AvaTrade vs Headway Comparison
Compare trading conditions, commissions and platforms of Forex brokers AvaTrade and Headway. 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 Headway?
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 Headway.
AvaTrade scored 4.7/5 and ranks 1 in our all Forex brokers list, whereas Headway has 4.4/5 and ranks 20.
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 Headway suitable for?
Headway is suitable for beginners and retail traders who value a low entry threshold, tight spreads, Copytrade, and access to Forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies.
Comparison Table of AvaTrade and Headway
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 4.7/5 | 4.4/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2006 | 2021 |
| Regulated in Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | South Africa |
| Minimum Deposit |
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| Spread | from 0.6 points | from 0 points |
| Max Leverage | 1:400 | 1:2000 |
| Trading Assets (CFDs) |
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| Trading Platforms |
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| Review | AvaTrade Review | Headway 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:
Headway Review
Headway is a broker with accessible starting conditions, a low minimum deposit, competitive fees, and a fairly wide range of instruments. Its strengths include a Cent account from $1, tight spreads, low commission on the Pro account, support for MT4/MT5, the availability of Copytrade, and convenient ways to deposit and withdraw funds. At the same time, the broker still lags behind larger competitors in the strength of regulation, depth of analytics, and overall reputation, since it is a young company with an FSCA license.
Headway is best suited for beginner traders who need a low entry threshold, as well as retail traders looking for low-cost trading in Forex, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. The broker may also be interesting for those who want to use copy trading or start with a small amount of capital. However, traders who prioritize the strongest possible regulation, advanced analytics, and the widest possible product lineup may find Headway less suitable.
Pros and Cons of Headway
Pros
- Low entry threshold: a Cent account is available with a deposit from $1.
- Tight spreads and low trading commissions.
- Cent, Standard, and Pro accounts are available, as well as a demo account and an Islamic account.
- Wide range of instruments, especially stocks, cryptocurrencies, and Forex.
- Many deposit and withdrawal methods with no broker-side fees.
Cons
- Regulation is limited to an FSCA license, with no Tier-1 jurisdictions.
- A young company with a relatively short operating history.
- Analytics and education are only at a basic level.
- According to reviews, the quality of customer support is not always consistent.
Reliability
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Foundation Year | 2006 | 2021 |
| Regulated in Countries | Ireland, British Virgin Islands, Australia, South Africa, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Canada | South Africa |
| Regulators |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is regulated in various countries by several leading financial regulators, providing high reliability.
Headway
Headway is a moderately reliable broker with an FSCA license, but in terms of regulatory strength and reputation it lags behind companies with Tier-1 licenses and a longer operating history.
Pros
- Has an active FSCA license
- The legal entity is clearly disclosed
Cons
- No strong Tier-1 regulation
- A young company without a long track record
Account Opening
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Account Opening | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| Minimum Deposit |
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AvaTrade
The broker offers clients from different countries a straightforward, convenient, and quick account opening process.
Headway
Opening an account with Headway is convenient and fairly fast. The registration procedure is simple, the interface is clear, and the overall process meets the expectations of most modern traders.
Pros
- Simple registration
- User-friendly interface
- Quick start
Account Types
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Account Types | 3.5/5 | 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 | 1:2000 |
| 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.
Headway
Headway offers a fairly diverse range of accounts that suits beginners, retail traders, and more experienced users.
Pros
- Cent, Standard, and Pro are available
- A demo account is available
- Copytrade and an Islamic account are available
Commissions
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Commissions | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Spread | from 0.6 points | from 0 points |
| Average Spread (EURUSD) | 0.9 | 0.8 |
| Commission | per 1 lot$1.50 |
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.
Headway
Headway's fees are low: the broker offers tight spreads, very low commission on the Pro account, and fee-free withdrawals, although swaps remain average for the market.
Pros
- Tight spreads
- Low commission on Pro
- No withdrawal fee
Cons
- Swaps are average for the market
Deposit and Withdrawal
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Headway
Deposits and withdrawals at Headway are well organized: many payment methods are available, the broker does not charge fees, and transactions are processed fairly quickly.
Pros
- Wide selection of methods
- No broker fees
- Fast processing of transactions
Cons
- The set of methods depends on the country
- A verified account is required for cards
- External network/payment-system fees may apply
Markets and Products
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Markets and Products | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| Forex | 53 | 56 |
| Precious Metals | 7 | 3 |
| Energy Carriers | 5 | 3 |
| Soft Commodities | 7 | - |
| Indices | 46 | 32 |
| Stocks | 614 | 292 |
| ETF | 61 | - |
| Bonds | 2 | - |
| Cryptocurrency | 20 | 58 |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers various financial instruments, including currency pairs, CFDs, stocks, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrencies, etc.
Headway
Headway offers a fairly wide range of markets and instruments, especially stocks, cryptocurrencies, and Forex. However, the lineup is not fully comprehensive: the broker does not provide CFDs on soft commodities.
Pros
- Wide selection of stocks
- Many cryptocurrencies
- Synthetic instruments are available
Cons
- No CFDs on soft commodities
- Limited metals and energy instruments
Trading Platforms
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4.5/5 |
| 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.
Headway
Headway offers a convenient and functional set of platforms based on MT4 and MT5, complemented by web versions and its own mobile app. The selection is solid, though it lacks some niche professional alternatives.
Pros
- MetaTrader 4 and 5 are available
- Web versions are available
- There is a mobile app
Cons
- No cTrader or TradingView
Analytics
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 3.5/5 |
AvaTrade
The broker provides good market analysis tools.
Pros
- Collaboration with Trading Central.
- Economic calendar.
- Trader's calculator.
Headway
Headway's analytics are basic: an economic calendar, news, and a blog are available, but it lacks expert forecasts, signals, and additional tools for full analytical support.
Pros
- An economic calendar is available
- News and a blog are available
Cons
- Little expert analysis
- No trading signals
- No Autochartist or calculators
Education
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 3.5/5 |
AvaTrade
AvaTrade offers quality video tutorials and articles for traders of all levels.
Pros
- Quality materials.
- Educational resources available on the AvaTrade site.
Headway
Headway's education is primarily suited to beginners: there is a basic course and a blog, but in depth and variety the section falls short of brokers with a more developed educational ecosystem.
Pros
- A beginners' course is available
- Supplemented by the blog
Cons
- Few learning formats
- No webinars or video tutorials
- Materials are basic
Customer Support
| Broker | AvaTrade | Headway |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| Email Support |
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| Hotline Phones |
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| Social Media |
Whatsapp
Facebook
YouTube
Instagram
Twitter
LinkedIn
Telegram
TikTokAvaTrade
The broker's technical support offers various channels of communication and 24/7 availability.
Headway
Headway's customer support looks accessible and convenient: there are many contact channels and support operates 24/7, but according to reviews, service quality is not always consistent.
Pros
- Many contact channels
- Online chat available
- 24/7 support
Cons
- Mixed customer reviews
- Response quality is not always consistent
- Not all issues are resolved equally quickly
Comparisons of AvaTrade and Headway with other brokers
Conclusion
AvaTrade stands out as the better overall pick, while Headway trails on aggregate criteria.
AvaTrade scored 4.7/5 and ranks 1 in our rating; Headway has 4.4/5 and ranks 20.
We explain the reasons above in detail — fees, platforms, reliability, support, and more.
FAQ
Which broker is better: AvaTrade or Headway?
AvaTrade comes out ahead by overall rank (score 4.7/5, position 1) versus Headway (score 4.4/5, position 20).
Which broker is better for beginners: AvaTrade or Headway?
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 Headway?
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 Headway?
AvaTrade: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, AvaTradeGO. Headway: MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. See the “Platforms” section for details and selection tips.
What markets can you trade with AvaTrade and Headway?
AvaTrade: Forex, Precious Metals, Energy Carriers, Soft Commodities, Indices, Stocks, ETF, Bonds, Cryptocurrency. Headway: 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 Headway?
AvaTrade: CFD. Headway: Cent, Standard, Pro. See “Account Types” for a side-by-side comparison.
What deposit and withdrawal methods are supported by AvaTrade and Headway?
AvaTrade: Neteller, Skrill, PayPal, Google Pay, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, JCB. Headway: Online wallets, Bank Transfer, Visa, Mastercard. Check method-specific fees/settlement times.
Which broker is safer — AvaTrade or Headway — and how was this assessed?
We consider regulation, corporate transparency, fund protection, and incident history. See the “Reliability” section for our findings.
