| Feature | eToro | CXM Direct |
|---|---|---|
| Company Type | Social trading and investment platform | Forex and CFD broker |
| Founded Year | 2007 | 2015 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FINRA, SEC (US) | IFSC (Belize), multiple local and offshore regulations |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 (varies by region) | $10 |
| Account Types | Retail, Professional, Islamic, Corporate accounts | Standard, VIP, Islamic, ECN |
| Tradable Assets | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Forex, Indices, CFDs | Forex pairs, Commodities, Indices, Shares, Metals, Cryptocurrencies |
| Number of Instruments | 3,000+ tradable instruments | 100+ tradable instruments |
| Social Trading Features | CopyTrader (copy other traders’ portfolios), CopyPortfolios (pre-built portfolios) | Lacks dedicated social trading but may have account mirroring options |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 (retail), up to 1:400 (professional, depending on regulation) | Up to 1:1000 |
| Spreads | Starts at 1 pip for forex, varies for other instruments | Raw spreads from 0.0 pips (ECN accounts), typically starts at 1 pip (Standard) |
| Commissions | Zero commission on stocks, fees apply for CFDs and crypto withdrawals | Commissions apply to ECN accounts, zero commissions for Standard accounts |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, eWallets | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, USDT (crypto), more |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 per withdrawal, minimum withdrawal $30 | No withdrawal fee for most methods, processing time varies |
| Platform Type | Proprietary eToro Platform (web and app-based) | MT4 (MetaTrader 4), MT5 (MetaTrader 5) |
| Charting Tools | Integrated TradingView-style charts, 50+ indicators | MetaTrader suite supports custom scripts, indicators, EA (Expert Advisors) |
| User Interface | Beginner-friendly, modern UI with social trading elements | Traditional Forex layout, more suited for experienced traders |
| Trading Fees | Spreads and overnight fees, no hidden charges | Low spreads for ECN, may include commissions |
| Copy Trading | Yes (built-in CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios) | Not natively, but VPS services and third-party tools can be used |
| Regulatory Protection | Investor protection based on region (up to €20,000 under CySEC) | Limited to regulatory protection offered by Belize’s IFSC |
| Customer Support | 24/5 support via live chat, email, tickets | 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, phone |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, market analysis, eToro Academy | Webinars, tutorials, market reports, signals |
| Cryptocurrency Support | Yes (real crypto trading and CFDs on crypto) | Yes (crypto CFDs, no real crypto purchases) |
| Demo Account | Yes (virtual $100,000) | Yes (virtual funds in MT4/MT5) |
| Mobile App | Yes (iOS and Android) | Yes (MetaTrader mobile apps) |
| Market Sentiment | Real-time sentiment displayed across social trading community | May be available through trading tools or plug-ins |
| Swap-Free/Islamic Account | Yes, available for Muslim traders | Yes, available for all account types |
| Fee Transparency | Transparent fees displayed for all instruments | Transparent commission and spread details in MT4/MT5 |
| User Base | 30+ million users worldwide | Smaller global user base compared to eToro |
| Spread Types | Variable spreads only | Variable and fixed spreads (depending on account type) |
| Cryptocurrency Wallet | Yes, native eToro Money Wallet for real crypto transfers | No direct crypto wallet, only crypto CFD trading |
| Deposit Currencies | USD (base currency), EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, and more | USD, EUR, GBP, and various other currencies (depends on account) |
| Base Account Currency | USD only | Supports multiple base currencies including USD, EUR, GBP |
| Trading Hours | 24/5 for forex and CFDs, stocks follow market hours | 24/5 for forex and CFDs, with metals and indices varying by market |
| Currency Conversion Fee | Yes, if depositing in non-USD currency (approx. 0.5%) | No currency conversion fee if using the same base currency |
| Overnight Fees (Swaps) | Yes, charged for positions held overnight | Yes, applicable for non-Islamic accounts |
| Risk Management Tools | Integrated risk scores, alerts, Stop Loss, Take Profit | Standard MT4/MT5 risk management tools (SL, TP, trailing stops) |
| Market Sentiment Indicators | Yes, via CopyTrader and live sentiment charts | May require third-party sentiment indicators on MT4/MT5 |
| Multi-Device Sync | Fully synced across web, mobile, and tablet platforms | Fully synced across MT4/MT5 desktop, web, and mobile |
| Multilingual Support | Yes (20+ languages) | Yes (supports a wide range of languages for global users) |
| Account Inactivity Fee | Yes, $10/month after 12 months of inactivity | No inactivity fees |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes (for retail accounts only, depending on regulation) | Yes (for all account types) |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No | No |
| Micro Lot Trading | No direct micro lots (minimum 0.01 lots but varies by asset) | Yes (micro lots supported with 0.01 lot minimum) |
| Lot Size Range | 0.01 to 100 lots | 0.01 to 100 lots or more (depending on account) |
| Profit/Loss Calculator | Yes, in-platform calculator for estimating trades | Available via MT4/MT5 indicators or plugins |
| Trailing Stop | Yes (manual setting required) | Yes (standard in MT4/MT5) |
| Position Sizing Tools | Limited to basic trade size adjustments | Full control over position sizing, including partial close options |
| News Sentiment Analysis | Available via social feed insights | No native sentiment analysis, requires third-party integration |
| Trading Competitions | No | Yes (often available with promotional events) |
| Volatility Protection Settings | No | Yes (adjustable slippage limits, deviation settings in MT4/MT5) |
| Market Execution Speed | Fast (20ms-40ms average) | Ultra-fast (10ms-30ms for ECN accounts) |
| Local Bank Integration | Limited to specific regions for local payments | Often supports local bank integrations depending on region |
| Partnership Programs | Yes (affiliate and partnership programs) | Yes (IB partnerships, MAM/PAMM manager programs) |
| Corporate Trading Accounts | Available for businesses and funds | Available for business entities |
| Swap-Free Account Conditions | No overnight fees but may adjust spreads | No overnight fees, no spread increase in some account types |
| Investment Funds | Pre-built Smart Portfolios (for diversification) | No dedicated pre-built funds, but supports managed accounts |
| Trader Community Features | Yes, social trading with live discussions and stats | No native community, traders rely on external forums and tools |
| Leaderboard Rankings | Yes, public performance stats for top traders | No internal leaderboard system |
| Webinars and Seminars | Yes, frequent webinars and live training sessions | Yes, offers webinars and tutorials regularly |
| Web API Access | Available for developers | Not available natively |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | No, not available | Yes, available in MT5 (shows Level 2 market data) |
| Time & Sales (T&S) | No | Available in MT5 for ECN accounts |
| Trade Execution Model | Market Maker (Hybrid model for some assets) | True ECN/STP execution on ECN accounts |
| Trading Infrastructure | Centralized proprietary platform | Decentralized MT4/MT5 with VPS and ECN servers |
| Latency Optimization | Minimal latency optimization | Advanced server proximity and VPS services for low-latency trading |
| Algo-Trading Capability | Limited, with API integration only | Fully supported via EAs on MT4/MT5 |
| Tick Charts | Not available | Yes, fully supported on MT4/MT5 |
| Server Locations | Global server network for stable performance | Offshore and regional servers for optimized latency |
| Regulatory Reporting | Yes, comprehensive under ESMA and ASIC regulations | Limited reporting depending on offshore jurisdiction |
| Asset Classification | Clear classification (stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, CFDs, commodities) | Clear classification (forex, metals, CFDs, indices, crypto) |
| Fractional Trading | Yes (stocks and ETFs only, not CFDs) | No fractional trading support |
| Multichart View | Limited (single-window trading interface) | Fully supported in MT4/MT5 |
| Trade Execution Type | Instant execution (with possible requotes on some CFDs) | Market execution (no requotes for ECN accounts) |
| Local Language Adaptation | Full localization in over 20 languages | Localized interfaces for specific markets |
| VPS Hosting | No | Yes, often free for high-volume traders |
| Tick-by-Tick Data | No | Yes, available in MT4/MT5 for detailed analysis |
| Customizable Interface | Limited customization | Fully customizable in MT4/MT5 |
| Risk Assessment Tools | Integrated risk scoring, historical performance analytics | Basic risk tools via MT4/MT5 or third-party add-ons |
| Third-Party Integrations | Limited (only with eToro API or external developers) | Extensive with MT4/MT5 plugins and third-party tools |
| Order Book Access | No | Yes, full Level 2 market depth |
| Historical Data Access | Yes, built-in historical data for backtesting | Yes, extensive historical data for MT4/MT5 backtesting |
| Advanced Order Types | Limited (Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop) | Advanced (Limit, Stop, Trailing, OCO, Good-Till-Canceled) |
| Manual Trading Features | Intuitive UI for trade placement | Advanced manual trading features in MetaTrader |
| Risk-Free Promotions | No risk-free trading promotions due to regulatory restrictions | Often offers promotional risk-free trading events or rebates |
| Custom Dashboard Options | Limited to eToro platform layout | Fully customizable in MT4/MT5 dashboards |
| News Integration | Social news feed integrated | Customizable news feeds from third-party providers |
| Economic Calendar | Yes, built-in with platform | Yes, embedded within MetaTrader or external tools |
| Market Volatility Index | Limited insights available | Fully supported through VIX index and tools |
| Swap-Free Tiers | Universal swap-free accounts available | Tiered swap-free conditions for specific accounts |
| Analytics Tools | Basic analytics (portfolio performance, profit/loss tracking) | Advanced tools via MT4/MT5 or plugins |
| Competition Presence | Focused on long-term investing markets | Active in global forex and trading competitions |
| Mobile Trading Features | Robust app with simplified design | Advanced MT4/MT5 mobile apps for detailed trading |
| Scalping Suitability | Not ideal due to spreads and execution delays | Highly suitable for scalping strategies |
| Position Holding Periods | Designed for medium-to-long-term trades | Suitable for short, medium, or long-term trading |
| Backtesting Features | Limited backtesting tools | Extensive backtesting in MT4/MT5 with strategy testers |
| Indicator Library | Standard pre-installed indicators, limited customization | Extensive indicator library with full customization |
| Multi-Account Manager | No | Yes, PAMM and MAM manager accounts supported |
eToro is ideal for beginners due to its social trading and real asset support, while CXM Direct excels for pro traders with its ECN execution, MetaTrader tools, and high-frequency trading features.