Dublin-headquartered broker regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland, offering MetaTrader, its AvaTradeGO app and FX options via AvaOptions.
- Headquarters
Ireland- Founded
- 2006
- Type
- Forex & CFD brokers
- Licences on record
- 6 (1 European)
- EU client entity
- AVA Trade EU Ltd (Central Bank of Ireland)
- Platforms
- MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Own platform
- Products
- Forex, CFDs, Options
- Website
- avatrade.com
Strengths
- Headquartered in Dublin and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland since its early years
- Licensed in several other jurisdictions including Australia, Japan and South Africa
- AvaOptions platform for vanilla FX options – unusual among CFD brokers
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 plus AvaTradeGO app
Watch-outs
- Standard accounts price through the spread, which can be wider than raw-spread rivals
- Inactivity and administration fees after periods without trading
- Several group entities – check which one onboards you
Overview
AvaTrade was founded in 2006 and is headquartered in Dublin. The Central Bank of Ireland supervises its EU entity, which gives EU clients ESMA protections, the Irish ICCL compensation scheme (90% up to €20,000) and access to Ireland's Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.
Platforms and products
AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4 and 5, the AvaTradeGO mobile app, a web platform and AvaOptions for trading vanilla options on currency pairs. Social trading tools are also available. Products are CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, shares, bonds and crypto.
Our view
AvaTrade combines an Irish licence with a straightforward offer and the option to trade FX options, which suits traders who want to manage event risk with defined premiums. Compare spreads with raw-spread brokers if you trade often.
Licences on record
Brands often operate several companies. The one that onboards you depends on where you live, and that company's regulator decides your protection. Confirm the entity on the official register before you deposit.
| Regulator | Jurisdiction | Type | Check it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central Bank of Ireland Central Bank of Ireland | Ireland |
EU/EEA – passportable | Official register |
| ASIC Australian Securities and Investments Commission |  Australia |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| FSA Japan Financial Services Agency (Japan) |  Japan |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| FSCA Financial Sector Conduct Authority |  South Africa |
Non-European | Regulator website |
| BVI FSC British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission |  British Virgin Islands |
Offshore | Regulator website |
| FSRA (ADGM) Financial Services Regulatory Authority – Abu Dhabi Global Market |  United Arab Emirates |
Non-European | Regulator website |
What protection would you get?
If you are a retail client of AvaTrade's European entity, these safeguards apply by law. Which one applies to you depends on the entity you sign with.
- Investor compensation: 90% of the loss, up to €20,000 per investor – Investor Compensation Company DAC (ICCL)
- Leverage for retail clients: capped at 30:1 on major currency pairs, down to 2:1 on crypto. Details
- Negative balance protection: you cannot lose more than the money in your account.
- Margin close-out: positions are closed when equity falls to 50% of required margin.
- Complaints: Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman
- Best forex brokers in Ireland
Verify AvaTrade yourself
- Find the exact company name in the footer of the website and in the client agreement you are asked to sign.
- Search that name on the register of the regulator listed for your country (links above). Make sure the register shows the same website domain.
- Check warning lists for look-alike names: IOSCO I-SCAN covers alerts from regulators worldwide.
- Never download remote-access software or move money because someone "from the broker" phoned you. How clone-firm scams work.
Protection Score breakdown
| Factor | Points |
|---|---|
| Holds at least one European licence (EU/EEA, UK or Swiss) | +40 |
| ESMA/FCA retail protections available (leverage caps, negative balance protection, compensation scheme) | +15 |
| Supervised in 4 strong jurisdictions | +12 |
| Operating for 20 years | +7 |
| Total | 74/100 |
The score measures structural protection from licences and corporate facts, not costs, service or platform quality. A high score does not mean a firm is right for you. Methodology.
Trader experiences
No verified experiences yet. Have you used AvaTrade? Share what happened with deposits, withdrawals, execution and support.
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About this data
Profile type: reviewed profile. Licence data is from our research and has not yet been re-checked against every register; confirm it on the official register before relying on it. Last updated 30 September 2026.
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