AV
Rank #5 of 10
- Central Bank of Ireland
- ASIC
- CySEC
- FSCA
- ADGM FSRA
7.4
out of 10
editorial rating
AvaTrade, headquartered in Dublin, holds licences from the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, CySEC, the FSCA, Japan’s FSA and Abu Dhabi’s FSRA. It has real strengths in education, copy trading and platform variety. Its own regulation comparison page states that its British Virgin Islands entity, which serves many international clients, is not subject to European client protections. Fees for inactive accounts and thin commission disclosure hold its cost score down.
At a glance
| Group | Ava Trade Markets Ltd and affiliates. AvaTrade says it was established in 2006 and has offices including Dublin, Ireland. It reports 100+ industry awards and 8.7M clients (self-reported). |
| Regulation | Central Bank of Ireland (EU), ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, ADGM FSRA, Japan FSA, Israel ISA, and the BVI FSC for its global entity. |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, AvaTrade WebTrader and App, AvaOptions, AvaSocial and DupliTrade copy trading. |
| Minimum deposit | 100 in the account’s base currency (USD, EUR, GBP, AUD), per AvaTrade’s help centre. |
| Pricing | Spread-based. AvaTrade shows EUR/USD from 0.9 pips as a starting point and refers to low commissions without publishing a commission table. |
| Markets | Over 50 currency pairs; 1,250+ assets on MT5. Leverage up to 400:1 depending on local regulation. |
| Availability | AvaTrade’s help centre lists the US, Belgium, India and several other jurisdictions as not accepted. It also lists the UK and New Zealand, which conflicts with other help pages, so confirm current availability. |
| Client funds | Segregated client money. The EU entity has negative balance protection and compensation via ICCL (Ireland). The BVI entity has neither, per AvaTrade’s comparison page. |
| Retail-loss disclosure | Not found on the AvaTrade pages we reviewed. |
What we like
- EU entity authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, with negative balance protection and an investor compensation scheme.
- Wide platform choice, including MT4, MT5, DupliTrade and AvaSocial copy trading.
- Substantial education: AvaAcademy courses, Trading Central analysis and a demo account with US$10,000 in virtual funds.
What to weigh up
- The BVI entity that serves many international clients is ‘not subject to European client protections’, per AvaTrade.
- Inactivity fee (50 in account currency after three months) and an annual administration fee (100 after 12 months) on inactive accounts, per its fees page.
- Only 50+ forex pairs and no detailed commission or spread tables.
Regulation and entities
| Entity | Regulator | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| AVA Trade EU Ltd | Central Bank of Ireland (C53877) | EU |
| DT Direct Investment Hub Ltd | CySEC (347/17) | Cyprus |
| Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd | ASIC (406684) | Australian residents only |
| Ava Trade Markets Ltd | BVI FSC (SIBA/L/13/1049) | Global clients |
| Ava Trade Japan K.K. | Japan FSA | Japan |
| Ava Capital Markets Pty Ltd | FSCA (45984) | South Africa |
| Ava Trade Middle East Ltd | ADGM FSRA (190018) | Abu Dhabi |
| ATrade Ltd | Israel Securities Authority | Israel |
Which entity are you joining?
AvaTrade’s regulation comparison page says the BVI entity is ‘not subject to European client protections’. Check whether you will be onboarded with the EU, Australian, South African or BVI entity, because the safeguards differ.
Costs and pricing
AvaTrade is spread-based. Its forex page shows EUR/USD from 0.9 pips as a starting point and mentions low commissions, but we did not find a commission schedule. Its fees page lists an inactivity fee of 50 (in account currency) after three months and an annual administration fee of 100 after 12 months. Leverage goes up to 400:1 depending on local regulation.
Platforms, tools and education
AvaTrade offers MT4 and MT5, its own WebTrader and mobile app, AvaOptions, and AvaSocial and DupliTrade for copy trading. Education includes AvaAcademy courses, Trading Central analysis, an economic calendar and signals. The demo account starts with US$10,000 in virtual funds, and an Islamic account and AvaProtect deal protection are listed.
Deposits and withdrawals
Cards are instant (first-time deposits up to one business day), wire transfers take up to seven days, and Skrill, Neteller and WebMoney are listed but not for EU or Australian clients. Withdrawals go back by the funding method: 24-48 hours for cards and e-wallets, up to 10 business days for wires. Deposit and withdrawal fees are not clearly published.
Regulatory record
We found no regulator fines in the last four years. Older reported actions include a 2019 fine of ILS 500,000 (about US$141,000) on AvaTrade’s Israeli arm by the Israel Securities Authority (Finance Magnates).
Who it suits
A good fit: Beginners and intermediate traders who value education, copy trading and platform choice, especially those served by the Irish, Australian or South African entities.
Look elsewhere if: Clients who would be placed on the BVI entity and want compensation-scheme cover, or traders who need published commission-based raw pricing.
How we rated it
Ratings are BrokersPulse editorial opinion, scored against the criteria in How we rate. They reflect public information as of September 2026, not live-account testing.
Sources
- AvaTrade: regulation
- AvaTrade: comparing regulation
- AvaTrade: safety of funds
- AvaTrade: fees and charges
- AvaTrade: forex
- AvaTrade: platforms
- AvaTrade: deposits and withdrawals
- Finance Magnates: 2019 Israel ISA fine
Compiled from the provider’s own pages, regulator registers and the outlets listed above in September 2026. Providers change terms often, so confirm details with the provider before you deposit.
General information for education only, not financial advice. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high risk of loss. Read the disclaimer.