AvaTrade vs Interactive Brokers
Side-by-side broker intelligence across regulation, spreads, fees, platforms, and overall model score. Category winners use transparent heuristics and should be treated as editorial guidance, not investment advice.
4.5
4.5
0 pts
Head to head
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Full comparison table
Rating
AvaTrade
4.5
Interactive Brokers
4.5
Model score
AvaTrade
80
Interactive Brokers
80
Regulation
AvaTrade
Operating since 2006, AvaTrade is highly trusted and regulated across numerous jurisdictions. It holds licenses from Tier-1 authorities globally, including ASIC (Australia), CIRO (Canada), JFSA (Japan), and the CBI (Ireland) in the EU.
Interactive Brokers
Highly trusted and authorized by eight Tier-1 regulators. Key regulatory bodies include the SEC and FINRA (USA), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), IIROC (Canada), MAS (Singapore), and JFSA (Japan).
Spreads
AvaTrade
The broker features fixed and floating spreads depending on the platform. The standard EUR/USD spread typically hovers around 0.9 pips. While competitive for beginners, high-volume traders may find lower all-in costs with raw-spread competitors. Professional accounts (under ESMA) can access tighter spreads down to 0.6 pips.
Interactive Brokers
Instead of marking up spreads, IBKR aggregates liquidity from top global banks to provide raw, interbank spreads. Orders are executed using IBKR's SmartRouting technology to ensure the best available prices.
Fees
AvaTrade
AvaTrade primarily uses a commission-free pricing model, meaning standard trading costs are built entirely into the spread. They do charge inactivity fees ($50 after three consecutive months of non-use) and a significant administration fee after 12 months of dormancy.
Interactive Brokers
Excellent transparent pricing structure. There are no monthly inactivity fees or account maintenance fees. Forex trading uses a commission-based model starting at 0.20 basis points (0.002%) of trade value, with a typical minimum of $2.00 per order ($4.00 round turn).
Platforms
AvaTrade
The platform offering is incredibly diverse. It features the MetaTrader suite (MT4/MT5), alongside AvaTrade's excellent proprietary software: the AvaTrade WebTrader, the highly-rated AvaTrade App (mobile), AvaFutures, and AvaOptions.
Interactive Brokers
ncludes the advanced Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop platform, the streamlined IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, and the beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader app. It also supports TradingView for advanced charting.
Account types
AvaTrade
AvaTrade keeps things simple with a standard Retail account (Standard). They also offer Premium/VIP tiers based on deposit size and trading volume, Islamic (swap-free) accounts, and Professional accounts for qualifying European traders looking for higher leverage.
Interactive Brokers
Offers Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA, and various Institutional/Corporate accounts. Pricing is broadly split into IBKR Lite (commission-free for U.S. equities) and IBKR Pro (designed for active traders with advanced order routing).
Min deposit
AvaTrade
$100 to open a standard account.
Interactive Brokers
$0 for standard individual cash or retirement accounts. (Note: Accessing margin trading requires a minimum net liquidating value of $2,000, and institutional/advisor accounts require $10,000).
| Topic | AvaTrade | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Model score | 80 | 80 |
| Regulation | Operating since 2006, AvaTrade is highly trusted and regulated across numerous jurisdictions. It holds licenses from Tier-1 authorities globally, including ASIC (Australia), CIRO (Canada), JFSA (Japan), and the CBI (Ireland) in the EU. | Highly trusted and authorized by eight Tier-1 regulators. Key regulatory bodies include the SEC and FINRA (USA), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), IIROC (Canada), MAS (Singapore), and JFSA (Japan). |
| Spreads | The broker features fixed and floating spreads depending on the platform. The standard EUR/USD spread typically hovers around 0.9 pips. While competitive for beginners, high-volume traders may find lower all-in costs with raw-spread competitors. Professional accounts (under ESMA) can access tighter spreads down to 0.6 pips. | Instead of marking up spreads, IBKR aggregates liquidity from top global banks to provide raw, interbank spreads. Orders are executed using IBKR's SmartRouting technology to ensure the best available prices. |
| Fees | AvaTrade primarily uses a commission-free pricing model, meaning standard trading costs are built entirely into the spread. They do charge inactivity fees ($50 after three consecutive months of non-use) and a significant administration fee after 12 months of dormancy. | Excellent transparent pricing structure. There are no monthly inactivity fees or account maintenance fees. Forex trading uses a commission-based model starting at 0.20 basis points (0.002%) of trade value, with a typical minimum of $2.00 per order ($4.00 round turn). |
| Platforms | The platform offering is incredibly diverse. It features the MetaTrader suite (MT4/MT5), alongside AvaTrade's excellent proprietary software: the AvaTrade WebTrader, the highly-rated AvaTrade App (mobile), AvaFutures, and AvaOptions. | ncludes the advanced Trader Workstation (TWS) desktop platform, the streamlined IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, and the beginner-friendly IBKR GlobalTrader app. It also supports TradingView for advanced charting. |
| Account types | AvaTrade keeps things simple with a standard Retail account (Standard). They also offer Premium/VIP tiers based on deposit size and trading volume, Islamic (swap-free) accounts, and Professional accounts for qualifying European traders looking for higher leverage. | Offers Individual, Joint, Trust, IRA, and various Institutional/Corporate accounts. Pricing is broadly split into IBKR Lite (commission-free for U.S. equities) and IBKR Pro (designed for active traders with advanced order routing). |
| Min deposit | $100 to open a standard account. | $0 for standard individual cash or retirement accounts. (Note: Accessing margin trading requires a minimum net liquidating value of $2,000, and institutional/advisor accounts require $10,000). |