Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs Swissquote
What sets them apart
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |  Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100Lower | $1,000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0Lower | $20 |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | $10Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, BondsCovers more | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:100 |
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Key differences
- AvaTrade scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 8.8.
- Minimum deposit is lower at AvaTrade: $100 vs $1,000.
- Stock trade fee is lower at AvaTrade: $0 vs $20.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Swissquote: $10 vs $50.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers ETFs, Options, Bonds.
- Features: only AvaTrade offers Copy trading.
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.
Swissquote
Swissquote runs a Swiss bank entity under CSSF supervision with EU investor compensation, so it suits traders who want a bank behind the account. The trade-off is entry cost: a stock trade fee of $20 and a minimum deposit of $1,000 sit well above cheaper rivals.
Score breakdown
| Area | AvaTrade | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7HigherStock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 8.3Costs run high: stock trade fee $20, minimum deposit $1,000 and inactivity fee $10 sit above site medians. |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.0 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.0 |
Choosing between them
Pick AvaTrade if cost, offer, minimum deposit, stock trade fee, and markets matter most.
Pick Swissquote if inactivity fee matter most.
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AvaTrade | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 89 of 471 | 187 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 40 of 147 | 80 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 38 of 145 | 78 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 31 of 122 | 67 of 122 |
Where these facts come from
AvaTrade
- forexsuggest.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcritique.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Swissquote
- swissquote.com: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy tradingCovers more | Demo account, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Swissquote Bank Europe SA |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Luxembourg |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 1996 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Phone, Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | AvaTrade | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ESG |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AvaTrade | Swissquote | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $1,000highest quarter | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $20highest quarter | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $50highest quarter | $10above 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%
Swissquote
Pros
- Regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) in Luxembourg, with the legal entity named as Swissquote Bank Europe SA.
- Covers stocks, forex, CFDs and crypto on a single account, with retail leverage of 1:100.
- A demo account and a mobile app are both listed features, so you can test before committing.
Cons
- Costs are high for a retail account: a stock trade fee of $20 against a site median of €0.
- The minimum deposit of $1,000 ranks 191 of 213, far above the site median of €4.64.
- An inactivity fee of $10 applies, where the site median is €0.
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
Swissquote
Who it suits
- Traders moving between forex, CFDs, crypto and shares on a single account
- Investors who put weight on a supervised bank entity and investor compensation
- People who want to practise on a demo account before risking money
Who should look elsewhere
- Newcomers with a small starting balance, since the minimum deposit is $1,000
- Share buyers focused on trading costs, given the stock trade fee of $20 against eToro at $0
- Passive long term investors, because the portfolio options listed are esg
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.
Swissquote
How much does it cost to trade shares with Swissquote?+
The stock trade fee is $20, which is well above the site median of €0. Swissquote ranks 161 of 161 on this measure, so share dealing here is costly. eToro, by contrast, charges $0 per trade.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $1,000, which is a high bar for a first account. On our data Swissquote ranks 191 of 213 on this measure, against a site median of €4.64. Vantage asks for $5 and CFI for $0.
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