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 comes out ahead of Trading 212 on commissions and fees, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #14 out of 36 brokers. Its spreads are close to the industry average, sitting at 0.9 pips as of June 2024, and its Professional account can be even more competitive at 0.6 pips for eligible traders. While AvaTrade is not the cheapest option in the market, its pricing is generally fair and more in line with mid-range brokers.
Trading 212 is more mixed on cost, with a 4 out of 5 star rating and a #29 ranking out of 36 brokers. It promotes zero-commission trading, but CFD and forex traders still pay through the spread. 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 attractive for traders focused on low trading costs.
In simple terms, AvaTrade offers better overall value on commissions and fees than Trading 212, especially if you want tighter spreads for forex and CFD trading. Trading 212 may appeal to beginners because of its commission-free message and low minimum deposit, but its wider spreads can make active trading more expensive over time.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.93 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.61 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| 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 give traders access to forex as CFDs, but Trading 212 offers a much wider range of investable products overall. AvaTrade lists 1,260 tradeable symbols and 53 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs. Trading 212 also lets clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, which means you can own stocks such as Apple or Vodafone directly. AvaTrade does not offer exchange traded securities, so its selection is more focused on CFD-style trading.
There are also some clear differences in extras and crypto access. AvaTrade supports copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. On cryptocurrency, both brokers offer crypto CFDs, but only Trading 212 lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. These differences help explain why Trading 212 scores higher for range of investments, with 5 stars and a #14 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #27 ranking.
| 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.
AvaTrade and Trading 212 both give traders access to forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. Neither broker provides daily market commentary, Autochartist tools, TipRanks research, or Acuity Trading features. Both also offer sentiment tools that show the balance of long and short positions across currency pairs and other instruments, which can help traders gauge market mood.
The main difference is that AvaTrade includes Trading Central research tools, such as Technical Analytics, while Trading 212 does not. This extra layer of market analysis helps explain why AvaTrade scores higher for research, with 4 out of 5 stars versus Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s research ranking, AvaTrade sits just ahead at #30 out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #31.
| 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 has the edge over Trading 212. AvaTrade offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 educational pieces focused on those markets, plus monthly live client webinars. It also provides at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, making it a stronger choice for traders who want to build knowledge step by step. This is reflected in its 4-star Education rating and #2 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
Trading 212 also gives beginners plenty to work with, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, but it falls short in a few key areas. Based on the information provided, it does not offer forex or CFDs education at the same level, and it does not host monthly educational webinars. Its Education score is 3.5 stars, and it ranks #23 out of 36 brokers, which puts it behind AvaTrade for overall educational support.
| 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
|
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 supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while Trading 212 also offers bank wires but does not support PayPal or Skrill, and neither broker provides ACH or SEPA transfer options.
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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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) - Spread-only account | 0.93 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | No |
| 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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