AvaTrade vs OANDA Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of AvaTrade and OANDA across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Heavily regulated across 6+ jurisdictions with a unique AvaOptions platform for vanilla options trading and strong educational content.
VS
NFA- and FCA-regulated with strong US/UK coverage, transparent historical pricing, and excellent research.
Our Verdict
OANDA winsby 0.2 pts
OANDA edges ahead with a score of 4.6/5 vs AvaTrade's 4.4/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
AvaTrade offers tighter spreads from 0.9 pips vs 1 pips for OANDA, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
OANDA has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
OANDA offers more exclusive platform options: TradingView, a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
OANDA edges out AvaTrade with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4.4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
AvaTrade vs OANDA: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
| Founded | 2006 | 1996 |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | New York, United States |
| Min deposit | $100 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.9 pips | 1 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 400:1 | 50:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free for ACH |
| Regulators | FSCA ASIC ADGM CBI MFSA | FCA CMF ASIC NFA CBI |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit AvaTrade | Visit OANDA |
AvaTrade vs OANDA Forex Broker Pros & Cons
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)
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
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
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
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
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
AvaTrade vs OANDA: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
0
AvaTrade
criteria wins
1
OANDA
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | AvaTrade | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| 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 |
AvaTrade vs OANDA: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, OANDA ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4.4/5 for AvaTrade. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; AvaTrade and OANDA may each suit different trader profiles.
AvaTrade offers tighter spreads starting from 0.9 pips, compared to OANDA's spreads from 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
OANDA has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while AvaTrade requires at least $100. This makes OANDA more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both AvaTrade and OANDA hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: OANDA has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
AvaTrade offers maximum leverage of 400:1, while OANDA offers up to 50:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
AvaTrade supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and OANDA offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile; OANDA exclusively offers TradingView.
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Score 4.4 / 5
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