AvaTrade is a CFD broker founded in 2006 and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. It is regulated in several jurisdictions and offers its own app alongside MetaTrader. Here we look at its regulation, products, costs and the points to check.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This review is for information only and is not investment advice.
AvaTrade at a glance
| Founded | 2006, Dublin, Ireland |
| Main regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSA Japan, ADGM FSRA, ISA Israel, FSCA, CMA Kenya; BVI FSC (offshore) |
| Platforms | AvaTrade app, WebTrader, MT4, MT5, AvaOptions |
| Minimum deposit | 100 (USD/EUR/GBP/AUD); higher for AvaOptions |
| Pricing | Spread-based |
Regulation and safety
AvaTrade lists the following main entities on its regulation page:
- AVA Trade EU Ltd: Central Bank of Ireland (EU clients).
- Ava Capital Markets Australia Pty Ltd: ASIC.
- Ava Trade Japan K.K.: Financial Services Agency, Japan.
- Ava Trade Middle East Ltd: ADGM FSRA, Abu Dhabi.
- ATrade Ltd: Israel Securities Authority.
- Ava Capital Markets (Pty) Ltd: FSCA South Africa; Ava Trade Kenya Ltd: CMA Kenya.
- Ava Trade Markets Ltd: BVI FSC (offshore). AvaTrade notes that non-EU entities do not carry EU retail protections.
Licence details above are as stated by AvaTrade. Always check the firm and website on the regulator’s official register before you open an account, and confirm which entity your account will be held with. Regulation does not protect you against trading losses. See our guide: How to check if a broker is legitimate.
Products and platforms
- CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, commodities and crypto.
- FX options through AvaOptions.
- Platforms: AvaTrade app, WebTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and AvaOptions.
Accounts and fees
- Spread-based pricing; AvaTrade states EUR/USD spreads “as low as 0.9” pips.
- Minimum deposit: 100 in USD, EUR, GBP or AUD.
- Inactivity fee: 50 after 3 months without activity, according to AvaTrade.
- Administration fee: 100 after 12 months without activity.
- Overnight charges apply to leveraged positions.
Fees, spreads and minimum deposits vary by region and account type and can change at any time. Check AvaTrade’s current pricing pages for your country before trading.
Leverage
EU and other regulated retail clients face caps such as 30:1 on major forex pairs and 2:1 on crypto. Clients of the offshore entity can access higher leverage. Higher leverage increases both potential gains and losses. Read Can you lose more than you invest in forex?.
Things to be aware of
- Inactivity and administration fees can quickly reduce a dormant account.
- Past regulatory actions include fines by the Israel Securities Authority (2019) and an administrative penalty from the Ontario Securities Commission (2019).
- Clients outside the EU may be served by entities with fewer protections.
- Do not confuse AvaTrade with similarly named firms that appear on regulator warning lists.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Regulated in many jurisdictions
- Own app plus MetaTrader
- FX options available
- Spread-only pricing is simple to understand
Cons
- High inactivity and administration fees
- Spreads not the tightest
- Offshore entity for some regions
- CFDs only for shares (no real share ownership)
Who might consider AvaTrade?
AvaTrade may suit traders who want a broadly regulated broker, a choice between its own app and MetaTrader, or access to FX options, and who trade often enough to avoid inactivity fees.
Summary
AvaTrade has a long track record and wide regulatory coverage. The main drawbacks are its inactivity charges and the fact that protections depend on which entity you join.
Information in this review was checked against AvaTrade’s published information and public regulatory records in November 2026. Details change, so always confirm the current terms on the broker’s own website and the regulator’s register.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged forex are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This review is for information only and is not investment advice.