AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers Compared (2024)

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AvaTrade and Interactive Brokers are online forex brokers that offer their trading services to traders and investors. AvaTrade is a regulated and trusted forex broker. It is regulated by multiple regulatory authorities including FCA, ASIC, CySEC, BaFin, DFSA, CMA, and SCB. Similarly, Interactive Brokers is also a regulated broker which is regulated by SEC, CFTC, FCA, FSCS, FINRA, FCM,  IIROC, MAS, FSA. Both the brokers have their own strengths and weaknesses.  

In this article, we will review and compare the brokerage services offered by AvaTrade and Interactive Brokers. We will explore options such as regulations, reputations, fees, features, leverage, and more. Additionally, we will analyze and rate the brokers based on macro and micro categories and options. By reviewing these aspects, you will get a clear idea of which broker suits you best for your trading journey.

AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: In a Nutshell

AvaTrade

Established in 2006, Avatrade is a forex and CFD broker based in Dublin, Ireland. The company offers a wide range of trading instruments including forex, commodities, stock indices, stocks, exchange-traded funds, options, cryptocurrencies, and bonds. The broker is regulated across 9 jurisdictions AvaTrade is regulated across 9 jurisdictions including ASIC, CySEC, IIROC, ADGM/FSRA, CBI, ISA, FSCA, FFAJ, and FSC in BVI. AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, AvaTradeGo, AvaOptions, and WebTrader platforms for the diverse needs and preferences of the traders. To learn more, you can read our review of Avatrade.

AvaTrade at a Glance

AvaTrade at a Glance
  • Founded In: 2006
  • Founder: Emanuel Kronitz, Negev Nosatzki, Clal Finance
  • Headquarters: Dublin, Ireland
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Maximum Leverage: 1:30 (for retail clients), 1:400 (for Non-EU, and professional accounts) (varies by region and account type)
  • Regulations: CBI, ASIC, JFSA, FSA, FSCA, ADGM, ISA, KNF, IIROC
  • Trading platform: Trading Platforms: MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade
  • Account Types: Retail, Professional, Islamic, Spread Betting (UK only)
  • Trading Style: Trading Styles: Scalping, Hedging, Swing Trading, Day Trading, Automated Trading
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, Perfect Money
  • US Traders:  Not Accepted 

Interactive Brokers

Founded in New York, USA in 1978 by Thomas Peterffy, Interactive Brokers has grown into a global brand with over 2.1 million clients. It is an American Multinational brokerage firm headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut.  It has become one of the leading online trading solutions for traders, investors, and advisors. The brokers give access to over 5000+ tradable assets including forex, CFDs, warrants, ETFs Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, and Bonds. To trade online, IBKR offers WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader (MobileApp), and TWS trading platforms. To learn more about IBKR, you can read our review of Interactive Brokers

Interactive Brokers Overview

Interactive Brokers Overview
  • Founded In: 1978
  • Founder: Chairman Thomas Peterffy
  • Headquarters: Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
  • Minimum Deposit: None
  • Maximum Leverage: 500:1
  • Regulations: SEC , CFTC ,FCA, FSCS, ASIC , IIROC , FSA
  • Trading platform: WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader
  • Account Types: Family Office Account ,UGMA/UTMA, IRA, Trust ,Joint, Individuals
  • Payment Options: Bank Wire (BankTransfer/SWIFT), ACH (Automated Clearing House), BPAY, Check, Direct Debit, Local Bank Deposits, Transfer from Existing Broker
  • US Traders:  Accepted 

Avatrade vs : Interactive Brokers Features

Avatrade

  • Trading Instruments: 1,250+ popular assets, across Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, and Options.
  • Maximum leverage: 1: 30 for EU, UK, and Australian clients, 1:400 for global clients
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Account Types: Two ( Retail account, Professional Account) 
  • Trading Fees: Starting from 0.9 pips on forex 
  • MAM:  Available 
  • PAMM: No 
  • Scalping: Allowed 
  • News Trading: Allowed. However, spreads widen during major news 
  • EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed

Interactive Brokers

  • Trading Instruments: 5000+Trading instruments including forex, CFDs, warrants, ETFs Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, stocks, options, and Bonds
  • Maximum leverage: 50:1  for US Clients, 30:1  for EU clients, and 400:1 for global clients. 
  • Minimum Deposit: The Interactive Brokers minimum deposit is $0 for a cash account, $2,000 for a T Reg margin account, and $110,000 for a portfolio margin account. The minimum deposit is subject to change depending on the trading account opened and the base currency selected.
  • Trading Fees: spreads starting from as low as 0.1 pips, Stock fees USD 0.005 per share. 
  • PAMM/ MAM:  Not Available
  • Scalping: Allowed 
  • News Trading: Allowed
  • EA/ Robot Trading: Allowed with Capitalise.ai

AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Side By Side Comparison

AvaTrade
Interactive Broker
Product
Founded In
Founded In
2006
1978
Founded By
Founded By
Negev Shekel Nosatzki
Chairman Thomas Peterffy
Headquarters
Headquarters
Dublin, Ireland
Greenwich, Connecticut, United States
Regulations
Regulations
ASIC, FSCA, FSA, FFAJ ,CBI
SEC , CFTC ,FCA, FSCS
Min Deposit
Min Deposit
$100
None
Max Leverage
Max Leverage
30:1
40:1
Tradable Assets
Tradable Assets
Metals, Commodities, Stocks, FX Options, Oil, ETFs, Options, Crypto currencies, CFDs, Indexes, Shares, Spread Betting, Indices, Forex, Bonds
Stocks, options, futures, futures options, SSFs, ETFs, EFPs, currencies, fixed income, warrants and funds
Fees
Fees
As low as 0.9 pips
Spread from
Platforms and Tools
Platforms and Tools
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaOptions, DupliTrade, ZuluTrade, WebTrader
WebTrader, FIX API, MobileTrader
US Traders
US Traders
Not Allowed
Allowed

AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers: Pros and Cons

AvaTrade Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Free deposit and withdrawal options
  • Great research tools
  • a wide range of trading instruments
  • ability to trade from mobile devices
  • Unique social trading features
  • Impressive educational offerings
  • Negative balance protection
  • Does not charge any fees for deposits or Withdrawals
  • Offers commission-free trading
  • Offers negative balance protection
  • Supports multiple trading platforms and EAs
Cons
  • High inactivity fees
  • Not regulated by the FCA
  • Does not accept U.S. clients
  • No guaranteed stop-loss
  • Do not have 24/7 customer support

Interactive Brokers Pros & Cons

Pros
  • IBK is a Forex and Stock Broker 
  • Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
  • Regulated by top regulators like  ASIC, FCA, FSA, SFC, IIROC 
  • A wide range of products offered warrants, ETFs, Options, Futures, Mutual Funds, Bonds 
  • Over 18,000 no-transaction-fee mutual funds.
  • No monthly inactivity fee
  • Low trading fees and high interest (up to 4.58% for USD) on cash balances
  • Access to international markets and exchanges 
  • Mobile apps are convenient for individual investors.
Cons
  • Complicated account opening 
  • Learning Curve for Beginners
  • The maximum leverage is only 1:40 
  •  No Metatrader platforms (MT4, MT5) offered 
  • High minimum deposit requirements for some account types 
  • Interactive Advisors (Robo-advisor feature) is only available for US customers
  • No fixed spread is available 

AvaTrade Vs Interactive Brokers: Our Scores and Ratings

We rated both brokers, AvaTrade and Interactive Brokers, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 0.1 increments. To achieve a comprehensive rating, we broadly grouped all services offered by brokers into 6 macro categories and assigned percentage weights to them. Each macro category is subdivided into several data points which contributes to the total score of 1.0-10.0 assigned to each macro category. Since all categories are not equally important, our weight percentage plays a significant role in assessing the broker accurately. For example, Regulation and Security contributes a total weight of 40% to the whole ratings because this is the most important rating category. To learn more, read our methodology.

AvaTrade :

8.7
AvaTrade Score
Regulation and Security (40%)9.8
Fees and Commissions (20%)7
Trading (15%)7.5
Trading tools (10%)9
Customer Support (10%)9
Trading Education (5%)9.2

Interactive Brokers:

9.1
Interactive Brokers Score
Regulation and Security (40%)10
Fees and Commissions (20%)8
Trading (15%)9
Trading tools (10%)7
Customer Support (10%)9.5
Trading Education (5%)9

Final Verdict :

Written by

Jason Paine is a forex trader, researcher, and tech enthusiast. He is passionate about financial markets and cutting-edge technology. With a dynamic 16-year trading career, he's on a mission to guide fellow traders. Having navigated diverse forex brokers, Jason shares his insights at Brokersway to bridge the gap between traders and the right brokerage.

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