AvaTrade Review
Welcome to our AvaTrade Review, is Avatrade one of the best Australian Forex Brokers? We conducted an in-depth review to find out the answer and bring it to you! Recently has been included by Engine Forex among the Best German Forex Brokers, Best UK Forex Brokers.
Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, AvaTrade is an internationally renowned online Forex exchange and CFD broker with multiple offices around the globe. Their customer base exceeded 200,000 registered users in 2016.
AvaTrade Australia, situated in Sydney, has been an innovative pioneer since online trading first became possible. The company was created through the combined effort of financial professionals and e-commerce experts with the goal of perfecting the online experience for retail traders. Their vision is based on ‘empowering people to invest and trade, with confidence, in an innovative and reliable environment, supported by best-in-class personal service and uncompromising integrity’.
- Trading Platform: MetaTrader, AvaTrader
- Head Office: Dublin, Ireland
- Founded: 2006
- Reviews: 8.4 - 164 Reviews Trust Pilot
- Leverage: 400:1
- Execution Servers: LD5
- Broker Type: Market Maker
- Negative Protection: Yes
- Trading Options: Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Options
Our Rating: 8
Trading Conditions
Max Leverage: | 400:1 |
Platform: | |
Min Deposit: | $100 |
Spread: | From 0.8 Pips |
Cuts out Dealing Desk: | Yes |
Methods of deposit and offers
Deposit / Withdraw: | |
Welcome offer: | Up to $15,000 bonus |
Rebates Engine Forex: | Coming soon! |
SECURITY AT AVATRADE REVIEW
In Summary
ASIC regulated broker
Multiple further licenses
High-level web security
No dealing-desk intervention
Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd is licensed in Australia by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
The group, AvaTrade, further holds licenses and is regulated in various other countries, such as the European Union by the Central Bank of Ireland, South Africa by the Financial Services Board of South Africa (FSB), or in Japan by the Financial Services Agency (FSA), as examples.
Below is a list of all registered entities:
- AVA Trade EU Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (MiFID applies)
- AVA Trade Ltd is regulated by the BVI Financial Services Commission of the British Virgin Islands
- Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd is regulated by the ASIC
- Ava Capital Markets Pty is regulated by the South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority
- Ava Trade Japan K.K. is regulated in Japan by the FSA and the FFAJ.
According to AvaTrade’s values, the security of customer funds is paramount to their success and trustworthiness, and no effort has been spared to maintain the security of clients’ funds and the integrity of its trading platforms.
All client money is held in segregated trust funds with top tier banks.
Further, all of AvaTrade’s websites and trading platforms use high-level web security and 256-bit SSL encryption, thereby mirroring the industry standard for online financial transactions.
According to AvaTrade’s values, the security of customer funds is paramount to their success and trustworthiness, and no effort has been spared to maintain the security of clients’ funds and the integrity of its trading platforms.
Spreads Comparison
CHARGES AND MARGINS AT AVATRADE
In Summary
Forex spreads from 3 pips
Up to 400:1 leverage
CFD trading
As is the case with all brokers, clients pay a spread on every non-equity CFD; however, AvaTrade does not charge any commission fees on any trade. They act as a market maker instead.
With the exception of the spread mark-ups, trading at AvaTrade is potentially subject to charges such as overnight interest, maturity rollover, corporate actions and an inactivity fee if a client is inactive for a period of time.
AvaTrade offers fixed and variable spread accounts, with spreads starting from 0.9 pips.
Forex spreads are fixed and start from 3 pips for major currency pairs such as EUR/USD or GBP/USD.
Commodity CFD spreads start at $0.002 and the minimum margin requirements per contract are 0.5%.
For bonds, over the market spreads are set to 0.03 almost across the board with margin requirements of 1.0%.
For ETFs, over the market spreads are set to 0.04 with 5.0% margin requirements for all available options in this asset class.
TECHNOLOGY
In Summary
Great trade execution
MT4 & own proprietary platform
AvaOptions
DupliTrade
AvaTrade clients can choose between a variety of trading platforms and more ways to trade. They offer two manual trading platforms: MetaTrader 4 and AvaTradeAct, with full mobile trading support. Traders can also choose from a selection of automated trading platforms, including Mirror Trader, Zulu Trade and others.
The online broker AvaTrade offers a range of powerful trading platforms and trading tools that allow clients to trade instantly from live graphs and set a variety of orders, stops and limits to manage their own portfolio. It is also possible to monitor and trade equities on the same screen as Forex and commodity trades.
The AvaTrade platform is AvaTrade’s own proprietary software and interface that is suitable for novice and professional traders alike. It offers a variety of indicators and analytical tools that can be customised, both for testing and complex trading.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4), EAs, automated trading and advanced charting are all included.
One thing that makes AvaTrade stand out is the MetaTrader 4 Floating Spreads, which feature all the same functionalities as the standard MT4 platform but with the added advantage of allowing traders to trade on the lowest spreads available from AvaTrade’s liquidity partners on Forex, stocks, commodities and indices.
Mobile trading is available via their mobile app AvaTradeGo on all common Android and Mac devices.
AvaOptions gives traders the opportunity to experience ‘real options’ on a superior platform. Clients can trade the flexibility of Forex Options alongside Forex spot trading on OTC Vanilla put and calls. With over 40 trading instruments, the interface allows traders to create exact strategies that are suited to every trading style.
DupliTrade is a transparent and user-friendly trading platform, that allows all clients to automatically duplicate the actions or trading strategy of expert and experienced traders directly into their AvaTrade trading account.
An economic calendar is further available to keep track of all market relevant news and events.
AvaTrade offers a range of powerful trading platforms that allow clients to trade instantly from live graphs and set a variety of orders, stops and limits to manage their own portfolio. It is also possible to monitor and trade equities on the same screen as Forex and commodity trades.
Execution of Speed Comparison
CUSTOMER SERVICE AND CLIENTS
In Summary
24/5 customer support
Global presence with large client base
1 account type offering access to various trading platforms
AvaTrade has clients all over the globe and offers decent customer support 24/5 during business days through live chat, online help, email, a phone hotline and a FAQ section. Devoted customer service is available in 14 languages.
Clients can only select one retail investor account type upon registration; however, these accounts provide them with access to various trading platforms, such as MetaTrader 4, AvaTradeAct, Mirror Trader, Floating Spread and AvaOptions, on which they can conduct their trading business.
In addition to a large selection of currency pairs and commodities, AvaTrade also offers a decent range of indices from around the globe to choose from, including the Australian S&P 200 Index, UK FTSE 100 Index, US E-mini S&P 500 and US DJIA Index.
In total, more than 250 financial instruments are available to trade: More than 60 currency pairs, 19 stock CFDs, 17 commodities, 21 ETFs as well as a large selection of shares, options, etc.
A free demo account can be chosen upon sign up to test the waters for Forex trading or trading CFDs and options.
Available deposit options for all clients worldwide are credit cards (excluding Canada) and bank wire transfer. Other available deposit methods are Neteller, Skrill and Webmoney. However, these options are not available to clients based in Australia and the EU.
FOREX AND OTHER TRADING OPTIONS AT AVATRADE
In Summary
60+ currency pairs
7 cryptocurrencies
Selection of shares, ETFs & commodities
19 indices CFDs
AvaTrade offers a total of 250+ instruments to trade on: More than 60 currency pairs, 7 cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, BitcoinCash, EOS and BitcoinGold), 19 stock CFDs, 17 commodities, 21 ETFs as well as a large selection of shares, options, etc.
Traders can choose to trade the above-mentioned options on some of the world’s top markets such as the Australian S&P 200 Index, UK FTSE 100 Index, US E-mini S&P 500, US DJIA Index, Germany 30 and Hong Kong 50.
AvaTrade offers maximum leverage of up to 400:1 and 10 different funding currencies. Lot trading requires a minimum of 1.0 on Forex with the exception of Bitcoin trading, which starts at 0.10, and spreads, which start from 0.075 Ruble. Stock indices typically require lot trading sizes of 1 with the Germany Dax 30 and the Italy FTSEMIB being exceptions, where the minimum trading lot requirement is 0.10. Clients can start trading with minimum deposits starting from $100.
SPECIAL FEATURES OF AVATRADE
In Summary
Multiple trading platforms to choose from
Own proprietary platform
Fixed & floating spreads & leverage of up to 400:1
Options trading
AvaTrade offers a strong welcome bonus that is based on the client’s first deposit amount. Starting from $100 to match a $100 deposit, the tiered bonus structure reaches as high as $10,000 when the initial deposit is $50,000 or more. This is a huge bonus that is rare to find elsewhere in the world of online trading.
A tiered account structure (Silver, Gold Platinum, Ava Select) allows clients access to even more benefits. Clients who reach Ava Select status are provided with a dedicated senior account manager.
Clients have access to multiple trading platforms. One thing that makes AvaTrade stand out is the MetaTrader 4 Floating Spreads, which feature the same functionalities as the standard MT4 platform but with the added advantage of allowing traders to trade on the lowest spreads available from AvaTrade’s liquidity partners on Forex, stocks, commodities and indices. Floating Forex spreads start at 0.9 pips, and a multi-account-management platform is available.
AvaTrade offers a strong welcome bonus that is based on the client’s first deposit amount. Starting from $100 to match a $100 deposit, the tiered bonus structure reaches as high as $10,000 when the initial deposit is $50,000 or more. This is a huge bonus that is rare to find elsewhere in the world of online trading.
Max Leverage Comparison
AvaTrade is an internationally renowned online Forex broker with strong features. Offering a solid range of trading instruments, including 7 cryptocurrencies, AvaTrade’s clients can choose from an interesting and diverse range of trading platforms, including their own proprietary platform. Invetsors interested in social-trading can further utilize Zulu Trade to connect to a network of copytraders. Compared to other Australian and international Forex brokers their maximum leverage and spreads are at a very competitive but not leading level.
AvaTrade’s head office is registered in Dublin, Ireland.
The company has further offices in Milan, Paris, Tokyo, Sydney, Beijing and other locations around the globe.
AvaTrade was established by Emanuel Kronitz, Negev Nosatzki and Clal Financeand. The various entities are owned by a holding company in the British Virgin Islands.
AvaTrade clients have the following funding options available:
For all clients worldwide: credit cards (excluding Canada) and bank wire transfer. Other available deposit methods are Neteller, Skrill and Webmoney. However, these options are not available to clients based in Australia and the EU.
Yes, the group, AvaTrade, holds licenses and is regulated in various jurisdictions by their respective regulating bodies, such as the European Union by the Central Bank of Ireland, South Africa by the Financial Services Board of South Africa (FSB), Australia by ASIC, or in Japan by the Financial Services Agency (FSA), as examples.
Offices around the globe guarantee 24/5 support.
Withdrawal options include:
For all clients worldwide: credit cards (excluding Canada) and bank wire transfer. Other available deposit methods are Neteller, Skrill and Webmoney. However, these options are not available to clients based in Australia and the EU.
There are no minimum or maximum withdrawal limits
Yes, AvaTrade does accept residents of Canada.
Currently, there’s no VPS service available.
Yes, they offer an ECN Forex trading account option.
No, they are not. However, they are regulated in numerous jurisdictions around the globe, including the EU.
Yes, AvaTrade clients based in the EU are affected by the ESMA regulation and limits.
IC Markets is an ASIC regulated Forex broker with higher maximum leverage than AvaTrade and excellent trading conditions. Read our review here.