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 the commissions and fees of Swissquote and AvaTrade, there are noticeable differences. Swissquote, a Swiss banking conglomerate, charges slightly higher fees, reflective of its premium brand. Their U.K entity offers lower trading costs compared to its Swiss and Luxembourg counterparts, with four account types, including the Elite account designed for active traders who can deposit at least $10,000. Spreads start at 1.3 pips for their Standard account, making it less competitive in cost. Swissquote is rated 3.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #53 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
AvaTrade, on the other hand, provides more competitive pricing with spreads that hover around the industry average of just under one pip (0.9 pips). For those qualifying as professional traders, the spreads improve to 0.6 pips, making them comparable to other leading brokers like FP Markets. AvaTrade receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars for their commissions and fees, and is more favorably ranked at #12 out of 63 brokers, suggesting their pricing structure is more appealing to a broader range of traders.
Overall, Swissquote's offerings are advantageous for those preferring a Swiss banking connection but come with higher trading costs, especially outside their U.K. branch. Conversely, AvaTrade appeals to a wider audience with more competitive fees and is rated significantly higher, indicating a better balance between pricing and services offered to traders.
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments, Swissquote and AvaTrade both offer unique opportunities for traders. Swissquote provides access to 472 tradeable symbols, including 80 forex pairs, making it an appealing choice for those looking for a wide range of options. AvaTrade, on the other hand, has a larger total of 1260 tradeable symbols but offers 53 forex pairs. While both platforms support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, Swissquote stands out by offering actual cryptocurrency purchases, not just derivatives. Additionally, Swissquote allows users to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas AvaTrade does not provide this option. However, both platforms support copy trading, offering flexible trading strategies for their users.
Swissquote is rated higher for the range of investments, earning 5 stars compared to AvaTrade's 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote is ranked 2nd out of 63 brokers for the range of investments, showcasing its strength in this category. In contrast, AvaTrade is positioned at #32 on the same list. For those prioritizing a broad selection of investment avenues, Swissquote demonstrates superior versatility, accommodating a more diverse portfolio through its extensive offerings.
| 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.
When comparing Swissquote and AvaTrade, both online brokers provide traders with a wide array of trading platforms and tools designed to enhance the trading experience. For those eager to practice before diving into real trading, both Swissquote and AvaTrade offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to get comfortable with the platforms. Each broker has invested in developing proprietary trading platforms and supports popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both also cater to users who prefer a traditional setup with Windows-based desktop platforms and have web-based options for on-the-go accessibility. However, AvaTrade pulls ahead slightly in the realm of social trading by offering both DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, services that Swissquote does not provide.
In terms of technical analysis, Swissquote leads with 75 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade's 13, though both brokers lack specifics on the number of technical indicators offered. Both have made it seamless to trade directly from stock charts. When it comes to organizing and customizing watch lists, Swissquote provides 11 columns compared to AvaTrade's 7. Despite these subtle differences, both brokers are highly rated, receiving 4.5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Traders find them equally competitive, as evidenced by their close rankings on ForexBrokers.com: Swissquote is ranked 12th while AvaTrade is just behind at 13th among 63 brokers.
| 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.
Swissquote and AvaTrade both provide mobile trading apps that are compatible with iPhone and Android devices, enabling traders to stay connected on the go. Both platforms offer real-time stock and forex price alerts, giving users timely updates. While Swissquote excels in auto-saving chart drawings, providing convenience for its users, AvaTrade stands out with its watchlist symbol syncing feature, ensuring seamless integration between the mobile app and the client's online account. Moreover, AvaTrade offers a more extensive array of technical studies for charting, boasting 73 options compared to Swissquote's 30, catering well to those seeking advanced analytical tools.
When it comes to charting functionalities, both Swissquote and AvaTrade have built-in features to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames, offering flexibility to traders analyzing the markets. Although their overall mobile app ratings are tied at 4.5 stars, Swissquote is ranked slightly higher at #12 compared to AvaTrade's #13 out of 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Mobile Trading Apps category. Both platforms provide the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring that users can efficiently track their preferred stocks and forex pairs. Each app has its merits, making them strong contenders in the world of mobile trading.
| 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 comparing Swissquote and AvaTrade for market research, Swissquote offers a comprehensive suite of services that includes daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and access to forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also provide tools from Autochartist, known for technical and fundamental research. However, Swissquote lacks sentiment-based trading tools and resources from Trading Central or TipRanks. AvaTrade, on the other hand, does not offer daily market commentary but provides forex news from top-tier sources and includes research tools from Trading Central. They also feature a sentiment-based trading tool, which Swissquote does not.
Both Swissquote and AvaTrade offer an economic calendar for tracking global news events, and both do not incorporate resources from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. In terms of ratings, both brokers received 4 stars for research, but Swissquote is ranked higher at #16 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to AvaTrade’s ranking of #34. This indicates a marginally better research service at Swissquote, though both brokers present viable tools for informed trading.
| 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.
Swissquote and AvaTrade both offer a wealth of educational resources tailored to help beginners navigate the complex world of forex and CFDs trading. Each broker provides a variety of educational materials, including more than ten articles, videos, or archived webinars dedicated to forex and CFDs topics. They host monthly webinars to keep clients informed, and they maintain a searchable archive of past webinars for convenient access. Additionally, they offer more than ten introductory videos focusing on trading essentials for beginners, ensuring a comprehensive foundation is provided. Beyond basic education, both brokers delve into more sophisticated trading concepts with over ten advanced videos for seasoned traders, and they include an investor dictionary with detailed definitions of at least 50 investing terms.
Both Swissquote and AvaTrade have earned a four-star rating for their educational offerings. However, AvaTrade stands out with a higher ranking of #2 compared to Swissquote's #21, as evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, among 63 brokers. This difference indicates that while both platforms provide substantial resources, AvaTrade's educational offerings are marginally more prominent in the industry. Whether you choose Swissquote or AvaTrade, both platforms equip beginners with a solid educational foundation to boost trading confidence and expertise.
| 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 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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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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