| Feature | eToro | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), SEC, FINRA (US), multiple global licenses | IFSC (Belize), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FSCA (South Africa) |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 (varies by region and account type) | $1 (for Cent account), $100 for Standard Account |
| Account Types | Retail, Professional, Demo | Cent, Micro, Standard, Zero Spread, ECN, Crypto |
| Trading Platform | Proprietary web-based platform and mobile app, CopyTrader, Smart Portfolios | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), FBS Trader mobile app |
| Copy Trading | Yes, through CopyTrader feature | Yes, through FBS CopyTrade app |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 for retail clients (higher for professionals) | Up to 1:3000 (depending on account type and region) |
| Instruments | Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Indices | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Indices, Stocks |
| Number of Assets | Over 3,000 instruments | Over 100 instruments (varies by region) |
| Spreads | Floating spreads, typically starting at 1 pip (depending on market conditions) | From 0 pips (Zero Spread and ECN accounts), typical spreads 1-3 pips on Standard accounts |
| Commissions | No commissions on most trades (only spreads for standard assets) | Commissions on ECN and Zero Spread accounts, no commissions for Cent or Standard accounts |
| Deposit Options | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Crypto | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit card, Neteller, Skrill, Sticpay, Local payment options |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 (for certain methods), Free for some regions | Free (may incur fees from payment providers) |
| Deposit Fees | None | None |
| Trading Fees | Built into spreads (except for leveraged CFD short trades) | Commissions on some account types, built into spreads for others |
| Islamic Account | Yes | Yes (available for all account types) |
| Customer Support | 24/5 live chat, email, phone support | 24/7 live chat, phone, email support |
| Education Resources | Blog, webinars, trading academy, research tools | Webinars, trading videos, articles, beginner guides |
| Bonus/Promotions | No bonuses (due to regulatory restrictions) | Bonuses available (100% deposit bonus, promotions vary by region) |
| Regulated Regions | EU, UK, US, Australia, globally in licensed regions | Asia, Africa, parts of Europe, Latin America (regulated regions) |
| Social Trading | Yes, integrated with the platform | Yes, through FBS CopyTrade app |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited usage with virtual funds | Yes, unlimited usage with virtual funds |
| Mobile App | Available for iOS and Android | FBS Trader app, MetaTrader apps for iOS and Android |
| Market Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Take-Profit, Stop-Loss | Market, Limit, Stop, Pending, Trailing Stops |
| Automated Trading | Yes, via API and copy trading | Yes, via Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5 |
| Security Features | SSL encryption, 2FA, segregated funds | SSL encryption, segregated funds, negative balance protection |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, and others | USD, EUR, multiple regional currencies |
| Maximum Leverage (Retail) | 1:30 (regulated regions) | 1:50 to 1:3000 (varies by account type and region) |
| Scalping Allowed | No | Yes (on ECN and other accounts) |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, including real crypto and CFDs | Yes, via CFDs |
| Platform Usability | Intuitive, user-friendly, beginner-focused | Advanced features for experienced traders (MT4/MT5) |
| Algorithmic Trading | Limited, supports through API or pre-built strategies | Full support via Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5 |
| Research Tools | Analyst reports, daily news feed, market sentiment charts, economic calendar | Integrated news, analysis tools on MT4/MT5, economic calendar |
| Charting Tools | Multiple chart types, customizable indicators, drawing tools | Full suite of technical indicators, customizable charts, EA integration |
| Trading Signals | Yes, via CopyTrader and community insights | Yes, via signals and indicators on MT4/MT5 |
| Execution Type | Market execution (no dealing desk) | Market and instant execution, ECN accounts |
| Slippage Control | Adjustable slippage settings | Adjustable slippage settings on ECN and standard accounts |
| Order Processing Speed | Fast, depends on internet connection and liquidity | Ultra-fast (especially on ECN), low latency servers |
| Volatility Protection | Yes, take-profit, stop-loss orders, trailing stops | Yes, multiple order types including stop-limit and hedging |
| Stop-Out Level | 50% (retail accounts, varies by regulation) | 20-50% depending on account type |
| Asset Ownership | Real stocks and cryptos available (non-CFD for some regions) | No direct ownership (all assets traded as CFDs) |
| Margin Call | Yes, triggered if balance falls below required margin | Yes, varies by account type (Cent, ECN, etc.) |
| Corporate Accounts | Yes, corporate and institutional accounts available | No, focused on individual and retail accounts |
| Trading Competitions | No, due to regulatory constraints | Yes, regular trading contests with cash prizes |
| Rewards Program | No rewards program | Yes, loyalty program with cashback options and rewards |
| Account Verification Time | 1-3 business days (can vary by documents and country) | 1-2 business days, typically faster for digital verification |
| Swap-Free Options | Yes, for Islamic accounts | Yes, available for all account types upon request |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | No, eToro uses direct copy trading | No, no specific PAMM/MAM accounts available |
| Server Reliability | Very stable, with redundancy and backups | High reliability, low-latency servers with VPS options |
| Affiliate Program | Yes, referral and affiliate program | Yes, affiliate program with tiered commissions |
| Regional Restrictions | Restricted in certain countries due to regulations (e.g., Iran, North Korea) | Also restricted in some countries (e.g., USA, Canada) |
| Trustworthiness | Established in 2007, publicly traded company (NASDAQ: ETOR) | Established in 2009, globally recognized with strong user base |
| Daily Market Updates | Regular updates with in-platform notifications | Yes, via MetaTrader and FBS news feeds |
| VPS Hosting | No built-in VPS hosting | Yes, free VPS for eligible users (trading volume or deposits required) |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most digital wallets and cards | Instant for digital wallets, up to 1 business day for bank transfers |
| Withdrawal Time | 1-2 business days (may vary based on method) | 15 minutes to 48 hours depending on method |
| Trading Hours | 24/5 (Forex and most CFDs), Cryptos 24/7 | 24/5 (Forex), Cryptos 24/7 |
| Account Customization | Limited customization of account features | More customization (leverage, order types, etc.) based on account type |
| Desktop Platform | Web-based (no separate desktop client) | Standalone MT4/MT5 desktop applications |
| Copy Trade Platform Usability | User-friendly, with leaderboards and detailed trader stats | More complex interface compared to eToro’s CopyTrader |
| Trading Education Platform | In-depth guides and beginner-friendly content | Extensive trading courses, MT4/MT5 tutorials, live sessions |
| User Base | Over 30 million users globally | Over 23 million users globally |
| Stock Fractional Trading | Yes, available for stocks and ETFs | No, full lots only (for stocks as CFDs) |
| Portfolio Management | Offers Smart Portfolios (pre-built portfolios) | No specific portfolio management, manual trading only |
| AI/Algorithmic Insights | Yes, some AI-powered market sentiment tools | No built-in AI tools, but custom EA bots can be integrated |
| Micro Lot Trading | No (minimum position size is 0.01 lot for Forex) | Yes, supports micro-lots as small as 0.001 lot |
| Real-Time Notifications | Push notifications for price changes, orders, and market news | Push notifications on the mobile app for trading activity |
| Fee Transparency | Clear fee structure shown within the app, no hidden charges | Transparent fees but commission amounts vary by account type |
| Risk Management Tools | Built-in risk score for portfolios, copy-trading risk limits | Full control over position size, stop-out levels, and hedging |
| Market Depth (Level 2) | No, limited to basic order book | Yes, available on ECN accounts (depth of market view) |
| Forex Pairs Offered | 49+ pairs | 40+ pairs (varies by region) |
| Regulatory Fines or Issues | No significant recent issues | No significant recent issues, some past controversies (bonuses in certain countries) |
| Weekend Trading | Only for cryptocurrencies | Only for cryptocurrencies |
| News Feed | Integrated social-style feed for market insights and user posts | Traditional financial news via MT4/MT5 terminals |
| Webinars and Live Sessions | Regular webinars on market strategies and crypto trends | Frequent live trading webinars and Q&A sessions |
| Deposit Bonuses | None (due to strict regulation) | Yes, up to 100% deposit bonus, cashback bonuses, loyalty rewards |
| Active Community | Yes, integrated social community and discussion boards | Smaller community, but active in copy trading app |
| Partnership Programs | Yes, influencer and affiliate partnerships | Yes, affiliate programs with cash rewards and tiers |
| Order History Tracking | Full order and trade history accessible | Full trade history via MT4/MT5 logs and reports |
| Mobile Trading Customization | High customization, notifications, and price alerts | Advanced order types, EAs, and scripts via mobile MetaTrader apps |
| Cashback and Rebates | No | Yes, FBS offers cashback programs for trading volume |
| Advanced Risk Features | Copy trading with automatic stop-loss on copied accounts | Negative balance protection on all accounts |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months of inactivity | No inactivity fees |
| Annual Trading Costs for Active Traders | Low due to zero commissions on stocks and ETFs | Higher if using ECN/Zero Spread accounts (due to commissions) |
| Platform Downtime | Minimal downtime during updates and maintenance | Rarely, mainly during server upgrades |
| Order Queuing | Minimal queuing due to strong liquidity providers | Depends on account type, ECN offers direct access |
| Market Availability by Timezone | Comprehensive due to global markets | 24/5 Forex trading, with regional differences based on liquidity |
| IPO Access | Yes, offers pre-IPO access for some stocks | No pre-IPO or direct IPO investments |
| Regulatory Protections | High protection due to FCA, CySEC, ASIC, and ESMA rules | Strong protections under CySEC and ASIC, less stringent for IFSC accounts |
| Daily Economic Calendar | Yes, integrated in the platform | Yes, available in MT4/MT5 and on FBS’s website |
| Trade Execution Flexibility | No manual dealing desk, but copy trades may follow leader’s timing | Pure STP/ECN accounts with no interference, manual control on other accounts |
| Financial Reporting Tools | Yes, detailed profit/loss and tax reports | Yes, MT4/MT5 provides detailed reports |
| Partnership Sponsorships | Partners with multiple sports and fintech companies | FBS sponsors events and runs brand awareness campaigns |
| Trading Bot Integration | Limited to external APIs and CopyTrader automation | Full compatibility with automated Expert Advisors (EAs) |
| Cryptocurrency Pairs | 70+ crypto pairs (including real assets and CFDs) | 30+ crypto pairs (all CFDs) |
| Account Registration Time | Quick, typically under 10 minutes for KYC approval | Slightly longer due to manual review (depending on document submission) |
| Password Recovery Support | Full recovery options via email and mobile | Similar, secure recovery options provided |
| Scalping Restrictions | Yes, scalping not allowed (short-term trades discouraged) | No restrictions, scalping is allowed for all accounts |
eToro is ideal for social trading and real asset ownership with a user-friendly interface, while FBS excels in high-leverage Forex trading, advanced MT4/MT5 features, and bonuses.