AvaTrade vs Skilling: which broker is better in 2026?
We compare AvaTrade and Skilling — two forex & CFD brokers — side by side across regulation, fees, platforms, minimum deposit, and our editorial scores. Both score evenly overall — the right choice depends on which criteria matter most to you.
Side-by-side comparison
CriteriaAvaTradeSkilling
Overall score 3.6 3.6
Regulation & safety 3.5 3.5
Fees & deposit 3.5 3.5
Platform & assets 4.0 4.0
User support 3.5 3.5
Trust score72/10072/100
Minimum depositVaries by account type — check the official siteVaries by account type — check the official site
Demo accountAvailableAvailable
PlatformsMetaTrader 4/5, AvaTradeGO (mobile), AvaOptions, WebTraderSkilling Trader, cTrader, MetaTrader 4
Fee modelSpread model — details not yet verifiedStandard/Premium; competitive
Pros & cons
- Supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland + multiple global entities; founded 2006
- Full platform selection (MT4/MT5/AvaTradeGO/AvaOptions)
- Broad instrument coverage including options
- A private company — financial transparency more limited than a public company
- Some clients via offshore entities
- Leverage is high-risk
- A clean in-house platform + cTrader/MT4; CySEC regulation
- Beginner-friendly with a modern UX
- Competitive spreads (Premium account)
- A relatively new & small broker
- Seychelles entity for non-EU clients
- Leverage is high-risk
Regulation at a glance
AvaTrade
Supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland as its primary regulator (mentioned by Wikipedia in the context of an acquisition blocked by this regulator). Operates multiple entities globally — license status per entity not verified in detail.
Skilling
Scandinavian (2016) — regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), FSA (Seychelles). Own platform + cTrader + MT4.