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 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 vs. AvaTrade: for sheer variety, IG offers a much wider range of investments. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and/or spot contracts. A key difference is stock access: IG lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (e.g., Apple) and on international exchanges (e.g., Vodafone), while AvaTrade does not offer direct share dealing.
Feature-wise, AvaTrade includes copy trading, whereas IG does not. For crypto, IG supports both actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs; AvaTrade limits crypto to CFDs only. Reflecting this breadth, IG earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade scores 4 stars and ranks #33. In short, choose IG for the largest selection and access to real shares and actual crypto; pick AvaTrade if built-in copy trading and a CFD-centered lineup fit your plan.
| 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 vs AvaTrade: Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house trading platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based platforms. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker. MetaTrader 4 (MT4) is available at both; AvaTrade also supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IG does not.
For extra features, AvaTrade offers copy trading, which IG does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #2 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13. If you want MT5 or copy trading, AvaTrade is a strong pick; if you want one of the highest-rated platform suites, IG stands out. Specific counts for chart indicators and watchlist fields were not provided.
| 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) | No | 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: 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 (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 make it easy for beginner traders to learn the basics of forex and CFDs. Each broker provides dedicated education in multiple formats—articles, videos, and archived webinars—along with live client webinars at least once a month. Beginners get a strong library of starter content with at least 10 beginner-focused videos, and there are 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. If you like learning live, both run regular sessions you can join from home.
For overall education quality, IG holds the edge: it earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Education at ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade is close behind with 4 stars and a #2 ranking. In short, both are excellent for learning to trade, but IG is the top pick for education according to these ratings, while AvaTrade remains a great choice for beginners who want plenty of videos and frequent webinars.
| 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 #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
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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 | £250.00 | $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) | No | 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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