Two well-regulated forex brokers face off on fees, platforms, and safety nets. The tension centers on how each balances costs against investor protections.
Both AvaTrade and FP Markets are closely matched overall. FP Markets offers an investor compensation scheme that AvaTrade does not.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose AvaTrade if…
Choose AvaTrade if you value a proprietary platform and strong educational content.
Choose FP Markets if…
Choose AvaTrade if you prefer multiple platforms including MT4, MT5 and AvaTradeGo. Choose FP Markets if you want true ECN pricing with raw spreads and a fixed $6/lot commission. Choose FP Markets if you need access to IRESS for direct-share CFD trading.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FP Markets offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.90 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Pros
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions
AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading
Strong educational content and structured courses
Multiple platforms including MT4, MT5 and proprietary AvaTradeGo
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: AvaTrade rates 4.4/5 and FP Markets rates 4.5/5. FP Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
FP Markets starts from 0 pips, tighter than AvaTrade's 0.9 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Both AvaTrade and FP Markets require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both AvaTrade and FP Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
AvaTrade lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while FP Markets lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
FP Markets charges $6 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for AvaTrade are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while FP Markets supports cTrader, IRESS, MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and Proprietary Web/Mobile. FP Markets has exclusive access to cTrader and IRESS and TradingView.
AvaTrade wins for safety and regulation due to a wider regulator footprint and segregated client funds.
FP Markets wins for active traders with true ECN pricing and a direct-access IRESS platform.
FP Markets is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
FP Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and IRESS for broad platform choice.
AvaTrade provides strong educational content and accessible platforms suitable for beginners.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2005 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | Sydney, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.9 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $6/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.6 pips |
| Max Leverage | 400:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $50/month (after 3 months) | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPOLiPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPOLi |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSCA MFSA CBI ADGM | ASIC CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | ZuluTrade MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | cTrader IRESS MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
True ECN pricing from 0.0 pips + $6 round-turn commission
Supports MT4, MT5, and cTrader, all three major platforms
IRESS platform for direct-access share CFD trading
Strong ASIC and CySEC regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Inactivity fee of $50 after 3 months of no trading
Not available to US residents
Spread-only model means no raw ECN pricing
No investor compensation scheme
Cons
IRESS platform has a monthly fee for lower-volume traders
Customer support primarily oriented toward Australian trading hours
Not available to US residents
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.4 / 5
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