Two regulated brokers clash on trust, costs, and platform depth. The axis centers on regulation breadth, instrument variety, and pricing models.
AvaTrade edges GO Markets on the overall score, driven by broader regulation and a larger instrument universe.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose AvaTrade if…
Choose AvaTrade if you want broad multi jurisdiction regulation and a large instrument universe.
Choose GO Markets if…
Choose GO Markets if you prefer true ECN pricing with ASIC regulation.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
GO Markets offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.90 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 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 | GO 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 GO Markets rates 4/5. AvaTrade 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.
GO 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.
AvaTrade has $100, while GO Markets requires at least $200. This makes AvaTrade more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AvaTrade and GO 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, two factors stand out: AvaTrade requires a lower minimum deposit ($100), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AvaTrade lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while GO 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.
GO Markets charges $5 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 GO Markets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and Proprietary Web/Mobile. GO Markets has exclusive access to cTrader.
AvaTrade wins for safety & regulation with broader multi jurisdiction oversight.
GO Markets wins for active traders with true ECN execution and a $5/lot commission.
GO Markets is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
AvaTrade wins for platform choice with MT4, MT5 and a proprietary AvaTradeGo.
AvaTrade wins for beginners thanks to strong educational content.
AvaTrade wins for instrument variety with approximately 1250 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2006 | 2006 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | Melbourne, Australia |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100▼ lower | $200 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.9 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $5/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 0.5 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 cardSkrillNetellerPayPal |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSCA MFSA CBI ADGM | ASIC CySEC FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | ZuluTrade MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | cTrader MetaTrader 5 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 execution with three platform options
ASIC-regulated with a clean Australian track record since 2006
Competitive $5 round-turn ECN commission
Good for Australia and Asia-Pacific timezone traders
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
$200 minimum deposit is higher than many ECN peers
Less brand recognition outside Australia and Asia-Pacific
CySEC entity is offshore for non-AU clients
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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