AvaTrade
Interactive Brokers
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Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while Interactive Brokers was established in 1977 and is based in United States. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while Interactive Brokers is regulated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; Interactive Brokers has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $1 at Interactive Brokers.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| 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) | the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, ASX 24 and Chi-X Australia. Is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA register entry number 208159. Is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427). Is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) under no. H-EN-III-623/2020. Is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Is a member of NSE, BSE, SEBI. Regn. No. SEBI Registration No. INZ000217730; NSDL: IN-DP-NSDL-301-2008. CIN-U67120MH2007FTC170004. Is regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No.187). Is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS100917). |
| Founded | 2006 | 1977 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | United States |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and Interactive Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $250 at AvaTrade). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while AvaTrade does not, giving AvaTrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | Yes |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Interactive Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how AvaTrade and Interactive Brokers compare. Interactive Brokers runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Interactive Brokers publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Interactive Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Interactive Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers 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 | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Interactive Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and Interactive Brokers supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |