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 is considered a competitive choice for traders when it comes to commissions and fees, earning a respectable 4.5-star rating. With spreads just under one pip at 0.9 pips as of June 2024, AvaTrade aligns closely with the industry average. However, it's worth noting that these spreads are slightly higher than those offered in entry-level accounts by CMC Markets and Tickmill. Professional traders may find AvaTrade appealing as well, with the Professional account providing competitive spreads of 0.6 pips, which are on par with platforms like FP Markets. Ultimately, AvaTrade is ranked #12 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category, highlighting its attractiveness for cost-conscious traders.
On the other hand, BDSwiss receives a 4-star rating for its commissions and fees, demonstrating solid performance but falling short of industry leaders. Traders on the Classic account will encounter spreads of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which could be viewed as expensive compared to some competitors. Meanwhile, the Raw account offers spreads at 0.3 pips with a $5 commission per side, resulting in a total effective spread of 1.3 pips. The VIP account sits at 1.2 pips. However, despite these figures, BDSwiss achieves a ranking of #30 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, signaling room for improvement in its fee structures.
| 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.
When comparing AvaTrade and BDSwiss in terms of their range of investments, both online brokers present a solid selection for traders interested in forex and CFDs. AvaTrade and BDSwiss offer the same number of tradeable forex pairs, totaling 53, and they provide forex trading as a CFD or spot contract. AvaTrade, however, offers a slightly larger total of tradeable symbols at 1260, compared to BDSwiss's 1081. Neither broker provides options for purchasing actual exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as shares from Apple or Vodafone. Additionally, both platforms do not allow for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, but traders can dive into cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both AvaTrade and BDSwiss support copy trading, which can be an attractive feature for users who want to follow the strategies of successful traders. With identical ratings of four out of five stars for the range of investments, both platforms have a notable offering. However, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade takes a slight edge, coming in at #32 while BDSwiss is positioned at #34. This ranking reflects marginal differences in user experience or additional factors considered valuable by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, either broker could serve well for investors looking to engage in CFD and forex trading, with slight differences depending on personal preferences and needs.
| 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.
When it comes to market research offerings, both AvaTrade and BDSwiss present distinct strengths and weaknesses. AvaTrade provides its users access to high-quality forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, while it also features tools from Trading Central along with a sentiment-based trading tool, giving traders an edge in understanding market positions. BDSwiss, on the other hand, sets itself apart with daily market commentary and offers technical analysis tools from Autochartist, also complemented by Trading Central resources, creating a solid foundation for traders who rely heavily on technical analysis.
Both AvaTrade and BDSwiss supply an economic calendar to keep investors updated on current and upcoming global news events, which is essential for those who factor in economic data into their trading strategies. Despite these commonalities, BDSwiss ranks higher than AvaTrade in ForexBrokers.com's research category, holding the 24th position compared to AvaTrade’s 34th, although both share a 4-star rating for their overall research capabilities. Each platform offers unique features that cater to different trading needs, making them both valuable resources for market analysis.
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, AvaTrade and BDSwiss both shine by offering a wealth of knowledge for aspiring traders. Both platforms provide more than ten educational materials including articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex and CFDs. Additionally, they host online webinars monthly, allowing clients to engage with fresh insights regularly. For those who prefer self-paced learning, each also maintains an accessible archive of past webinars. Newbie traders can start their journey with confidence as both brokers offer over ten beginner-friendly videos covering essential trading topics. For those looking to advance their skills, both AvaTrade and BDSwiss deliver over ten advanced videos tailored to experienced traders. Furthermore, helping demystify trading jargon, each broker provides an investor dictionary with comprehensive definitions for over 50 investing terms.
Despite these striking similarities, AvaTrade ranks significantly higher than BDSwiss in educational offerings, securing the second spot among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss lags behind at nineteenth. Nevertheless, both receive a solid four-star rating for education, highlighting their commitment to fostering informed traders. Whether you're new to trading or looking to elevate your expertise, AvaTrade and BDSwiss offer rich educational ecosystems that can support your growth. However, AvaTrade seems to have a slight edge in reputation and review ranking, which could be a deciding factor for some traders.
| 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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|---|---|---|
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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 |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| 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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