AvaTradevs
SkillingForex Broker Comparison
Both brokers target retail forex traders with strong regulation and modern platforms, yet their approaches diverge on cost, platform ecosystems, and investor protections.
Our Verdict
AvaTrade winsby 0.3 pts
Overall, AvaTrade leads on editorial score due to broader platform options and strong education. Skilling remains competitive but trails AvaTrade in regulation emphasis and education.
No commercial relationship. The verdict and scores are entirely editorial. No payment influences this comparison.
Key Differences
- 1Skilling offers raw spreads on cTrader starting at 0.0 pips.
- 2AvaTrade charges inactivity fees after 3 months; Skilling imposes none.
- 3Investor compensation scheme coverage available with Skilling only.
Who should choose AvaTrade vs Skilling?
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose AvaTrade if…
Choose AvaTrade if you want MT4, MT5, and a proprietary AvaTradeGo platform. Also consider AvaTrade for strong educational content and segregated client funds with negative balance protection.
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you want Skilling Trader or cTrader with raw spreads. No inactivity fee and investor compensation support benefit EU clients.
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
Skilling offers tighter spreads from 0.70 pips vs 0.90 pips for AvaTrade, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
Recommended
AvaTrade vs Skilling: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
AvaTrade vs Skilling 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)
AvaTrade vs Skilling: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
1
AvaTrade
criteria win
3
Skilling
criteria wins
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | AvaTrade | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
AvaTrade vs Skilling: Frequently Asked Questions
The scores are close: AvaTrade rates 4.4/5 and Skilling rates 4.1/5. 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.
Skilling starts from 0.7 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 Skilling require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both AvaTrade and Skilling 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 Skilling 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.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 5 and Proprietary Web/Mobile. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader.
