CM Trading versus AvaTrade
Traders get the core MT4 trading platform and the CM Trading Webtrader at CM Trading, while the proprietary CopyKat service serves social traders well. Beginner traders get quality third-party educational videos, while NewFactory publishes actionable trading recommendations. CM Trading caters best to beginner and social traders in Africa.
AvaTrade delivers its proprietary WebTrader, its mobile app AvaTradeGO, and its options platform Ava Option. Ava Social caters to social traders together with ZuluTrade and DupliTrade. AvaTrade also features the MT4/MT5 trading platforms upgraded with the Trading Central plugin. Unlike the four backward CM Trading account types, AvaTrade provides one competitive account type to all clients.
We have conducted an in-depth review of CM Trading and AvaTrade to determine which one presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- CM Trading versus AvaTrade- Verdict
Features and Platforms
| Features & Platforms | AvaTrade (visit site) | CM Trading (visit site) |
 |  | |
| Headquarter: | Ireland | South Africa |
Established : | 2007 | 2012 |
Retail Loss Rate: | 71.00% | Undisclosed |
Regulation: | ||
Minimum Deposit: | $100 | $100 |
Demo Account: | ||
Managed Account: | ||
Islamic Account: | ||
Inactivity Fee | $50 after three months, recurring | $15 monthly after 90 days |
Deposit Fee: | Third-Party | Yes + Third-Party |
Withdrawal Fee | Third-Party | Yes + Third-Party |
Funding Methods: | 5 | 8 |
MT4: | ||
MT5: | ||
cTrader: | ||
Proprietary Platform: | ||
Automated Trading: | ||
Social / Copy Trading: | ||
MT4/MT5 Add-ons: | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss: | ||
Negative Balance Protection: | ||
Bonuses and Promotions: | ||
Unique Feature One: | Excellent educational service | Quality educational videos |
Unique Feature Two: | Well-balanced asset selection | Proprietary copy trading service |
Broker Offers: |
Noteworthy:
The educational division of AvaTrade, SharpTrader, remains one of the highest quality services industry-wide, widening its advantage over CM Trading.
Available Markets
| Available Markets | AvaTrade | CM Trading |
| Currency Pairs: | ||
Cryptocurrency Pairs: | ||
Commodities and Metals: | ||
Indices: | ||
Equities: | ||
Bonds: | ||
ETFs: | ||
Options, Futures, and Synthetics: | ||
Maximum Retail Leverage: | 1:400 | 1:200 |
Maximum Pro Leverage: | 1:400 | 1:200 |
The asset selection at CM Trading remains limited but sufficient for beginners with smaller portfolios, the core trader base for CM Trading, where Forex and cryptocurrency traders get the best sector exposure. AvaTrade maintains a balanced asset selection with cross-asset exposure. Options trading is also available at AvaTrade, increasing its edge over CM Trading.
Typical Spreads and Fees
| Typical Spreads & Fees | AvaTrade | CM Trading |
Minimum Raw Spreads: | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Minimum Standard Spreads: | 0.9 pips | 1.2 pips |
Minimum Commission for Forex: | Commission-free | Commission-free |
Commission for Equities: | Commission-free | Commission-free |
Commission Rebates: | Not applicable | No |
Execution Type: | Market Maker | Market Maker |
The costs at CM Trading are a bit high, with minimum spreads of 1.2 pips or $12.00 per lot for a deposit of $1,000. Traders with portfolios above $10,000 get a reduction to $9.00. AvaTrade offers minimum Forex fees from $9.00 to all traders, while its overall cost structure ranks better.
Security and Trust
CM Trading
| Country of the Regulator | Name of the Regulator | License Number |
Seychelles | Financial Services Authority | SD070 |
South Africa | Financial Sector Conduct Authority | 38782 |
AvaTrade
| Country of the Regulator | Name of the Regulator | License Number |
Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland | Reference Number C53877 |
The British Virgin Islands | Financial Services Commission | License Number SIBA/L/13/1049 |
Australia | Australian Securities and Investments Commission | License Number 406684 |
South Africa | South African Financial Sector Conduct Authority | License Number 45984 |
Japan | Financial Services Agency /Financial Futures Association | License Number 1662 / License Number 1574 |
United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi) | ADGM - Financial Regulatory Services Authority | License Number 190018 |
Israel | Israel Securities Authority | License Number 514666577 |
Both brokers have a trustworthy operational record and segregate client deposits from corporate funds. Negative balance protection exists at AvaTrade.
AvaTrade vs CM Trading – Verdict
CM Trading
| Pros | Cons |
| Quality education for beginner traders plus actionable trading recommendations | High trading costs and backward account structure |
| Proprietary copy trading service | High minimum deposit requirement |
| 20+ cryptocurrencies, including mini contracts for smaller portfolios | |
| Leading African broker for five consecutive years |
AvaTrade
| Pros | Cons |
| High-quality educational offering via SharpTrader | Higher trading costs typical of commission-free brokers |
| Excellent choice of trading platforms catering to various trading needs | |
| Broad asset selection and cross-asset diversification opportunities | |
| Well-regulated and trusted broker with oversight from a central bank |
Cryptocurrency and social traders benefit the most from CM Trading. Beginners benefit from third-party educational videos and actionable trading signals, but higher costs are a notable drawback. AvaTrade established itself as a trusted broker for its growing client base. A broad choice of trading platforms, a balanced asset selection, and an acceptable commission-free pricing environment place AvaTrade ahead of CM Trading.
You might also be interested in reviewing the below broker comparisons: