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 and AvaTrade both keep trading costs competitive, but their fee structures suit different traders. For commissions and fees, IG earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com; AvaTrade scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 of 63.
IG offers both spread-only CFD pricing and a commission-based DMA (Forex Direct) account. On the DMA side, the EUR/USD averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023; after adding commissions, the all-in cost can be about 0.82 pips for higher-volume tiers. On the standard CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads were about 0.69 pips during main trading hours (0.98 pips across the full day, with off-hours averaging 1.03 pips; IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Pros who meet volume and regulatory criteria can tap tiered rebates worth 10%–20% off spreads, which can further reduce total costs. These options make IG appealing for active traders and those placing larger orders.
AvaTrade keeps pricing simple with spread-only costs. As of June 2024, its typical EUR/USD spread was about 0.9 pips, near the industry average. Traders who qualify for AvaTrade’s Professional account can see spreads around 0.6 pips. For everyday use, that’s straightforward and competitive; however, if you trade high volumes and can access IG’s DMA pricing or professional rebates, IG can deliver lower all-in costs.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
IG offers a much wider range of investments than AvaTrade. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot-style contracts, but IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols versus AvaTrade’s 1,260. If currency choice matters, IG provides 97 forex pairs compared with 53 at AvaTrade. IG also supports buying exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international stock exchanges, while AvaTrade does not offer direct share dealing. For crypto, IG allows you to buy actual coins as well as crypto derivatives, whereas AvaTrade limits you to crypto derivatives. One standout difference: AvaTrade supports copy trading; IG does not.
Reflecting this breadth, IG earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade scores 4 stars and ranks 33rd. In short, IG suits investors who want the widest market access and the ability to buy real shares and crypto, while AvaTrade may appeal if copy trading is a priority.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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.
IG and AvaTrade both make it easy to practice with a free demo account for paper trading. Each broker offers its own in-house trading platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web platform, and both let you place trades directly from charts. They also support MetaTrader 4 (MT4). If you need MetaTrader 5 (MT5) or want copy trading, AvaTrade has both; IG does not offer MT5 and does not provide copy trading.
For platform quality, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #13. In short, choose IG for a top-rated platform experience, or pick AvaTrade if MT5 and copy trading are must-haves alongside easy-to-use tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both IG and AvaTrade offer comprehensive apps for iPhone and Android users. These apps allow traders to receive stock or forex price alerts and sync watchlists across devices and the online account. Both apps enable users to draw trendlines and check different time frames on charts, ensuring traders can conduct thorough analyses. Additionally, real-time quotes ensure that watchlists are always up to date. While IG and AvaTrade both get high marks for these features, IG stands out by automatically saving drawings, which can save users time and ensure no loss of information.
In terms of charting capabilities, IG provides 33 technical studies, while AvaTrade offers a wider range with 73 studies, giving users more tools for technical analysis. Despite this, IG's overall app experience is rated higher by users, earning a perfect five-star rating compared to AvaTrade's still impressive 4.5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks IG as the top mobile trading app out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade holds a respectable 13th place. This distinction highlights IG's superior user experience, making it a preferred choice for traders focusing on mobile trading efficiency and reliability.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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.
IG vs AvaTrade: For market research, IG takes the edge. IG holds a 5-star Research rating and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #35. IG delivers daily market commentary, integrates more third‑party research (Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading/Signal Centre), and also offers top‑tier forex news, market sentiment tools, and an economic calendar. AvaTrade supplies high‑quality forex news, Trading Central analytics, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, but it doesn’t provide daily commentary or research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Feature by feature: IG provides daily commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both brokers stream forex news from elite sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. IG includes Autochartist, while AvaTrade does not; AvaTrade includes Trading Central, while IG does not. Each platform offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions, and both maintain an economic calendar. If you prioritize a wider mix of research tools and daily insights, IG is the stronger choice; if you want Trading Central specifically, AvaTrade fits the bill.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing IG and AvaTrade on education, both brokers make it easy to learn. Each runs live client webinars at least once a month and offers sizable video libraries. You’ll find 10+ beginner videos that explain core trading concepts in plain language, along with 10+ advanced videos to help you progress when you’re ready.
In head-to-head ratings, IG leads with 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade follows closely with 4 stars and a #2 ranking. If top-rated education is your priority, IG is the front-runner; if you want a strong alternative that’s still near the top, AvaTrade is a solid pick.
| Feature |
IG
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 #13.
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
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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IG allows users to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, while AvaTrade enables the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives but not the actual cryptocurrency itself.
IG and AvaTrade both support PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for account transactions, but differ in that IG allows ACH and SEPA transfers while AvaTrade supports Skrill instead.
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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | 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 | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 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 | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | 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 | 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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