AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX - Fees Review included
| Feature | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
4.5 |
3.9 |
|
4.4 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
|
4.4 |
4.6 |
2.9 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.2 |
4.8 |
3.1 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.6 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.7 |
5 |
4.6 |
Research |
4.4 |
4.6 |
4.1 |
Education |
4.8 |
4.8 |
3.9 |
Support |
4.6 |
4.7 |
4.1 |
Bonuses |
3.9 |
5 |
4.3 |
|
|
|
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Pros and Cons
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 in Dublin, Ireland. The company has offices in 150 countries. It currently has over 200, 000 registered users and processes more than 2 million transactions every month. These factors contribute to AvaTrade being a reliable and trusted broker. They are accredited across five continents and are one of the market leaders. The broker is regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), the Japanese FSA, and the South African FSCA. AvaTrade holds accreditation by the Central Irish Bank, the Abu Dhabi Financial Services Regulatory Authority, and the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission. AvaTrade allows traders to trade stocks, securities, indices, cryptocurrencies, and currency pairs. In total, the offer more than 250 tools to customers.
InstaForex is an international company that has been providing services in the Forex currency market since 2007. Today, more than 7 million traders worldwide use the services of this broker. InstaForex offers its clients access to 300 trading instruments, such as PAMM Investment and ForexCopy system to copy trading of successful traders. The company’s activity is regulated by the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (FSC) in accordance with the Securities and Investment Business Act. InstaForex has a reputation for responsible and professional trading practices. In 2016, the company received the UK Forex Best Social Broker Award, in 2018 was named the Best Forex Platform for Trading Cryptocurrency, and in 2019 Best Asian Broker and the Best Eastern European broker.
The OctaFX Broker has been providing Forex services since 2011. It operates under the CySEC license and provides favorable conditions for Forex traders. At the moment, OctaFX has been chosen by more than 6.6 million clients worldwide as an intermediary to the financial markets, but the broker is focused on the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. OctaFX is popular in Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan and other countries. Its services are used by both active traders and passive investors who prefer to copy the successful trading strategies of other market participants. In 2020, OctaFX was named The Best CFD broker in the Asia-Pacific region by Capital Finance International, and in 2021, The Best Forex Broker in Asia by Global Banking and Finance Review.
| AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | Highly regulated broker, licenced on the territory of 5 continents | Regulated Forex Broker | Trading at weekends |
| a wide range of trading instruments | 2500+ trading assets | No non-trading commissions | |
| Swap-free account | Individual online training | Copy trading service | |
| Advanced copy trading tools | Advances news and analytitc platforms | ||
| A lot of educational content | Free VPS service | ||
| Low fees | High exacution speed | ||
| Optioins trading | No deposit and withdrawal fees | ||
| Deposits in crypto | |||
| $1000 No deposit bonus (Only for international entety) | |||
| Overall Cons | customer service efficiency and response time | High spreads and trading fees | Limited number of supported assets |
| There is no ECN account | Low exacution speed | High spreads | |
| Market maker(dealing desk) type of broker |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Safety and Regulation
| Regulated By: | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
€20,00 |
No |
No |
FCA UK Regulation |
No |
No |
No |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
No |
No |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
No |
No |
ASIC (Australia) |
Yes |
No |
No |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
No |
No |
MAS |
No |
No |
No |
FSCA SA |
Yes |
No |
No |
BVI FSC |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
VFSC |
No |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
No |
No |
No |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$100 |
$1 |
$100 |
Trading Platforms |
MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions |
MT4, MT5, InstaForex MultiTerminal |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
1-400 |
1:1000, 1:30 (for EU clients) |
1-500, for EU clients - 1-30 |
Supported Markets |
Currency pairs, Forex Options, CFDs on stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices, metals, commodities |
Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, crypto, metals, stocks |
32 currency pairs, CFDs on energy resources, cryptocurrencies, indices, gold, and silver |
Trading assets |
100+ |
2500+ |
70+ |
Trading Accounts |
Standard, Professional account |
Insta.Standard, Insta.Eurica, Cent.Standard, Cent.Eurica for international entity, ECN, ECN PRO, ECN VIP - For EU entity. |
Demo, OctaFX MT4, OctaFX MT5 |
Base Account Currencies |
EUR, USD |
EUR, USD |
USD, EUR |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Fees
| Fee | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,6 |
3 |
3 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
0,9 |
7 |
7 |
ECN Commission |
3 |
3 |
|
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,2 |
0,2 |
|
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
No |
0,5-2 |
0,5-2 |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
No |
20-100 |
20-100 |
Inactivity fee, $ |
16,66 |
No |
No |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Overall |
1000+ |
2500+ |
70+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Stocks |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
No |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
ETFs |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
No |
Bonds |
Yes (CFD) |
No |
No |
Mutual funds |
No |
No |
No |
Stock options |
No |
No |
No |
Futures Trading |
Yes |
No |
No |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
No |
AvaTrade or InstaForex or OctaFX: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
MAM/PAMM |
No |
Yes |
No |
Managed Accounts |
Yes |
No |
No |
Other |
Bonds |
No |
No |
Trading Platforms: AvaTrade or InstaForex or OctaFX
| AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
MT5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
cTrader |
No |
No |
No |
Appropriate platform |
AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions |
InstaForex |
No |
Others |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
|
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| Deposit and Withdrawal Method | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Wise |
No |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
No |
USDT |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Research
| Research Type | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Education
| Education Type | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Support
| Support Features | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
Yes |
yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
No |
Messendgers |
Twitter, Telegram, or Facebook |
AvaTrade vs InstaForex vs OctaFX: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | AvaTrade | InstaForex | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
The broker offers its customers a one-time bonus upon first deposit (not for all markets) |
$1000 no deposit bonus |
Bonuses of 10% to 50% are paid for each deposit starting at $50 During the period of special offers, the client can request a reward in the amount of 100% of the amount deposited into the account. The bonus is available for withdrawal after meeting the requirements for the trading volume. |
Affiliate Program |
A trader can receive up to 400 US dollars for inviting friends. |
Yes |
“Invite a friend” - a program that rewards $1 for 1 standard lot traded by the attracted referral, the minimum withdrawal amount is $5; "IB" – (Introducing Broker) the partner receives from $3 to $12 depending on the total number of connected clients; Master IB is a program for those who have created their own IB network. The master trader receives a 10% commission from the profits received by the attracted IB. He also has access to the standard introducing broker remuneration. White Label. It is an attractive solution for existing brokers who want to provide financial services to directly to others. The program makes it possible to use the powerful foundation of FP Markets, but at the same time promote a personal brand. |
Other Promos |
Contests on MT4 demo accounts The winners of the competition, who take the first five prizes, receive real money to their trading account. The amount of remuneration ranges from $40 to $500. The term of the round is four weeks. Money can be withdrawn or transferred to a real account for further use in trading. |
||
|
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on AvaTrade
-
Comment
AvaTrade stands out from competitors due to its geographic range of regulation — the broker is licensed in Ireland, Australia, Japan, South Africa, and the UAE. Client funds are protected through segregated accounts. Customer support is available 24/7, but the platform’s user interface, especially the mobile version, needs updating. For beginners, educational resources are provided, including webinars and guides.
-
Comment
For passive investors, integration with DupliTrade — a trade-copying service — is available. Users can connect their accounts to the platform and follow strategies tested by other participants. The selection of signal providers is limited, but their data is transparent: performance, risk level, and number of followers are clearly shown. Access to the service is granted after opening an account with a minimum of $100.
-
Comment
Trading conditions at AvaTrade suit both conservative and active traders. Leverage up to 1:400 allows for scaling strategies, and the availability of swap-free accounts is beneficial for Islamic clients. The minimum lot is 0.01, which is convenient for cautious trades. However, customer support is not as fast as expected.
-
Comment
Among the 250+ available instruments, AvaTrade offers trading in currencies, cryptocurrencies, indices, metals, and stocks. The company is regulated by several authorities, including ASIC, FSA, FSCA, and the British Financial Services Commission. Support is available 24/7 and operates in 14 languages. On the downside, the web-based platform interface looks outdated and could use improvement.
-
Comment
I’ve used AvaTrade, and I really like its smooth interface and variety of trading options. The spreads are decent, and having multiple platforms like MT4 and AvaTradeGO makes it flexible. I also appreciate the strong regulations, which add a sense of security. The only downside I noticed is that withdrawals can take a bit longer than expected, but overall, it’s been a solid experience.
Top 5 Reviews on InstaForex
-
Comment
InstaForex offers over 2,500 trading instruments, including InstaSpot and InstaFutures—for those looking for unconventional assets. Over years of working with them, I haven’t encountered any critical outages, but it’s important to note that some products, like OYS accounts, are only available with a minimum investment of $1,000. Support is available within the terminal and responds quickly, though it can be quiet during nighttime hours.
-
Comment
For the first time, I came across a non-standard instrument called InstaFutures with a broker. So far, I’ve tested it on a demo account using MT5. I chose the Insta.Standard account — the spread is floating, around 1.2 pips. The minimum trade size is 0.01 lots. The partnership program is straightforward — commissions are paid out regularly, with transparent terms, especially for CPL and CPA. However, withdrawals via crypto wallets aren’t always fast.
-
Comment
I’ve been using the option to invest through the OYS portfolio under CySEC. The minimum is from $2000, with allocations across crypto, stocks, and indices. So far, everything is transparent, and the fees are clear. Trading is available via WebTrader, MT4, and MT5, which is convenient. No issues with withdrawals or verification. However, the dealing delay in copy trading—up to 15 seconds—is something to keep in mind.
-
Comment
Instaforex offers two main registration options — under FSC or CySEC. This choice affects both leverage (up to 1:1000 vs. 1:30) and spreads. There’s also a wide range of account types, from demo and standard to ECN and VIP. Support responds quickly, especially with straightforward inquiries. However, this broker may not suit those looking for fixed-income investments — there are no passive investment tools available.
-
Comment
I prefer to deal with InstaForex. Their web trader platforms are awesome, and I can trade in browsers with many advanced functions, which has brought me $750 in profit so far. I am satisfied with InstaForexso far. I am happy to make profitable orders, so I will continue trading with InstaForex.
Top 5 Reviews on OctaFX
-
Comment
Octa offers competitive spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD and leverage up to 1:1000, making it suitable for active traders. The conditions are also beginner-friendly — copy trading is supported, and there’s an economic calendar, educational articles, and analytics. The website is intuitive, and support responds within a couple of minutes, even at night. Another plus is the Trade & Win program with deposit bonuses of up to 50%.
-
Comment
Octa offers very transparent trading conditions: no hidden fees and zero deposit commissions. I use Skrill and Visa — everything goes smoothly. The OctaTrader platform is convenient, featuring a built-in idea feed and market event notifications. It’s also nice that cryptocurrency is supported — Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even local bank transfers are available for deposits.
-
Comment
Octa has been confidently established in the market since 2011, serving clients from 150 countries, which reflects the trust of traders worldwide. Licenses from FSC and MISA provide basic regulatory protection, and the availability of negative balance protection allows for trading with peace of mind. A nice bonus is the contests on demo accounts where real money is awarded — an excellent way to improve skills and earn without risk.
-
Comment
Octa offers a well-developed trading infrastructure with over 300 instruments, including 52 currency pairs, 150 stocks, and 34 cryptocurrencies. The minimum lot size starts from 0.01, and leverage goes up to 1:1000. I especially appreciated that 97% of orders are executed without slippage, and the ability to choose between fixed and floating spreads on MT4 and MT5 provides greater flexibility for different trading strategies.
-
Comment
Octa turned out to be one of the few brokers that lets you start trading with just $25 while offering access to three platforms: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and OctaTrader. This is especially convenient for those exploring different trading styles. Spreads start from 0.6 pips, and there are no deposit or withdrawal fees, which helps reduce costs at the beginning. Plus, you can copy other traders’ positions through the built-in CopyTrading service.
FAQs
What should I start Forex trading with?
It is desirable for novice traders to explore trading using a demo account to learn the market and how to work on the trading platform without the risk of suffering losses. At the same time, it is advisable to review the educational materials of the broker, learn trading basics. Then you can deposit the minimum required amount to perform a small number of transactions. If you manage to close several months in a row in the black, without substantial drawdowns on the account, then you can try increasing your deposit. Also trying to copy trades automatically is a good option for a start.
What amount should I start trading with?
The minimum deposit of $10 may be enough to trade on the cent account. However, for trading on Standard/ECT accounts, experts recommend starting with at least $200-500. With this amount, you can use not a very big leverage. Remember, getting carried away with the margin is the main cause of losses among beginners.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a broker?
Experts recommend looking at the broker’s reliability first and foremost. The other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If brokers are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One broker may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Is it possible to be scammed by a broker with a license from a reputable regulator?
In theory, yes. But in practice, it takes so much time and money to comply with the requirements of reputable regulators that it is not worth it for scammers to bother obtaining a legitimate license.
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Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.