Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
Plus500 vs AvaTrade: Plus500 was founded in 2008 and is publicly traded, while AvaTrade began in 2006 and is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
On regulation and trust, Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 and 4 Tier-2 licenses, and AvaTrade holds 4 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 has a Trust Score of 99/99 and AvaTrade 96/99—both fall in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range (with lower ranges classified as trusted, average risk, high risk, or not trusted at all).
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
If you’re comparing commissions and fees, AvaTrade generally edges out Plus500 on cost. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees, while Plus500 holds 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63. In short, AvaTrade tends to offer tighter spreads for most traders.
Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and trails leaders for active trader pricing (think IG or Saxo). For EUR/USD, Plus500’s average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry norm. There are no retail discounts, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates.
AvaTrade’s typical EUR/USD spread was 0.9 pips as of June 2024—close to the industry average and generally sharper than Plus500—though still a bit wider than the entry-level accounts at CMC Markets and Tickmill. If you qualify as a Professional client, AvaTrade’s spreads can drop to 0.6 pips, comparable to FP Markets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 vs AvaTrade: When it comes to the range of investments, Plus500 offers far more choice with about 5,500 tradeable symbols compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260. Both support forex trading via CFDs, with Plus500 listing 65 currency pairs and AvaTrade 53. Plus500 also lets clients buy actual exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London), while AvaTrade does not offer real stock ownership. Neither broker sells actual cryptocurrency, but both provide crypto CFDs. For those interested in mirroring other traders, copy trading is available at AvaTrade but not at Plus500.
For Range of Investments, Plus500 is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade scores 4/5 stars and ranks #26. In short, Plus500 suits traders who want a wider selection and the ability to buy real shares, whereas AvaTrade is a solid pick if copy trading is a priority alongside access to major markets and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and AvaTrade both offer free demo accounts and in-house trading platforms, along with convenient web-based trading. The key differences show up in platform choice and extras: AvaTrade provides a downloadable Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Plus500 does not offer a Windows desktop app and doesn’t support MT4 or MT5. AvaTrade also includes copy trading, which Plus500 does not.
When it comes to charting and trading workflow, AvaTrade lets you place trades directly from charts, whereas Plus500 does not. Specific counts for technical indicators and watchlist columns weren’t provided for either broker. Both are rated 4.5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com, with AvaTrade ranked #13 of 63 and Plus500 close behind at #14. In short, pick Plus500 if you prefer a straightforward web platform and a simple setup; choose AvaTrade if you want a desktop platform, MT4/MT5 access, or copy trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing the mobile trading apps from Plus500 and AvaTrade, both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and synced watchlists, so changes you make on mobile carry over to your web account. Each app earns a 4.5-star rating for mobile trading, reflecting smooth day-to-day use and a solid feature set for tracking markets on the go.
For charting, Plus500 offers 115 technical studies, while AvaTrade includes 73. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but neither auto-saves your drawings. If you value a larger set of technical indicators, Plus500 has the edge; if third-party rankings matter more, AvaTrade is placed slightly higher at #13 versus Plus500’s #14 in ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When you compare market research at Plus500 and AvaTrade, the differences are clear. Plus500 provides daily market commentary along with Trading Central tools, a sentiment gauge showing long/short positions, and an economic calendar, but it does not include forex news from top-tier wires. AvaTrade skips daily commentary yet delivers forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg- or Reuters-style feeds, and also offers Trading Central tools, a sentiment gauge, and an economic calendar. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #16 of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28.
Feature by feature: neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. Both provide Trading Central research, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. Pick Plus500 if you want frequent, in-house commentary to guide your day; choose AvaTrade if integrated, top-tier news coverage is your priority.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Plus500 and AvaTrade both provide forex and CFD education that meets the 10+ piece threshold, and each runs client webinars at least once a month. For beginners, both brokers offer at least 10 starter videos to learn the basics and at least 10 advanced videos to keep progressing, making it easy to build skills through videos and live sessions.
In terms of scores, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education, while AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5. However, ForexBrokers.com ranks AvaTrade much higher for Education (#2 of 63) compared with Plus500 (#26 of 63). Bottom line: beginners will find plenty of helpful learning tools at both brokers—pick AvaTrade if you want a top-ranked education hub, or choose Plus500 if the higher star rating and deep video library appeal to you.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than AvaTrade. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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In the Plus500 vs AvaTrade comparison for crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Plus500 vs AvaTrade: both online brokers support deposits and withdrawals via PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, do not offer ACH or SEPA, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 80 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | AvaTrade Review |
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