AvaTrade vs Focus Markets Comparison
Compare trading conditions, commissions and platforms of Forex brokers AvaTrade and Focus Markets. Find out which broker is best for you.
We test brokers on real accounts using our own methodology, evaluating the quality of order execution, trading conditions, platforms and customer support.
Who is better - AvaTrade or Focus Markets?
Our pick: AvaTrade
Based on multiple factors - spreads and fees, available assets and instruments, execution quality, platform usability, support level, and educational resources - AvaTrade looks preferable to Focus Markets.
AvaTrade scored 4.7/5 and ranks 1 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas Focus Markets has 3.8/5 and ranks 60.
This is not financial advice. See the full comparison below.
Who is AvaTrade suitable for?
AvaTrade is suitable for traders who value various instruments, copy trading services, and a user-friendly mobile version of trading platforms.
Who is Focus Markets suitable for?
Focus Markets is suitable for experienced Forex/CFD traders who trade via MT5 and independently use external analytics.
Comparison Table of AvaTrade and Focus Markets
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 3.8/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2006 | 2019 |
| Regulated in Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | Mauritius, Australia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0.6 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | AvaTrade Review | Focus Markets Review |
AvaTrade Review
AvaTrade is ideal for traders looking for various trading tools and a high level of investment protection. Beginners will be comfortable with the intuitive interface of the AvaTradeGO mobile platform, while experienced traders will appreciate the depth of MetaTrader's customization and analytical tools. However, traders who need access to STP or ECN accounts should pay attention to other brokerage companies.
Pros and Cons of AvaTrade
Pros
- A wide selection of financial assets.
- Innovative trading platforms.
- Highly rated educational resources.
Cons
- Limited trading account options.
- Account inactivity fee.
AvaTrade is in the top 10 of the following ratings:
Focus Markets Review
Focus Markets is a broker aimed primarily at independent Forex and CFD traders who value access to popular markets, the familiar MetaTrader 5 platform, and a clear trading account structure. It is not the most versatile option for beginners who need strong education, regular analytics, and a wide selection of services within the broker’s ecosystem.
Focus Markets is best suited to experienced traders who already use external analytics sources, make trading decisions independently, and are looking for a broker for active CFD trading. For beginner clients, the broker may be less convenient due to its weak educational base and limited support in making trading decisions.
Pros and Cons of Focus Markets
Pros
- More than 700 CFD instruments are available, including Forex, indices, commodities, metals, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
- MetaTrader 5 is supported with WebTrader, mobile versions, Expert Advisors, and one-click trading.
- The broker does not charge internal fees for deposits and withdrawals.
- Various deposit methods are available: cards, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, and e-wallets.
Cons
- Limited selection of trading accounts.
- No MetaTrader 4, cTrader, or proprietary trading platform.
- Weak analytics: no regular market reviews, trading ideas, signals, or third-party analytical services.
- No educational materials for beginners.
Reliability
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2006 | 2019 |
| Regulated in Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | Mauritius, Australia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Regulators |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is regulated in various countries by several leading financial regulators, providing high reliability.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets combines a regulated Australian division with international structures in Mauritius and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Client protection depends on the legal entity.
Pros
- There is a division supervised by ASIC.
- The group’s international structure is disclosed.
Cons
- No compensation fund.
- No information about additional funds insurance.
Account Opening
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
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AvaTrade
The broker offers clients from different countries a straightforward, convenient, and quick account opening process.
Focus Markets
Opening an account with Focus Markets is convenient and fairly fast: registration is completed online, the questionnaire is clear, and document verification usually takes up to 24 business hours.
Pros
- Fully online registration.
- Clear 3-step questionnaire.
- Wide selection of account base currencies.
Cons
- Mandatory KYC verification is required.
- Additional documents may be requested.
- No instant activation of a live account.
Account Types
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 3.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Trading Accounts |
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| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0.6 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:500 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Demo Account | ||
| Swap-free Account |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade has a decent trading account, but the absence of some critical options may not satisfy all trader needs.
Pros
- A free demo account is available.
- An Islamic account option is provided.
- The ability to copy trades.
Cons
- Lack of market execution of orders.
- No cent accounts.
- No fixed spread accounts.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets’ account lineup covers traders’ basic needs, but remains limited: only Standard and Raw are available, with no cent, Islamic, or fixed-spread account.
Pros
- Standard and Raw accounts are available.
- 30-day demo account.
- Trader copy trading is available.
Cons
- No cent account.
- No Islamic account.
- No fixed-spread account.
Commissions
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 4.5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Spread | from 0.6 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 0.9 | 1.2 |
| Commission per Lot | $3.5 |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers relatively low commissions with its competitive spreads and no charges for deposits/withdrawals.
Pros
- Low spreads.
- No deposit/withdrawal fees.
Cons
- Inactivity fee.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets’ fees are average: spreads and swaps on Standard are typical for the market, the Raw commission is $3.5 per lot per side, and withdrawals are free of broker fees.
Pros
- No withdrawal fee from the broker.
Cons
- An account inactivity fee may apply.
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.2/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Account Funding Methods |
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AvaTrade
AvaTrade provides flexible and accessible methods for depositing and withdrawing funds, though processing times can be extended.
Pros
- Multiple methods for deposit and withdrawal.
- No commission on deposits and withdrawals.
- AvaTrade covers up to $100 of the bank transfer fee.
Cons
- Long processing time for bank transfers.
Focus Markets
Deposits and withdrawals at Focus Markets are convenient: many methods are available, there are no internal fees, and withdrawal times are usually 1–3 business days.
Pros
- Cards, bank transfer, cryptocurrency, and e-wallets are available.
- No internal broker fees.
- Most deposits are processed quickly.
Cons
- Withdrawals are reviewed by the finance department.
- Fees from banks and providers may apply.
Markets and Products
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Forex | 53 | 50 |
| Precious Metals | 7 | 5 |
| Energy Carriers | 5 | 3 |
| Soft Commodities | 7 | - |
| Indices | 46 | 8 |
| Stocks | 614 | 500 |
| ETF | 61 | - |
| Bonds | 2 | - |
| Cryptocurrency | 20 | 140 |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers various financial instruments, including currency pairs, CFDs, stocks, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrencies, etc.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets offers a wide selection of CFD instruments: Forex, indices, commodities, metals, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
Pros
- More than 700 instruments.
- Leverage up to 1:500.
Cons
- No real stocks or ETFs.
- No soft commodities.
Trading Platforms
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Trading Platforms |
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AvaTrade
AvaTrade provides various trading platforms: MetaTrader 4 and 5, WebTrader, and AvaTradeGO, giving traders flexibility in choosing the right tool for their trading strategies.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets offers the reliable and functional MT5 platform, but the selection is limited: there is no MT4, cTrader, or proprietary broker platform.
Pros
- MetaTrader 5 is available.
- WebTrader and mobile versions are available.
Cons
- No MetaTrader 4.
- No cTrader.
- No proprietary platform.
Analytics
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 2/5 |
AvaTrade
The broker provides good market analysis tools.
Pros
- Collaboration with Trading Central.
- Economic calendar.
- Trader's calculator.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets’ analytics are weak: there are no regular market reviews, trading ideas, signals, or third-party services such as Trading Central or Autochartist.
Cons
- No market reviews.
- No trading signals.
- No analytics from third-party providers.
Education
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 2/5 |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers quality video tutorials and articles for traders of all levels.
Pros
- Quality materials.
- Educational resources available on the AvaTrade site.
Focus Markets
Education at Focus Markets is poorly developed: instead of a full knowledge base, the broker offers only an FAQ, with no courses, webinars, video lessons, or market analysis materials.
Pros
- There is an FAQ on key questions.
Cons
- No educational courses.
- No webinars or video lessons.
- No materials on strategies or market analysis.
Customer Support
| Broker | AvaTrade | Focus Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 3.5/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
| — |
| Social Media | — |
Whatsapp
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
TelegramAvaTrade
The broker's technical support offers various channels of communication and 24/7 availability.
Focus Markets
Focus Markets’ technical support is basic: online chat, email, and an FAQ are available, with a 24/5 schedule, but there are few contact channels and limited public feedback on service quality.
Pros
- Online chat is available on the website.
- Support operates 24/5.
Cons
- No clearly specified social networks or messengers.
- Limited number of public reviews.
Comparisons of AvaTrade and Focus Markets with other brokers
Conclusion
AvaTrade stands out as the better overall pick, while Focus Markets trails on aggregate criteria.
AvaTrade scored 4.7/5 and ranks 1 in our rating; Focus Markets has 3.8/5 and ranks 60.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: AvaTrade or Focus Markets?
AvaTrade comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.7/5, position 1) versus Focus Markets (score 3.8/5, position 60).
Which broker is better for beginners: AvaTrade or Focus Markets?
AvaTrade is often a smoother start thanks to simpler onboarding and stronger baseline metrics. Still, your tools and budget should drive the final choice.
Who has lower typical trading costs (spreads/commissions) — AvaTrade or Focus Markets?
It depends on the instrument and account type. Compare the live conditions in the “Commissions” section on this page — we break down the nuances category by category.
What trading platforms are available with AvaTrade and Focus Markets?
AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, AvaTradeGO. Focus Markets: MetaTrader 5. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with AvaTrade and Focus Markets?
AvaTrade: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Bonds, Cryptocurrency. Focus Markets: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrency. Full lists and differences are in the “Markets” section.
What account types are offered by AvaTrade and Focus Markets?
AvaTrade: CFD. Focus Markets: Standard, Raw. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by AvaTrade and Focus Markets?
AvaTrade: Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, JCB. Focus Markets: Neteller, Skrill, Swift, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — AvaTrade or Focus Markets — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
