Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
IG and AvaTrade are both well-known online brokers, but IG stands out on trust and history. Founded in 1974, IG is publicly traded, operates as a bank, and holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. That gives IG a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, placing it in the highest trust category. AvaTrade, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and is not a bank, though it still earns a strong Trust Score of 96 out of 99 with 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses.
For everyday traders comparing regulation and safety, IG offers a longer track record and a larger set of top-tier licenses, which may appeal to those who want the most established name. AvaTrade also scores very highly and is considered highly trusted, but its younger history and lower number of Tier-1 licenses make it slightly less strong on regulation than IG.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of AvaTrade for cost-conscious traders. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active traders through its Forex Direct and DMA accounts, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 0.62 pips in July 2023 and an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. Its standard CFD pricing is also fairly tight, with typical spreads around 0.69 pips during the main trading session. IG earns a 5-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers.
AvaTrade’s pricing is solid, but generally a bit higher than IG’s. Its spreads were around 0.9 pips as of June 2024, which is close to the industry average but still above some lower-cost competitors. Traders who qualify for AvaTrade’s Professional account can get tighter spreads of about 0.6 pips, which makes it more appealing for eligible active traders. AvaTrade holds a 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, IG is the better choice if you want lower trading costs, especially if you trade often or in larger sizes. AvaTrade is still a good option, but its standard account pricing is less competitive than IG’s, while its professional pricing is more attractive for qualifying traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, IG offers a wider selection than AvaTrade. IG provides access to 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. However, IG goes further by also letting clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while AvaTrade does not.
IG also stands out for giving clients access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, which AvaTrade does not offer. AvaTrade does have copy trading, which IG lacks, but overall IG earns a stronger score for investment choice: 5 out of 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers, versus AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #27 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
IG and AvaTrade both give traders a strong range of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, a web platform, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both brokers also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier for active traders. In short, each broker covers the basics well for beginners and experienced traders who want flexibility across desktop and browser access.
The main difference is that AvaTrade also offers copy trading, while IG does not. That may appeal to traders who want to follow and mirror other investors. When it comes to third-party ratings, IG comes out ahead with a 5-star score for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #13. This suggests IG has the edge overall, even though both brokers offer a useful set of trading tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and AvaTrade both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, stock and forex price alerts, and watchlist syncing so changes carry over between mobile and online accounts. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, which is helpful for tracking price moves and planning trades from your phone.
Where IG pulls ahead is in the overall mobile trading experience. Its app auto-saves chart drawings, supports 33 technical studies, and is rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade offers more technical studies at 73, but it does not auto-save drawings, and its mobile app is rated 4.5 stars, with a #13 ranking. In short, IG looks like the stronger choice for overall ease of use, while AvaTrade may appeal to traders who want a wider range of chart tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG stands out for market research thanks to daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and a wide range of extra research tools. It includes Autochartist, TipRanks, Acuity Trading, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for global events. This broad mix of resources helps traders track market moves and spot trade ideas more easily.
AvaTrade also gives traders forex news from major sources, plus a sentiment tool and an economic calendar, but its research offering is more limited overall. It does not provide daily market commentary, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, though it does include Trading Central. In independent testing, IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while AvaTrade is rated 4 stars and ranks #30, making IG the stronger choice for market research.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and AvaTrade both give beginners plenty of learning support, with each broker offering at least 10 forex or CFD education pieces, monthly educational webinars, and 10 or more beginner videos plus 10 or more advanced videos. In simple terms, both platforms make it easy for new traders to learn the basics of forex and CFDs, while also giving more experienced users content that goes further into trading topics.
When it comes to overall education quality, IG is rated 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category. AvaTrade is rated 4 stars but places higher at #2 out of 36, which shows that it also stands out as a strong choice for learning resources. For beginners comparing online brokers, both IG and AvaTrade offer a wide range of educational content, with IG scoring higher on rating and AvaTrade ranking higher overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IG is better than AvaTrade. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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Comparing online brokers IG and AvaTrade, IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, whereas AvaTrade offers crypto CFDs only and does not support purchasing real, delivered crypto.
Comparing online brokers IG and AvaTrade: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not Skrill, while AvaTrade supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA.
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 | IG | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.91 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.82 | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 80 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | IG | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
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