Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs AvaTrade, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of 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.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a stellar Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. It is publicly traded, which adds an additional layer of transparency for investors. Although it is not a bank, Interactive Brokers is reinforced by 9 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, ensuring a well-regulated trading environment for its users.
AvaTrade, established in 2006 and not publicly traded, still maintains a reputable status with a Trust Score of 94. Like Interactive Brokers, AvaTrade is not a bank but is supported by 4 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory framework positions AvaTrade as a trusted option for online trading, providing secure channels for users to engage in the financial markets.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers stands out in forex trading with competitive pricing, although direct comparisons are tricky due to the lack of published average spreads. During Q3 2024, the EUR/USD average spread at Interactive Brokers was 0.19 pips, translating to an effective all-in spread of 0.59 pips with the commission factored in. Forex commissions per side start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order. This rate can drop to 0.08 basis points for highly active traders. When buying and selling $100,000 worth of EUR/USD, the commission equates to about 0.40 pips, on top of prevailing spreads. Interactive Brokers earns a commission and fees rating of 5 stars and is ranked #2 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Meanwhile, AvaTrade's spreads hover near the industry average, slightly under one pip at 0.9 as of June 2024. For professional traders, AvaTrade offers competitive spreads of 0.6 pips on their Professional account, paralleling those provided by FP Markets. In the realm of commissions and fees, AvaTrade holds a 4.5-star rating and is ranked #12 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In essence, Interactive Brokers appeals to active traders seeking reduced commission rates through high trading volumes, with the ability to handle large order sizes efficiently. AvaTrade, on the other hand, provides an inviting option for both average and professional traders looking for industry-standard spreads with a slightly better edge for professionals. Whether you prioritize lower commission rates or professional-grade spreads, each broker presents distinct advantages suited to varying trading strategies and needs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade both offer forex trading through CFDs, but they differ significantly in the breadth of their investment options. Interactive Brokers boasts a staggering 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, granting traders access to a wide array of international and U.S. exchange-traded securities, such as the ability to buy actual shares like Apple (AAPL) and Vodafone (VOD). Additionally, Interactive Brokers permits the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies alongside cryptocurrency derivatives. In contrast, AvaTrade provides 1,260 tradeable symbols, with 53 forex pairs, but does not offer direct access to U.S. or international exchange-traded securities. Instead, AvaTrade focuses on CFDS and allows for cryptocurrency derivatives trading without the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies.
While Interactive Brokers does not support copy trading, it stands out with a five-star rating for its range of investments, achieving the top rank (#1) among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, AvaTrade earns a respectable four-star rating and is positioned at #32. AvaTrade does appeal to those seeking copy trading features, but for investors prioritizing a more comprehensive investment range, Interactive Brokers provides a more diversified trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade, both online brokers provide users with sophisticated trading platforms and tools essential for a comprehensive trading experience. Both brokers offer proprietary platforms, permitting direct trading from stock charts and providing web-based and Windows-based options. Additionally, they both offer free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, allowing traders to practice strategies without financial risk. AvaTrade distinguishes itself by offering integration with third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5 and social trading through DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, features not found with Interactive Brokers. However, Interactive Brokers excels in offering 85 drawing tools for charting, significantly more than AvaTrade’s 13, along with expansive watch list customization capabilities, boasting 659 columns compared to AvaTrade's 7.
While both brokers have been rated highly, Interactive Brokers slightly edges out AvaTrade with a perfect 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, in contrast to AvaTrade’s reputable 4.5-star rating. Furthermore, as per ForexBrokers.com rankings, Interactive Brokers is positioned third among 62 brokers within the Trading Platforms and Tools category, while AvaTrade holds the thirteenth spot. These distinctions highlight Interactive Brokers as a premier choice for traders seeking a richer array of technical tools and customization options, whereas AvaTrade appeals with its versatile platform integrations and social trading features.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users. Each platform provides features such as price alerts, syncing capabilities for watchlists across devices, and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. Interactive Brokers stands out with 97 technical studies for charting, compared to AvaTrade's 73. However, neither app has the functionality to auto-save chart drawings. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, making them a convenient option for traders on the go.
Interactive Brokers' mobile app holds a slightly higher user satisfaction rating, scoring 5 out of 5 stars, whereas AvaTrade is rated at 4.5 stars. Reflecting this, Interactive Brokers also ranks higher on ForexBrokers.com, positioned at #4 out of 62 brokers, compared to AvaTrade's #13 ranking. Despite these differences, both platforms ensure a flexible trading experience with a variety of useful tools accessible in their mobile applications.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Interactive Brokers stands out with its daily market commentary, which AvaTrade does not offer. Both brokers provide forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. For traders interested in technical analysis, each broker offers tools from Trading Central, yet neither includes offerings from Autochartist. Interactive Brokers also impresses with its sentiment-based trading tools and exclusive research from TipRanks, a feature AvaTrade lacks. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides research tools from Acuity Trading, such as Signal Centre, which are not available through AvaTrade.
Furthermore, both Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade ensure you stay informed with an all-inclusive economic calendar. However, when considering overall research capabilities, Interactive Brokers leads with a 5-star rating, compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars. This superior rating is highlighted by Interactive Brokers' impressive ranking as the third among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas AvaTrade holds the 34th spot. These distinctions signify a superior market research experience offered by Interactive Brokers, appealing particularly to traders seeking comprehensive tools and insights.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade both cater to beginners by providing a comprehensive range of educational resources covering forex and CFDs. Each offers more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on these subjects. Importantly, both platforms provide regular monthly webinars to foster continued learning opportunities for their clients. Furthermore, if you miss a session, the brokers have searchable archives of all previously recorded webinars. This feature allows users to access information at their own convenience.
When it comes to educational videos, both Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade provide at least ten videos tailored for beginners, ensuring that novices have ample material to get started with trading concepts. For those seeking advanced knowledge, both platforms also offer ten or more educational videos targeting experienced traders. Additionally, both brokers have investor dictionaries with definitions for over 50 essential investing terms, helping to demystify trading jargon for their users. While Interactive Brokers receives a five-star rating for its educational offerings and is ranked third among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade is not far behind with a four-star rating and an impressive second place in the same ranking. This highlights both brokers as strong contenders in the field of investor education.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than AvaTrade. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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AvaTrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Interactive Brokers provides investors with the opportunity to buy both actual delivered cryptocurrency and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas AvaTrade only offers the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrency.
Interactive Brokers and AvaTrade offer distinct options for depositing and withdrawing account funds; Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers, whereas AvaTrade provides PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.59 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | AvaTrade Review |
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