Traders get the core MT4 trading platform and the CM Trading Webtrader at CM Trading, while the proprietary CopyKat service serves social traders well. Beginner traders get quality third-party educational videos, while NewFactory publishes actionable trading recommendations. CM Trading caters best to beginner and social traders in Africa.
AvaTrade delivers its proprietary WebTrader, its mobile app AvaTradeGO, and its options platform Ava Option. Ava Social caters to social traders together with ZuluTrade and DupliTrade. AvaTrade also features the MT4/MT5 trading platforms upgraded with the Trading Central plugin. Unlike the four backward CM Trading account types, AvaTrade provides one competitive account type to all clients.
We have conducted an in-depth review of CM Trading and AvaTrade to determine which one presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- CM Trading versus AvaTrade- Verdict
 |  | |
Headquarters | Ireland | South Africa |
Regulators | ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID | FSA, FSCA |
Tier 1 Regulator(s)? | ||
Owned by Public Company? | ||
Year Established | 2006 | 2012 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | ECN/STP, Market Maker |
Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 |
Negative Balance Protection | N/A | |
Trading Platform(s) | Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Web-based+ | MetaTrader 4, Sirix |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.9 pips | 1.5 pips ($15.00) |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 1.5 pips | 2.6 pips ($26.00) |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.03 | $0.06 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.29 | $0.50 |
Retail Loss Rate | 77.82% | N/A |
Minimum Raw Spreads | Not applicable | N/A |
Minimum Standard Spreads | 0.9 pips | N/A |
Minimum Commission for Forex | Commission-free | N/A |
Islamic Account | ||
Signals | ||
US Persons Accepted? | N/A | |
Managed Accounts | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Features and Platforms
| | |
MT4 | ||
MT5 | ||
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons | N/A | |
cTrader | ||
Proprietary Platform | ||
Automated Trading | ||
Social/Copy Trading | N/A | |
DOM? | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Scalping | ||
Hedging | ||
One-Click Trading | ||
OCO Orders | ||
Interest on Margin | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Noteworthy:
The educational division of AvaTrade, SharpTrader, remains one of the highest quality services industry-wide, widening its advantage over CM Trading.
Available Markets
| | |
Currency Pairs | ||
Cryptocurrencies | ||
Commodities | ||
Crude Oil | ||
Gold | ||
Metals | ||
Equity Indices | ||
Stocks (non-CFDs) | ||
Bonds | ||
ETFs | ||
Options | N/A | |
Futures | ||
Synthetics | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
The asset selection at CM Trading remains limited but sufficient for beginners with smaller portfolios, the core trader base for CM Trading, where Forex and cryptocurrency traders get the best sector exposure. AvaTrade maintains a balanced asset selection with cross-asset exposure. Options trading is also available at AvaTrade, increasing its edge over CM Trading.
Typical Spreads and Fees
| | |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.9 pips | 1.5 pips ($15.00) |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 1.5 pips | 2.6 pips ($26.00) |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.03 | $0.06 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.29 | $0.50 |
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin | $39 | N/A |
Minimum Raw Spreads | Not applicable | N/A |
Minimum Standard Spreads | 0.9 pips | N/A |
Minimum Commission for Forex | Commission-free | N/A |
Deposit Fee | N/A | |
Withdrawal Fee | N/A | |
Inactivity Fee | $50 quarterly after 3 months | N/A |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
The costs at CM Trading are a bit high, with minimum spreads of 1.2 pips or $12.00 per lot for a deposit of $1,000. Traders with portfolios above $10,000 get a reduction to $9.00. AvaTrade offers minimum Forex fees from $9.00 to all traders, while its overall cost structure ranks better.
Security and Trust
| | |
Country of the Regulator | United Arab Emirates, Australia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, British Virgin Islands, South Africa | Seychelles, South Africa |
Name of the Regulator | ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID | FSA, FSCA |
Regulatory License Number | C53877, SIBA/L/13/1049, 406684, 45984, 1662, 190018, 514666577 | 38782, SD070 |
Regulatory Tier | N/A | 2, 4 |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Both brokers have a trustworthy operational record and segregate client deposits from corporate funds. Negative balance protection exists at AvaTrade.
AvaTrade vs CM Trading – Verdict
CM Trading
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quality education for beginner traders plus actionable trading recommendations | High trading costs and backward account structure |
| Proprietary copy trading service | High minimum deposit requirement |
| 20+ cryptocurrencies, including mini contracts for smaller portfolios | |
| Leading African broker for five consecutive years |
AvaTrade
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| High-quality educational offering via SharpTrader | Higher trading costs typical of commission-free brokers |
| Excellent choice of trading platforms catering to various trading needs | |
| Broad asset selection and cross-asset diversification opportunities | |
| Well-regulated and trusted broker with oversight from a central bank |
Cryptocurrency and social traders benefit the most from CM Trading. Beginners benefit from third-party educational videos and actionable trading signals, but higher costs are a notable drawback. AvaTrade established itself as a trusted broker for its growing client base. A broad choice of trading platforms, a balanced asset selection, and an acceptable commission-free pricing environment place AvaTrade ahead of CM Trading.
You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons:
FAQs
Is CM Trading a regulated broker?
CM Trading has a regulatory license and oversight in Seychelles by the Financial Services Authority (FSA) and in South Africa by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).
Should I use AvaTrade?
AvaTrade remains a quality multi-asset broker with a broad choice of trading platforms and a mid-sector cost structure suitable for many trading strategies.
How good is CM Trading?
CM Trading remains uncompetitive versus many brokers, primarily due to its relatively high trading costs.
How do I withdraw money from CM Trading?
The secure CM Trading back-office processes all financial transactions for verified traders.
How long does CM Trading withdrawal take?
CM Trading processes withdrawal requests within 24 hours, but the final time depends on the payment processor.
How do you deposit on CM Trading?
Traders will deposit via the secure back office of CM Trading.
What is the minimum deposit for AvaTrade?
The minimum deposit at AvaTrade is $100.