Are online trading platforms safe?

While some prospective traders may have some concerns regarding the safety and security of the online trading platforms, the truth is there is no need for such concerns. These platforms have been developed with the best security practices in mind, and have been tested to ensure they are free from dangerous bugs or malicious code. Industry experts have stated that online trading with these platforms is just as safe as traditional offline trading with financial institutions.

What is the cheapest trading platform?

All of the trading platforms offered by AvaTrade come without any costs or strings attached. That means you are free to download one or all of them, and it won’t cost you a thing. Not only that, but you’ll also find the spreads at AvaTrade are some of the best in the industry, which means not only do you get free access to our trading platforms, you also get some of the cheapest trades in the industry. Or give our demo platform a try where you can trade with virtual currency and keep everything free.

What tools are available on trading platforms?

Each trading platform has its own set of tools, but in general you’ll find the most popular technical indicators available on any trading platform. That means things such as moving averages, MACD, relative strength, and Fibonacci studies should be found on most every trading platform. You will also be able to draw your own trend lines, and support and resistance levels. Each platform will also come with a set of order types, and most will include such features as stop losses and pending order types. Because each platform is different it can be good to test them before committing to one specific platform.

Some of The Best Trading Platforms for 2024

CFD and Forex trading platforms by AvaTrade

If you want to open a trading account, simply click on the button below. If you want to learn more about the trading platforms available at AvaTrade, read the following descriptions or click the links below to learn even more.

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Online trading platforms

As part of our commitment to empower people to trade, we cater to every type of client. As no two traders are alike, we offer a wide-selection of trading platforms for both manual and automated trading, across a variety of device types. Our goal is that each of our platforms should provide our traders with a seamless and enjoyable trading experience. We offer a wide selection of instruments, including cryptocurrencies, to choose from along with multiple analytical tools, indicators and charts.

Web Trading

WebTrader is an award-winning proprietary platform that requires no download. It is user-friendly and intuitive and is a firm favorite of many AvaTrade traders.

AvaTrade App

Trade on-the-move using our intuitive AvaTrade App. It boasts a simple and friendly interface and advanced trading features and charts, which work well on the smartphone screen.

MetaTrader 4

Arguably the most popular trading platform, MetaTrader 4 creates a powerful and flexible trading environment. It is suitable for beginners and advanced traders and offers automated trading through the use of Expert Advisors and a selection of order types.

MetaTrader 5

MetaTrader 5 is the next generation of the MetaTrader platform, offering state-of-the-art trading capabilities, even more technical analysis tools, order types, timeframes and graphical objects. It also offers automated trading, with the all-new coding language.

AvaOptions

Express your market view with calls and puts, and use our embedded tools to maximise your return when you trade Vanilla Options with AvaTrade.

Mac Trading

Mac users can trade with the MetaTrader4 Mac version, which has been optimised for the Mac interface. They can also use WebTrader.

AvaSocial

AvaSocial sets a new standard in social trading technology. With the AvaSocial mobile app, you can follow and copy the trades of the very best traders. Use the wisdom of the experts, ask questions to your mentors or groups, and discover new and powerful strategies.

What Are Trading Platforms?

A trading platform is computer software that allows investors to open, manage, and close financial trading positions in the market. A typical trading platform will stream live quotes of available tradable financial and digital assets. It will offer charting capabilities and additional features such as news feeds and other market research information. Trading platforms are usually provided for free or at a fee by financial intermediaries or brokers.

Types of Trading Platforms

Trading platforms are generally categorized into two broad types: proprietary (prop) trading platforms and commercial trading platforms. Large financial brokerage firms design prop trading platforms to meet their trading style and electronic brokerage needs. On the other hand, commercial trading platforms target retail investors and day traders and are typically user-friendly and packed with useful features, such as news feeds and interactive charts, to enhance investor research and analysis.

Commercial platforms come in different forms, helping to meet the different trading needs of diverse retail traders. Here are some of them:

Manual vs Automated Platforms

Manual online trading platforms give traders access to the financial markets, where they can manually open, close, and manage their trading positions. In retail trading, the MetaTrader platforms (MT4 and MT5) are the most popular and probably, best trading platforms. They are easy to use and feature many handy tools and resources to allow retail investors to trade financial assets professionally.

On the other hand, automated trading platforms use technology to allow investors to trade the markets mechanically. Some manual platforms, such as MT4 and MT5, support automated trading functionality.

However, retail traders' most common automated trading platforms are social or copy trading platforms, such DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. On these platforms, traders have the option of perfectly replicating the trade positions of expert or successful traders on their community or platform.

CFD vs Options Trading Platforms

CFD trading platforms allow investors to speculate on the price changes of financial assets without taking any ownership. For instance, on the MT5 platform, traders can trade Bitcoin CFDs according to market conditions but never own the digital assets. CFD trading platforms have grown in popularity in recent years because they provide easy and convenient access to opportunities in the financial world.

On the other hand, options trading platforms provide investors with a platform to trade call and put options effectively. Vanilla options are derivatives that give investors the right to buy or sell a financial security at a specified time and date.

Desktop Vs Mobile Vs Web-based Platforms

This is a classification based on the accessibility of the underlying trading platform. PC/Mac platforms are software that can only be installed on a desktop computer. Mobile platforms are software installed on Android/iOS mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets. In contrast, web-based platforms can be accessed directly on an internet-connected browser, whether the device is mobile or desktop, and don't require download and installation.

Trading Platform Features

Here are some of the features to look for when choosing a trading platform:

Order Types and Execution - In addition to buy/sell orders, a good platform should support innovative order types that include pending orders such as buy/sell stop and buy/sell limit orders. All your orders should also be guaranteed fast trade execution at all times.
Tradable Assets - A good trading platform will provide a one-stop shop for several financial asset classes such as forex, stocks, commodities, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
Broker Reputation and Fees - Trade with a broker who has built a reputation over the years and charges reasonable fees for their services.
Trading Resources - A good trading platform will have comprehensive trading resources to help you trade your preferred financial assets. These resources should include charting and timeframes, built-in and customizable tools, indicators and graphical objects, and automated trading functionality.
User-friendliness and Accessibility - An ideal trading platform should be easy-to-use and have multiple-device accessibility.

Final Word

Trading platforms are an essential consideration for investors. As portals to the world of online financial assets trading, investors should ensure they go for reliable trading platforms that are optimized to take full advantage of opportunities in all market conditions.

AvaTrade offers a wide range of intuitive and user-friendly platforms: WebTrader, AvaTrade App, MT4, MT5, AvaOptions, third-party copy trading platforms, and AvaSocial.

Sign up with a reputable and award-winning broker and access this great diversity of AvaTrade trading platforms.

Trading Platforms main FAQs

Are online trading platforms safe?
While some prospective traders may have some concerns regarding the safety and security of the online trading platforms, the truth is there is no need for such concerns. These platforms have been developed with the best security practices in mind, and have been tested to ensure they are free from dangerous bugs or malicious code. Industry experts have stated that online trading with these platforms is just as safe as traditional offline trading with financial institutions.
What is the cheapest trading platform?
All of the trading platforms offered by AvaTrade come without any costs or strings attached. That means you are free to download one or all of them, and it won’t cost you a thing. Not only that, but you’ll also find the spreads at AvaTrade are some of the best in the industry, which means not only do you get free access to our trading platforms, you also get some of the cheapest trades in the industry. Or give our demo platform a try where you can trade with virtual currency and keep everything free.
What tools are available on trading platforms?
Each trading platform has its own set of tools, but in general you’ll find the most popular technical indicators available on any trading platform. That means things such as moving averages, MACD, relative strength, and Fibonacci studies should be found on most every trading platform. You will also be able to draw your own trend lines, and support and resistance levels. Each platform will also come with a set of order types, and most will include such features as stop losses and pending order types. Because each platform is different it can be good to test them before committing to one specific platform.