Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
OANDA (founded 1996) and AvaTrade (founded 2006) are online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA holds a Trust Score of 92/99 and AvaTrade scores 96/99—both fall in the “highly trusted” range (90–99). For context, ForexBrokers.com classifies 80–89 as trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 as not to be trusted.
In terms of regulation, OANDA holds 7 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted) and 0 Tier-2 licenses. AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses (considered trusted). Both tally seven licenses overall, but OANDA’s oversight leans fully on Tier-1 regulators, while AvaTrade blends Tier-1 and Tier-2 coverage, which may matter depending on your location and preferred regulator.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
AvaTrade is the cheaper pick for most forex traders on spreads alone. Its standard account averaged about 0.9 pips on EUR/USD as of June 2024, while OANDA’s standard (non-core) pricing averaged 1.61 pips in July 2024. Ratings reflect this edge: AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, whereas OANDA earns 4 stars and ranks #30 of 63.
OANDA offers two pricing paths. The default account is spread‑only, with typical EUR/USD costs around 1.61 pips. The Core Pricing option lowers the spread to about 0.4 pips but adds a $5 per side commission per $100,000 traded (about 1 pip round turn), putting the all‑in cost near 1.4 pips—and it requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. High‑volume traders can shave costs a bit with Elite Trader rebates of $5–$17 per million. OANDA also allows ultra‑small trade sizes (down to 1 unit) and publishes trailing average spreads, though not fixed‑period averages.
AvaTrade keeps things straightforward with spread‑only pricing near the industry average: roughly 0.9 pips on EUR/USD, a touch higher than some entry‑level accounts at CMC Markets and Tickmill. Qualified professionals can access about 0.6‑pip pricing, comparable to FP Markets. Bottom line: AvaTrade’s standard spreads undercut OANDA’s default—and even OANDA’s Core Pricing for many traders—while OANDA’s rebates and micro‑trade flexibility may appeal to active or precision‑sizing traders.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing OANDA vs AvaTrade on range of investments: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. OANDA offers far more markets overall, with 4,172 tradeable symbols versus AvaTrade’s 1,260. Currency traders also get a wider choice at OANDA (69 forex pairs) than at AvaTrade (53). In independent reviews by ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 20th out of 63 for Range of Investments, while AvaTrade scores 4/5 stars and ranks 26th.
OANDA also supports direct share dealing on U.S. and international exchanges (so you can buy real stocks like Apple or Vodafone), which AvaTrade does not. For crypto, OANDA offers both actual coins and crypto CFDs, while AvaTrade provides crypto CFDs only. Both brokers support copy trading. If you want a wider selection that includes real stocks and real crypto alongside CFDs, OANDA is the stronger choice; if you’re focused on CFDs with copy trading on a smaller set of markets, AvaTrade fits the bill. Availability may vary by region.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
OANDA vs. AvaTrade: Both brokers check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo (paper trading) account, a proprietary in-house platform, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on Windows desktop downloads or in a web-based browser platform, use copy trading, and place orders directly from charts. This makes it easy to test strategies, automate with MT4/MT5, and trade the way you prefer—from desktop or the web.
When it comes to quality scores, AvaTrade has a slight edge for platforms and tools: it earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. OANDA is close behind with 4 out of 5 stars and a #16 ranking. If you want a small lift in platform ratings, AvaTrade may appeal; if you already like OANDA’s ecosystem, you’ll find similar platform coverage and features.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and AvaTrade both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts. Key differences show up in day-to-day use: AvaTrade syncs watchlists with your online account, while OANDA does not. For charting, AvaTrade includes 73 technical studies versus OANDA’s 30. Both let you draw trendlines, but only OANDA auto-saves your drawings, which is helpful if you frequently annotate charts.
When it comes to third-party scores, OANDA earns 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13. Choose AvaTrade if you want more built-in indicators and watchlist syncing across devices. Pick OANDA if auto-saving chart drawings and a higher overall mobile app rating matter more to you.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
OANDA vs. AvaTrade for market research: OANDA provides daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both deliver forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. For technical analysis, OANDA includes Autochartist, while AvaTrade offers Trading Central instead. Each broker supplies a sentiment tool showing long/short ratios and an economic calendar. Neither integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
If you want daily commentary and Autochartist pattern scanning, OANDA is the stronger pick. If you prefer Trading Central’s reports and indicators, AvaTrade fits. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #28. Choose the platform that best matches your research style.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA vs. AvaTrade for beginner education: Both brokers deliver a thorough forex and CFD education library with at least 10+ pieces (articles, videos, and archived webinars). Each hosts at least one educational webinar every month and offers 10+ beginner-friendly videos that walk through trading basics, platforms, order types, and risk management—making it easy to start learning step by step.
As you progress, both also offer 10+ advanced videos to help you level up. For Education, OANDA is rated 5 out of 5 stars, while AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5 stars. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Education ranking of 63 brokers, AvaTrade places #2 and OANDA ranks #18. Bottom line: beginners get strong learning paths with either broker, with OANDA edging the star rating and AvaTrade earning a higher third‑party ranking.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 OANDA is better than AvaTrade. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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AvaTrade
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 92 | 96 |
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OANDA vs AvaTrade: OANDA allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas AvaTrade supports cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not offer direct ownership of coins.
Comparing online brokers OANDA and AvaTrade: both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only OANDA offers ACH/SEPA transfers while AvaTrade does not.
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 | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Regulation | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 80 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | OANDA Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | OANDA | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | AvaTrade Review |
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