| Feature | eToro | FXTM (ForexTime) |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FinCEN (US) | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), FSC (Mauritius) |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary WebTrader, Mobile App | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), WebTrader |
| Asset Classes | Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 (retail), higher for professional accounts | Up to 1:30 (FCA), 1:2000 (under offshore regulations) |
| Spreads | Variable (from 1 pip for EUR/USD), no commission for stocks and ETFs | Variable (from 0.1 pips with ECN accounts), commission applies to ECN accounts |
| Commission Structure | No commissions for most instruments except CFDs | Fixed or percentage-based commissions on ECN accounts, zero commission on standard accounts |
| Copy Trading | Yes (social trading via CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios) | Yes (via FXTM Invest for strategy followers) |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 (varies by region) | $10 (Cent account), $500 (ECN accounts) |
| Payment Methods | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, Skrill, Neteller, local payment options |
| Account Types | Retail, Professional | Standard, Cent, ECN, ECN Zero, FXTM Pro |
| Trading Fees | Zero commission for stocks and ETFs, overnight fees (swap) apply to CFDs | Spreads and commissions depend on the account type, swap fees for holding positions overnight |
| Education and Analysis | Extensive resources, market analysis, webinars, trading academy | Free webinars, eBooks, articles, demo accounts, analysis tools |
| Customer Support | 24/5 support via live chat, email, phone | 24/5 support via live chat, phone, email, multilingual support |
| Mobile Trading App | Yes (iOS and Android) | Yes (MT4, MT5 mobile apps for iOS and Android) |
| Available Markets | Global, including US stocks | Global, with focus on forex, emerging markets |
| Withdrawals and Fees | $5 withdrawal fee (fixed), processing time 1-3 days | No withdrawal fee for most methods, processing time 1-2 days |
| Deposit Fees | No fees | No fees |
| Demo Account | Yes (unlimited) | Yes (30 days, renewable) |
| Additional Features | Social trading, Smart Portfolios (thematic investing), cryptocurrency staking | PAMM/MAM accounts (for money managers), trading signals, multiple account currencies |
| Execution Model | Market Maker (dealing desk for some assets), no direct ECN | Hybrid model (Market Maker for standard accounts, ECN/STP for ECN accounts) |
| Order Types | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop, Pending Orders |
| Hedging and Scalping | Hedging not supported, scalping discouraged | Hedging and scalping allowed (especially for ECN accounts) |
| Risk Management Tools | Built-in risk management tools, real-time profit/loss display, stop loss and trailing stop customization | Negative balance protection, stop loss, take profit, leverage adjustments |
| Cryptocurrency Offering | Over 70 crypto pairs, cryptocurrency wallets for holding | Limited crypto pairs compared to eToro, available through CFDs only |
| Stocks and ETFs Access | Direct stock ownership for US, EU, and international markets | No direct stock ownership, only CFDs available for stocks and ETFs |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Yes, for Muslim clients (subject to conditions) | Yes, available for all account types (conditions apply) |
| Account Base Currencies | USD (primary), no currency conversion fees for USD accounts | Multiple base currencies (USD, EUR, GBP, NGN, others depending on region) |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for credit/debit cards and e-wallets | Instant for e-wallets, 1-2 business days for bank transfers |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1-3 business days for all methods | 24 hours for e-wallets, up to 3 business days for bank transfers |
| Fee Transparency | Transparent fee structure, displayed clearly for each asset | Slightly complex due to variable spreads and ECN commissions |
| Market News and Updates | Real-time news feed, integrated financial calendars | Economic calendars, regular market news, daily and weekly analysis reports |
| Regulatory Protections | Investor compensation schemes based on regional regulations (FCA, CySEC) | Investor protection schemes vary by region (FCA in the UK, FSCA in South Africa, CySEC in Cyprus) |
| Social and Community Features | Social news feed, user discussions, investor sentiment insights | Limited social features, FXTM Invest provides access to strategy manager performance metrics |
| Research Tools | In-depth financial analysis, price charts, sentiment data | Advanced trading tools on MT4/MT5, third-party plugins for analysis, Autochartist integration |
| Algo Trading and APIs | No native support for algorithmic trading or APIs | Supports algorithmic trading and Expert Advisors (EAs) on MT4/MT5 |
| Affiliate Programs | Yes, popular affiliate and partner programs | Yes, including IB (Introducing Broker) and affiliate programs |
| Partnership Programs | Brand Ambassador programs, affiliate partnerships | MAM/PAMM services for professional money managers, IB programs for brokers |
| Bonuses and Promotions | No bonuses (due to regulatory restrictions) | Occasional promotions and bonuses (depending on region and regulatory allowances) |
| Micro Lot Trading | No micro-lot option (minimum trade size varies per asset) | Yes, micro-lots available (0.01 lot size on most accounts) |
| User Reviews and Ratings | Generally positive for user experience, but concerns over crypto fees | Positive for execution speed and MetaTrader tools, mixed reviews for fees on lower-tier accounts |
| Community Size | Over 30 million users globally | Millions of clients worldwide but smaller community compared to eToro |
| Trading Signals | Proprietary signals via social trading (based on popular traders' activities) | MT4/MT5 integrated signals, Autochartist, third-party signals |
| Sentiment Tools | Sentiment indicator (based on community trades and positions) | Sentiment indicators via MT4/MT5, Autochartist plugins |
| Charting Tools | Advanced proprietary charts with multiple indicators, drawing tools | Professional-grade MT4/MT5 charting tools, customizable with technical indicators |
| Custom Indicators | Limited custom indicator support (proprietary platform) | Fully customizable with custom indicators on MT4/MT5 |
| Backtesting | Not available for eToro’s proprietary platform | Full backtesting capabilities for EAs in MT4/MT5 |
| Trading Automation | No native automation, limited via third-party bots | Full automation support via Expert Advisors (EAs), API integration |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Not available | Yes, Multi-Account Manager (MAM) and PAMM accounts available for professionals |
| Copy Trading Transparency | Detailed stats on copied traders (performance, risk score, portfolio breakdown) | Strategy managers' stats are available for followers (performance history, drawdown, risk level) |
| Investor Protection Limits | Up to €20,000 under CySEC, £85,000 under FCA | Up to £85,000 under FCA, €20,000 under CySEC (region-dependent) |
| Mobile App Features | Full-featured mobile app with charts, trades, news feed, notifications | Full mobile support via MT4/MT5 apps with customization and alerts |
| Trade Execution Speed | 1 millisecond to a few seconds (depending on liquidity) | Generally under 100 ms (especially for ECN accounts) |
| Slippage Control | Limited due to market-maker model | Lower slippage for ECN/STP accounts, variable slippage for standard accounts |
| Stop-Out Levels | 50% (retail), 20% (professional) | Varies by account: 40% for standard accounts, 30% for ECN accounts |
| Partially Close Trades | Yes, possible on all positions | Yes, supported on MT4/MT5 platforms |
| News and Alerts | Real-time news updates integrated into the platform | Real-time news via trading platforms and third-party services |
| Risk Level Customization | User-defined leverage per asset, risk control for CopyTrading positions | Risk control by adjusting leverage, stop-out, and trade size |
| Account Verification | Fully digital verification (ID upload, address proof) | Fully digital, sometimes slower in some regions |
| Referral Programs | Yes, with bonuses or rewards per referral | Yes, offers cash rewards or bonuses for referrals |
| Margin Call Notification | Real-time alerts on the app and web platform | Notifications via platform alerts, email, and mobile |
| Currencies Supported for Trading | USD, EUR, GBP (varies by stock/ETF origin), cryptocurrency pairs | USD, EUR, GBP, NGN, multiple currencies (varies by region) |
| Educational Materials | Trading courses, financial webinars, user blogs, forums, guides | Forex webinars, eBooks, strategy tutorials, YouTube lessons, Autochartist usage guides |
| Customer Satisfaction | High for platform simplicity, social trading features | High for execution speed, customer support in emerging markets |
| Transaction Fees | No deposit fees, $5 per withdrawal fee | Zero fees for most withdrawals, no deposit fees |
| User Community and Forums | Integrated discussion boards and posts per asset | Less community-driven, but has an active presence on FX forums |
| Geographic Restrictions | Not available in some countries (e.g., Canada, Iran, India) | Restricted in a few regions (USA, Japan, some restricted countries) |
| Proprietary Features | CopyTrader (for individual traders), Smart Portfolios (thematic investments) | FXTM Invest (copy trading), MAM/PAMM services for professionals |
| Account Management | Fully online account management portal | Online management with dedicated managers for VIP/professional accounts |
| Promotions for New Traders | No promotions due to regulations | Promotions available (varies by region), deposit bonuses in some countries |
| Reputation and Awards | Multiple fintech awards (Best Social Trading Platform, Most Innovative Broker) | Awards for execution speed, customer support, and emerging markets service |
eToro focuses on social and copy trading with an intuitive interface and commission-free stock trading, while FXTM offers advanced MetaTrader tools, high leverage, and ECN accounts for experienced traders.