AvaTrade vs eToro 2026
A heavily regulated multi-platform broker against the world’s biggest social-trading network. We opened real funded accounts at both, placed live trades and recorded spreads and fees for 30 days. Here’s what the data actually shows — not what their marketing says.
| Feature | AvaTrade 9 wins | eToro 6 wins |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Score | 4.4 / 5 ✓ | 4.3 / 5 |
| Min. Deposit | A$100 | A$50 ✓ |
| EUR/USD avg spread (recorded) | 0.9 pips ✓ | ~1.0 pip |
| Commission model | Built into spread | Built into spread |
| Account base currency | AUD available ✓ | USD only (conversion fee) |
| MetaTrader 4 & 5 | ✓ Yes ✓ | ✗ Proprietary only |
| Platform range | MT4/MT5/GO/WebTrader/Options ✓ | Proprietary app |
| Copy / social trading | DupliTrade, ZuluTrade | ✓ Pioneer, best-in-class ✓ |
| Real shares & ETFs (ownership) | ✗ CFD only | ✓ Yes ✓ |
| Crypto range | 40+ (CFD) | 70+ (real + CFD) ✓ |
| Options & futures | ✓ AvaOptions/AvaFutures ✓ | ✗ |
| AvaProtect risk tool | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| Tradable instruments | 1,250+ | 3,000+ ✓ |
| Withdrawal fee | None ✓ | US$5 (min US$30) |
| Inactivity fee | High ($50/qtr + $100/yr) | $10/mo after 12 mo ✓ |
| Global regulatory licences | 9 jurisdictions ✓ | 3 |
| Education | ✓ AvaAcademy, deep ✓ | Good |
| Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
Neither broker charges a separate commission on CFDs — costs sit in the spread, and both are market-maker style rather than ECN. In our recording, AvaTrade averaged about 0.9 pips on EUR/USD and eToro around 1.0 pip. The bigger story for Australians is the non-trading fees, where the two differ sharply.
AvaTrade offers AUD-denominated accounts, so funding in AUD avoids any conversion fee, and withdrawals are free. eToro accounts are in USD, so every AUD deposit converts at 0.5% (bank) to 1.5% (card), plus a US$5 withdrawal fee. AvaTrade’s catch is its steep inactivity fee if you stop trading.
| Cost Item | AvaTrade | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread (recorded) | ~0.9 pips ✓ | ~1.0 pip |
| Separate commission (CFDs) | None (in spread) | None (in spread) |
| AUD-to-USD conversion fee | None (AUD account) ✓ | 0.5%–1.5% |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | None ✓ | US$5 (min US$30) |
| Inactivity fee | $50/qtr after 3 mo + $100/yr | US$10/mo after 12 mo ✓ |
| Share / ETF dealing | CFD (in spread) | US$2/side (real shares) |
| Crypto fee | In spread (CFD) | 1% per side |
AvaTrade charges a heavy inactivity fee — around $50 per quarter after three months of no trading, plus a $100 annual administration fee after twelve months. That’s among the harshest we’ve seen. If you trade regularly it never applies, but dormant accounts get hit hard. eToro’s US$10/month after twelve months is gentler.
For active Australians, AvaTrade’s AUD account removes the forced conversion that quietly costs eToro users on every deposit and withdrawal. Combined with the slightly tighter spread and free withdrawals, AvaTrade is cheaper to operate day-to-day — provided you stay active. Verify current spreads and fees directly with each broker before opening an account.
| Platform / Feature | AvaTrade | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 & 5 | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| Proprietary app | ✓ AvaTradeGO | ✓ Social app |
| WebTrader | ✓ | ✓ |
| Options & futures | ✓ AvaOptions/AvaFutures ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy / social trading | DupliTrade, ZuluTrade | ✓ Best-in-class ✓ |
| Real shares & ETFs | ✗ CFD only | ✓ Ownership ✓ |
| AvaProtect risk tool | ✓ ✓ | ✗ |
| Crypto (real + CFD) | 40+ (CFD) | 70+ (real + CFD) ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ (MT4/MT5) ✓ | ✗ |
| iOS / Android app | ✓ | ✓ |
AvaTrade offers MT4 and MT5 (with full Expert Advisor support), the award-winning AvaTradeGO app, WebTrader, plus AvaOptions and AvaFutures for options and futures trading. Add the AvaProtect risk tool and copy trading via DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, and it’s a genuinely broad toolkit — far more flexible than eToro for active and automated traders.
eToro doesn’t offer MetaTrader, but it leads on copy trading — you can mirror experienced investors automatically or invest in thematic Smart Portfolios. It also lets you own real shares and ETFs and offers a wider crypto range. For social, hands-off and share-investing styles, eToro is the more capable platform of the two.
Both brokers are ASIC-regulated — the baseline we insist on for any broker listed on KolaTrading. Both keep client funds segregated and provide negative balance protection for Australian retail clients. The ASIC protection is identical at both.
| Regulator / Safeguard | AvaTrade | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| ASIC (Australia) | ✓ AFSL 406684 | ✓ AFSL 491139 |
| Central Bank of Ireland (EU) | ✓ | ✗ |
| FCA (United Kingdom) | ✗ | ✓ |
| CySEC (Cyprus/EU) | ✓ | ✓ |
| JFSA (Japan) | ✓ | ✗ |
| FSCA / FSC / ADGM / ISA | ✓ | ✗ |
| Total jurisdictions | 9 ✓ | 3 |
| Segregated client funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Negative balance protection (retail AU) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Founded | 2006 | 2007 |
For an Australian retail trader, both deliver identical ASIC protections — verify both AFSLs on the ASIC Connect register at any time. AvaTrade is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the industry, licensed across nine jurisdictions including the Central Bank of Ireland and JFSA. eToro holds ASIC, FCA and CySEC and is Nasdaq-listed. Both are credible; AvaTrade simply has the broader regulatory footprint.
| Method / Detail | AvaTrade | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | A$100 | A$50 ✓ |
| Account base currency | AUD available ✓ | USD only |
| AUD bank transfer | ✓ | ✓ (0.5% convert) |
| Credit/debit card | ✓ | ✓ (1.5% convert) |
| PayPal | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal fee | None ✓ | US$5 |
| Inactivity fee | $50/qtr + $100/yr | US$10/mo after 12 mo ✓ |
| Withdrawal processing (our test) | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days |
We funded and withdrew real AUD at both brokers in March 2026. AvaTrade’s AUD account incurred no conversion fee and the withdrawal was free. At eToro, the AUD-to-USD conversion applied on the way in, plus a US$5 fee on the way out. Processing at both took one to three business days.
For active Australians, AvaTrade is cheaper to move money in and out of. eToro’s lower A$50 minimum is friendlier to start, but its USD base and withdrawal fee add up. Just remember AvaTrade’s inactivity fees if you plan to step away for a while.
It depends on your style. AvaTrade is better for traders who want MetaTrader 4 and 5, AUD-denominated accounts (no conversion fee), tighter 0.9-pip spreads, options and futures, and regulation across nine jurisdictions. eToro is better for copy and social trading, real share and ETF ownership and a wider crypto range. Both are commission-free, market-maker style and ASIC-regulated — neither is an ECN broker.
For active Australian traders, AvaTrade is usually cheaper to operate: a marginally tighter spread (0.9 vs 1.0 pip), AUD accounts that avoid eToro’s 0.5%–1.5% conversion fee, and free withdrawals (eToro charges US$5). The big caveat is AvaTrade’s steep inactivity fee — around $50/quarter after three months plus $100/year — so it’s only cheaper if you trade regularly.
No. AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4 and 5 with full Expert Advisor support, plus AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions and AvaFutures. eToro runs only its proprietary social platform. If you rely on MetaTrader or automated strategies, AvaTrade is the clear choice; if you want copy trading and a simple app, eToro is better.
eToro. It pioneered copy trading and still leads it, with the largest network of signal providers and the smoothest mirroring experience. AvaTrade offers copy trading too, but through third-party integrations like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade rather than a native system. For a polished copy-trading experience, eToro is the stronger choice.
On eToro, yes — you can own real shares and ETFs (including fractional shares) alongside CFDs and crypto. AvaTrade offers share exposure only as CFDs, so you never own the underlying asset. If real share ownership matters to you, eToro is the better platform.
Yes. AvaTrade (AFSL 406684) and eToro (AFSL 491139) are both ASIC-regulated with valid AFSLs you can verify on the ASIC Connect register. Both keep client funds segregated and provide negative balance protection. AvaTrade is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the industry, licensed across nine jurisdictions including the Central Bank of Ireland and JFSA; eToro holds ASIC, FCA and CySEC and is Nasdaq-listed.