If you are reading this article, you’re likely having trouble deciding whether AvaTrade or Admiral Markets is the better Forex trading platform for you. While both platforms generally provide positive user experiences, there are some essential differences to note.
In this AvaTrade vs Admiral Markets review, we outline the highlights of each trading platform to help you make a more informed decision. We evaluate:
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- AvaTrade vs Admiral Markets - Verdict
Ireland United Kingdom ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS 2006 2001 Market Maker Market Maker $100 $100 N/A Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Web-based+ Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5+ 0.9 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) 1.5 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) $0.03 $0.03 $0.29 $0.25 77.82% N/A Not applicable N/A 0.9 pips N/A Commission-free N/A Visit Website Visit Website
Features and Platforms
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AvaTrade, where 72% of retail traders face portfolio losses, provides traders with numerous trading platforms. Its proprietary WebTrader offers a competitive alternative for manual traders to the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, but when it comes to the traditional MT4/MT5 platforms, AvaTrade only maintains the out-of-the-box MT4/MT5, placing clients at a disadvantage. Admiral Markets, which features a retail trader portfolio loss rate of 81%, provides traders with the MetaTrader Supreme Edition upgrade for MT4/MT5, granting a notable competitive edge (which makes us question – why are so many traders there losing money?). AvaOptions and AvaTradeGO cater to options and mobile trading. Admiral Markets does not offer options trading, but it does offer mobile versions of both the MT4 and MT5 platforms. While both brokers maintain an educational section for new traders, Admiral Markets additional provides excellent research, both in-house and via Trading Central. AvaTrade favors social trading and allows their clients access to three providers, providing a different type of advantage to traders looking for that service.
Available Markets
N/A N/A N/A N/A Visit Website Visit Website
AvaTrade maintains an above-average asset selection suitable for all retail traders and many professional ones. The bulk consists of 982 equity CFDs, while Forex traders have 55 currency pairs to trade. With 24 commodities and 26 index CFDs, traders can achieve cross-asset diversification with ease. Adding to the trading opportunities are 31 ETFs, 42 options, and fourteen cryptocurrencies. Admiral Markets provides even broader choices, starting with more than 3,400 equity CFDs. It has fewer currency pairs with 50, but 28 commodities, and 43 indices. Traders additionally have 383 ETFs, 32 cryptocurrencies, and two bond CFDs. Both brokers maintain a competitive asset selection compared to most other brokers, but Admiral Markets has a slight edge over AvaTrade in this category of comparison.
Typical Spreads and Fees
0.9 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) 1.5 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) $0.03 $0.03 $0.29 $0.25 $39 $125.60 Not applicable N/A 0.9 pips N/A Commission-free N/A N/A N/A $50 quarterly after 3 months N/A Visit Website Visit Website
Both brokers offer clients commission-free CFD trading, but Admiral Markets also provides direct share dealing via its Invest.MT5 account and a commission-based alternative. AvaTrade features a minimum spread of 0.9 pips, bested by 0.5 pips at Admiral Markets. The average mark-up on equity CFDs is 0.13% at AvaTrade versus a minimum one of 0.5 pips at Admiral Markets. The Invest.MT5 account charges $0.02 per share or ETF, while the commission-based version features minimum spreads of 0.0 pips for a cost of $6.00 per round lot, lowered for high-frequency traders. Swap rates on leveraged overnight positions apply at both brokers together with third-party payment processor charges. Admiral Markets allows for two free withdrawals per month, while AvaTrade has a $50 monthly inactivity fee. Admiral Markets charges $10 after 24 months of inactivity. Overall, Admiral Markets maintains a significantly superior cost structure.
Security and Trust
United Arab Emirates, Australia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, British Virgin Islands, South Africa Australia, Cyprus, Jordan, Kenya, United Kingdom, South Africa ASIC, BVI, Central Bank of Ireland, FFAJ, FSCA, KNF, MiFID ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS C53877, SIBA/L/13/1049, 406684, 45984, 1662, 190018, 514666577 595450, 201/13, 410681, 51311, 178, 57026 N/A 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 Visit Website Visit Website
Trading with a secure and trustworthy broker is an essential part of successful portfolio management. AvaTrade and Admiral Markets both excel in this category. The former maintains oversight in seven jurisdictions and has a clean record. Traders have access to a notably more competitive trading environment at operating entities under the regulatory framework of the BVI, the ASIC, and the FSCA. Admiral Markets operates under the regulatory framework of the FCA in the UK, the CySEC in Cyprus, and the ASIC in Australia. Both brokers segregate client deposits, and select entities provide an investor compensation fund plus negative balance protection. AvaTrade and Admiral Markets remains well-respected and trusted brokers, deservedly so.
AvaTrade vs Admiral Markets – Verdict
AvaTrade presents traders with an acceptable overall trading environment, but the cost structure, despite commission-free CFD trading, remains elevated. It offers five trading platforms, but neither of the three primary ones delivers a superior, cutting-edge solution. AvaOptions and AvaTradeGO provide options and mobile traders with an acceptable alternative. Social traders at AvaTrade will have a better experience than those at Admiral Markets, and the asset selection is excellent for most clients. While the educational section represents one of the most valuable assets at AvaTrade. Admiral Markets remains significantly ahead of AvaTrade across the board. The MT4/MT5 trading platforms receive the MetaTrader Supreme Edition upgrade, the asset selection offers broader choices, and the pricing environment enables more profits per trade amid notably lower costs. Admiral Markets additionally provides exceptional research on top of its well-structured educational section. It also has more experience than AvaTrade, and investors and traders receive a more competitive product and services portfolio at Admiral Markets versus AvaTrade. Still, despite all of these advantages for Admiral Markets, their loss rate remains nearly 10 percent above that of AvaTrade traders, which casts a shadow on this Forex broker comparison. Thus, while it would seem that Admiral Markets offers an advantage over AvaTrade, we will call this comparison a draw.
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