Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs AvaTrade, 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.
FOREX.com and AvaTrade are prominent online brokers known for their credibility and regulatory compliance. Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is publicly traded and holds a prestigious position with a perfect Trust Score rating of 99 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, implying it is highly trusted. It boasts 7 Tier-1 licenses, a testament to its exceptional regulatory adherence, and also holds 1 Tier-2 license. In comparison, AvaTrade, established in 2006, is not publicly traded but still enjoys a commendable Trust Score of 94. It is regulated with 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, reinforcing its strong standing in the trading community.
While neither FOREX.com nor AvaTrade operate as banks, their solid regulatory frameworks ensure a secure trading environment for users. With a variety of licenses from top-tier authorities, both brokers offer reassurance, with FOREX.com having a slight edge in terms of public trading status and regulatory licenses. Whether you are looking for the gold standard in trust and regulation with FOREX.com or seeking a slightly different yet still trustworthy option with AvaTrade, both brokers provide reliable platforms for traders worldwide.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to comparing commissions and fees between FOREX.com and AvaTrade, both brokers offer competitive options for different trading needs. FOREX.com is notable for its multiple account types, particularly the RAW Spread account that offers lower spreads but includes a commission per trade. In the United States, the Standard account has higher spreads, averaging 1.4 pips on the EUR/USD. With a rating of 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, FOREX.com ranks #13 out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
FOREX.com's RAW account is appealing for active traders, offering volume-based rebates and spreads on the EUR/USD as low as 0.13 pips. Though the RAW account includes a base commission of $7 per Standard lot, traders with high monthly turnover can benefit from reduced effective spreads. The structure makes it an attractive choice for those trading substantial volumes, though the cost differences may be negligible for those trading less than $50 million monthly.
AvaTrade, also rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, is ranked #12. AvaTrade's spreads hover just under the industry average at 0.9 pips. Professional traders may find AvaTrade's Professional account beneficial, where the competitive spreads of 0.6 pips are comparable to FP Markets. Both brokers offer different strengths, with FOREX.com having more favorable conditions for active traders, while AvaTrade offers competitive spreads for both retail and professional accounts.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing FOREX.com and AvaTrade, both platforms offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, catering to traders interested in currency pairs. FOREX.com impressively provides access to 5,500 tradeable symbols, of which 80 are forex pairs, vastly surpassing AvaTrade's 1,260 tradeable symbols, including 53 forex pairs. Neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges directly, which means clients can't buy shares of companies like Apple or Vodafone. While neither broker allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While FOREX.com does not support copy trading, AvaTrade offers this feature, allowing traders to mimic the strategies of successful investors. In terms of their range of investments, FOREX.com is rated at five stars and ranked 7th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, showcasing a strong position in the market. On the other hand, AvaTrade, with a four-star rating, is placed at the 32nd position, highlighting room for improvement in this category. Overall, FOREX.com may appeal more to traders seeking a broader selection of tradeable symbols, while AvaTrade may attract those interested in copy trading features.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 FOREX.com and AvaTrade, both brokers provide comprehensive solutions to cater to traders' needs. FOREX.com and AvaTrade each offer a proprietary platform, and both support popular third-party platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Available for access via Windows desktop downloads and web-based browsers, both platforms equally serve as versatile trading environments. Importantly, both brokers allow traders to practice with simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, ensuring ample opportunity to test strategies before committing real funds. However, AvaTrade distinguishes itself by offering copy trading through platforms like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, a feature absent in FOREX.com's offerings.
When it comes to charting tools, FOREX.com offers a notable advantage with a broader selection of drawing tools totaling 239, compared to AvaTrade's 13. This can enrich the chart analysis experience for users, assisted by the ability to execute trades directly from stock charts on both platforms. Watch list flexibility is more pronounced with FOREX.com, offering 20 columns for custom fields against AvaTrade's seven. Despite both brokers being highly rated for their trading platforms and tools, FOREX.com edges ahead with a perfect five-star rating and a higher ranking of 7th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade follows closely with 4.5 stars and a 13th place ranking.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FOREX.com and AvaTrade, both offer convenient features for iPhone and Android users. Each platform provides stock and forex price alerts, allowing traders to stay up to date with market movements. Notably, both apps offer watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that changes made on either the mobile device or the online account are seamlessly reflected. However, FOREX.com outshines AvaTrade in technical analysis with 88 technical studies compared to AvaTrade's 73. Additionally, while both allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts, FOREX.com's app has the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, a feature missing from AvaTrade.
Real-time quote watchlists are available on both platforms, enhancing the trading experience with easily accessible data. When it comes to overall performance, FOREX.com is rated slightly higher with a perfect 5-star rating, and ranks third among 63 brokers for mobile trading apps on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, AvaTrade holds a respectable 4.5-star rating and ranks 13th. With these aspects in mind, FOREX.com's app may appeal more to those seeking comprehensive charting tools and high app ratings, whereas AvaTrade offers a solid alternative with many essential features.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When exploring market research tools and resources, FOREX.com stands out for its comprehensive offerings. It provides daily market commentary and insights sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, FOREX.com enhances its research toolkit with Trading Central's technical analytics and a sentiment-based trading tool showing the ratio of long and short positions. While it does not utilize Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading's tools, it compensates with a detailed economic calendar covering global events. This extensive array of resources secures FOREX.com a high research rating of 4.5 stars and the 9th spot in ForexBrokers.com's research rankings among 63 brokers.
Meanwhile, AvaTrade matches some of these features with top-tier forex news offerings from reputable sources and access to Trading Central's technical analytics. It also provides a sentiment-based trading tool and a comprehensive economic calendar, mirroring many of FOREX.com's strengths in market research. However, unlike FOREX.com, AvaTrade does not offer daily market commentary. This absence, combined with a lack of tools from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, may contribute to its slightly lower research rating of 4 stars and 34th position in ForexBrokers.com's rankings.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| 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, both FOREX.com and AvaTrade cater to new traders by offering a wealth of learning materials. Both platforms provide over ten pieces of educational content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. New traders can benefit from monthly online educational webinars, which are complemented by a searchable archive of past sessions to ensure that learning can be continuous and at one's own pace. With an array of beginner-specific videos, each broker ensures that even those just starting in the trading world have access to essential knowledge.
In addition to resources for beginners, both FOREX.com and AvaTrade offer content for more seasoned traders, with at least ten advanced educational videos available. Each broker also includes a comprehensive investor dictionary aimed at demystifying key trading terms. When rated for educational content, FOREX.com receives a slight edge with a 4.5-star rating, compared to AvaTrade's 4-star rating. Interestingly, while FOREX.com is ranked #4 among 63 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade holds a higher overall position at #2. This comparison reflects a commitment to education from both brokers, ensuring comprehensive support for traders at any level of expertise.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FOREX.com is better than AvaTrade. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Both FOREX.com and AvaTrade provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the capability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers FOREX.com and AvaTrade: FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA transfers and PayPal, but not Skrill, while AvaTrade supports PayPal and Skrill, yet not ACH/SEPA transfers; both brokers accept Visa/Mastercard and bank wires for deposit and withdrawal transactions.
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 | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
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| Review | FOREX.com Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | AvaTrade Review |
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