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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan
Trust rank #12 · Founded 2006
AvaTrade is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering multiple trading platforms, broad market access, and educational resources. It provides market research and risk management tools with an emphasis on platform reliability…
Read the AvaTrade reviewTrust rank #30 · Editorial rating 8.7 / 10 · Founded 1977
HYCM is a well-regarded forex and CFD broker offering access to a broad range of currency pairs and other markets on MetaTrader platforms. It provides flexible account types, education and research resources,…
Read the HYCM reviewAvaTrade (Ireland, founded 2006) holds 8 regulatory licences (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ…), 3 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. HYCM (United Kingdom, founded 1977) holds 4 regulatory licences (CIMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA), 1 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5 and sits in our medium-fee bracket. The two overlap in 195 countries; AvaTrade is available in 21 countries where HYCM is not, and HYCM in 10 where AvaTrade is not.
Scored on 8 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | HYCM |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial rating | Not verified | 8.7 / 10 |
| Trust rank | #12 | #30 |
| Founded | 2006 | 1977 |
| Headquarters | Ireland | United Kingdom |
| Regulators | ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA | CIMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA |
| Broker type | Market Maker | Market Maker, STP |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Proprietary | MT4, MT5 |
| Instruments | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals | Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals |
| Countries accepted | 216 countries | 205 countries |
| Fee level | Low | Medium |
| Trading types | CFD Trading | CFD Trading, Spot Trading |
| Best-for use cases | Copy Trading, Retail Trading | Professional Trading, Retail Trading |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Available at both (195): American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Croatia and 155 more.
Only AvaTrade (21): Albania, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Cyprus, France, Gibraltar, Haiti, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mali, Mozambique, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Tanzania, Uganda.
Only HYCM (10): Algeria, Guernsey, India, Isle of Man, Jersey, Libya, New Zealand, Somalia, United Kingdom, Yemen.
Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.
AvaTrade holds more regulatory licences: AvaTrade (ADGM FSRA, ASIC, BVI FSC, CBI, FFAJ, FSCA, ISA, JFSA) versus HYCM (CIMA, CySEC, DFSA, FCA). Tier-1 licences: AvaTrade 3, HYCM 1.
AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary; HYCM offers MT4, MT5.
AvaTrade is in the lower fee bracket (low vs medium) in our catalogue.
HYCM is the older of the two, founded in 1977; AvaTrade was founded in 2006.
They overlap in 195 countries. AvaTrade is additionally available in 21 countries (Albania, Barbados, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands and 15 more) and HYCM in 10 countries (Algeria, Guernsey, India, Isle of Man, Jersey, Libya and 4 more).
Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.