Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs FXCM, 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.
AvaTrade and FXCM are both widely recognized online brokers, each offering a reliable trading environment. Founded in 2006 and 1999 respectively, both companies have established their presence in the financial world, although only FXCM is publicly traded. Both brokers hold four Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust from regulatory authorities. AvaTrade boasts an impressive Trust Score of 94, indicating a very high level of reliability. Meanwhile, FXCM slightly edges out with a Trust Score of 95, suggesting an equally trustworthy profile. Both brokers have been evaluated according to strict criteria by ForexBrokers.com, which rates brokers based on their regulatory standing and overall trustworthiness.
In addition to their Tier-1 licenses, AvaTrade holds three Tier-2 licenses, while FXCM holds two. These licenses contribute to their solid reputations in the trading community. Despite these regulatory credentials, neither AvaTrade nor FXCM is a bank, meaning they focus solely on brokerage services. Their long-standing presence and adherence to regulations make them strong choices for traders looking for secured and dependable trading platforms.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
AvaTrade's commission and fees structure positions its spreads close to the industry average, coming in just under one pip at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. This is slightly higher than entry-level accounts from brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill. For professional traders, AvaTrade offers competitive spreads of 0.6 pips on its Professional account, which matches offerings from FP Markets. Expert evaluations have awarded AvaTrade a 4.5-star rating, ranking it 12th out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
FXCM, on the other hand, slightly exceeds the industry average in forex trading costs. As of May 2024, the standard account spreads for EUR/USD were averaged at 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia, with higher spreads of 1.38 pips observed in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. On commission-based accounts, FXCM provided lower average spreads of 0.28 pips, excluding commissions, with possibilities for even lower spreads through its Active Trader Rebate Program. This program, though not available in the U.K. or EU, offers rebates based on trading volume, potentially reducing effective spreads. FXCM has been rated 4 stars and takes the 24th spot out of 63 brokers in the commissions and fees category, as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
Both AvaTrade and FXCM offer distinct advantages in their respective pricing models, with AvaTrade providing a competitive edge for professional traders and FXCM presenting opportunities for discounts with higher trading volumes. While AvaTrade delivers robust features for those qualifying for its Professional account, FXCM caters to active traders through its tiered rebate program, offering progressively better pricing with increased trading activity. This detailed comparison aims to inform traders of their options, helping them make a choice aligned with their trading styles and needs.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Starts from $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 0.78 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.78 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FXCM on the variety of available investments, AvaTrade stands out with a higher number of tradeable symbols, offering 1,260 compared to FXCM's 440. For forex enthusiasts, AvaTrade provides access to 53 tradeable forex pairs, which is slightly more than FXCM's offering of 43 pairs. Both brokers allow users to engage in forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither allows for the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency. Despite offering diverse trading options, neither AvaTrade nor FXCM provides clients with the opportunity to buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, such as Apple or Vodafone shares.
In terms of ratings, AvaTrade achieves a commendable 4-star rating for its range of investments, while FXCM receives a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade ranks 32nd out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, indicating a stronger position compared to FXCM, which ranks 47th. Additionally, both platforms support the popular feature of copy trading, allowing users to replicate the trading actions of more experienced investors. Overall, AvaTrade appears to offer a broader spectrum of investment opportunities than FXCM, making it a more versatile choice for traders seeking variety in their investment portfolio.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 43 |
| 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 AvaTrade and FXCM, both brokers offer a comprehensive suite of trading platforms and tools that cater to a wide range of traders. AvaTrade and FXCM both provide a free virtual demo account, ensuring new traders can practice without financial risks. They both offer proprietary platforms, Windows-based desktop download platforms, and web-based trading options, making them accessible on various devices. For those interested in copy trading, both brokers have this feature, and each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4). However, AvaTrade stands out by also supporting MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and offering DupliTrade, which is not available through FXCM. Both brokers support ZuluTrade for social trading enthusiasts.
In terms of charting tools, AvaTrade provides 13 drawing tools compared to FXCM's 10, although FXCM does not fall short with a strong offering of technical indicators and trading features. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts, but FXCM provides a more detailed watchlist with 13 fields, compared to AvaTrade's 7. Evaluating their rankings and ratings, AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and places 13th in the Trading Platforms and Tools category as ranked by ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM surpasses with a perfect 5-star rating and a 6th place ranking among 63 brokers. This indicates that while both platforms are highly capable, FXCM slightly edges out in this comparison with a wider range of watchlist capabilities and a stronger overall rating.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 10 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 13 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both AvaTrade and FXCM offer great mobile trading experiences for both iPhone and Android users. Their apps provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and drawing tools for trendlines on charts. Moreover, both apps allow users to view different time frames—be it daily, weekly, or intraday—on their charts. However, AvaTrade stands out by offering 73 technical studies for charting, compared to FXCM's 59. Another distinction is that FXCM's app automatically saves drawing changes on charts, a feature not available on AvaTrade's app.
Both platforms enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, and each garners a solid rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. When it comes to industry rankings, AvaTrade holds a slight edge, positioned at #13 compared to FXCM's #16, according to ForexBrokers.com. Despite these differences, both brokers provide high-quality mobile trading options, making them reliable choices for traders on the go.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 59 |
| 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, AvaTrade and FXCM each offer a solid range of features suited to different trading needs. Both brokers provide forex news from esteemed sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, alongside economic calendars for staying on top of global events. They also include sentiment-based trading tools that reveal the ratio of long versus short positions to aid traders in making informed decisions. However, FXCM stands out with daily market commentary and market research from TipRanks, elevating its service. Neither broker, though, offers tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading.
While both AvaTrade and FXCM provide tools like Trading Central for technical analysis, FXCM's broader offering gives it a slight edge in overall research capabilities. This advantage is reflected in FXCM’s research rating of 4.5 stars compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars, and a higher ranking by ForexBrokers.com, placing 11th compared to AvaTrade's 34th position out of 63 brokers. Traders looking for comprehensive market insights may find FXCM's additional services beneficial, while AvaTrade remains a competitive choice with its robust offerings.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| 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 AvaTrade and FXCM provide an extensive collection to help new traders get started in forex and CFDs. Each broker offers well over ten educational materials such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on these markets. AvaTrade stands out with a consistent offering of online webinars, a searchable archive of past sessions, and more than ten beginner-friendly educational videos. FXCM matches these offerings and also provides a searchable archive of webinars along with videos tailored to beginner traders. Both brokers have comprehensive investor dictionaries with over 50 terms, which can be a great aid for those just starting.
However, despite these similarities in their educational offerings, there is a slight difference in their ratings. AvaTrade achieves a respectable four-star rating for its educational resources, while FXCM slightly edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating. In terms of rankings on ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade ranks impressively at #2 out of 63 brokers in the Education category, while FXCM is ranked at #14. This indicates that while both platforms provide valuable educational content, there may be nuanced differences in user satisfaction or resource quality that could influence a beginner's choice.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FXCM. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15.
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
|
FXCM
|
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| Trust Score | 94 | 95 |
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AvaTrade and FXCM do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency, but both provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both AvaTrade and FXCM provide versatile deposit and withdrawal options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, only FXCM supports ACH and SEPA transfers, setting it apart in facilitating diverse funding methods.
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 | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 43 | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 0.78 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.78 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 13 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 10 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 73 | 59 | |
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | FXCM Review |
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