| Feature | eToro | Admiral Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 2007 | 2001 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FSAS (Seychelles) | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), JSC (Jordan) |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $100 |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 for retail clients, higher for professional clients | Up to 1:500, depending on the asset and client classification |
| Trading Instruments | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, CFDs on indices, shares, commodities, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, bonds, spread betting |
| Trading Platforms | Proprietary eToro Platform (Web and Mobile), Social Trading Features | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Admirals Mobile Apps, WebTrader |
| Social/Copy Trading | Yes, robust social trading features with copy trading capabilities | Yes, offers copy trading services |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited | Yes, but expires after 30 days |
| Spread Type | Fixed spreads | Variable spreads |
| Typical EUR/USD Spread | From 1.0 pips | From 0.1 pips |
| Commission Fees | No commissions on stock trades, spreads apply; $5 withdrawal fee; $10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months of inactivity | Commissions apply on certain account types; no deposit or withdrawal fees; inactivity fee may apply |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and others | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, and others |
| Withdrawal Methods | Same as deposit methods; $5 withdrawal fee applies | Same as deposit methods; no withdrawal fees |
| Educational Resources | Comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, including articles and courses | Extensive educational materials, including webinars, articles, and tutorials |
| Customer Support | In-platform live chat; limited contact methods outside the platform | 24/5 support via live chat, email, and phone |
| Account Base Currencies | USD | EUR, USD, GBP, CHF, BGN, CZK, HRK, HUF, PLN, RON |
| Mobile Trading | Yes, available on iOS and Android | Yes, available on iOS and Android |
| Research Tools | Charts powered by TradingView with strong technical analysis features, including multiple chart types and over 100 indicators; comprehensive market news and analysis | Advanced charting tools within MetaTrader platforms; access to Trading Central; regular market analysis and news |
| Additional Features | Popular Investor Program offering payments to top copy traders; thematic investment portfolios covering various market trends; no guaranteed stop loss orders; currency conversion fees for non-USD accounts; $30 minimum withdrawal amount | Access to MetaTrader Supreme Edition plugin enhancing platform capabilities; offers both spread betting and CFDs; tight spreads and low to zero commissions; low minimum deposit; fractional shares; easy three-step account registration process |
| Account Types | Single standard account for all users; offers retail and professional accounts with varying leverage and features. | Multiple account types including Trade.MT4, Zero.MT4, Invest.MT5, each tailored for different trading needs and platforms. |
| Order Execution | Market Maker model; eToro acts as the counterparty to client trades, which can lead to potential conflicts of interest. | Straight Through Processing (STP) and Electronic Communication Network (ECN) execution models; provides direct market access with no dealing desk intervention, reducing potential conflicts of interest. |
| Research and Analysis Tools | Offers basic research tools; provides market news, analysis, and a sentiment indicator showing the percentage of buyers vs. sellers for each asset. | Provides advanced research tools; includes Trading Central integration, detailed market analysis, economic calendars, and premium analytics for informed decision-making. |
| Trading Signals | Offers trading signals through its social trading platform; users can follow and copy the trades of successful investors, leveraging collective insights. | Provides trading signals via MetaTrader platforms; includes technical analysis indicators and expert advisors for automated trading strategies. |
| Islamic Accounts | Offers Islamic (swap-free) accounts upon request; complies with Sharia law by not charging overnight interest on positions. | Provides Islamic (swap-free) accounts; available on request for clients adhering to Islamic finance principles, ensuring compliance with Sharia law. |
| Customer Support Languages | Supports multiple languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, and more; caters to a diverse global clientele with multilingual support. | Offers support in various languages including English, Spanish, Hungarian, Bulgarian, Czech, German, Dutch, French, Estonian, Greek, Latvian, Lithuanian, Moldovan, Croatian, Slovenian, Polish, Russian, Serbian, Romanian, Ukrainian, and Croatian; ensures accessibility for clients worldwide. |
| Bonus and Promotions | Generally does not offer bonuses or promotions; focuses on providing a robust trading platform and community without promotional incentives. | Occasionally offers bonuses and promotions; may include deposit bonuses or trading contests, subject to regional regulations and terms. |
| Affiliate Program | Offers an affiliate program; partners can earn commissions by referring new clients to the platform, with competitive payout structures. | Provides an affiliate program; offers competitive commission structures for partners referring new clients, with marketing support and resources. |
| Negative Balance Protection | Ensures negative balance protection; clients cannot lose more than their account balance, safeguarding against market volatility. | Offers negative balance protection; ensures clients do not incur losses exceeding their account balance, providing an additional layer of security. |
| Segregated Client Funds | Maintains segregated client funds; client monies are held separately from the company's operational funds, enhancing financial security. | Keeps client funds in segregated accounts; ensures that client funds are protected and not used for company operations, adhering to regulatory requirements. |
| Fractional Shares | Yes, allows users to purchase fractional shares of stocks and ETFs, enabling investments from as low as $10. | Yes, available through the Invest.MT5 account, allowing fractional investments in global stocks. |
| Spread Betting | No, eToro does not offer spread betting. | Yes, Admiral Markets offers spread betting for UK and Ireland clients, allowing tax-efficient trading. |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | No, does not offer PAMM (Percent Allocation Management Module) or MAM (Multi-Account Management) features. | Yes, Admiral Markets supports MAM and PAMM accounts, allowing money managers to trade for multiple clients from one account. |
| Algorithmic Trading | Limited to copying successful traders through social trading; does not support coding custom algorithms. | Supports algorithmic trading through MetaTrader platforms with Expert Advisors (EAs); users can create, test, and deploy their own automated trading strategies. |
| Regulated Countries | Regulated by FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and others; operates in many countries but not available in the USA, Canada, Japan, and certain restricted regions. | Regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and JSC (Jordan); available in a wide range of countries, but may have restrictions based on local regulations. |
| Portfolio Diversification | Offers "Smart Portfolios" (formerly CopyPortfolios), which are managed portfolios focusing on market themes, sectors, and strategies. | Does not offer managed portfolios; users must manually diversify through their trading accounts. |
| Cryptocurrency Wallet | Provides an eToro Money crypto wallet that allows users to transfer cryptocurrencies from the platform to an external wallet for long-term storage or external transactions. | Does not offer a proprietary crypto wallet; cryptocurrency CFDs must remain on the trading platform, and there is no direct withdrawal of crypto assets to external wallets. |
| Currency Conversion Fee | Yes, charges a currency conversion fee for deposits or withdrawals in non-USD currencies. | Offers multi-currency accounts to avoid conversion fees; however, conversion charges may apply if funding with unsupported currencies. |
| Risk Management Tools | Provides stop-loss, take-profit, trailing stops, and risk score metrics for copy trading portfolios; does not offer guaranteed stop-loss orders. | Offers stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing stop features; also provides access to guaranteed stop-loss orders (subject to conditions) to mitigate slippage risks. |
| Corporate Accounts | No corporate accounts are available. | Yes, offers corporate accounts, allowing businesses and institutions to trade through Admiral Markets. |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Speed | Deposits are usually instant via credit cards and e-wallets; withdrawals can take 2–8 business days. | Deposits are fast and typically processed the same day; withdrawals are processed within 1–2 business days, depending on the payment method. |
| Security Features | Two-factor authentication (2FA) is available; funds are stored in segregated accounts; uses encryption protocols to protect client data. | Offers two-factor authentication (2FA); segregates client funds in Tier-1 banks; uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) encryption for all data transactions. |
| Mobile App Rating | Highly rated on both Android (Google Play) and iOS (App Store); praised for ease of use, though some users mention issues with customization and research tools on mobile. | The Admirals mobile app has high ratings for its MetaTrader-based functionalities, though some traders prefer the full features available on desktop versions. |
| Additional Trading Tools | Provides sentiment analysis, thematic portfolios, and social sentiment tools within the app interface. | Offers MetaTrader add-ons such as MetaTrader Supreme Edition, which includes enhanced technical indicators, mini trading terminals, and advanced order execution tools. |
| Investor Protection | eToro offers investor compensation schemes in regulated regions (e.g., up to €20,000 under CySEC); however, compensation limits vary depending on the region. | Admiral Markets clients are eligible for investor compensation in accordance with regulations (e.g., up to £85,000 under FCA in the UK); provides extra insurance above regulatory minimums. |
| Taxes and Reporting | Provides annual tax reports for users; may assist with tax-related documentation but does not offer automatic tax withholding or direct tax optimization. | Offers downloadable account statements and tax reports through the MetaTrader platform; supports clients with comprehensive reporting features for tax filing purposes. |
| User Community | Strong user community; has millions of users worldwide interacting on the platform through discussions and trading strategies. | No direct user community built into the platform; relies on third-party MetaTrader forums and its own educational content to engage clients. |
eToro and Admiral Markets differ in key areas such as trading instruments, platforms, fees, and order execution models. eToro excels in social trading, while Admiral Markets offers advanced MetaTrader features and lower spreads for forex trading.