My AvaTrade Platform Review (April 2025)

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Founded in 2006, AvaTrade is an online broker specialising in CFD trading and vanilla options. Present in the markets for over 15 years, it is regulated by several recognised financial authorities including the Central Bank of Ireland and ASIC in Australia.

I've spent several months thoroughly testing AvaTrade, analyzing its tools, fees, and the quality of its user experience in general, with the aim of answering these questions: Is AvaTrade reliable? What are its advantages and disadvantages? Is it suitable for novice traders or experienced investors? What are its features compared to other regulated brokers in South Africa?

To get a clearer picture, I examined every aspect of the broker: registration and account opening, fees and trading conditions, diversity of available assets, platform ergonomics, analysis tools and services offered to traders.

Here is my complete review of AvaTrade in comparison to other online brokers that I have tested.

What to think of AvaTrade?

My general opinion on AvaTrade

After several months of testing, I can say that AvaTrade is a reliable and well-structured broker, especially suited to active traders who want to speculate via CFDs. What I particularly appreciated was the diversity of platforms: MetaTrader 4 and 5 for classic trading, AvaTradeGO for mobile (fluid and ergonomic), and AvaOptions for working on more complex strategies with vanilla options.

The broker is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland and ASIC, and properly registered with the FSCA, which immediately reassured me. The rating of 4.5/5 on Trustpilot (based on over 9,000 reviews) also reflects this solidity.

On the assets side, there is access to over 1,250 instruments – Forex, shares, indices, commodities, cryptos – only via CFD. It is therefore an environment clearly designed for short-term trading with leverage. If you are looking to invest long-term in physical shares or ETFs, this will not be the right platform. I advise you in this case to turn to a broker like eToro or an online broker like Degiro.

Finally, the spreads are competitive (0.9 pip on EUR/USD in standard), and the absence of direct commissions makes the trading experience simple to follow.

=> In summary, if like me you trade regularly and are looking for a serious platform with a good range of tools, AvaTrade is an option that I recommend.

Which trader profiles is AvaTrade aimed at?

In my opinion, AvaTrade is particularly suitable for: 

=> For beginner traders who want to train and take their first steps in the world of trading with personalized support from a dedicated advisor and the possibility of accessing a free demo account giving access to a fictitious capital of R 10 000. Beginner traders also benefit from the possibility of practicing copy trading and copying the strategies of the best traders with the Duplitrade and Zulutrade platforms. Finally, AvaTrade also provides new traders with webinars, guides and market analysis. 

=> For active and regular traders with a wide selection of CFD assets, competitive spreads, and no commission on transactions. The MetaTrader 4 & 5 platforms, as well as the AvaTrade Go app, also offer fast order execution and advanced risk management tools ideal for swing trading and day trading.

=> For copy traders with DupliTrade and ZuluTrade platforms accessible at no extra cost.

However, AvaTrade will not be suitable for long-term investors who will not find stocks or ETFs for direct purchase, nor for scalpers and high-frequency traders who may be hampered by certain spreads slightly above average.

AvaTrade in a few seconds is :

My opinion on the security and reliability of the broker AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a broker that I found particularly reassuring to use, especially thanks to the quality of its regulation and the clarity of its commitments in terms of fund protection. Here are the key elements to remember:

My opinion on the fees, spreads and commissions applied on AvaTrade

From my experience, AvaTrade offers simple and fairly competitive pricing, especially if you are looking to avoid fixed fees. The broker does not charge any commissions on CFDs, which makes understanding the fees clearer: everything goes through the spreads. For me, this is a real strong point, especially for active traders who want to keep control of their costs.

I also appreciated that Copy Trading is completely free, whether via AvaSocial, ZuluTrade or DupliTrade. This allows you to follow other traders without additional fees, which is far from the case with all brokers.

Now, let's look together at the fees item by item to see what it gives concretely.

What are the account fees?

I found the conditions to be quite fair overall. The minimum deposit of R1,800 remains accessible, especially compared to brokers like FXCM or Pepperstone. Withdrawals are free, which is rare and appreciable. 

However, the inactivity fees surprised me: R900 every 3 months is clearly above average.

Tip #1

Avoid inactivity fees easily. If you don't trade regularly, consider placing an order or withdrawing your funds before the 3-month period of inactivity. Personally, I simply open a small position or withdraw my balance so as not to lose R2000 unnecessarily per year.

What are the fees on stocks and ETFs?

AvaTrade does not offer direct purchase of stocks or ETFs. All these assets are only negotiable as CFDs, which implies specific fees related to this type of product.

If your goal is to hold stocks or ETFs directly for the long term, AvaTrade will not be suitable. Personally, for this type of investment, I prefer eToro or DEGIRO. On the other hand, for short-term trading with leverage, the fees at AvaTrade remain competitive.

What are the fees on cryptocurrencies?

At AvaTrade, cryptocurrency trading is done exclusively via CFDs. No actual purchase, no wallet, and therefore no custody or transfer fees like on a traditional exchange.

Personally, I found the fees reasonable for short-term trading, but if you are looking to buy and hold your cryptos, it is better to go through a specialised platform like Binance or Kraken.

AvaTrade remains a good option if you want to speculate on price variations with leverage (up to x2 for retail clients in South Africa).

What are the CFD fees?

Overall, I found AvaTrade's spreads to be very reasonable, especially on Forex and indices. On gold, oil and cryptos, the conditions remain competitive, even if some specialized brokers offer a slightly tighter spread. What I appreciated is that everything is clear and displayed in advance: no nasty surprises. For short-term strategies, it's a solid environment.

✅Good to know

The maximum leverage depends on the asset and is subject to local regulations: in South Africa, it varies depending on the specific asset and regulatory requirements.

Overnight fees apply to CFDs for all positions held open after market close. These fees vary depending on the underlying asset and market conditions.

My opinion on the assets & markets available on AvaTrade

I found AvaTrade's offer to be well-balanced for a CFD broker. The choice of assets is largely sufficient to build strategies on the main asset classes, including Forex, indices and international stocks. The addition of vanilla options via AvaOptions is a real plus if you have a more technical profile, as few general brokers offer this type of instrument.

That being said, if you are looking to invest long-term in physical stocks or ETFs, AvaTrade will not be suitable. Here, everything is designed for active leveraged trading. Personally, I have used it for Forex and indices, and I found the market depth and responsiveness to be very good.

Vanilla Options on AvaTrade

One of the aspects of AvaTrade that intrigued me the most initially was the ability to trade vanilla options, a product rarely offered by classic CFD brokers. I tested this feature via their dedicated platform AvaOptions, and I must say that if you have a slightly more technical profile, it's a powerful tool.

Vanilla options allow you to speculate or hedge on Forex pairs (and some precious metals such as gold or silver), by choosing a strike price and an expiration date. Unlike CFDs, you can structure complex strategies (such as straddles, strangles or spreads), which gives more flexibility in risk management.

The AvaOptions platform is well-designed: clear interface, volatility charts, premium analysis, automatic calculation of potential P&L... everything is there to build your scenarios. But be careful, this is not a product for beginners: it is better to have some solid basics in risk management and market reading before you start.

My opinion on the platform

Frankly, I found AvaTrade to be very comprehensive on the platform side. If you are already familiar with MetaTrader, you will find your way around immediately. For those who prefer a more modern interface, AvaTrade GO does the job well, especially on the go. Order placement is smooth: I choose my asset, I set my stops, leverage, and off it goes. Special mention to the AvaOptions platform if you want to test more advanced strategies with vanilla options.

Tip #2

Test the demo before risking your capital. With R1,800,000 virtual funds on the demo account, I was able to try out the different order types and refine my settings without pressure. This is ideal for understanding the impact of leverage or Forex volatility before going live. A really useful break-in period, especially if you are new to MetaTrader or options.

Customer Reviews: What Users Think of AvaTrade

AvaTrade enjoys an excellent reputation with its users, with an average of 4.5/5 on over 9,000 reviews on Trustpilot. The most frequently mentioned positive points are the quality of customer service, the speed of withdrawals, and the ease of use of the AvaTrade GO platform. Many also appreciate the smooth registration process and the availability of advisors.

On the criticism side, the inactivity fees (R900 after 3 months) are regularly mentioned as a deterrent, especially for occasional users. Some comments also mention longer delays for account validation, especially during periods of high demand.

Examples of customer reviews:

• Jean-Luc (20 February 2024) « Top-notch customer service. Quick and efficient response by telephone. Very satisfied with the follow-up. »
• Mickaël (15 March 2024) « Intuitive and easy-to-use application. Ideal for beginners in trading. I recommend it! »
• Marc (3 January 2024) « I requested a withdrawal on a Monday, the money was in my bank account on Wednesday. Nothing to complain about. »

Account opening, deposits and withdrawals on AvaTrade

Account opening

Opening an account with AvaTrade is 100% online and quite fast. In a few minutes, you can create a demo account and start exploring the platform.

Steps to open an account:

• Fill out the registration form: name, email, phone number and password.
• Access the demo account: R1,600,000 fictitious funds available without deposit.
• Complete the profile: choose the type of account, questionnaire about your trading experience.
• Verify your identity: send a proof of identity + proof of address (less than 3 months old).
• Receive validation: generally within 24 to 72 hours.
• Make a first deposit: minimum R1,600 by credit card, bank transfer, Skrill, Neteller or PayPal.

✅ Good to know

You can use the demo account even before validation, allowing you to test AvaTrade's tools without obligation.

Deposits and withdrawals on AvaTrade

Accepted currencies: EUR, USD, GBP, AUD (automatic conversion if needed)

Tip #3

Deposit via card or e-wallet for faster transactions. For immediate credit and the ability to react quickly to market opportunities, I recommend using a bank card or an e-wallet like PayPal or Skrill. Personally, I avoid transfers, which are too slow when timing is tight.

Types of Accounts Available on AvaTrade

AvaTrade is a broker specializing in CFD trading. It does not allow the direct purchase of shares or ETFs via a tax-advantaged savings plan or a standard securities account. All instruments are accessible via CFDs or vanilla options.

✅ Please note

 The Standard account is the most common at AvaTrade, with access to all CFD instruments and no commission fees. The Professional account is reserved for traders who meet certain criteria (experience, available capital, trading frequency).

Conclusion: Should you invest with AvaTrade?

After several weeks of testing AvaTrade, I can say that it is a reliable broker, well-regulated, and delivers on its performance promises. I particularly appreciated the user-friendliness of the AvaTrade GO application, the quality of the tools offered on MetaTrader and WebTrader, as well as the copy trading options with ZuluTrade and DupliTrade. For those who like to go further, the AvaOptions platform also allows you to embark on more advanced strategies via vanilla options.

Of course, the fact that it only offers CFDs may deter some long-term investors who want to hold securities directly. But if you are an active trader, with dynamic management of your positions, AvaTrade offers competitive spreads, good execution and a generally solid trading environment. Customer service in English is a real plus, especially when compared to other brokers who are often less accessible.

P. Laurore

Finance expert

Co-founder of HelloSafe and holder of a Master's degree in finance, Pauline has recognised expertise in personal finance, which she uses to help users better understand and optimise their financial choices. At HelloSafe, Pauline plays a key role in designing clear, educational content on savings, investments and personal finance. Passionate about financial education, Pauline strives, with every piece of content she oversees, to provide reliable, transparent and unbiased information for independent and informed financial management. To this end, she has tested over 100 trading platforms to help internet users make the right choices.