Trading involves risk. 73% of retail CFD accounts lose money. Capital at risk.
AFM Category Ratings
Overall Score
Commissions & Fees
Range of Investments
★★★★★ Platforms & Tools
★★★★★ Mobile Trading
★★★★★ Education
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
🔍 AFM tests all brokers with live accounts — real spreads measured during London and New York session hours.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with AvaTrade.
01
Pros & Cons
Pros
Regulated by 7+ authorities globally
MT4, MT5, AvaOptions, AvaFutures, WebTrader all available
Strong AvaAcademy educational content with quizzes
Copy trading: ZuluTrade, DupliTrade, AvaSocial
Low $100 minimum deposit
Cons
Fixed spreads — wider than ECN alternatives
$50 inactivity fee after 3 months
No raw spread account for retail clients
AvaOptions desktop platform has outdated design
02
AFM Verdict
Ezekiel Chew · AFM Founder
Founder, Asia Forex Mentor · Tested live July 2025
“AvaTrade is a strong first broker for OCP graduates. The regulation is excellent — 7+ licences including ASIC and CBI. Platform variety means you can start on MT4 and grow into AvaOptions. Once you're consistently profitable and ready to scale, move to a raw spread ECN broker. Use AvaTrade to build your live trading habits.”
8.4
AFM Trust Score / 10
Diamond Partner · Best for Beginners 2026
03
AFM Trust Score Breakdown
Regulation Strength (30%)
9.0
Execution Quality (25%)
8.0
Spread Transparency (20%)
7.5
Customer Support (15%)
8.5
Trader Retention (10%)
8.2
04
AFM Trust Score Breakdown
Regulator
Jurisdiction
Tier
Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
EU / Ireland
Tier 1
ASIC
Australia
Tier 1
JFSA
Japan
Tier 1
CIRO
Canada
Tier 1
FSCA
South Africa
Tier 2
ADGM
Abu Dhabi
Tier 2
05
Fees & Spreads
Instrument
AvaTrade Spread
Industry Avg.
Assessment
EUR/USD
0.9 pips (fixed)
0.6–1.2 pips
Average
GBP/USD
1.5 pips (fixed)
1.0–2.0 pips
Good
Gold (XAU/USD)
0.34
0.25–0.50
Good
Inactivity Fee
$50/month after 3mo
Varies
Watch out for
Ezekiel's Expert Take
“The fixed spreads make AvaTrade predictable — no widening during FOMC or NFP. Useful for beginners still learning entry management. Watch the inactivity fee if you're a swing trader who steps away from the market.”
Ezekiel Chew · Asia Forex Mentor
06
Trading Platforms
Platform
Available
Notes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4)
Yes
Desktop, web, mobile
MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
Yes
Supports futures trading
AvaTradeGO (Mobile)
Yes
Proprietary iOS & Android
WebTrader
Yes
Browser-based, 90 indicators
AvaOptions
Yes
Forex options — $1,000 min. deposit
ZuluTrade / DupliTrade
Yes
Copy trading
07
Video Review & Guides
Prefer to watch? Check out Ezekiel's full breakdown and platform walkthrough for AvaTrade.
08
Frequently Asked Questions
Is AvaTrade safe and regulated?
Yes. AvaTrade holds 9 regulatory licences including Tier-1 authorisations from ASIC, CBI, JFSA, and CIRO — among the most regulated retail brokers globally.
What is the minimum deposit?
$100 USD — accessible for traders opening their first live account after completing AFM's One Core Program.
Is AvaTrade good for OCP traders?
It's a strong starting point. Well-regulated, beginner-friendly. For advanced OCP traders optimising execution at scale on 4H/daily charts, a raw spread ECN broker will be more cost-efficient.
Is there an inactivity fee?
Yes — $50/month after 3 months of inactivity, rising to $100 after 12 months. Factor this in if you're a swing trader who steps away periodically.
09
Final Thoughts
AvaTrade stands out for its platform breadth, strong multi-jurisdictional regulation, and excellent educational content — AFM's Best for Beginners award 2026. For traders new to live accounts, it's a reliable, well-regulated starting point.
For experienced OCP traders optimising execution costs at scale, this is a stepping stone. Once volume warrants it, move to a raw spread ECN environment.
Trader Reviews
What AFM traders say about AvaTrade
4.3
Based on 47 reviews
Marcus R.
Malaysia · March 2025
Started with AvaTrade after finishing OCP. ASIC regulation gave me confidence for my first live account. Spreads are wider than IC Markets but that's expected for fixed. AvaTradeGO app is clean and easy on mobile.
✓ Verified AFM Student
Sarah L.
Singapore · February 2025
Good broker for starting out. Support responded on live chat within 5 minutes. Watch the inactivity fee — I took 4 months off swing trading and got charged. Important to know as an OCP trader.
✓ Verified AFM Student
Ahmad K.
Philippines · January 2025
Used AvaTrade for 8 months after OCP. No issues with deposits or withdrawals. MT4 execution slightly slower than IC Markets but fine for 4H and daily chart setups.