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 |
When comparing Swissquote and AvaTrade in terms of commissions and fees, Swissquote offers a blend of advantages and drawbacks. Holding an account with this reputable Swiss banking group may come at a premium, as its trading costs are not as competitive as the lowest-cost forex brokers. Swissquote's U.K. entity offers accounts with lower costs and lighter deposit requirements compared to its Switzerland and Luxembourg branches, with the Elite account priced at $5 per round-turn trade and narrower spreads for active traders. In Switzerland, the Prime account requires a hefty deposit and presents spreads starting from 1.1 pips, which is slightly above the industry average. Swissquote receives a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #52 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, AvaTrade's fee structure proves more attractive, with spreads on average just under one pip, offering a more palatable alternative for traders mindful of their budget. For those qualifying as professional traders, AvaTrade's Professional account delivers competitive spreads of 0.6 pips, aligning it with other industry leaders like FP Markets. This efficient fee strategy earns AvaTrade a commendable 4.5-star rating. Ranked #12 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade clearly stands ahead of Swissquote in this aspect.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Swissquote and AvaTrade in terms of their investment offerings, it's clear that each platform has its own strengths. Swissquote provides access to 472 tradeable symbols, which include 80 forex pairs. AvaTrade, on the other hand, offers a wider selection of 1,260 tradeable symbols but a smaller range of 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, offering similar trading experiences in that area.
Swissquote stands out with its ability to invest directly in U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, something AvaTrade does not provide. Moreover, Swissquote allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies in addition to cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas AvaTrade only offers derivatives. Both platforms feature copy trading options to enhance user experience. Due to these comprehensive offerings, Swissquote garners a 5-star rating and ranks second for range of investments according to ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade, while still impressive, receives a 4-star rating and ranks thirty-second in the same category.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
Swissquote and AvaTrade both offer traders the chance to experience trading with simulated accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Each broker provides in-house developed trading platforms alongside popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring flexibility and familiarity. Users can enjoy seamless access through web-based platforms or Windows-based desktop downloads. For traders interested in social trading, both brokers support copy trading, although AvaTrade extends its offerings with DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, unlike Swissquote.
Charting capabilities differ between Swissquote and AvaTrade, with Swissquote boasting an impressive 75 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade's 13. Both brokers allow for direct trading from stock charts, enhancing the user experience. When it comes to managing watch lists, Swissquote offers 11 columns, whereas AvaTrade has 7 columns available. Despite these differences, their trading platforms and tools receive an equal rating of 4.5 stars. Swissquote slightly edges out AvaTrade in the ForexBrokers.com ranking, securing the 12th spot out of 62 brokers, just one place ahead of AvaTrade at 13th.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and AvaTrade offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, making them accessible for diverse users. Each app supports price alerts for stocks and forex, enhancing their usefulness for staying informed on market movements. However, a key difference is AvaTrade's app, which enables seamless watchlist syncing with an online account, a feature not available with Swissquote. When it comes to charting tools, AvaTrade stands out by offering 73 technical studies compared to Swissquote's 30, though both allow users to draw trendlines and navigate multiple timeframes on their charts. Notably, Swissquote's app autosaves chart drawings, while AvaTrade’s does not.
Both apps enable real-time quote watchlists, underscoring their commitment to providing up-to-date information. In terms of user satisfaction, both Swissquote and AvaTrade mobile apps earned a score of 4.5 out of 5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote holds the 11th spot out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, just ahead of AvaTrade, which ranks 13th. This suggests that while both apps offer excellent functionalities, Swissquote is marginally preferred among industry evaluators. Therefore, choosing between these two may come down to prioritizing specific features like technical studies or watchlist syncing.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Swissquote stands out with its offering of daily market commentary, which AvaTrade does not provide. Both brokers deliver forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to essential financial updates. Swissquote includes tools from Autochartist for technical analysis, while AvaTrade offers similar services through Trading Central, helping traders to perform detailed market evaluations. AvaTrade further enhances its research offerings with a sentiment-based trading tool, allowing traders to see the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments, a feature Swissquote does not provide.
Both brokers include an economic calendar displaying global news, but neither offers market research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. In terms of star ratings for research, both Swissquote and AvaTrade achieve a commendable 4 out of 5. However, Swissquote ranks higher (#16) compared to AvaTrade (#34) among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, indicating a stronger research provision. This makes Swissquote a preferred choice for those prioritizing comprehensive market insights and tools in their trading journey.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners exploring forex and CFDs trading, both Swissquote and AvaTrade excel by providing a variety of materials. Each broker offers more than 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, making it easy for newcomers to get a solid understanding of trading concepts. They both host online webinars at least once per month, along with maintaining a searchable archive of past sessions, ensuring that learners have access to quality educational content at their convenience. Beginner-oriented videos are plentiful, with both Swissquote and AvaTrade offering more than 10 videos tailored specifically for new traders. Both platforms also feature advanced educational videos for more experienced traders and provide an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms. In terms of ratings, each broker earns a commendable four out of five stars for education.
Despite their similar educational offerings, there is a notable difference in their rankings. Swissquote is ranked 21st out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Education category, while AvaTrade stands out as the second-ranked broker. This higher ranking suggests that AvaTrade's educational resources might be receiving a slightly more positive reception compared to Swissquote, potentially owing to nuances in quality, depth, or user engagement. Nonetheless, both firms deliver a comprehensive and structured learning experience, making them strong contenders for beginners eager to learn the ins and outs of trading.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 62 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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When comparing Swissquote and AvaTrade for cryptocurrency trading, Swissquote allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies in addition to offering cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas AvaTrade provides access only to cryptocurrency derivatives and not the actual cryptocurrencies.
In comparing online brokers Swissquote and AvaTrade, both provide a variety of deposit and withdrawal options including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but only Swissquote offers ACH or SEPA transfers, giving it an edge in terms of banking flexibility.
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 |
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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 | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 13 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | 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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