Broker Comparison
Best AvaTrade Alternatives in Europe 2026 — Compared & Ranked
Reviewed by Markets Desk · FX-Brokers EU editorial
AvaTrade is a well-regulated multi-asset broker, but its market-maker spreads, lack of cTrader, and inactivity fees send some traders looking elsewhere. We ranked 10 EU-regulated alternatives on cost, execution, platforms, regulation and instrument range — so you keep ESMA protections while fixing whatever sent you here.
Last updated: September 2026 · 10 alternatives compared · EU-regulated only
Quick answer
Pepperstone is the best overall AvaTrade alternative — raw spreads from 0.0 pips, no minimum deposit, and cTrader plus TradingView, the two platforms AvaTrade does not offer. IC Markets is the cheapest for raw-spread scalping. eToro replaces AvaSocial for copy trading, and Saxo Bank replaces AvaOptions with exchange-listed options and 70,000+ instruments. For the lowest barrier to entry, Trading 212 starts at €1 with no inactivity fee.
Why traders switch from AvaTrade
AvaTrade earns its place among Europe's established brokers — nine-jurisdiction regulation, a broad platform lineup, and strong education. These are the specific reasons some traders still move on, and what to look for in a replacement.
1. Market-maker spreads, not raw ECN
AvaTrade quotes EUR/USD around 0.9 pips typical with costs baked into the spread — roughly $9 per standard lot. Raw-spread ECN brokers such as Pepperstone and IC Markets run closer to $7 all-in (0.0-pip spread plus ~$3.50/lot/side commission). Over high volume the difference compounds, which is why active scalpers and news traders tend to prefer an ECN venue.
2. No cTrader, only partial TradingView
AvaTrade supports MT4, MT5 and its own platforms, but not cTrader, and TradingView is only partially integrated rather than a primary execution platform. Traders who rely on cTrader's depth-of-market and algo tooling switch to Pepperstone, IC Markets or FxPro, which offer it natively.
3. Aggressive inactivity fees
AvaTrade charges $50 after three consecutive dormant months, then a $100 administration fee after twelve — one of the harsher dormancy policies in the market. Infrequent traders often prefer brokers with no inactivity fee, such as Trading 212.
4. €100 minimum deposit
AvaTrade's €100 minimum is modest but higher than the €1 at Trading 212 or the $5 at XM. New traders wanting to start small have lower-barrier options that keep the same EU protections.
Best alternative by need
Best Overall Alternative
Raw 0.0-pip spreads, cTrader + TradingView, no minimum deposit, BaFin-regulated
Best for Lower Costs
True ECN raw spreads from 0.0 pips at $3.50/lot/side — built for scalpers and EAs
Best AvaSocial Replacement
CopyTrader and a 40M-user network — the deepest social-trading pool in the EU
Best AvaOptions Replacement
Exchange-listed options, futures and 70,000+ instruments under a banking licence
Best Proprietary Platform
Award-winning xStation 5, commission-free, no minimum, KNF/CySEC/FCA regulated
Top 10 AvaTrade alternatives
Ranked by an alternatives-weighted score: fees 30%, execution 25%, platforms 20%, regulation 15%, instruments 10%.
Raw 0.0-pip spreads plus cTrader and TradingView — the two platforms AvaTrade does not offer — with no minimum deposit.
Pepperstone serves EU clients through its CySEC-regulated entity (part of a group also licensed by BaFin, the FCA and ASIC), offering razor-sharp spreads, zero minimum deposit, and excellent execution across MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
0.0 pips (Razor) / 0.69 (Standard)
None
Yes
BaFin, CySEC, FCA, ASIC
The multi-asset all-rounder: 17,000+ markets, exchange-listed options and ProRealTime, under top-tier BaFin and FCA regulation.
IG is one of the longest-established retail brokers (founded 1974), offering 17,000+ instruments, a BaFin-regulated EU entity, and an award-winning proprietary platform.
0.6 pips average
None
No
BaFin, FCA, ASIC
True ECN raw spreads for scalpers and Expert Advisors that AvaTrade's market-maker model is not built for.
IC Markets is an ASIC and CySEC-regulated true ECN broker offering one of the deepest cTrader integrations in the industry, with average EUR/USD spreads of 0.02 pips on Raw Spread.
0.0 pips (Raw) / 0.6 (Standard)
$200
Yes
CySEC, ASIC
€1 to start and no inactivity fee — the low-barrier, commission-free answer to AvaTrade's €100 minimum and dormancy charges.
Trading 212 is a FCA and CySEC regulated broker offering zero-commission real stock investing, CFDs, and an award-winning mobile app with a EUR 1 minimum deposit.
0.9 pips average
€1
No
FCA, CySEC
The premium replacement for AvaOptions: exchange-listed options, futures and 70,000+ instruments, with no minimum deposit.
Saxo Bank is a fully licensed Danish bank offering 72,000+ instruments including real stocks, bonds, and futures via its award-winning SaxoTrader platform.
0.6 pips (Platinum) / 0.8 (Classic)
None
No
Danish FSA, FCA
Award-winning proprietary xStation 5, commission-free pricing and no minimum deposit — a full-featured non-MetaTrader route.
XTB is a publicly listed European broker (WSE: XTB) regulated by KNF, FCA and CySEC, offering commission-free stock investing and competitive forex spreads via its proprietary xStation 5 platform.
From 0.1 pips
None
No
KNF, CySEC, FCA
MT4, MT5 and cTrader with raw-spread pricing — the closest platform match to AvaTrade plus the ECN option it lacks.
FxPro is a CySEC/FCA-regulated broker established in 2006, offering MT4, MT5, cTrader, and its own platform with ECN pricing on Raw+ accounts.
0.0 pips (Raw+) / 1.2 (Standard)
$100
Yes
FCA, CySEC, FSCA
$5 to start, a swap-free option and MT4/MT5 — the lowest-deposit MetaTrader alternative for cost-conscious beginners.
XM is ideal for beginner EU traders, offering a $5 minimum deposit, award-winning education, multilingual support in 30+ languages, and CySEC regulation.
0.6 pips (Ultra Low) / 1.6 (Standard)
$5
No
CySEC
MT4/MT5 with the Supreme Edition add-on and a $3/lot Zero account that undercuts AvaTrade's spread-only costs.
Admirals (formerly Admiral Markets) is an EU-headquartered broker based in Tallinn, offering MetaTrader with Supreme Edition tools, real stock investing, and CySEC + FCA dual regulation.
0.0 pips (Zero) / 0.5 (Trade)
€25
No
CySEC, FCA
The social-trading alternative to AvaSocial: CopyTrader, 40M users and the largest EU copy-trading network.
eToro is the world's leading social trading platform, letting EU traders copy successful investors while also offering commission-free stock trading alongside forex.
1.0 pips
$50
No
CySEC, FCA, ASIC
AvaTrade alternatives compared at a glance
All 10 are EU/EEA or UK regulated and apply ESMA retail rules. For context, AvaTrade quotes EUR/USD at ~0.9 pips spread-only with a €100 minimum, no cTrader, and AvaSocial for copy trading — see the full AvaTrade review.
| Broker | EUR/USD spread | Commission | Min deposit | cTrader | Copy trading | Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pepperstone | 0.0 pips (Razor) / 0.69 (Standard) | $3.50/lot/side (Razor) | None | Yes | Via cTrader / third-party | BaFin, CySEC, FCA, ASIC |
| IG | 0.6 pips average | None (spread-only) | None | No | No native | BaFin, FCA, ASIC |
| IC Markets | 0.0 pips (Raw) / 0.6 (Standard) | $3.50/lot/side (Raw) | $200 | Yes | Via cTrader / third-party | CySEC, ASIC |
| Trading 212 | 0.9 pips average | None (spread-only) | €1 | No | No | FCA, CySEC |
| Saxo Bank | 0.6 pips (Platinum) / 0.8 (Classic) | Tiered by volume | None | No | No | Danish FSA, FCA |
| XTB | From 0.1 pips | None (Standard) | None | No | No | KNF, CySEC, FCA |
| FxPro | 0.0 pips (Raw+) / 1.2 (Standard) | $3.50/lot/side (Raw+) | $100 | Yes | Via third-party | FCA, CySEC, FSCA |
| XM | 0.6 pips (Ultra Low) / 1.6 (Standard) | None | $5 | No | No | CySEC |
| Admirals | 0.0 pips (Zero) / 0.5 (Trade) | $3.00/lot/side (Zero) | €25 | No | No | CySEC, FCA |
| eToro | 1.0 pips | None (spread-only) | $50 | No | Yes (CopyTrader) | CySEC, FCA, ASIC |
Replacing AvaTrade's signature features
AvaSocial → eToro CopyTrader
AvaSocial (plus ZuluTrade and DupliTrade integrations) is AvaTrade's copy-trading layer. eToro is the natural replacement: its CopyTrader lets you mirror top performers proportionally across the largest social-trading network in Europe, with around 40 million users. Pepperstone, IC Markets and FxPro also offer copy trading through cTrader and third-party providers if you want raw-spread execution underneath.
AvaOptions → Saxo Bank or IG
AvaOptions' vanilla FX options are unusual in the retail CFD space. Saxo Bank is the strongest replacement, offering genuine exchange-listed equity, index and FX options alongside futures and 70,000+ instruments under a Danish banking licence. IG also lists options across a very broad multi-asset range. Neither mirrors the AvaOptions interface exactly, but both give regulated, exchange-based options exposure.
MT4 / MT5 → keep your setup, cut your costs
If you use AvaTrade purely for MetaTrader, you can keep the exact same platform and lower your costs. Pepperstone, IC Markets, XM, FxPro and Admirals all run MT4 and MT5 — and most add raw-spread accounts, cTrader, or a lower minimum deposit that AvaTrade does not. Your Expert Advisors and templates move across unchanged.
Who should switch from AvaTrade
- ✓Scalpers and news traders wanting raw ECN spreads and lower per-lot cost
- ✓Algo traders who need cTrader or full TradingView execution
- ✓Infrequent traders who dislike the $50/$100 inactivity fees
- ✓Beginners wanting to start below €100 (Trading 212 at €1, XM at $5)
- ✓Copy traders seeking a deeper network than AvaSocial (eToro)
Who should stay with AvaTrade
- ✗Traders who value AvaTrade's vanilla-options platform (AvaOptions)
- ✗Those using AvaProtect's built-in downside protection tool
- ✗Clients who want fixed spreads for predictable news-event costs
- ✗Traders who prioritise AvaTrade's education (Trading Academy, SharpTrader)
- ✗Anyone comfortable with spread-only pricing and low trading volume
Methodology
The ranking weights the dimensions traders most often leave AvaTrade over. Cost and execution carry the most weight because market-maker pricing is the primary switch trigger; platforms are weighted next because cTrader availability is a common deal-breaker.
| Factor | Weight | What we measured |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | 30% | EUR/USD spread, commission model, all-in cost per lot, minimum deposit, inactivity fees |
| Execution | 25% | ECN vs market-maker model, fill speed, slippage, requotes, scalping and EA suitability |
| Platforms | 20% | cTrader and TradingView availability, MT4/MT5, proprietary platforms, mobile apps, copy trading |
| Regulation | 15% | EU/EEA/UK regulator tier, ESMA compliance, negative balance protection, ICF coverage |
| Instruments | 10% | Forex pairs, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, options and crypto CFD breadth |
Frequently asked questions
Why do traders look for AvaTrade alternatives?▼
What is the best AvaTrade alternative in Europe?▼
Which AvaTrade alternative is cheapest?▼
Which AvaTrade alternative offers copy trading like AvaSocial?▼
Which alternative offers options trading like AvaOptions?▼
Are these AvaTrade alternatives regulated in the EU?▼
Does AvaTrade charge an inactivity fee?▼
FCA Risk Warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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CFD Risk Warning
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This website is for informational purposes only. The content does not constitute investment advice. Trading leveraged products carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance is not indicative of future results. UK retail leverage limits apply (FCA): up to 30:1 on major FX pairs, 20:1 on minor FX, 20:1 on major indices, 10:1 on commodities, 5:1 on equities, 2:1 on crypto.