Does AvaTrade Offer Spread Betting To UK Traders?

Spread Bet Account Fees

AvaTrade offers a spread-only pricing model, and charges no commissions for using its spread betting account. All spread betting brokers do this, but AvaTrade is still unique among the brokers I tested – it’s the only spread betting provider to offer fixed spreads on currency pairs.

During my tests, I found you can spread bet on EUR/USD at 0.90 pips with AvaTrade, which is a competitive spread – the rest of the industry averages around 0.99 pips.

So AvaTrade’s spread beats the industry average, but the thing about averages is that they will fluctuate over and under. With AvaTrade’s fixed spreads, you don’t get this kind of fluctuation.

Spread Bet Spreads	EUR/USDEUR/GBPGBP/USDAUD/USDUSD/CADEUR/JPYAUD/JPYUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDEUR/GBPGBP/USDAUD/USDUSD/CADEUR/JPYAUD/JPYUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDEUR/GBPGBP/USDAUD/USDUSD/CADEUR/JPYAUD/JPYUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDEUR/GBPGBP/USDAUD/USDUSD/CADEUR/JPYAUD/JPYUSD/JPYUSD/SGD	EUR/USDEUR/GBPGBP/USDAUD/USDUSD/CADEUR/JPYAUD/JPYUSD/JPYUSD/SGD
	0.90	1.20	1.30	1.10	1.80
	0.60	1.10	1.00	0.70	1.30
	0.90	1.20	1.40	1.10	1.80
	0.80	1.20	1.40	1.40	1.90
	0.85	1.40	1.40	0.82	1.77
	1.40	1.50	1.50	1.00	2.40
	1.10	1.30	1.40	1.40	1.60
	0.60	1.50	1.30	0.60	2.00
	0.90	1.70	1.00	0.80	1.90
	0.80	2.20	1.40	0.80	1.90
	1.20	1.80	1.70	1.10	2.70
	0.80	1.00	1.00	1.00	2.50
	1.40	1.10	1.60	1.40	1.00
	1.90	1.20	2.00	1.00	1.70
	0.80	1.20	1.10	1.10	1.90
	1.40	1.60	1.80	2.10	1.80

Avg. spreads are taken from each broker's website and updated monthly. Last update on 1 Aug 2026

AvaTrade’s fixed spreads on currency pairs stay at 0.90 pips throughout the major trading sessions (London and New York). So your costs will be the same during these times.

To help calculate how spreads impact trading fees, use the fee calculator I created to compare AvaTrade with its main competitors.

Calculate Your Cost To Spread Bet

Stake (Bet) Size (£)

AUD/USD EUR/USD GBP/USD USD/CAD USD/CHF USD/JPY

Base Currency GBP (£)

GBP

Total Cost of Spread Bet

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Total Cost of Spread Bet

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Total Cost of Spread Bet

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Their fees for trading shares are slightly higher than average. Take a look at the table below to learn more about the charges applied to these instruments.

Verdict on AvaTrade’ Spreads

Considering that AvaTrade offers fixed spreads on its currency pairs, I was surprised to find them so competitive. I think AvaTrade gives you a pretty good balance of reliability and cost-effectiveness. The fixed spreads could help you lower your costs if you use them in the right way.

Trading Platforms

AvaTrade offers the MetaTrader 4 and MT5 platforms for spread betting – both solid choices that provide a range of trading tools to fit different trading styles, from algorithmic to scalping.

MetaTrader 4

I found that MetaTrader 4 is the main spread betting platform for AvaTrade. It offers over 30 technical indicators, such as moving averages, Stochastic RSI, and Keltner Bands, along with drawing tools such as Fibonacci retracements and trendlines, which form the basis of technical analysis.

One standout feature of MT4 is the ability to automate spread bets using Expert Advisors (EAs), which is rare for a spread betting platform. You can program your EA to look for opportunities, execute bets, and manage risks. EAs are on reason MT4 is still such a popular platform, even years after its launch.

Here’s what our senior analyst Ross Collins thought about MT4 and AvaTrade:

“I think AvaTrade made the right choice by offering MT4 for spread betting, as it’s a versatile platform suitable for both new and experienced bettors,” Ross said.

“However, one downside is that MT4 cannot support share dealing, so if you want to bet on stocks, the MT5 is the better option.

MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 5 is an upgraded version of MT4, offering similar capabilities (like automated trading) but with more advanced trading tools and the ability to deal with shares. It has 34+ technical indicators, including the Ichimoku Kinko Hyo, and Zig Zag – this is a little more than MT4.

I found that MT5 also offered new features, like the native economic calendar. This can be overlaid on your charts to help you visualise upcoming economic announcements.

If you are more technically-minded, the depth of market tool allows you to gauge market liquidity to find hidden support and resistance levels based on the order books. Both are valuable additions to the platform. They also add enhanced technical and trade management facilities, which MT4 lacks.

I believe the MT5 platform is better suited for more advanced traders, because it offers a true multi-asset trading platform experience.

Mobile Trading Apps

You can access your AvaTrade spread betting account on the go by downloading the MT4 and MT5 mobile apps on iOS or Android. While the apps have similar features, they are limited compared to the desktop versions – you won’t find any trade automation features or custom indicators.

I found the apps useful for managing my existing bets and executing new ones. The best aspect for me is that you can set up price alerts to receive push notifications. These notifications let me react to any alerts that occurred while I was away from my desk.

One downside I found is that your chart setups do not sync between the mobile and desktop platforms. So the best use case for the MT4/MT5 apps is on-the-go trade management, rather than in-depth analysis.

Trading Conditions

While using AvaTrade with my live account, I encountered no hiccups with my orders. All were executed immediately. I didn’t experience any slippage or requotes either – while this is kind of what you’d expect from a higher-ranking broker, it’s still nice to see.

AvaTrade is a market maker broker, so you place your bets directly with AvaTrade instead of other market participants. This is why the execution speeds feel so fast when you trade.

Our Verdict On AvaTrade Trading Platforms

I’m a fan of brokers who choose tried and tested trading platforms for spread betting, like MetaTrader 4 and MT5, which is why I rate AvaTrade highly for this category.

Both platforms offer a good range of technical analysis tools you can use out of the box while allowing you to automate your strategies.

Trust

AvaTrade is a large broker with more than 400,000 clients and holds approvals in several regulatory jurisdictions, but none of them is the FCA. Its Irish entity, Ava Trade EU Ltd, is the only one that offers spread betting, and that entity has been in FCA supervised run-off since 31 December 2023, so it cannot take on new UK customers or hold client money. The trust score below reflects the firm in the markets where it is still open for business, not its availability to UK spread bettors.

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1. Regulation

AvaTrade is headquartered in Dublin, and regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. This means you will be signing up through its European company, Ava Trade EU.

That entity, Ava Trade EU Ltd (FRN 504072), appears on the FCA register as EEA Authorised in supervised run-off, a status that began on 31 December 2023 and means the firm is running off its existing UK business and cannot deal with new UK customers.

It may appear odd not to be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Still, AvaTrade offers protections like Negative Balance Protection for all retail bettors, so you’ll never lose more than you deposit.

This protection is excellent, especially during volatile markets that may liquidate your positions. Knowing you won’t owe more than you’ve funded can give you peace of mind should you hit a bad run when spread betting. It’s also a standard FCA requirement, so it’s good to see it here too.

What also reinforces the broker’s trustworthiness is that it is overseen by other regulators around the world, all with strict frameworks. Adhering to multiple frameworks shows that AvaTrade’s operations are reliable and above board.

AvaTrade is regulated in the following jurisdictions:

• Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) – Europe
• Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) – Australia
• Canadian Investment Regulatory Organisation (CIRO) – Canada
• British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC) – International
• Financial Services Agency and Financial Futures Association of Japan
• South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) – South Africa

2. Reputation

Since its launch in 2006, AvaTrade has had over 400,000 traders, making it a popular broker in the UK. Plus, having such a large client base reinforces the broker’s reputation, as it would be difficult to maintain a high number if the services were poor.

The table below highlights AvaTrade’s regional search interest in 2026.

Country	2026 Monthly Searches
South Africa	8,100
Italy	6,600
Spain	4,400
France	3,600
India	3,600
United Arab Emirates	2,900
United States	2,400
United Kingdom	1,900
Germany	1,900
Netherlands	1,900
Canada	1,900
Indonesia	1,900
Colombia	1,900
Brazil	1,600
Mexico	1,600
Australia	1,300
Malaysia	1,300
Mongolia	1,300
Singapore	1,000
Poland	1,000
Nigeria	880
Pakistan	720
Turkey	720
Ireland	480
Japan	480
Thailand	480
Saudi Arabia	480
Egypt	480
Peru	480
Venezuela	480
Sweden	390
Switzerland	390
Philippines	390
Portugal	390
Kenya	390
Morocco	320
Vietnam	320
Ecuador	320
Chile	320
Hong Kong	260
Austria	260
Argentina	260
Greece	260
Cyprus	260
Algeria	260
Uzbekistan	210
Mauritius	210
Taiwan	170
Cambodia	170
Bangladesh	170
Dominican Republic	170
Ghana	170
Sri Lanka	170
Jordan	170
Uganda	140
Tanzania	110
Bolivia	110
Panama	90
Botswana	90
New Zealand	70
Costa Rica	70
Ethiopia	70
Uruguay	70
Guatemala	70
Honduras	70

2026 Average Monthly Branded Searches By Country

South Africa	8,100 1st
Italy	6,600 2nd
Spain	4,400 3rd
France	3,600 4th
India	3,600 5th
United Arab Emirates	2,900 6th
United States	2,400 7th
United Kingdom	1,900 8th
Germany	1,900 9th
Netherlands	1,900 10th

load full table

3. Reviews

We have withheld third-party review scores for AvaTrade from this update. See our methodology for how we select and publish third-party ratings.

Verdict On AvaTrade Trustworthiness

AvaTrade is backed by recognised regulators in the markets it serves and has a solid reputation for client support.

For a UK spread bettor, none of that is decisive: the firm has no FCA-authorised UK retail entity, and the one entity that offers spread betting is in supervised run-off and closed to new UK customers.

Deposit and Withdrawal

AvaTrade has no deposit fees, and you can fund your trading account using a debit card, bank transfer, Neteller, or Skrill.

What Is The Minimum Deposit At AvaTrade?

I found that AvaTrade has a minimum deposit of £100 across all its deposit options. I think this is a sensible starting amount, as it’s low enough for smaller budgets to get started but still ensures you have sufficient capital to place meaningful trades.

Account Base Currencies

By default, your base currency for the spread betting account is GBP, which makes sense considering that spread betting is only available in the UK.

However, if you live outside the UK and receive income in another currency, you can still open a spread betting account with the broker using USD or EUR. This flexibility is great for UK citizens who want to spread bet in their local currency.

Deposit Options and Fees

AvaTrade offers a decent range of payment methods, including debit cards, bank transfers, or e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller, making it easy to fund your account.

During my review, I found that depositing with a debit card is instant, allowing me to trade my funds immediately, while e-wallets take just a few minutes to process the funds. The wire transfer option is the slowest, taking up to 5 business days. Importantly, AvaTrade doesn’t charge any deposit fees when using a debit card, which is a plus.

Withdrawal Options and Fees

You will request a withdrawal online through your spread betting account. The funds will be returned using the same method for depositing, so if you deposit with a bank transfer, the funds will be returned to your bank.

The withdrawal times vary depending on the method:

Ease of Opening an Account

Opening an account with AvaTrade is an online process with helpful instructions guiding you through each step. I thought this really made the application easier to complete.

The questions asked during the process are fairly standard, asking for your personal details, employment/financial info, and experience with trading.

After submitting, you’ll need to verify you are human by completing the action specified by the portal. Once you’ve done that, you just wait for the application to be approved. This only took a couple of hours in my case.

Verdict On AvaTrade Funding

AvaTrade offers some of the best options for funding its spread betting account with a low minimum £100 deposit. I found the deposit and withdrawal processes fast, and the fact that there are no fees when depositing or withdrawing is a bonus.

Range of Markets

AvaTrade offers a modest range of 150+ financial instruments, from stocks to forex trading, each benefiting from the broker’s low spreads and good trading conditions.

Forex

I found AvaTrade offered a decent selection of 55 currency markets, covering the majors (EUR/USD, AUD/USD), minors, and a select few exotic pairs. It may not have the most markets, but you have fixed spreads on all major forex pairs, which is a solid payoff.

Commodities

AvaTrade offers 27 commodity markets to spread bet, with access to 9 energy markets, eight metals (silver and gold), and 10 soft commodities, like wheat and coffee.

Indices

With AvaTrade, I found you can spread bet on 33 indices, including NASDAQ, Dow Jones and FTSE 100. Interestingly, you can also bet on other basket indices like the dollar index, which allows you to hedge or speculate on the strengthening or weakening of the USD.

Shares

I found that AvaTrade offers 50+ shares, which isn’t the largest choice among the brokers I’ve tested.

You can spread bet on popular shares like Apple, Google, and Facebook without paying commissions or currency conversion fees. These conditions could make share spread betting a cost-effective approach compared to traditional investing.

Our Verdict On AvaTrade Trading Products

If you like to focus on the major financial markets, its range will suit you. However, I’m surprised that a broker of this size and popularity offers only a limited selection of 150 markets. Also the lack of instruments like ETFs is strange, as these have become popular in recent years.

Customer Service

AvaTrade’s primary support channel is Live Chat, which operates 24/5 and allows easy access to customer support throughout the trading week. I found the support agents to be friendly and knowledgeable, providing accurate answers to my questions without requiring extensive back-and-forth.

One feature I particularly liked was the WhatsApp support service. This service is convenient for traders who prefer to communicate via mobile devices or want to have a record of their conversations easily accessible on their phones.

In addition to Live Chat and WhatsApp, AvaTrade offers phone support – something I like to see brokers do. Speaking with someone directly can be invaluable when dealing with complex issues or questions, allowing more detailed explanations and more personalised support.

For less urgent matters, you can email customer service. While response times may be slower than Live Chat or phone support, email is still a reliable option for assistance.

AvaTrade also provides a Knowledge Base where you can search for answers to common questions. This self-service method is handy for basic inquiries. It can save you time, quickly finding the information you need without waiting to be connected with customer support.

Verdict On AvaTrade Customer Service

I like that AvaTrade offers multiple channels to get your support, such as Live Chat, WhatsApp, telephone, email, and a self-service knowledge base. Being 24/5 support and having access to immediate assistance during trading hours is crucial, and AvaTrade delivers on this front.

Research and Education

Trading Central

Trading Central is a market research provider that offers technical and fundamental analysis to help validate betting ideas. It uses chart patterns as signals, which go in-depth with analysis commentary and show the charts, helping you decide whether the signal is valid.

You can also sign up for the newsletter, which delivers regular market updates and trading opportunities straight to your inbox before the London market opens. I found this newsletter helpful as it digested all the overnight trading news while providing a daily market outlook and some markets to watch for the day.

AvaTrade Educational Centre

I was impressed by the resources available in the AvaTrade Educational Centre – over 250 tutorials covering everything from beginner topics, to complex lessons on things like central banks. AvaTrade goes above and beyond to provide value, and help you become a better trader.

However, this content is mostly text-and-image based, which some may find difficult to digest. To be honest, while there is good stuff here, it’s not the most user-friendly way to learn these days. If you prefer more engaging learning materials, I recommend checking out the AvaAcademy instead.

AvaAcademy

The AvaAcademy offers a more interactive learning experience than the Educational Centre. With 18 online courses and over 150 lessons covering various markets, technical analysis, spread betting strategies, and risk management, I found the content comprehensive.

I liked the inclusion of multiple-choice quizzes, which help reinforce the lessons, while the video format makes learning more engaging.

AvaTrade Demo Account

AvaTrade’s demo account is a great way to practice spread betting, risk-free. With £10,000 in virtual funds and a 60-day duration, you have plenty of time to familiarise yourself with the MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms.

Here’s what my fellow SpreadBet co-founder Noam Korbl thought about the AvaTrade demo:

“I think the demo is a valuable tool if you are new to spread betting,” Noam said.

“You have the chance to gain confidence before transitioning to real money trading. The demo account also allows experienced traders to test new strategies without risking their capital.”

Verdict On AvaTrade Research and Education

I don’t think I’ve seen many brokers invest as much into their education as AvaTrade has, offering an excellent set of online trading courses through AvaAcademy.

You also can’t go wrong with Trading Central for a market research provider, as they provide top-class analysis throughout the day, making it a great companion for day trading.

Final Verdict on AvaTrade

AvaTrade built a capable spread betting offer: fixed spreads are rare in this market, MetaTrader 4 and 5 give you analysis and automation that most UK providers do not offer, and the 200+ markets, low minimum deposit and 18+ trading courses round it out. None of that is available to a new UK client. The entity behind the spread betting product, Ava Trade EU Ltd, has been in FCA supervised run-off since 31 December 2023 and cannot onboard UK customers or hold their money, and no other AvaTrade entity is FCA-authorised for UK retail. If you are in the UK and looking for a spread betting account, the alternatives below are the ones open to you.

Alternative Spread Betting Brokers To AvaTrade

Every provider below passed our 2026 eligibility test: each is FCA-authorised and currently accepts new UK spread betting clients.

1. Pepperstone – Best Spread Betting Broker Overall

Pepperstone tops our overall ranking on spreads and execution, and is the provider we point most AvaTrade searchers to first. Read the full Pepperstone review.

2. Spreadex – Top Spread Betting App

Spreadex pairs financial and sports spread betting in one account and produced the strongest mobile experience in our tests. Read the full Spreadex review.

3. OANDA – Best For Beginners

OANDA leads our beginner ranking for its simple proprietary platform and risk management tools. Read the full OANDA review.

4. IG Markets – Widest Range Of Markets

IG offers the largest market range in our comparison, suited to bettors who want everything in one place. Read the full IG Markets review.

5. Spread Co – Fixed Spreads Broker

Spread Co is the fixed-spreads option among the FCA-authorised providers we test, so your trading cost is known before you place the bet. Read the full Spread Co review.