AvaFutures Review 2026

Unlike CFDs where your broker is the counterparty, futures trade on regulated exchanges (CME, CBOT, COMEX, NYMEX) with central clearing. This means price transparency determined by open market auction, no conflict of interest as the exchange matches buyers and sellers, regulatory clarity with well-established products, and standardized contracts so you know exactly what you're trading.

AvaFutures operates as an Introducing Broker (IB) under a registered Futures Commission Merchant (FCM). While this adds a layer compared to trading directly with the FCM, it's standard practice in the industry and allows AvaTrade to leverage their existing client relationships, compliance infrastructure, and platform technology while providing futures access.

The broker particularly suits three trader profiles: existing AvaTrade users wanting to expand into futures, Spanish/EU traders facing CFD advertising restrictions who need compliant leveraged products, and TradingView enthusiasts who want to trade futures directly from their charts without switching to separate execution platforms.

Breaking down an E-mini S&P 500 trade: $3.50 AvaFutures commission (round turn), ~$2.56 exchange fees (CME Group), $0.04 NFA regulatory fees. Total: ~$6.10 per round turn. For Micro E-mini contracts, the total is approximately $3.54 due to lower exchange fees (~$0.25 per side). These costs are genuinely competitive with industry standards.

The 100 free trades for new accounts provide $350+ in value ($1.75 × 2 sides × 100 contracts). This allows genuine testing of strategies and platform familiarity without cost pressure. After the free trades, the $1.75 per side rate is in line with discount futures brokers and better than many retail-focused platforms.

Real-time CME market data may incur additional monthly fees depending on your usage tier and professional status. TradingView users should verify their data subscription includes the exchanges they want to trade. Platform fees for TradingView, MT5, and CQG are included at no additional cost, which is a genuine advantage over brokers charging $50-$100/month for professional platforms.

The TradingView integration is the primary differentiator. Many brokers claim TradingView support but offer delayed data or clunky execution. AvaFutures provides real-time futures data directly in TradingView with seamless order placement. For traders who live in TradingView, this eliminates the friction of switching to separate execution platforms and maintains the charting workflow.

MetaTrader 5 adds algorithmic trading capability with Expert Advisors and the Strategy Tester for backtesting. While MT5 hasn't achieved the same market penetration as MT4 in forex, it's well-suited for futures with multi-asset support, improved backtesting, and depth of market data. For traders developing automated strategies, MT5 provides familiar MQL5 programming.

CQG represents the institutional choice for futures execution. It offers superior order routing, advanced order types (spreads, brackets, OCO), and the fastest execution speeds. While it comes with a learning curve, AvaFutures provides CQG access for traders who need professional-grade tools without the typical platform fees that can run $50-$100/month at other brokers.

AvaFutures' strengths are clear: seamless TradingView integration that eliminates platform switching, genuine value through 100 commission-free trades for new accounts, competitive $1.75 per side commissions thereafter, and a remarkably low $100 minimum deposit that makes futures accessible. The AvaTrade backing provides credibility and established infrastructure, while the exchange-traded structure offers transparency and regulatory clarity.

The limitations are equally transparent. As an introducing broker, there's an additional layer compared to trading directly with an FCM. The platform is limited to futures products - spot forex and CFD traders should use AvaTrade instead. Understanding futures expiry, margin requirements, and contract specifications requires education. And US residents cannot access the platform due to regulatory restrictions.

The 4.2/5 rating reflects excellent platform integration (4.6), strong value proposition (4.2), and competitive fees (4.3), balanced against the IB structure and more limited product range compared to multi-asset brokers. For traders who prioritise TradingView workflow, exchange-traded transparency, and low entry barriers over the absolute widest product selection, AvaFutures delivers genuine value. The partner code 128979 provides up to 100 free trades for testing the platform.