Review: eToro Trading Platform
Detailed review of eToro, Pros & Cons, Fees and more
eToro is a social trading and multi-asset brokerage company that has registered offices in Cyprus, Israel and the United Kingdom with the company’s head office located in Tel Aviv employing over 800 people. The company provides services for CFD and real trading. eToro was founded in 2007 by brothers Yoni Assia and Ronen Assia together with David Ring. eToro has been operating in the financial market for more than 10 years. The company is regulated by CySEC, FCA, ASIC, MAS. Also, eToro is a member of the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF). ICF protects up to €20,000 for each client.
eToro at a glance
Founded | 2007 |
---|---|
HQ | Tel Aviv, IS |
Users | 27'000'000 |
Official Website | etoro.com |
Crypto | Over 75 coins |
Stocks | 2600+ stocks |
Metals | Not available |
Card | Not available |
⚠️ Warning! Investment is never without risk. You may lose your investment due to market risks involved. ⚠️
In today's review, our team of experts share their assessment of eToro's multi-asset investment platform. We'll go over what types of assets available for trading, eToro's pros and cons and provide more information in an FAQ format. We will then provide our suggestions for the best eToro alternatives before wrapping the review up with a quick summary and a recap.
New to the world of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets? Make sure to visit our "Complete Beginner's Guide to Crypto" and "Top Beginner-Friendly Investment Apps Available Today" to get in the loop today!
Get Started With eToro: Accounts Available
eToro provides its clients with the following types of accounts:
- Real account: "Classic" trading experience using real money.
- Practice account: Get confidence by trading using "demo" money first.
- Islamic account: eToro provides a special account type for Muslim traders.
The minimum deposit amount for trading on a real account is $50. For a practice account, this amount is $0. You can fund your account using bank cards and payment systems. You can use the same methods to withdraw money from your account. The withdrawal procedure takes 1-3 days.
⚠️ Warning! Investment is never without risk. You may lose your investment due to market risks involved. ⚠️
Investment Products Available
All transactions on eToro are conducted through the WebTrader platform and the eToro mobile app. The platforms are available for all types of devices, including computers with Windows and Mac OS as well as iOS and Android smartphones. eToro also has an API interface for automated trading.
WebTrader is a web-based trading platform that does not require installation on your device. The platform has all the necessary tools for effective trading: technical analysis tools, trading robots, market news feed and more. WebTrader supports trading in more than 50 currencies, stocks, cryptocurrencies and other assets.
Cryptocurrencies
Over 75 coins
eToro provides a powerful crypto trading platform that aims to be both beginner-friendly and powerful enough to satisfy the needs of experienced investors. With over 75 cryptoassets to choose from (including, but not limited to Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, IOTA, Shiba and Doge, Polkadot and Dash), a grand selection of educational material and an ability to copy strategies of select Top Traders in real-time along with a variety of supported payment methods (e.g. via bank cards, PayPal, Skrill, Webmoney and much more), it is no wonder eToro is one of the biggest names in crypto trading today. An additional benefit in trading crypto is that, unlike the stock markets, cryptocurrency market is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This means that you can trade at any time that suits you, regardless of your location.
Crypto Staking at eToro: you can now grow your crypto portfolio in a secure and hassle-free way. Staking crypto is a process that allows holders of certain coins to earn rewards (in form of additional coins) by enabling eToro to execute the staking process, with no action needed from the user. Essentially, staking rewards users holding certain crypto assets (eToro provides staking for Cardano ADA, Tron TRX and Ethereum ETH) with rewards that could exceed 10% annually, automatically and absolutely for free.
Stocks & ETFs
2600+ stocks
eToro offers over 2969 stocks and 264 ETFs to choose from, starting at 0% commission and an opportunity to purchase fractional stocks. This means that you no longer need to invest close to $1000 to purchase a single Tesla share and can jump in with as little as $50 to get started. eToro's exchange-traded funds (ETFs) offer investors a flexible and comprehensive way to invest in the financial markets at a low cost. By investing in ETFs as the underlying asset, eToro offers portfolio diversification without management fees.
Commodities
15 available
Commodities offer exciting opportunities for eToro investors. With one-click trading and flexible leverage, you can choose how much you want to invest without being limited to units, such as barrels of oil or ounces of gold. Deep liquidity in the market also means you can buy and sell quickly and easily.
Foreign Currency (FX)
49 currencies
You can trade currencies by taking either a long or short position. The foreign currency exchange, also known as FX, is the largest and most active financial market in the world. You can buy and sell a wide range of major USD pairs and various currency crosses utilizing up to 1:30 leverage (which can be expanded to a staggering 1:400 for a Professional Client) to gain greater exposure and an ability to multiply your outcomes while using less of your own capital.
eToro: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Social trading: eToro’s social trading features allow users to copy the trades of other successful investors on the platform. This can help to diversify your investment portfolio and reduce risk.
- Over 3000 assets: There is an impressive amount of assets represented on eToro, definitely more than enough to meet every need a beginner-to-intermediate retail investor might have.
- Economic calendar: eToro’s economic calendar provides users with up-to-date information on upcoming economic events. This can be helpful in making informed investment decisions
- Market analysis: eToro’s market analysis tools can help users to identify trends and opportunities in the markets.
Downsides
- Fees: eToro charges fees for both buying and selling assets on the platform. These fees can add up over time and eat into your profits. It is by no means a downside unique to eToro, but you need to make sure to review the fees applicable in your country prior to executing high-volume trades.
- Limited customer support options: eToro’s customer support is limited compared to other online brokerages. This can make it difficult to get help the way you want, however, the support experience using ticket-based helpdesk is mostly positive, based on thousands of reviews by users.
At the end of the day, it is almost impossible to give definitive "one-size-fits-all" advice about a product to a group as diverse as investors are. It is only up to you to decide what your requirements for an investment platform are based on your expectations, previous experience and use cases.
Think eToro has what it takes to become your investment platform of choice? Visit eToro's website and download the mobile app to get a hands-on experience with the product used by 27'000'000 users all around the world. And because of no upfront fees for registration and no monthly recurring costs for using it, you can always get hands-on experience with the platform before you fully commit to it. All it takes is spending a minute or two verifying your identity through a third party also used by any other online-first financial institution like the financial super-app Revolut due to various regulations and policies.
This process should not discourage you - in fact, it should boost your confidence in the service as it ensures the platform (and, subsequently, your funds) are fully protected, and it also is a very minor (and not at all time-consuming!) hurdle to overcome as you are making the first steps on your investment journey.
Unique Features of eToro
eToro offers investors an impressive array of unique benefits you might not see on any other platform. These could be seen as a partial explanation of eToro's success - we will provide a brief explanation of eToro's best products and features in our compilation below.
eToro Money
eToro Money allows users to enjoy fee-free deposits without any currency exchange fees when you deposit money into your investment account, which can save you up to 1,5% in fees. This account also enables instant withdrawals and deposits in and out of your investment account, as well as supporting crypto deposits. You can also use it to send and receive money from your friends and relatives on top of providing first-class account security where your funds are safeguarded by a top-tier bank. And the best part - the account is absolutely free, with no monthly costs nor hidden fees.
Demo Account
Looking to start investing but worried about losing your money? eToro offers a practice virtual account upon sign-up, so you can gain confidence and try out new strategies without risking your own funds. Every user receives a virtual account with $100'000 on it to hone their skills and learn more in real market environment. All you need to do is create a free eToro account and select Virtual Portfolio next to your username. You can then immediately start trading in real-time without risking any capital. Best way to start investing!
Multiply Your Wealth
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eToro Professional Account
Every eToro client who meets certain conditions can opt in to become a eToro Professional Client. These users get a permission to employ more advanced trading strategies to maximize the potential gain they could achieve using their portfolio. The eligibility criteria are simple (and you only need to satisfy any two out of three): having an investment portfolio exceeding €500'000 in value, experience working in the financial sector in a professional capacity for at least a year and executing at least 10 transactions of significant size per quarter over the previous four quarters. Professional Clients may be exposed to higher market risk by utilizing higher margins and enjoy access to more features than a Retail Client would.
Copy Trader
Not yet comfortable making big investment decisions? eToro has a solution that is perfect for you! With eToro's CopyTrader, you can replicate the actions of top investors in real time, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of having an experienced trader manage your portfolio for you. Suitable for beginners and highly valuable for intermediate traders, the best part about this feature is that your funds are essentially managed by top traders without management fees or any other hidden costs involved. On top of this, eToro provides a wide range of additional social features, so you can always keep your eyes on what's trending right now by learning from others, connecting with like-minded individuals and learning new strategies, all on the same platform you use for trading.
eToro Online Trading Academy
The platform also offers a great deal of resources you can freely browse to learn more about becoming a big success in trading and investing. Ranging from guides for complete beginners to courses on advanced trading strategies, eToro Academy is guaranteed to provide you with useful information no matter how experienced you are. Articles, quizzes, webinars, podcasts and video recordings - an abundance of learning material will is bound to keep you occupied for a while!
eToro Wallet
The eToro Money crypto wallet is an extremely easy-to-use fully-digital crypto wallet. It supports multi-crypto asset portfolios and features cutting-edge technology to ensure complete security of your funds. Using the eToro Money crypto wallet, you can buy, sell, store and transfer cryptocurrencies - at this moment, the wallet supports over 500 crypto pairs. Additionally, you get an on-chain address which allows you to store, receive and transfer your cryptocurrency anywhere on the blockchain, using your own personal and completely private address, protected by the unique "unlosable private key".
eToro: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I contact eToro?
eToro users have 24/7 access to both amazingly exhaustive Help Center and a fairly quick to respond Customer Support service via submitting a ticket either from within the app or using the web client. Our personal experience using the support service at eToro aligns with most of the reviews online - you can expect your issues to be resolved quite fast and in a professional manner.
Is eToro secure, reliable and trustworthy?
Yes, eToro is a reliable and trustworthy investment platform that has outstanding security - both from technical and regulatory perspectives. As a financial services provider, the platform is fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ASIC (Australia), FINRA (USA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Users' funds are stored securely in a separate, segregated account, meaning that you will not lose any of your funds even in the highly unlikely catastrophic event of eToro's bankruptcy.
Bank Accounts for Individuals
Read our detailed reviews of personal bank accounts available at some of the world's most popular online banks, compare the plans they offer, explore their pricing and discover all the hidden fees.
eToro: Alternatives
Looking for an alternative to eToro? We compiled a selection of reviews of competing investment apps that you might find better suited to your needs. Read our reviews to find out which of these could be your next platform of choice you'd enjoy using to multiply your wealth for years to come!
Kraken
Kraken is an up-and-coming (founded in 2011), yet wildly popular cryptocurrency exchange and a digital bank based in the US. The exchange allows everyone to start trading cryptocurrencies and (soon to come!) NFTs in a convenient, yet secure and regulated environment.
- Convenience & User-friendliness
- Customer Support
- Features Available
- Trading Fees
- Asset Selection
- Overall Rating
Binance
Binance is world's #1 biggest crypto exchange. It offers a powerful, yet very beginner-friendly trading platform with low fees. 24/7 customer support, own Visa debit card with cashback, auto-invest solutions, futures and options - Binance truly has it all.
- Convenience & User-friendliness
- Customer Support
- Features Available
- Trading Fees
- Asset Selection
- Overall Rating
Gemini
Gemini is a crypto exchange platform enabling retail customers to trade & hold 70+ cryptocurrencies. Headquartered in New York, Gemini was founded in 2013 and is one of the biggest crypto exchanges globally alongside of Coinbase and Binance.
- Convenience & User-friendliness
- Customer Support
- Features Available
- Trading Fees
- Asset Selection
- Overall Rating
Our verdict: Is eToro a good choice for beginners?
Our experts all answer with a unanimous "Yes". eToro is a good choice for beginner investors - the platform is easy to use and provides access to a wide range of assets.
The company also offers a demo account so that new investors can practice trading before committing real funds. The next question to answer is "Is eToro better than all the other products competing in the trading space?". And the answer is...
Simply put, there is no easy answer when it comes to whether or not eToro is worth it compared to the competition. Each trader will have different preferences, goals, and experiences that will impact their decision on which platform to use.
However, eToro does offer some unique features and benefits that may make it a more attractive option for some traders. For example, the ability to copy other traders can be a helpful tool for those who are new to trading or who want to learn from more experienced traders. eToro also has a large community of users that can provide support and advice, which can be beneficial for both new and experienced traders.
Should you try eToro? If you are looking for an online broker that offers a user-friendly platform, a wide range of assets, and social trading features, then eToro may be the right choice for you.
However, it is important to remember that eToro is not a traditional broker, so there are some tradeoffs to consider. For example, spreads on some assets can be higher than at other brokers, and the company does not offer traditional investment products like mutual funds or bonds. Overall, eToro offers a great user experience, both on its website and via mobile apps. Crypto assets can be traded alongside more traditional investments, such as stocks, commodities and currencies, so you definitely will not be left wanting more.
Besides, there is no downside to just registering an account and trying it out yourself today, so why not?
⚠️ Warning! Investment is never without risk. You may lose your investment due to market risks involved. ⚠️