| Feature | eToro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 2007 | 2008 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FINRA (USA), FSA (Seychelles) | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), FMA (New Zealand), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles) |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 (Retail clients), up to 1:400 (Professional clients) | 1:30 (Retail clients), up to 1:300 (Professional clients) |
| Tradable Instruments | Over 6,000 instruments, including Forex, Stocks, Commodities, ETFs, Indices, Cryptocurrencies | Over 2,000 instruments, including Forex, Stocks, Commodities, ETFs, Indices, Options, Cryptocurrencies |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary eToro Platform (Web and Mobile) | Proprietary Plus500 WebTrader (Web and Mobile) |
| Social Trading | Yes, features like CopyTrader and a social news feed | No |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Account Types | Standard Retail Account, Professional Account (for eligible clients), Islamic Account | Standard Retail Account, Professional Account (for eligible clients), Islamic Account |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Rapid Transfer, Klarna, Trustly, iDEAL, Sofort | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 per withdrawal | No withdrawal fees |
| Inactivity Fees | $10 per month after 12 months of inactivity | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
| Spreads | Variable spreads; for example, EUR/USD spread is around 1 pip | Variable spreads; for example, EUR/USD spread is around 0.6 pips |
| Commission Fees | No commission on stock trades; other instruments may have fees embedded in spreads | No commission fees; costs are included in spreads |
| Research Tools | Economic Calendar, News Feed, Market Analysis, Trading Central, TipRanks | Economic Calendar, News Feed, Market Analysis, Traders' Sentiment, +Insights |
| Educational Resources | Yes, including webinars, tutorials, articles, and a comprehensive trading academy | Limited educational resources; primarily basic tutorials and articles |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via live chat and email; phone support for Club members | 24/7 via live chat, email, and WhatsApp; no phone support |
| Mobile Trading | Yes, available on iOS and Android | Yes, available on iOS and Android |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Compensation Fund | Yes, applicable under certain regulators | Yes, applicable under certain regulators |
| Additional Features | Offers real cryptocurrency trading (not just CFDs), Smart Portfolios (thematic investment portfolios), eToro Club (premium services for high-net-worth clients) | Offers a unique +Insights feature providing market sentiment data based on client positions, advanced risk management tools like Guaranteed Stop Orders (with additional cost), and a user-friendly interface tailored for CFD trading |
| Regulatory Coverage | Global presence with licenses in multiple jurisdictions, targeting a broad audience | Focused on retail CFD trading with strict compliance across regulated markets |
| Ownership of Assets | Offers both CFDs and real asset ownership for stocks and cryptocurrencies | Only CFDs, no ownership of underlying assets |
| Copy Trading Restrictions | Requires a minimum deposit of $200 to start copying another trader | Not applicable, as social or copy trading features are not available |
| Crypto Offering | Supports direct cryptocurrency purchases (e.g., Bitcoin, Ethereum) | Only cryptocurrency CFDs, no direct purchase or storage |
| Interface Customization | Limited, designed for simplicity and accessibility | Limited customization options, straightforward and minimalistic interface |
| Advanced Order Types | Supports limit orders, stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing stop | Supports limit orders, stop-loss, guaranteed stop orders (for a fee) |
| Stock Offering | Thousands of global stocks available, including fractional shares | Limited selection of stock CFDs |
| Market Access | Wide-ranging access to global markets (US, Europe, Asia, etc.) | Primarily focused on major markets (US, UK, Europe) |
| Corporate Actions | Processes corporate actions like dividends and splits for owned stocks | Reflects corporate actions in CFD prices without entitlement to benefits |
| Leverage Settings | Adjustable leverage per trade within regulatory limits | Fixed leverage settings for most instruments |
| Fee Transparency | Transparent fee structure, clearly listing spreads and overnight fees | Transparent fees, with emphasis on spread-based costs |
| Partnerships and Promotions | Regular promotions, referral bonuses, and themed campaigns | Limited promotional activities, occasional welcome bonuses in some regions |
| User Community | Active community with forums and social trading interaction | No social community features |
| Accessibility | Available in over 140 countries, with local language support | Available in over 50 countries, focusing on Europe and Asia-Pacific |
| API Trading | No direct API support, focuses on manual and social trading | No direct API support, targeted at retail clients |
| Tax Reporting Tools | Provides tools for calculating tax implications, depending on region | Basic reporting, no dedicated tax calculation tools |
| Bonus Features | Virtual trading competitions, thematic portfolios like “CryptoPortfolio” | None beyond standard features |
| Speed of Order Execution | Average execution speed is under 1 second for most trades | Fast execution tailored for retail CFD clients |
| Payout Times for Withdrawals | Typically processed within 1–3 business days | Typically processed within 1 business day |
| Platform Integrations | Limited third-party integrations | No third-party integrations |
| IPO Access | Limited, some stocks available shortly after IPO launch | No direct IPO access, CFDs available once the stock is listed |
| Thematic Investments | Smart Portfolios allow thematic investing, e.g., in renewable energy, tech, crypto, etc. | No thematic investment options |
| Charting Tools | Offers advanced charting tools, technical indicators, and drawing tools | Basic charting tools with essential indicators |
| Risk Management Features | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop; customizable risk controls for each trade | Guaranteed Stop Loss (at a premium), regular Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop |
| Trading Signals | Provides daily trading signals and market updates | Offers real-time trading alerts based on user-defined criteria |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Charges a conversion fee for non-USD deposits and withdrawals | Applies currency conversion fees for non-base currency transactions |
| Mobile Alerts | Customizable push notifications for price alerts, order execution, and news updates | Customizable alerts for price movements, margin calls, and trading positions |
| Fractional Trading | Available for stocks, enabling investments with as little as $10 | Not available, trades require full contract or lot size |
| Hedging Capability | Allows hedging positions using different instruments | Permits hedging within CFD trading, though limited by margin requirements |
| Weekend Trading | Limited to cryptocurrencies, which are available 24/7 | Offers some weekend trading options on cryptocurrencies |
| News Integration | Provides integrated news feed with updates from leading providers like Reuters | Limited news integration; offers alerts and insights based on user activity |
| Scalping and Algorithmic Trading | Scalping discouraged; no direct algorithmic trading support | Scalping not allowed; no algorithmic trading support |
| Options Trading | Not available | Offers options CFDs on major indices |
| Customer Verification Process | Quick online verification, typically within 1–2 days | Fast verification process, often completed within a few hours |
| Gamification Elements | Gamified elements such as leaderboards for CopyTrader | No gamification features |
| Cashback or Loyalty Programs | eToro Club rewards program with tier-based benefits | No cashback or loyalty programs |
| Withdrawal Minimum | $30 minimum withdrawal amount | $50 minimum withdrawal amount |
| Historical Data Availability | Provides access to limited historical price data | Offers access to historical data for analysis directly on the platform |
| Regional Restrictions | Restricted in some regions, such as Japan, Canada, and certain US states | Restricted in certain regions, including the US, Canada, and specific Asian countries |
| Advanced Crypto Features | Offers crypto staking rewards on certain assets | No staking features |
| Corporate and Professional Accounts | Provides tailored services for institutional and professional clients | Focused on retail trading, limited support for corporate or institutional accounts |
| Security Features | Two-factor authentication (2FA), data encryption, regulatory compliance | Two-factor authentication (2FA), data encryption, regulatory compliance |
| Partnership Opportunities | Offers affiliate and partner programs with revenue share opportunities | Provides an affiliate program but with fewer tiers than eToro |
| Geopolitical Event Coverage | Regular insights and thematic updates on global geopolitical events affecting markets | Offers basic commentary on geopolitical impacts, less comprehensive than eToro |
| Regulatory Penalties | Transparent reporting of regulatory fines or penalties if any | Transparent reporting of regulatory penalties; compliance history is similar to eToro |
| Mobile-Only Features | Tailored mobile trading tools, such as swipe-to-close trades | Standard mobile app features without unique tools |
| Community Engagement | Regular engagement through webinars, community posts, and interactive Q&A sessions | Minimal community engagement beyond support and FAQ |
eToro excels with social trading, real asset ownership, and thematic portfolios, while Plus500 focuses on CFD trading with lower spreads and simple risk management tools.