| Feature | eToro | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1989 |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), SEC (US), others | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), IIROC (Canada), FMA (New Zealand), others |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 (varies by region) | No minimum deposit for CFDs (but recommended $200), $1000 for stockbroking in some cases |
| Account Types | Standard, Islamic, Corporate accounts | CFD Trading Account, Spread Betting Account, Stockbroking Account, Corporate accounts |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Indices, CopyPortfolios, SmartPortfolios | Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Indices, Bonds, Treasuries, Spread Betting |
| Commission Structure | No commission on stocks and ETFs (spread-based), spreads vary for other assets | Commission for shares (variable by market), spread-based for CFDs and forex |
| Spreads | Varies (e.g., from 1 pip for EUR/USD) | Varies (e.g., as low as 0.3 pips for EUR/USD) |
| Leverage | Up to 30:1 (retail clients), up to 400:1 for professional clients | Up to 30:1 (retail clients), up to 500:1 for professional clients |
| Platform Type | Proprietary web platform, mobile app | Proprietary "Next Generation" platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), mobile app, web platform |
| Charting Tools | Advanced charting tools with multiple indicators | Advanced charting tools, 115+ technical indicators, pattern recognition tools |
| Social Trading | Yes, through "CopyTrader" and "Smart Portfolios" | No, no native social trading features |
| Copy Trading | Yes, users can copy top-performing traders | No |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop | Market, Limit, Stop Loss, Guaranteed Stop Loss, Trailing Stops, others |
| Education | Educational videos, eBooks, webinars, demo account | Trading tutorials, market analysis, webinars, demo account |
| Demo Account | Yes, with virtual funds | Yes, with virtual funds |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit cards, Bank transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, others | Credit/Debit cards, Bank transfers, PayPal, BPAY, POLi (AU), others |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 per withdrawal | No withdrawal fees (may vary for international bank transfers) |
| Mobile App | Yes, available on iOS and Android | Yes, available on iOS and Android |
| Market News | Yes, real-time news updates, market sentiment tools | Yes, extensive market analysis and real-time news updates |
| Research Tools | Economic calendar, market news, analyst ratings, sentiment indicators | Economic calendar, news feed, price projection tools, client sentiment, analysis tools |
| Customer Support | Live chat, email, help center (24/5) | Live chat, phone support, email (24/5 for most regions) |
| Regulated Countries | Available in 140+ countries, regulated in multiple jurisdictions | Available in 70+ countries, regulated in key financial hubs |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, 70+ crypto pairs (as CFDs or actual asset, varies by region) | Yes, 10+ major crypto pairs (as CFDs only) |
| Stock Trading | Yes, fractional shares available | Yes, full shares only |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes (available to UK and Ireland residents) |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Negative Balance Protection, margin alerts | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Guaranteed Stop Loss (extra fee), margin alerts |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Trading Features | CopyTrader, CopyPortfolios, social feed integration | Pattern recognition tools, advanced order types, price alerts |
| Fees (Non-Trading) | $10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months of inactivity | No inactivity fee |
| Execution Type | Market execution, no dealing desk (NDD) | Market execution, no dealing desk (NDD) |
| Asset Ownership | Offers actual ownership of stocks, ETFs, and some cryptos (for certain regions) | No asset ownership for CFDs and spread betting, only for stockbroking |
| API Access | No, API access not provided to retail users | Yes, REST API for professional and algorithmic traders |
| Advanced Charting Features | Yes, customizable chart layouts, drawing tools, social sentiment overlay | Yes, multiple chart layouts, auto pattern recognition, ability to save chart views |
| Trading Costs Transparency | Fully transparent with spread costs and fees shown before order placement | Fully transparent with commission and spread cost breakdowns |
| Fractional Trading | Yes, available for stocks and ETFs | No, only full share trades for stockbroking |
| Currency Conversion Fees | 0.5% conversion fee for non-USD deposits or trades | Varies by country (around 0.5% to 1% on non-native currency transactions) |
| User Interface | Intuitive and beginner-friendly, with streamlined design | Professional-grade interface with customizable dashboards |
| Account Security | Two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric login available | Two-factor authentication (2FA), secure ID checks |
| Trading Alerts | Price alerts, news alerts, social trading alerts | Price alerts, indicator alerts, market updates |
| Trade Automation | No direct automation, but copy trading acts as pseudo-automation | Yes, support for Expert Advisors (EAs) in MetaTrader 4 |
| Partnerships/Integrations | No external third-party integrations | Yes, integrates with third-party platforms via APIs and MT4 |
| Platform Customization | Limited to themes and watchlist changes | Highly customizable (workspace layout, indicator placement, multi-monitor support) |
| Account Reporting | Detailed reports on trades, portfolio, fees | Comprehensive trade history, performance analysis, downloadable statements |
| Withdrawal Time | 1-2 business days for processing | 1 business day for processing withdrawals |
| Market Sentiment Tools | Yes, social trading sentiment displayed in real time | Yes, client sentiment indicators based on CMC's trading data |
| Proprietary Research Tools | Analyst consensus ratings, copy trader leaderboards, social metrics | Client sentiment tool, pattern recognition scanner, technical analysis insights |
| Trading Community | Yes, active community for sharing trades, comments, and strategies | No direct community platform |
| VIP/High-Net-Worth Features | VIP club tiers (Platinum, Diamond), lower fees, premium support | Yes, premium client services with account managers and fee reductions for high-volume traders |
| Trading Hours | Standard market hours, crypto trades 24/7 | Standard market hours, crypto trades 24/7 |
| Historical Data Access | No bulk historical data download | Yes, extensive historical data for advanced analysis |
| Security of Funds | Segregated client funds, investor compensation scheme (up to certain limits) | Segregated client funds, investor compensation scheme (FCA regulated up to £85,000) |
| Mobile App Features | Full trading functionality, notifications, in-app support | Full trading functionality, customizable dashboard, real-time notifications |
| Professional Accounts | Yes, with higher leverage and additional tools for eligible users | Yes, with higher leverage and professional-grade access |
| Available Languages | 20+ languages supported | 15+ languages supported |
| Additional Risk Controls | Stop loss, take profit, max drawdown settings | Guaranteed stop loss options (for a fee), detailed margin control |
| Asset Diversification Tools | Smart Portfolios (thematic investment baskets) | No thematic portfolios, but allows customization of watchlists |
| Market Coverage | Global markets including US, EU, Asia, and emerging markets | Extensive global markets coverage with access to over 10,000 instruments |
| Corporate Actions Handling | Dividends for real stocks and ETFs, corporate action updates | Dividends, stock splits, and corporate actions handled automatically (for stockbroking accounts) |
| Volatility Protection | No specific tools other than stop losses and trailing stops | Guaranteed stop loss and price gap protection for a fee |
| Reputation & User Base | Over 30 million users worldwide | Popular with professional traders, but smaller retail community compared to eToro |
| Web Platform Performance | Web-based platform with no downloads required, highly responsive | Web-based and desktop platforms with robust performance, slightly heavier due to advanced tools |
| News Sources | Proprietary newsfeed, financial headlines via third-party sources | Reuters newsfeed, in-depth economic reports, and real-time news integration |
| Scalping and Hedging | Scalping and hedging not allowed | Scalping and hedging allowed |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Yes, available for eligible users | Yes, available on request |
| Interest on Margin | Yes, overnight fees apply to leveraged positions | Yes, overnight financing fees apply for leveraged CFD positions |
| Trading Contests | No regular trading contests or competitions | Occasional promotions and competitions for certain regions |
| Partnership/IB Programs | Yes, affiliate and Introducing Broker (IB) programs | Yes, affiliate, White Label, and IB programs |
| Fees for Short Positions | Spread fees, overnight holding fees | Spread fees, commission (for stock CFDs), overnight holding fees |
| Corporate Accounts | Yes, for businesses and corporations | Yes, for businesses, corporate brokers, and partnerships |
| Fundamental Analysis Tools | Limited to analyst ratings, economic calendar, and earnings reports | Extensive fundamental tools, earnings calendars, dividend dates, and financial statement data |
| Tax Reporting Support | No built-in tax reporting tools, users must track gains manually | Yes, tax reporting assistance with downloadable statements for annual reports |
| Watchlist Customization | Yes, customizable watchlists and favorites | Yes, multi-watchlists with ability to track different assets and regions |
| Algorithmic Trading | No support for algo trading | Full support for algorithmic trading via MT4, REST API, and custom bots |
| Sentiment Tracking | Social sentiment based on real-time trades from the community | Client sentiment analysis based on percentage of buy/sell orders across CMC Markets users |
| Data Export Features | Limited (manual exports only) | Extensive data export options for historical analysis |
| Login Security Options | Two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric logins available on mobile | Two-factor authentication (2FA), biometric logins, device whitelisting |
| Referral Program | Yes, referral bonuses for referring friends (varies by region) | No direct referral program |
| Support for MT4/MT5 | No support for MetaTrader 4/5 platforms | Yes, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) |
| Webinars and Live Events | Yes, regular webinars on trading strategies and platform features | Yes, frequent webinars, live trading events, and platform walkthroughs |
| Thematic Investing | Yes, thematic Smart Portfolios for specific industries and trends | No thematic portfolios, only individual asset investments |
| Copy Portfolio Management | Yes, through "SmartPortfolios" combining various asset classes | No, only manual portfolio creation |
| Leverage Adjustments | Limited flexibility for retail clients due to regulations | Full control of leverage settings for professional accounts |
| Spread Adjustments | Fixed spreads for some markets, variable spreads for forex and commodities | Variable spreads depending on market conditions and volatility |
| Options Trading | No, options trading not available | No, options trading not available |
| IPO Access | No access to IPOs | Yes, offers IPO trading for certain markets (via stockbroking accounts) |
| Account Tiers | Standard account, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond Club levels | No official account tiers, but VIP clients get personalized account management |
| Onboarding Process | Streamlined onboarding with fast verification | Detailed verification and documentation required |
| Trading Simulations | Yes, simulation trading via demo accounts | Yes, trading simulations and risk-free demo accounts available |
| Negative Balance Recovery | Yes, negative balance protection ensures balance resets to zero | Yes, negative balance protection is guaranteed |
| Account Deactivation Fees | No account deactivation fees | No account deactivation fees |
eToro excels in social trading, copy portfolios, and beginner-friendly interfaces, while CMC Markets offers advanced trading tools, algorithmic support, and lower spreads for professionals.