Range of Investments, each earns 4 out of 5 stars; AvaTrade ranks 33rd out of 63 brokers in this category, and BDSwiss ranks 35th. If you want a slightly wider selection of instruments, AvaTrade edges out BDSwiss, though their core offerings are very similar.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by AvaTrade and BDSwiss, both brokers present a solid range of features. Both offer free virtual demo accounts allowing users to practice their trading strategies without risking real money. AvaTrade and BDSwiss have developed proprietary platforms and provide Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms for convenient access. Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the industry-standard platforms that are highly regarded for their sophisticated trading capabilities. Moreover, both brokers offer copy trading services, though AvaTrade goes a step further by integrating with DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, which are not available through BDSwiss.
Charting tools and customization options show slight differences, with AvaTrade offering 13 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Users on both platforms can trade directly from the stock charts, enhancing efficiency. Watchlists are customizable with up to seven columns on both platforms, enabling traders to personalize their trading environment. Overall, AvaTrade earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, edging out BDSwiss’s 4-star rating. Consequently, AvaTrade ranks #13 out of 63 brokers in this category according to ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss stands at #24, reflecting AvaTrade's strong offering in the tools and platforms department.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of AvaTrade and BDSwiss, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users and provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts. However, AvaTrade offers a more extensive toolset with 73 technical studies for charting, compared to BDSwiss's 30. AvaTrade also stands out with watchlist symbol syncing, allowing seamless integration between mobile and online accounts. This feature is absent in the BDSwiss app, which might impact users who frequently switch between devices. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, ensuring a comprehensive trading experience.
Despite BDSwiss having the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, AvaTrade achieves a higher rating of 4.5 stars for its mobile app, while BDSwiss follows with a respectable 4 stars. AvaTrade's app is also ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 13th spot out of 63 brokers, whereas BDSwiss ranks 24th. Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but AvaTrade's additional features and higher ratings suggest a more refined mobile trading experience overall.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and BDSwiss take different paths with their market research. BDSwiss delivers daily market commentary and includes Autochartist for technical ideas, while AvaTrade does not. AvaTrade stands out with forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, a feature BDSwiss lacks. Both brokers offer Trading Central and an economic calendar. For sentiment, AvaTrade provides a tool showing the long/short split across instruments, whereas BDSwiss does not. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools.
Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for research, though ForexBrokers.com ranks BDSwiss higher (#24) than AvaTrade (#35) out of 63 brokers. If you value daily commentary and Autochartist, BDSwiss is a strong pick. If you prefer headline-driven insights and a sentiment gauge alongside Trading Central, AvaTrade may fit better.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both AvaTrade and BDSwiss give beginner traders a wide range of forex and CFD education. Each broker delivers at least ten articles or videos focused on trading, runs live client webinars at least monthly, and offers a searchable archive so you can replay past sessions. You’ll also find beginner-friendly video series (10+ lessons), more advanced videos when you’re ready to level up, and an investor dictionary with 50-plus terms to make the jargon easier to understand.
Ratings are similar—both earn 4 stars for Education—but the rankings tell them apart: on ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade is #2 out of 63 brokers for Education, while BDSwiss is #22. If you want one of the top-ranked learning centers and a slightly stronger overall education experience, AvaTrade gets the nod. If you’re happy with a comparable set of videos, webinars, and archives, BDSwiss remains a solid option for starting out.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than BDSwiss. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 |
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Both AvaTrade and BDSwiss do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers AvaTrade and BDSwiss, AvaTrade allows fund deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but not through ACH or SEPA transfers, while BDSwiss supports ACH/SEPA transfers, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but doesn’t offer PayPal as an option.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | AvaTrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | BDSwiss Review |
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