AvaTrade Account Types: Retail, Professional, Islamic, Options and VIP

Many brokers offer Standard, Pro and ECN accounts with different pricing. AvaTrade works differently. You open one registration and add trading accounts to it, each tied to a platform (MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, the AvaTrade platform or AvaOptions) and a base currency. The status of those accounts then changes your conditions: retail or Professional, standard or Islamic, and, as your deposits grow, a VIP tier.

Pricing is spread-only on its standard offer, so the choice is less about cost and more about leverage, platform and protections.

The options at a glance

Retail account

A retail account is what you get by default. Its leverage depends on your AvaTrade company: EU, ADGM and ASIC retail clients follow the ESMA-style limits of 30:1 on major pairs, while the international company's forex table shows 400:1 on majors. AvaTrade's Help Center sets the MetaTrader stop out at 50% of margin for retail clients and 20% for professional and non-EU clients. Our AvaTrade leverage guide covers the limits by instrument.

Professional account

Professional status is for experienced traders who give up some retail protections in exchange for higher leverage. AvaTrade's Help Center says you must meet at least two of three criteria:

1. Significant trading activity: an average of 10 sizeable trades per quarter over the previous four quarters in OTC derivatives, with statements from regulated brokers as proof.
2. At least one year working in the financial sector in a role that requires knowledge of leveraged products, confirmed by your employer.
3. A financial instrument portfolio, including cash savings, above €500,000.

Approved professionals can use pre-ESMA leverage, such as 400:1 on forex and 25:1 on certain cryptocurrencies, and are stopped out at 20%. AvaTrade notes that Professional status is only available on MT5 accounts. You apply in your account area under the Professional Trader tab.

Islamic account

AvaTrade's Islamic option removes the overnight fee for up to five days per position; positions held longer may be charged. You request it after verifying and funding your account, and it usually takes one to two business days. Crypto, and pairs in ZAR, TRY, RUB and MXN, aren't available on it. Our AvaTrade Islamic account guide covers the details.

AvaOptions account

AvaOptions is a separate platform and account for trading European-style vanilla calls and puts on more than 40 currency pairs, gold and silver, alongside spot FX. Options are cash-settled at expiry. Its stop out works on Net Liquidation Value: at 50% of required margin, all positions are closed. See our AvaTrade options guide.

VIP tiers

AvaTrade's VIP programme has Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond tiers, assigned automatically based on your deposits or trading volume. Benefits include relationship managers, faster withdrawal processing, premium analysis and, for accounts with equity over $10,000, interest on free margin: 2.5% a year in USD for Diamond, 2% for Platinum, 1.5% for Gold and 1% for Silver, according to its Help Center. Islamic accounts are excluded from interest.

Adding and managing accounts

1. Log in to your account area and click Add an Account.
2. Choose Real Account or Demo Account.
3. Pick the trading platform and the base currency.
4. Submit; AvaTrade emails the new account's login details.

You can move money between your own real accounts under one username free of charge using Internal Transfer. Base currencies can't be changed, so add a new account if you need another. Our AvaTrade platforms guide helps you choose the platform.

Corporate and managed accounts

Companies can open corporate accounts by uploading a certificate of incorporation, board resolution, memorandum and articles, shareholder register, ID and address proof for directors, the trader and shareholders owning 25% or more, and AvaTrade's application form. Linking an account to a fund manager needs a signed authorisation form from the manager.

Which AvaTrade account should you open?

• New to trading: a demo, then a retail MT5 or AvaTrade platform account.
• Running EAs: a retail MT4 or MT5 account.
• Need swap-free: retail account plus the Islamic option.
• Experienced and qualified: Professional status on MT5.
• Options strategies: an AvaOptions account.

Retail vs Professional

Professional status suits traders who need the extra leverage and understand the trade-off. Under ESMA rules, professional clients give up some of the protections designed for retail clients, so it isn't a free upgrade.

How the account choice affects costs

AvaTrade's standard pricing is the same spread-only model on every retail and Professional account, so the platform you pick doesn't change the spread. Two choices do. Islamic accounts carry wider spreads on FX pairs in place of overnight fees, and AvaTrade's VIP page promises tighter spreads, special trading conditions and zero deposit fees for VIP members. Our AvaTrade fees guide lists every charge.

Frequently asked

Related reading

• AvaTrade minimum deposit
• AvaTrade Islamic account
• AvaTrade leverage
• AvaTrade demo account
• AvaTrade platforms
• Our full AvaTrade review