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 vs. FXCM on commissions and fees: AvaTrade earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers for this category, while FXCM scores 4/5 stars and ranks #25 out of 63. In simple terms, AvaTrade’s typical pricing sits near the industry average, and FXCM’s overall pricing is slightly higher unless you use its commission-based or high-volume discount options.
AvaTrade’s spread on the EUR/USD was about 0.9 pips as of June 2024, which is close to average but not as low as some entry-level accounts at firms like CMC Markets and Tickmill. If you qualify as a professional client, AvaTrade’s Professional account offers tighter pricing around 0.6 pips, comparable to FP Markets.
FXCM’s standard account spreads averaged 0.78 pips on EUR/USD in the EU, U.K., and Australia during May 2024, and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based accounts posted a 0.28-pip core spread (May 2024), with an effective cost near 0.74 pips after adding the commission equivalent of 0.50 pips per round-turn. FXCM’s Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) can return $5–$25 per million traded if you do at least $10 million in monthly volume; as an example, a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume in the U.K. lowers the commission to $5 round-turn, yielding about 0.78 pips effective on EUR/USD (based on January 2024 core pricing). As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or in volatile markets.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade offers a wider range of investments than FXCM, with 1,260 tradeable symbols versus FXCM’s 440. For forex, both brokers support trading as CFDs or spot, and AvaTrade lists 53 currency pairs compared with FXCM’s 46. Neither broker provides access to exchange-traded U.S. or international shares, but both support copy trading. If you’re interested in digital assets, you can trade cryptocurrency via CFDs at either broker, though neither lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto.
Based on range of investments, AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #33 out of 63 brokers, while FXCM earns 3.5 stars and ranks #48. In short, AvaTrade offers more markets and slightly more forex pairs, whereas FXCM covers the basics with fewer overall instruments.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
AvaTrade and FXCM both check key boxes for platform access and learning tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for practice, a proprietary (in‑house) platform, Windows desktop software, a web-based trading platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) support, and the ability to place trades directly from charts.
One standout difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): AvaTrade offers MT5, while FXCM does not. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates FXCM at 5 stars (ranked #6 of 63) and AvaTrade at 4.5 stars (ranked #13 of 63). If you want MT5 alongside MT4 and proprietary/web/desktop options, AvaTrade fits the bill. If you prioritize a higher third-party rating for platform experience, FXCM edges ahead.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and FXCM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts and watchlist syncing across devices. Each app supports drawing trendlines on charts. Both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, AvaTrade sits at #13, while FXCM is close behind at #16.
The key differences come down to charting and workflow. AvaTrade’s app includes 73 technical indicators, compared with 59 on FXCM, which can benefit traders who like more indicator options. FXCM’s app auto-saves chart drawings, while AvaTrade’s does not—useful if you rely on annotations from one session to the next. Bottom line: pick AvaTrade if you want more built-in indicators, or choose FXCM if saving your chart markups matters most; otherwise, both are strong choices for mobile forex and CFD trading.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing AvaTrade vs. FXCM for market research, FXCM pulls ahead if you want daily updates—it offers daily market commentary, while AvaTrade does not. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, provide Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, show trader sentiment ratios, and include an economic calendar. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, but FXCM adds TipRanks research, which AvaTrade lacks.
On overall quality, FXCM earns 4.5 stars for Research and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade scores 4 stars and ranks #35. If daily commentary and TipRanks matter to you, FXCM is the stronger choice. If you mainly need headline news, Trading Central analysis, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, both brokers cover those needs.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing AvaTrade vs FXCM for beginner education: both brokers offer ongoing online client webinars at least once a month and provide large video libraries with at least 10 beginner videos, plus 10 or more advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. That means new traders can learn the basics of forex and CFD trading through step‑by‑step videos and continue into more detailed topics over time.
When it comes to quality markers, FXCM earns 4.5 stars for Education while AvaTrade receives 4 stars. Yet in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, AvaTrade ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, compared with FXCM at #14. If you want one of the highest-ranked education hubs, AvaTrade stands out; if you prioritize the slightly higher star rating, FXCM has the edge. Either way, both are solid choices for beginners seeking structured learning with videos and webinars.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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
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FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 94 | 95 |
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In the AvaTrade vs FXCM comparison, both brokers do not offer actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but each provides access to cryptocurrency CFDs for speculative trading.
Compared side-by-side, AvaTrade and FXCM both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only FXCM offers ACH/SEPA transfers, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 account | 0.93 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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