Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs Trading 212, 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.
AvaTrade and Trading 212 are both private online brokers that are not listed on a stock exchange and are not banks. AvaTrade was founded in 2006, while Trading 212 began in 2004. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, AvaTrade’s score of 96 out of 99 puts it in the highly trusted range, while Trading 212’s score of 82 also places it in the trusted range.
In terms of regulation, AvaTrade has the edge with 4 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, compared with Trading 212’s 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. Since Tier-1 licenses are viewed as highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses as trusted by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade shows a stronger regulatory profile overall.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
AvaTrade earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Its trading costs are fairly close to the market average, with spreads at just under 1 pip (0.9 pips as of June 2024). That said, these spreads are a little higher than the entry-level pricing offered by some competitors such as CMC Markets and Tickmill. For qualified professional traders, AvaTrade’s Professional account can be more attractive, with spreads around 0.6 pips, which is competitive with firms like FP Markets.
Trading 212 scores 4 out of 5 stars and is ranked #27 out of 36 for commissions and fees. While it advertises zero-commission trading, that mainly applies to shares in its Invest account, not the CFD account covered here. For CFDs and forex, traders still pay the spread, and Trading 212’s published average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is well above the industry average and makes it less cost-friendly than many leading CFD and forex brokers.
In simple terms, AvaTrade is the better choice for lower overall trading costs in this comparison, especially for spread-sensitive traders. Trading 212 may appeal to people looking for a zero-commission message, but its CFD pricing can be noticeably higher once spreads are factored in.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and Trading 212 both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. Where Trading 212 stands out is in the size and variety of its market list: it offers about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Trading 212 also gives access to real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly rather than only trading derivatives.
AvaTrade, however, has one feature Trading 212 does not: copy trading. If you want to follow and copy other traders, AvaTrade may appeal more in that area. For range of investments overall, Trading 212 scores higher, with a 5-star rating versus AvaTrade’s 4 stars, and it ranks #15 out of 36 brokers compared with AvaTrade’s #26 in ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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.
AvaTrade has the edge over Trading 212 when it comes to trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free demo account, a web-based platform, and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart. However, AvaTrade stands out with its own in-house platform, a Windows desktop app, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Trading 212 does not offer a proprietary desktop platform, copy trading, MT4, or MT5, which may matter to traders who want more platform choice and advanced features.
In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #13 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranked #19. For traders who want a wider range of platform options and extra tools, AvaTrade is the stronger pick, while Trading 212 still offers a simple browser-based experience with demo trading for beginners and casual users.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing AvaTrade and Trading 212 for mobile trading, both brokers give iPhone and Android users access to their apps, plus useful tools like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. This makes either app a solid choice for traders who want to manage positions and track markets on the go.
The main differences come down to charting and ease of use. Trading 212 offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 104 compared to AvaTrade’s 73, and it also auto saves chart drawings, which AvaTrade does not. Even so, AvaTrade holds a slightly higher mobile trading apps rating at 4.5 stars versus Trading 212’s 4 stars, and it ranks better overall for mobile trading apps at #13 out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #17.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, AvaTrade and Trading 212 both cover the basics well. Each broker offers forex news from major sources, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with key global events. Neither platform includes daily market commentary, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so neither one stands out for having a wide range of extra research features.
The main difference is that AvaTrade includes Trading Central tools, while Trading 212 does not. That gives AvaTrade an edge for traders who want more built-in analysis support. This is reflected in their research ratings and rankings: AvaTrade is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #28 out of 36 brokers for Research, while Trading 212 is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, AvaTrade and Trading 212 both provide plenty of educational videos, including at least 10 beginner-level videos and 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. AvaTrade goes a step further with forex and CFD education that meets the minimum of 10 related learning pieces, plus online client webinars held at least once a month. Trading 212 also offers forex and CFD education content, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars, which may matter to new traders who want live guidance and regular market lessons.
When it comes to overall education quality, AvaTrade has the edge. It is rated 4 out of 5 stars for Education and is ranked #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in this category. Trading 212 is still a solid choice for self-paced learning, with a 3.5-star Education rating and a #20 ranking, but it falls behind AvaTrade for hands-on learning support and overall educational depth.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 AvaTrade is better than Trading 212. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 82 |
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In the AvaTrade vs Trading 212 comparison for cryptocurrency trading, Trading 212 lets traders buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies while AvaTrade does not, and both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs.
AvaTrade vs Trading 212: in this online broker comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers, while AvaTrade supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA—choose Trading 212 if you need bank network transfers or AvaTrade if you prefer e-wallets.
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 | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 82 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 102 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 73 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Trading 212 Review |
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