AvaTrade
Virtual Brokers
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in The British Virgin Islands, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. AvaTrade holds licences including Central Bank of Ireland, while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. AvaTrade serves 200,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $250 at AvaTrade and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| 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 Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 2006 | 2008 |
| Country | The British Virgin Islands | Canada |
| Clients | 200,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between AvaTrade and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Virtual Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1000 (vs $250 at AvaTrade). Virtual Brokers charges withdrawal fees while AvaTrade does not, giving AvaTrade an edge for frequent withdrawers. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; AvaTrade does not. Overall, AvaTrade scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $250 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers 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 | Virtual 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 | 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 Virtual Brokers compare. Virtual Brokers runs regular live webinars; AvaTrade does not. Both provide video tutorials. Virtual Brokers publishes daily market commentary; AvaTrade does not. Both integrate third-party research tools. Virtual Brokers maintains an archive of past webinars for on-demand viewing. Virtual Brokers scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Virtual 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 Virtual 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 | Virtual 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 Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. AvaTrade supports 6 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving AvaTrade broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | AvaTrade | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, Italian, German, French, Greek, and Hebrew | English, and Chinese |