Updated September 28, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs CapTrader
What sets them apart
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100Lower | $2,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $2 |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Futures, Crypto, Bonds, FundsCovers more |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Free withdrawal, bank transfer deposits |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | €2 |
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- AvaTrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.9.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AvaTrade: $100 vs $2,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at AvaTrade: $0 vs $2.
- Inactivity fee is lower at CapTrader: $0 vs $50.
- Markets: only CapTrader offers Futures, Funds.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO.
- Platforms: only CapTrader offers Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop, Trading App.
- Features: only AvaTrade offers Copy trading.
- Features: only CapTrader offers Fractional shares.
- Pricing model: only AvaTrade offers Commission free.
Our verdict on each
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
CapTrader
CapTrader suits experienced traders who want stocks, forex, CFDs, options, futures, crypto, bonds and funds under one roof with no account or inactivity fee. The catch is the entry size: a minimum deposit of $2,000 puts it out of reach for a small first account.
Score breakdown
| Area | AvaTrade | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Stock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 8.7Account fee and inactivity fee of $0 and $0 set against a $2,000 entry and $2 a trade. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.2 |
Choosing between them
Pick AvaTrade if offer, minimum deposit, and stock trade fee matter most.
Pick CapTrader if inactivity fee and markets matter most.
How they place
| Ranking | AvaTrade | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 89 of 471 | 19 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 40 of 147 | 7 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 38 of 145 | 7 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 31 of 122 | 7 of 122 |
| Options trading platforms | 31 of 103 | 4 of 103 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | AvaTrade | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | CapTrader |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading | Demo account, Mobile app, Fractional shares |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Low fees |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AvaTrade | CapTrader | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $2,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $2highest quarter | $0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $50highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
CapTrader
Pros
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex, so instruments do not need splitting across brokers.
- Platform choice of Trader Workstation TWS, CapTrader Desktop and Trading App covers desktop terminals and mobile trading.
- Trading costs read plainly: $2 a stock trade and €2 an options contract.
Cons
- Minimum deposit of $2,000 ranks 197 of 213 on our data, against $0 at CFI and $5 at Vantage.
- Stock trade fee of $2 ranks 124 of 161, while eToro charges $0 a trade.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or chat channel listed.
Who each suits
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
CapTrader
Who it suits
- Traders running a mixed book of stocks, etfs and forex rather than one narrow market.
- Anyone who dislikes dormant account charges, with an inactivity fee of $0.
- Desktop users who prefer the Trader Workstation TWS or CapTrader Desktop over a simple app.
Who should look elsewhere
- Small first-time accounts: CFI starts at $0 and Vantage at $5, well below CapTrader's $2,000.
- Cost-first stock buyers: eToro charges $0 a trade against CapTrader's $2.
Questions about each
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
CapTrader
What is the minimum deposit?+
The minimum deposit is $2,000, which is the main hurdle for a first account. On our data that places CapTrader at 197 of 213. CFI takes $0 and Vantage $5, so a smaller start is easy elsewhere.
Are there account or inactivity fees?+
Neither applies. The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so leaving money untouched does not trigger a charge. CapTrader ranks 1 of 138 on account fee and 1 of 56 on inactivity fee.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- AvaTrade vs Exness
- AvaTrade vs Axi
- AvaTrade vs iFOREX
- AvaTrade vs Trading 212
- AvaTrade vs Vantage
- AvaTrade vs Tradier
- AvaTrade vs Charles Schwab
- AvaTrade vs Deriv
- AvaTrade vs FxPro
- AvaTrade vs Swissquote
- AvaTrade vs IC Markets
- AvaTrade vs Merrill Edge
- CapTrader vs ActivTrades
- AvaTrade vs XTB
- AvaTrade vs NAGA
- CapTrader vs Mintos
- AvaTrade vs Bitpanda
- CapTrader vs Robinhood
- CapTrader vs S Broker
- AvaTrade vs Kraken
- AvaTrade vs Lightyear