Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It is publicly traded, which adds an additional layer of transparency for investors. Although it is not a bank, Interactive Brokers is reinforced by 9 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, ensuring a well-regulated trading environment for its users.
AvaTrade, established in 2006 and not publicly traded, still maintains a reputable status with a Trust Score of 94. Like Interactive Brokers, AvaTrade is not a bank but is supported by 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory framework positions AvaTrade as a trusted option for online trading, providing secure channels for users to engage in the financial markets.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade on commissions and fees, each has unique offerings. Interactive Brokers, rated 5 stars and ranked #2 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, is known for competitive pricing, though exact forex spreads are not published. The average spread for EUR/USD was 0.59 pips in Q3 2024 after commissions. Commissions for forex trading start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum fee of $2 per order, lowering further for highly active traders. Interactive Brokers aggregates prices from 17 major interbank forex dealers and offers discounts to those with significant monthly trading volume, providing substantial savings to seasoned traders.
AvaTrade, with a 4.5-star rating and ranking #12 among brokers, offers spreads slightly below one pip, which aligns closely with the industry average. For elected professional traders, AvaTrade’s Professional account features spreads at a competitive 0.6 pips. This positions AvaTrade effectively against other competitive brokers like FP Markets. AvaTrade may be an appealing option for traders seeking straightforward costs and simplicity.
Interactive Brokers stands out with its fee structure tailored for both casual and active traders seeking reduced costs at high trading volumes. On the other hand, AvaTrade offers straightforward pricing that appeals to both regular and professional traders. The choice between these brokers ultimately depends on your trading frequency and volume requirements.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade offer diverse investment options, but they have notable differences in their available instruments. Interactive Brokers provides access to a vast array of 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs. This platform excels in offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to buy shares like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, Interactive Brokers enables the purchase of both actual cryptocurrencies and their derivatives, appealing to those interested in digital currencies' direct ownership and trading. Notably, Interactive Brokers does not offer copy trading but maintains a five-star rating for its range of investments, ranking first among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
AvaTrade, on the other hand, features 1,260 tradeable symbols, with access to 53 forex pairs. While it doesn't provide direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded securities, it supports forex trading as CFDs and offers cryptocurrency derivatives. AvaTrade shines in the realm of copy trading, offering investors the opportunity to replicate the strategies of successful traders. However, it lacks the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies outright. Despite these limitations, AvaTrade maintains a respectable four-star rating for its range of investments, placing it at 32nd in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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.
When comparing Interactive Brokers to AvaTrade in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a wide range of features suitable for traders at any level. Interactive Brokers provides a comprehensive offering with their in-house developed platform, allowing users to engage in paper trading for practice. Their desktop and web-based platforms cater to various needs, offering trading directly from stock charts and boasting an impressive 659 columns for watchlists. Although lacking support for popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, Interactive Brokers' strong focus on customization is evident, with 85 drawing tools for charting.
On the other hand, AvaTrade excels in copy trading options, supporting platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, in addition to proprietary solutions. AvaTrade's traders can benefit from copy trading through DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, offering more options for those interested in mirroring the success of seasoned traders. While AvaTrade's charting tools include 13 drawing options and 7 columns for watchlists, both brokers facilitate trading directly from stock charts. Although Interactive Brokers receives a five-star rating in Trading Platforms and Tools with a top-three ranking from ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade remains competitive with a 4.5-star rating and a respectable 13th place ranking among 63 brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade, both platforms offer impressive features for traders using iPhones or Android devices. Each app provides stock and forex price alerts, real-time quotes, and the ability to create syncable watchlists, ensuring seamless updates across devices. Interactive Brokers edges ahead with 97 technical studies for charting enthusiasts, compared to AvaTrade's 73. Both allow drawing of trendlines and viewing of multiple time frames on charts; however, neither app auto-saves drawings.
Interactive Brokers receives a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile app, earning it a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, AvaTrade’s app boasts a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it at #13. For traders seeking comprehensive tools and features, Interactive Brokers seems to offer a slight advantage, particularly for those who rely heavily on charting capabilities in their trading strategy. Both apps promise user-friendly experiences catering to various trading needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade stand out as reputable online brokers, yet they differ significantly in their market research offerings. Interactive Brokers excels with daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also provide tools from Trading Central and a sentiment-based trading tool for tracking market positions. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers offers market research from TipRanks and resources from Acuity Trading, alongside a comprehensive economic calendar. These features contribute to their 5-star research rating and make them the third-ranked broker for research out of 63.
While AvaTrade also delivers forex news from leading sources and tools from Trading Central, they fall short in daily market commentary and do not provide resources from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. AvaTrade, however, does still offer a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar to help investors track global news events. Despite these strengths, AvaTrade holds a 4-star rating and ranks 34th in the research category according to ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights Interactive Brokers as the stronger choice for those prioritizing extensive market research capabilities.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade offer a wealth of materials. They each provide more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. Additionally, both platforms conduct regular online client webinars, with at least one webinar happening every month. For those who are unable to attend live, each broker also maintains a searchable archive of past webinars. Additionally, Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade each feature more than 10 beginner-focused educational videos on various trading topics, ensuring newcomers have ample opportunity to gain essential knowledge.
In terms of advanced education, Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade both cater to experienced traders by offering a selection of in-depth videos that cover more complex trading topics. Each broker also provides an investor dictionary with definitions for at least 50 investing terms, which is helpful for traders at all levels. However, when it comes to overall education ratings, Interactive Brokers edges ahead with a 5-star rating, compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars. Despite this, AvaTrade is ranked #2 in the education category by ForexBrokers.com, just slightly above Interactive Brokers at #3. This means both platforms are highly regarded for their educational offerings, making them excellent choices for beginners seeking to deepen their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than AvaTrade. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Interactive Brokers provides investors with the opportunity to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas AvaTrade only offers the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade offer distinct options for depositing and withdrawing account funds; Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers, whereas AvaTrade provides PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options.
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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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
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| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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 | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 97 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
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