AvaTrade
Bridges Financial Services
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while Bridges Financial Services was established in 2014 and is based in Australia. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while Bridges Financial Services is regulated by ABN 60 003 474 977 among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; Bridges Financial Services has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $100 at Bridges Financial Services.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | ABN 60 003 474 977, AFSL No. 240837 |
| Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | Australia |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and Bridges Financial Services, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Bridges Financial Services has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $250 at AvaTrade). Bridges Financial Services charges withdrawal fees while AvaTrade does not, giving AvaTrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. Bridges Financial Services charges deposit fees; AvaTrade does not. Overall, Bridges Financial Services scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Bridges Financial Services supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | MetaTrader 4 |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and Bridges Financial Services compare. Bridges Financial Services runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Bridges Financial Services publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Bridges Financial Services maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Bridges Financial Services scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bridges Financial Services 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 | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Bridges Financial Services offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and Bridges Financial Services supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Bridges Financial Services |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |