AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers - Fees Review included
Which broker is better AvaTrade or Interactive Brokers? Our expert assessment conducted according to TU’s own methodology showed that AvaTrade is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.06 out of 10. Interactive Brokers is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.45 out of 10. Find out more about TU Overall Score.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.6 |
4.9 |
4.7 |
5 |
|
4.4 |
4.9 |
|
4.4 |
5 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.2 |
4.2 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.6 |
5 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.7 |
4.1 |
Research |
4.4 |
4.7 |
Education |
4.8 |
4.5 |
Support |
4.6 |
4.2 |
Bonuses |
3.9 |
3.1 |
|
|
|
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: 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.
The biggest international broker
| AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | Highly regulated broker, licenced on the territory of 5 continents | Access to 135 markets in 33 countries |
| a wide range of trading instruments | 30.000+ trading instruments | |
| Swap-free account | Regulated in the US, UK and 8 other countries | |
| Advanced copy trading tools | Advanced trading platform | |
| A lot of educational content | Free stocks for registration | |
| Low fees | Low fees | |
| Optioins trading | Low margin rates | |
| Nasdaq Listed company | ||
| 25 supported account currencies | ||
| Overall Cons | customer service efficiency and response time | long and complex registration procedure |
| There is no ECN account | ||
| Market maker(dealing desk) type of broker |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Safety and Regulation
| AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
€20,00 |
$500,000 £85,000 |
FCA UK Regulation |
No |
Yes |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
No |
ASIC (Australia) |
Yes |
Yes |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
Yes |
MAS |
No |
Yes |
FSCA SA |
Yes |
No |
BVI FSC |
Yes |
No |
VFSC |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
No |
No |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$100 |
$0 |
Trading Platforms |
MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
1-400 |
1-50 |
Supported Markets |
Currency pairs, Forex Options, CFDs on stocks, cryptocurrencies, indices, metals, commodities |
Stocks, Forex, ETFs, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Stock options, Commodity Futures, Currency futures, Cryptocurrencies, Robo-portfolios, hedge funds |
Trading assets |
100+ |
30000+ |
Trading Accounts |
Standard, Professional account |
Cash account, margin account |
Base Account Currencies |
EUR, USD |
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CZK, DKK, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NZD, NOK, PLN, SGD, SEK, CHF, CNH |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Fees
| AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,6 |
0,2 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
0,9 |
0,8 |
ECN Commission |
2 |
|
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,2 |
|
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
No |
Yes |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
No |
Yes |
Inactivity fee, $ |
16,66 |
No |
A conversion fee may be applied as withdrawals and deposits are conducted in USD. Any other currency will have to be converted.
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
1000+ |
30000+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes |
Stocks |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
ETFs |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Bonds |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes |
Mutual funds |
No |
Yes |
Stock options |
No |
Yes |
Futures Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
AvaTrade or Interactive Brokers: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
No |
MAM/PAMM |
No |
No |
Managed Accounts |
Yes |
No |
Other |
Bonds |
Robo-portfolios, hedge funds, Bonds |
Trading Platforms: Interactive Brokers or AvaTrade
| AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
No |
MT5 |
Yes |
No |
cTrader |
No |
No |
Appropriate platform |
AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions |
IB Trader Workstation, IBKR GlobalTrader, Client Portal |
Others |
No |
No |
|
|
|
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
Yes |
Yes |
Wise |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
USDT |
Yes |
Yes |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Research
| Research Type | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
No |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Education
| Education Type | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
Yes |
No |
Interactive Brokers vs AvaTrade: Support
| Support Features | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
Yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
No |
Community forum, Software bug reports |
AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
The broker offers its customers a one-time bonus upon first deposit (not for all markets) |
No |
Affiliate Program |
A trader can receive up to 400 US dollars for inviting friends. |
As Referrer you can earn up to USD 1000 of IBKR stock. The Refer a Friend program allows eligible IBKR clients to refer people to IBKR for a flat fee payment. Residents of Japan, Spain and Israel are not eligible to participate in the program. |
Other Promos |
||
|
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on Interactive Brokers
-
Comment
What stands out for me with Interactive Brokers is their mobile app. I use the IBKR Mobile app a lot when I’m not at my desk, and it offers pretty much the same experience as the desktop version. The ability to trade everything from stocks to options while on the go is a huge plus. It also has features for international trading, which makes it easy for me to handle trades across multiple markets. The app’s interface is straightforward and user-friendly, allowing me to monitor my portfolio, execute trades, and even access research tools seamlessly. While it might lack some advanced charting features, it’s still one of the most versatile apps I’ve used, especially for global traders like me
-
Comment
I am a client of interactivebrokers and I have never faced any problems during the whole time. I am completely satisfied with the service: the staff is always friendly, responsive and ready to help, which really leaves a good impression. Special thanks to the operators - their attentive attitude to people creates a feeling of care and support. It is a pleasure to work with a company that values its customers and does everything for comfortable service!
-
Comment
As far as my experience is concerned with Interactive Brokers, the thing I love most is the sheer variety of markets available. The GlobalTrader app lets me trade in over 90 different markets, which is super convenient for someone like me who likes to diversify. The interface might feel overwhelming at first, especially on Trader Workstation, but once you get the hang of it, it’s extremely powerful. I also appreciate the competitive pricing and order options that help keep my trading costs low.
-
Comment
Interactive brokers offer a huge variety of trading instruments, which is certainly pleasing. The opportunities for trading and diversification here are excellent. However, there is one minus - the website interface is only partially translated into other languages, and it is a bit disappointing. It would be more convenient if the whole platform was available in different languages, especially for traders who do not speak English.
-
Comment
Interactive Brokers provides access to 135 markets from 33 countries, which is a huge advantage. This allows traders to easily diversify their portfolios and find opportunities around the world. I am very pleased with this broad coverage and the ability to trade in a multitude of international markets.
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.
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.
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.