| Feature | eToro | FOREX.com |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2001 |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA |
| Regulatory Authorities | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), SEC/FINRA (US) | FCA (UK), CFTC/NFA (US), ASIC (Australia), IIROC (Canada) |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 (for most regions) | $100 (standard account) |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies, Indices | Forex, CFDs (Commodities, Indices, Stocks), Cryptocurrencies (limited regions) |
| Spreads | Variable, typically 1.0–1.5 pips for EUR/USD | Variable, as low as 0.8 pips for EUR/USD (depending on account type) |
| Commission | No commission on stocks/ETFs, spreads on other assets | Commission-free on standard accounts, $5 per 100K traded for RAW accounts |
| Leverage (Retail) | Up to 1:30 (varies by jurisdiction) | Up to 1:50 (US), up to 1:30 (other regions) |
| Platform Types | Proprietary Web Platform, Mobile App | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), WebTrader, Advanced Desktop Platform |
| Copy Trading | Yes (CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios) | No copy trading feature available |
| Social Trading | Yes (comprehensive social network) | No social trading options |
| Algorithmic Trading | Limited to copy trading API integrations | Full support via MT4, MT5, and proprietary API |
| Charting Tools | Basic to intermediate level (26 indicators, drawing tools) | Advanced charting tools, 80+ indicators, customizable layouts |
| Research and Education | Market news, analysis, webinars, daily updates | Extensive research, webinars, daily analysis, tools for technical and fundamental analysis |
| Account Types | Retail Account, Islamic Account (for some regions) | Standard, Commission, Direct Market Access (DMA), Islamic Accounts |
| Deposit Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Card, PayPal (in some regions) |
| Withdrawal Fee | $5 per withdrawal | No withdrawal fee (depends on method and region) |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via live chat, email, help center | 24/5 via phone, live chat, and email |
| Demo Account | Yes (unlimited, virtual $100,000) | Yes (unlimited, virtual $50,000) |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes (more than 30 crypto assets) | Yes (limited to major cryptos like BTC, ETH) |
| Mobile App | Yes (iOS and Android) | Yes (iOS and Android, supports MT4/MT5 mobile) |
| Fee Transparency | High transparency (displays fees on each trade) | Transparent fee structure, but commission varies by account type |
| Security Features | Two-factor authentication (2FA), encrypted data | Two-factor authentication (2FA), encrypted data |
| User Interface | Intuitive, beginner-friendly, modern design | Professional, suited for advanced traders, customizable |
| Market Access | Global (many regions, but US users have limited crypto access) | Primarily North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions |
| Number of Tradable Assets | 3,000+ (including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies) | 4,500+ (including forex pairs, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies) |
| Forex Pairs Offered | 49+ | 80+ |
| Execution Type | Market Maker (internal matching) | ECN/STP (Direct Market Access available) |
| Order Types | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Loss, Take Profit | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Loss, Trailing Stop, One-Cancels-Other (OCO) |
| Fractional Shares | Yes (for stocks and ETFs) | No |
| Stock Ownership (real) | Yes (only for stocks, ETFs in certain regions) | No (CFD only) |
| CFD Trading | Yes (for most instruments) | Yes (extensive CFD options for all categories) |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Yes (0.5% on deposits not in USD) | Yes (variable, depends on deposit/withdrawal currency) |
| Hedging and Scalping | No scalping allowed, limited hedging | Yes, both hedging and scalping allowed |
| Stop-Loss Adjustments | Fixed stop-loss (modifiable after trade) | Customizable stop-loss with trailing options |
| Margin Call Policy | 50% margin close-out level (per ESMA regulations) | 100% margin close-out level in some regions, varies globally |
| Trading Hours | 24/5 for forex and most markets, crypto 24/7 | 24/5 for forex and CFDs, crypto markets only during specific sessions |
| Access to IPOs | No direct IPO access | No direct IPO access |
| Indices Coverage | 15+ global indices | 20+ global indices |
| ETF Selection | 250+ ETFs (direct ownership for some regions) | No ETFs (only CFD trading on ETFs) |
| Cryptocurrency Pairs | Fiat-to-crypto (USD/BTC, EUR/BTC, etc.), crypto-to-crypto pairs | Primarily fiat-to-crypto pairs only |
| Corporate Events (Dividends, Splits) | Yes (applicable to real stock holdings) | Reflected in price adjustments for CFDs |
| Spread Betting (UK) | No | Yes (tax-efficient spread betting in the UK) |
| Account Base Currencies | USD (default), supports EUR, GBP, AUD | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CAD, and more |
| Trading Signals | No in-built signals, relies on copy trading | Yes (integrated signals from Trading Central, MT5 plugins) |
| Custom Indicators | No custom indicators (only pre-set indicators) | Yes (supports custom indicators in MT4/MT5) |
| Automation Options | No automated strategies (outside of social copy trading) | Full support for Expert Advisors (EAs) in MT4/MT5 |
| Advanced Risk Tools | Only basic stop-loss and take-profit options | Advanced risk management tools, guaranteed stop-loss orders (in some regions) |
| Account Verification | Required before deposit/trading | Required before trading (can deposit first in some regions) |
| Fee for Inactivity | $10/month after 12 months of inactivity | $15/month after 12 months of inactivity |
| Bonus Programs/Promotions | No (due to regulatory restrictions) | Yes (region-specific promotions, subject to regulations) |
| Partnership Programs | Affiliate Program, Introducer Program | Affiliate Program, Partner Program (including White Label Solutions) |
| Advanced Order Features | Limited (no conditional orders like OCO) | Yes (supports conditional orders and complex entry triggers) |
| Market Depth Information | No | Yes (Level 2 market depth available for advanced accounts) |
| Web-Based Trading Platform | Yes (proprietary) | Yes (WebTrader, MT4/MT5 web versions) |
| Desktop Trading Platform | No dedicated desktop platform (browser-based only) | Yes (advanced desktop platform for power traders) |
| Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) | Yes (mandatory in some regions) | Yes (optional, but highly recommended) |
| Watchlists | Yes (customizable, includes social signals) | Yes (customizable watchlists in all platforms) |
| News Feed Integration | Yes (social news feed and market news) | Yes (integrated news from Reuters and other providers) |
| Market Sentiment Tools | Yes (trader sentiment and popularity statistics) | Yes (detailed sentiment analysis tools) |
| Economic Calendar | Yes (basic economic calendar) | Yes (detailed economic calendar with customizable filters) |
| Account Funding Time | Instant for most methods (except bank transfers) | Instant for credit cards and e-wallets, 1-2 days for bank transfers |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes (mandatory in EU, UK, Australia) | Yes (in most regions, depending on regulations) |
| Advanced Hedging Features | No (hedging is limited and subject to specific rules) | Yes (full hedging capabilities for all account types) |
| Trailing Stops | No (manual adjustments needed) | Yes (full trailing stop functionality) |
| Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLO) | No guaranteed stop-loss orders | Yes (offered in some regions, with a premium fee) |
| Customizable Dashboard | Yes (limited customization options) | Yes (advanced customization on desktop and web platforms) |
| Real-Time Price Alerts | Yes (via mobile push notifications) | Yes (email, SMS, and platform alerts) |
| Transaction History Export | Yes (CSV export available) | Yes (detailed reports, export to CSV and PDF) |
| Backtesting Capabilities | No (no historical data testing available) | Yes (MT4/MT5 backtesting for EAs and strategies) |
| Market Replay Functionality | No | No native support, but third-party tools can be used |
| Number of Cryptocurrencies | 30+ | 6-10 (depending on region) |
| Stock Leverage (CFD) | Up to 1:5 | Up to 1:20 for some equities |
| Spread Types | Fixed for some instruments, variable for others | Fully variable spreads across all accounts |
| Trade Execution Speed | Typically under 1 second | 0.05 to 0.08 seconds (depends on account type) |
| Custom Layouts | No (default layout only) | Yes (drag-and-drop custom layouts) |
| Affiliate & Partner Program | Yes (affiliate program with commissions) | Yes (affiliate, white label, and IB programs) |
| Regulatory Capital Strength | $2.5+ billion (regulated globally) | $1+ billion (regulated in multiple regions) |
| Micro-Lot Trading (0.01 lots) | Yes | Yes |
| Educational Webinars and Tutorials | Yes (frequent tutorials and live webinars) | Yes (extensive educational content for beginners and advanced traders) |
| Virtual Portfolio (Paper Trading) | Yes (unlimited demo account) | Yes (unlimited demo account) |
| Public API Access | No public API | Yes (API available for algo-trading) |
| Chart Timeframes | Limited (only 9 timeframes) | Extensive (from 1 minute to monthly charts) |
| Indicator Library Size | 26 technical indicators (pre-installed) | 80+ indicators (and custom indicators available) |
| Third-Party Add-Ons | No support for third-party add-ons | Yes (MetaTrader plug-ins and third-party scripts) |
| VIP/Premium Membership | Yes (via eToro Club with tiered benefits) | Yes (Active Trader Program with rebates and lower spreads) |
| Rebate Program | No | Yes (rebate structure for high-volume traders) |
| Day Trading Tools | Basic (no advanced scalping features) | Advanced (supports scalping, time & sales data, and fast order execution) |
| Spread Betting (for UK) | No | Yes (tax-free spread betting available) |
| Institutional Services | No | Yes (institutional-grade services and liquidity) |
| Mobile Charting Features | Basic (limited tools) | Advanced (with drawing tools and full suite of indicators) |
| Mobile App Customization | Limited customization options | Advanced customization in MT4/MT5 mobile apps |
| Asset Screening Tools | Yes (filter by risk, performance, and sector) | Yes (customizable screening for assets and forex pairs) |
| Investment Portfolios | Yes (Smart Portfolios for long-term investments) | No (forex and CFDs only) |
eToro is ideal for beginners with social trading and a user-friendly interface, while FOREX.com caters to advanced traders with customizable platforms, tight spreads, and automation tools.