AvaTrade
Barclays
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while Barclays was established in 2011 and is based in United Kingdom. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while Barclays is regulated by Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; Barclays has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $0 at Barclays.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $0 |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland, Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC), Financial Services Authority (FSA), Financial Stability Board (FSB), British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI) | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2011 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | United Kingdom |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and Barclays, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Barclays has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $250 at AvaTrade). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Overall, Barclays scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $0 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Barclays supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. AvaTrade supports social and copy trading features, which Barclays does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Mirror Trader, ZuluTrade, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps | Desktop, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and Barclays compare. Barclays runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Barclays publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Barclays maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Barclays scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | No | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | No | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. AvaTrade accepts 4 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Neteller), while Barclays supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). AvaTrade uniquely supports PayPal and Neteller among the two brokers. AvaTrade scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | Yes | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both AvaTrade and Barclays offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and Barclays supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Barclays |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |