Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote and AvaTrade are two leading online brokers with distinct features and regulatory standings. Established in 1996, Swissquote stands out as a publicly traded company and a licensed bank. With a perfect Trust Score rating of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, indicating its strong regulatory compliance and reliability. Additionally, the company holds two Tier-2 licenses, further cementing its reputation within the financial sector.
In contrast, AvaTrade, founded in 2006, is not publicly traded and operates independently of a banking license. With a high Trust Score of 94, AvaTrade is still recognized as a highly trusted broker, possessing four Tier-1 licenses alongside three Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers offer regulated services, but Swissquote's status as a bank and higher Trust Score may appeal to those seeking the utmost in confidence and security in their online trading experience.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
AvaTrade is the more cost-friendly choice for most traders, earning 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranking #13 out of 63 brokers. Typical EUR/USD spreads are about 0.9 pips (as of June 2024), and eligible professionals can access about 0.6 pips. Swissquote is pricier overall, scoring 3.5/5 stars and ranking #54 out of 63. Its appeal is the Swiss banking umbrella, but that usually means higher trading costs than many discount forex brokers.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by entity. In the U.K., four account types are offered: Standard (EUR/USD from 1.3 pips), Prime (from 0.6 pips—this is a minimum, not an average), Elite (commission-based with lower spreads plus a $5 round‑turn commission, typically best if you deposit $10,000+), and a Professional account that’s similar to Elite but with a lower stop-out level. In Luxembourg, minimum deposits are $1,000 (Standard), $5,000 (Premium), and $50,000 (Prime), with minimum spreads from 1.5 pips down to 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, forex accounts require $1,000 (Standard, from 1.7 pips), $10,000 (Premium, from 1.4 pips), or $50,000 (Prime, from 1.1 pips), with custom pricing negotiable for high-volume traders.
By contrast, AvaTrade’s pricing is simpler and generally sharper for everyday traders: about 0.9 pips on EUR/USD, with no extra commission on standard retail accounts, and around 0.6 pips for elected professionals. Bottom line: If minimizing spreads is your priority, AvaTrade has the edge. If you value a Swiss banking brand and can meet higher deposits (especially for Elite or Prime tiers), Swissquote may still appeal despite its higher costs.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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.
Swissquote and AvaTrade both support forex trading offered as CFDs or spot, plus each provides copy trading. When it comes to total tradeable symbols, AvaTrade lists about 1,260 versus Swissquote’s 472. However, Swissquote leads on currency choice with 80 forex pairs compared to AvaTrade’s 53.
Swissquote also lets clients buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international markets (think Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone in London), while AvaTrade does not offer direct share dealing. For crypto, Swissquote supports both real (delivered) coins and crypto CFDs; AvaTrade offers crypto CFDs only. Reflecting this mix, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments at ForexBrokers.com, whereas AvaTrade holds 4 stars and ranks #33. In short, pick Swissquote if you want stocks and delivered crypto in addition to CFDs; pick AvaTrade if you want a bigger overall CFD symbol list.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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.
Comparing Swissquote vs AvaTrade on trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the essentials. Each offers a free paper trading (demo) account, a proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus both a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. You can place trades straight from charts, and copy trading is available at both brokers to help you follow or mirror strategies while you get comfortable with the software.
On quality, the two are neck and neck: both earn 4.5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote ranks slightly higher at #12 out of 63 brokers, with AvaTrade close behind at #13. If you want the slight edge in standings, Swissquote wins by a hair; otherwise, choose based on which interface you prefer or whether you plan to use the in-house platform or MetaTrader add-ons most.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and AvaTrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts for stocks and forex. You can draw trendlines in both apps, but their everyday conveniences differ: AvaTrade syncs your watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Swissquote does not. If you like your lists to match across devices automatically, that’s a clear point for AvaTrade.
For charting tools, AvaTrade offers more technical studies (73) than Swissquote (30). However, Swissquote automatically saves your chart drawings, whereas AvaTrade does not. Both apps earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings of 63 brokers, Swissquote sits at #12 and AvaTrade at #13. Choose AvaTrade if you want broader indicator coverage and synced watchlists; pick Swissquote if autosaving drawings and a slightly higher ranking matter more to you.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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.
Comparing Swissquote vs AvaTrade for market research: Swissquote delivers daily market commentary alongside forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. It also includes Autochartist for technical setups. AvaTrade skips daily commentary but counters with Trading Central and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning, and it also streams top-tier news. Both brokers provide an economic calendar, while neither offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools.
Both brokers earn 4 stars for Research, but Swissquote ranks higher at #16 versus AvaTrade at #35 out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. Choose Swissquote if you want daily commentary and Autochartist-driven ideas; pick AvaTrade if Trading Central insights and sentiment data are your priorities.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing forex and CFD education, both Swissquote and AvaTrade deliver sizable learning hubs. Each broker runs ongoing client webinars (at least one per month) and offers 10-plus beginner videos, plus another 10-plus for advanced topics—helpful if you want to grow from basics to more complex strategies. In short, newcomers will find plenty of articles, videos, and webinars to get started with either broker.
Where they differ is in third‑party recognition. Swissquote and AvaTrade both earn 4 stars for Education, yet ForexBrokers.com ranks AvaTrade #2 out of 63 brokers for Education, while Swissquote sits at #20. That gap suggests AvaTrade may edge ahead for the overall learning experience and presentation for new traders. If top‑ranked educational structure matters most, AvaTrade is a strong pick; if you’re comfortable exploring a solid library with frequent webinars, Swissquote remains a dependable choice.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than AvaTrade. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
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AvaTrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Swissquote lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, while AvaTrade offers cryptocurrency CFDs only and does not support purchasing real, delivered crypto.
Comparing online brokers, Swissquote and AvaTrade both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire funding, but only Swissquote offers ACH/SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals.
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 | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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 | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 80 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Swissquote Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | AvaTrade Review |
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