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.
Founded in 1974, IG stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This UK-based broker is publicly traded and operates as a bank, which bolsters its credibility. IG holds an impressive eight Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, demonstrating its solid regulatory framework and commitment to safeguarding client interests. These licenses are key indicators of IG's reliability, providing clients with confidence in their services.
In comparison, AvaTrade, established in 2006, also shines as a trusted broker with a commendable Trust Score of 94. Although not publicly traded or functioning as a bank, AvaTrade maintains a strong regulatory standing with four Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. These licenses highlight AvaTrade's dedication to trust and transparency. Overall, while both brokers are well-regulated and respected, IG holds a slight edge in terms of regulatory trust and public accountability.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
IG earns 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #7 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. Both are near the industry average on pricing, but IG offers more ways to lower costs if you trade larger volumes or use direct market access.
IG’s CFD account averaged 0.69 pips on EUR/USD during main trading hours in July 2023, and 0.98 pips across all sessions globally (1.18 pips for IG US). High-volume clients who qualify as professionals can receive 10% to 20% spread rebates; at the top tier, that can bring the effective cost down to around 0.60 pips. IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account is commission-based: average spreads were 0.62 pips in July 2023, with all-in costs around 0.82 pips at the most competitive commission tier. The DMA account uses tiered pricing (minimum deposit £1,000), rewarding higher monthly volume with lower per-million commissions.
AvaTrade’s typical spread is about 0.9 pips on EUR/USD as of June 2024, which is close to the industry average but slightly higher than IG’s main-session CFD pricing. If you qualify as a Professional client at AvaTrade, spreads can drop to about 0.6 pips. In short, casual traders may find both brokers similarly priced, while active or high-volume traders can often unlock lower effective costs with IG’s rebates or DMA pricing.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
IG offers a much wider range of investments than AvaTrade. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while AvaTrade has 1,260 symbols and 53 pairs. Both offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract. IG lets you buy exchange traded stocks directly on U.S. and international exchanges (think Apple and Vodafone), whereas AvaTrade does not offer direct share ownership. For crypto, IG supports both actual coins and cryptocurrency CFDs; AvaTrade offers crypto CFDs only. If you want copy trading, AvaTrade provides it, while IG does not.
Reflecting this breadth, IG is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #26. In short, pick IG for the largest market selection, direct stock dealing, and the option to own crypto; choose AvaTrade if copy trading is a priority alongside a solid lineup of CFD markets.
| 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 check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free paper trading demo account, an in‑house proprietary platform, downloadable Windows desktop software, and a web-based platform. Both also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and let you place trades directly from charts. A notable difference is copy trading: AvaTrade offers it, while IG does not.
Independent ratings tilt the edge to IG for platform quality. IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com for Trading Platforms and Tools. AvaTrade is close behind with 4.5 stars, ranked #13. If you want the highest-rated toolkit, IG is the safer bet; if copy trading matters to you, AvaTrade may be the better fit—while still providing MT4/MT5, desktop and web access, and a free demo.
| 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 deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts, synced watchlists between mobile and web, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. For charting tools, AvaTrade packs in more technical studies (73) than IG (33), which can appeal to traders who like to test many indicators.
If saving chart work matters, IG automatically saves your drawings, while AvaTrade does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, whereas AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13. In short: choose IG for a top-rated, streamlined mobile experience with auto-saved charts, or pick AvaTrade if you want a wider range of built-in technical studies.
| 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 vs AvaTrade: when it comes to market research, IG takes the lead. IG provides daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Autochartist tools, TipRanks insights, Acuity Trading tools (like Signal Centre), a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar. AvaTrade also delivers premium forex news, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, and it stands out for offering Trading Central. However, it does not include daily commentary, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
For research quality, IG earns 5 stars and is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #28. If you want the most built-in research and third‑party tools, IG is the stronger pick; if Trading Central is a priority, AvaTrade is worth a look.
| 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.
Comparing IG vs AvaTrade for beginner education, both brokers make it easy to start learning. Each runs ongoing client webinars at least once a month and offers a sizeable library of videos for newcomers, with 10 or more beginner-focused lessons that explain trading basics across forex and CFDs. As your skills grow, both also provide at least 10 advanced videos to help you go deeper into strategy and platform know‑how.
According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars for Education and is ranked #7 out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade earns 4 stars and is ranked #2. For beginners, IG’s top star rating highlights strong content quality, whereas AvaTrade’s high category placement signals standout overall positioning in education. Either way, you’ll find frequent webinars and extensive video learning paths at both IG and AvaTrade.
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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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 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| 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 | 3 | |
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA 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) - Standard account | 0.91 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | IG | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | AvaTrade Review |
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