AvaTrade
BCS Forex
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while BCS Forex was established in 2016 and is based in Cyprus. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while BCS Forex is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; BCS Forex has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $100 at BCS Forex.
| Feature | AvaTrade | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| 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) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2016 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | Cyprus |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and BCS Forex, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. BCS Forex has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at AvaTrade). BCS Forex charges withdrawal fees while AvaTrade does not, giving AvaTrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. BCS Forex applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; AvaTrade does not. Overall, BCS Forex scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while BCS Forex supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. AvaTrade supports social and copy trading features, which BCS Forex does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | AvaTrade | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | MT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and BCS Forex compare. BCS Forex runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. BCS Forex publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. BCS Forex maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. BCS Forex scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 BCS Forex 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 | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| 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 BCS Forex offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and BCS Forex supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | BCS Forex |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |