Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs IronFX, 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.
When comparing online brokers AvaTrade and IronFX, both firms are not publicly traded and do not operate as banks. AvaTrade, established in 2006, stands out with a higher ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 94, indicating a highly trusted service. This rating reflects its impressive regulatory standing, with AvaTrade holding 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, which suggests strong regulatory compliance and reliability.
IronFX, founded in 2010, holds a Trust Score of 83, categorizing it as a trusted broker according to ForexBrokers.com. While it also maintains a strong regulatory position with 3 Tier-1 licenses, it does not hold any Tier-2 licenses. While both brokers are considered reliable, AvaTrade's higher number of licenses and superior Trust Score may offer additional peace of mind for traders prioritizing regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
AvaTrade’s commissions and fees are competitive for most traders, with average spreads around 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That’s near the industry average and a bit higher than the entry-level pricing at CMC Markets and Tickmill. IronFX, by contrast, lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips on its Standard variable account, which is above the industry average. For everyday trading costs, AvaTrade generally prices tighter than IronFX. AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX holds 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #47 out of 63.
Account type matters. AvaTrade’s Professional account—available to qualified professional traders—offers average spreads around 0.6 pips, comparable to FP Markets. IronFX also offers a zero fixed-spread account that can start at 0.0 pips but charges a $18 per lot commission; spreads are widened to 3 pips overnight. IronFX pricing can vary by account type, and its listed typical spread does not include a date range.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade vs. IronFX: both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot contracts, but their lineups differ. AvaTrade lists about 1,260 tradeable symbols, giving you a much wider overall selection than IronFX’s 340. If your focus is currency trading, IronFX actually offers more forex pairs (83) than AvaTrade (53), which may appeal to active FX traders seeking more pair choices.
Neither broker offers exchange-traded stocks on U.S. or international exchanges, and neither lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, though both provide cryptocurrency CFDs and support copy trading. For range of investments, ForexBrokers.com rates AvaTrade at 4 stars (ranked 33rd of 63) and IronFX at 3.5 stars (ranked 52nd of 63).
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 83 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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.
AvaTrade and IronFX both check the essentials for traders who want flexibility: each offers a free demo account, copy trading, a Windows desktop platform, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and the ability to trade directly from charts. Where they differ is depth of choice. AvaTrade adds a proprietary, in-house platform and supports MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while IronFX does not offer either. Details on the number of built-in technical indicators and watch list fields aren’t published for either broker.
Independent ratings tilt in AvaTrade’s favor for trading platforms and tools: 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #13 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, versus IronFX at 3.5 stars and ranked #62. If you want MT5 and an additional in-house platform to try alongside MT4, AvaTrade is the stronger pick; if you only need MT4, IronFX can cover the basics. In both cases, you can test the experience with a free demo before committing.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade vs IronFX mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps and support price alerts. A key difference is watchlists—AvaTrade syncs your symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while IronFX does not. According to ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 13th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps; IronFX is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 63rd.
Charting tools also set them apart. AvaTrade includes 73 technical studies compared with 30 on IronFX, and both apps let you draw trendlines. If saving drawings matters, IronFX auto-saves them, while AvaTrade does not. Choose AvaTrade if you want more indicators and seamless watchlist syncing, or IronFX if you prefer simpler charts with drawings saved automatically.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at AvaTrade and IronFX, both brokers deliver forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, plus an economic calendar to track key events. IronFX offers daily market commentary, while AvaTrade does not. Each broker provides Trading Central tools, but neither integrates Autochartist. AvaTrade includes a sentiment tool that shows the long/short mix across markets; IronFX does not. AvaTrade does not use TipRanks or Acuity Trading; IronFX’s access to TipRanks and Acuity Trading wasn’t indicated.
Both brokers earn 4 stars for research. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, IronFX sits at #29 and AvaTrade at #35. If you want frequent in-house commentary, IronFX has the edge; if you value a sentiment gauge to see how other traders are positioned, AvaTrade may suit you better.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing AvaTrade and IronFX for forex and CFD education, both brokers are beginner-friendly and each holds a 4-star Education rating from ForexBrokers.com. That said, AvaTrade ranks much higher (#2 of 63) than IronFX (#44 of 63). AvaTrade also hosts ongoing client webinars (at least one per month), which can be a big help if you like live lessons and Q&A. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner trading videos, so newcomers can find step‑by‑step guidance. AvaTrade goes further with 10+ advanced videos, while IronFX does not reach that level for experienced topics.
If you’re starting out and want a clear path from basics to more advanced skills—plus live webinars—AvaTrade is the stronger pick. IronFX still gives you plenty of beginner video content for learning core forex and CFD concepts, but it lacks regular webinars and has fewer options as you progress.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than IronFX. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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IronFX
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 83 |
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In the AvaTrade vs IronFX comparison for cryptocurrency trading, neither broker lets you buy actual delivered crypto, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
AvaTrade and IronFX both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers; AvaTrade supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, while IronFX has not specified availability for PayPal, Skrill, bank wires, or card payments.
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 | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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 | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review |
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