| Feature | eToro | OctaFX |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| Regulation | CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), SEC (US) | CySEC (Cyprus), SVG FSA (St. Vincent), SEBI (India - regional partner) |
| Account Types | Retail, Professional | Micro, Pro, ECN |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited virtual funds | Yes, $5,000 virtual funds |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 (varies by region and method) | $25 |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill, Bank Transfer, eToro Money, Crypto | Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Local Bank Transfer, Crypto, Perfect Money |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 fixed fee | No withdrawal fees (but currency conversion may apply) |
| Trading Platforms | eToro proprietary platform, Web, Mobile | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Mobile Apps |
| Copy Trading | Yes, extensive social trading features | Yes, limited but available in MT5 |
| Assets Offered | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Commodities | Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Indices, Commodities |
| Forex Pairs | 49+ currency pairs | 28+ currency pairs |
| Cryptocurrencies | 70+ cryptocurrencies | 30+ cryptocurrencies |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 for retail, up to 1:400 for professional (depends on regulation) | Up to 1:500 (varies by region) |
| Spreads | Variable, from 1 pip for major pairs | Tight spreads, from 0.6 pips |
| Commission Fees | No commissions for stocks and ETFs (spread-based pricing for other assets) | No commissions on most accounts (ECN accounts have small fees) |
| Trading Tools | Charting tools, News Feed, Economic Calendar, Analyst Sentiments | Charting tools, Economic Calendar, Trading Signals |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Negative Balance Protection | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Negative Balance Protection |
| Islamic Accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Webinars, Trading Guides, Social Learning, Videos | Webinars, Tutorials, Trading Guides |
| Customer Support | 24/5 live chat, phone, email support | 24/7 live chat, email support |
| Mobile App | Yes (iOS and Android) | Yes (MT4 and MT5 apps for iOS and Android) |
| Social Trading Features | Yes, fully integrated social feed, investor portfolios, copy trading | No built-in social feed, limited Copy Trading |
| Staking | Yes (for selected assets) | No staking options |
| Bonuses/Promotions | No (due to regulatory restrictions) | Yes (welcome bonuses and deposit bonuses, varies by region) |
| Security Measures | Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), Biometric Logins, SSL Encryption | SSL Encryption, Secure Servers, MetaTrader Security Tools |
| Best For | Social trading enthusiasts, beginners, long-term investors | Forex and CFD traders seeking high leverage, low-cost trading |
| Cons | Withdrawal fee, limited customization of platform, restricted in some regions | Limited assets beyond Forex and CFDs, fewer licenses in tier-1 jurisdictions |
| Overall Trust Score | High (due to strong global regulations) | Moderate to High (depends on regional oversight) |
| User Interface | Modern, user-friendly dashboard, customizable watchlists | Traditional MetaTrader interface, more complex but highly customizable |
| Order Types | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Order, Trailing Stop | Market Order, Limit Order, Stop Order, Pending Orders |
| Charting Tools | Advanced interactive charts, over 70 technical indicators | Integrated MT4/MT5 charting tools, multiple timeframes, over 50 indicators |
| API Access | No public API for algorithmic trading | Yes, MT4/MT5 API for algorithmic trading |
| Automated Trading | No built-in automation but offers copy trading | Yes, supports Expert Advisors (EAs) in MT4/MT5 |
| Social Features | CopyTrader (follow and replicate trades), Smart Portfolios (thematic investing) | No built-in social feed, but copy trading via third-party integration possible |
| Account Verification Time | 1–3 days depending on documents and region | 1 day typically (depending on verification documents) |
| Execution Speed | 1 millisecond average | 0.1–0.3 seconds (ECN accounts offer fastest execution) |
| Stop-Out Level | 50% (retail clients) | 15%–30% depending on account type |
| Slippage Control | Minimal slippage in normal conditions, though spreads widen during volatile events | Variable slippage, more noticeable during major economic events |
| Market Access Hours | 24/5 for Forex and CFDs, 24/7 for cryptocurrencies | 24/5 for Forex and CFDs, 24/7 for cryptocurrencies |
| Asset Fractionalization | Yes (fractional shares for stocks and ETFs) | No (full lots or specified minimum sizes for crypto and Forex) |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1–2 business days | 1–3 business hours for e-wallets, up to 24 hours for bank transfers |
| Web Trading Experience | Browser-based platform with smooth UX, real-time social trading updates | MT4/MT5 WebTrader available, designed for desktop-like trading in the browser |
| Desktop App | No dedicated desktop app, only browser or mobile | Yes (MT4/MT5 desktop versions available) |
| Micro Lot Trading | No micro-lot trading (minimums are higher for some CFDs) | Yes (0.01 lot minimum) |
| Scalping and Hedging | Not allowed for scalping or high-frequency hedging | Allowed (especially on ECN accounts) |
| Copy Trading Limits | Maximum $500,000 allocation per copied trader, stop-copy safeguards | No official allocation limit, restrictions depend on platform limits |
| Currency Base Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, several others | USD, EUR, GBP, INR, multiple local currencies |
| Deposit Time | Instant for e-wallets, up to 3 days for bank transfers | Instant for most payment methods, up to 24 hours for crypto |
| Affiliate Programs | Yes (eToro Partners Program) | Yes (CPA and revenue-sharing programs) |
| Cashback Rewards | No cashback or rebates | Cashback bonuses available for high-volume traders |
| Trading Contests | No contests due to regulatory limits | Yes, frequent demo and live trading contests |
| Account Tiers/VIP Status | Yes, with perks such as premium support and lower spreads | Yes, VIP accounts offer better spreads, priority support, and rebates |
| User Base | Over 30 million registered users globally | Over 10 million registered users globally |
| Language Support | 20+ languages including English, Spanish, German, French, Arabic | 12+ languages including English, Hindi, Indonesian, Spanish, Arabic |
| Community Engagement | Built-in social feeds, discussions, and shared strategies | Community forums, but lacks direct in-platform engagement features |
| Client Segregation of Funds | Yes, funds are held in tier-1 banks, fully segregated | Yes, segregated funds as per regulations |
| Cryptocurrency Wallet | Yes, eToro Money Wallet (for transferring, holding, and staking crypto) | No built-in wallet (crypto trades remain CFDs unless using crypto deposits) |
| Crypto to Crypto Conversion | Yes, in eToro Money Wallet | No (trades executed as currency pairs, not direct conversion) |
| Stock Ownership | Yes (you own real stocks in selected jurisdictions) | No (stocks are only available as CFDs) |
| ETF Ownership | Yes, offers real ETFs in regulated regions | No (only offers ETFs as part of indices in CFDs) |
| Affiliate Tracking Tools | Advanced affiliate tracking dashboard, transparent reports | Partner dashboard for tracking commissions, affiliate rewards |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes, mandatory as per regulations | Yes, for all account types |
| Contests and Giveaways | No, restricted due to regulatory constraints | Yes, regular promotions and trading competitions with cash prizes |
| Account Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months of inactivity | No inactivity fee |
| Deposits in Cryptocurrencies | Yes, supports Bitcoin and other major cryptos | Yes, supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, and others |
| Referral Program | Yes, up to $50–$100 per referral | Yes, with bonus credits for referrals |
| Swap-Free Accounts | Yes (available for Islamic accounts) | Yes (available for Islamic accounts) |
| Weekend Trading | Yes (for cryptocurrencies only) | No (forex and CFDs closed during weekends) |
| Trading Signals | Yes, with analyst insights and in-app alerts | Yes, provided via MT4/MT5 with expert signal services |
| News Feeds | Integrated in-platform market news, social trading insights | Economic calendar and price alerts, no integrated news feed |
| Custom Alerts | Yes, price alerts and portfolio updates | Yes, via MetaTrader notifications and push alerts |
| Investor Portfolios | Yes, Smart Portfolios with diversified, pre-built themes | No equivalent portfolio feature |
| Real-Time Data | Free real-time data for most assets | Free real-time data for Forex and CFDs |
| Trade Execution Type | Market execution | Market execution (Pro and ECN accounts support instant execution) |
| Volatility Protection | Yes, risk management tools like trailing stops and limit orders | Yes, fixed spreads on selected accounts to manage high volatility |
| Risk Warning Levels | Built-in prompts when taking high-risk trades | No explicit prompts, but risk calculators are provided |
| Price Slippage Protection | Yes, offers guaranteed stop-loss in normal conditions | Limited protection, slippage varies during market turbulence |
| FIFO Compliance | Yes (First-In, First-Out) for U.S. clients | No (not required for most clients) |
| Order Execution Transparency | Yes, execution reports provided for compliance | Execution reports available in MT5 logs |
| Deposit Bonuses | No (due to strict regulations) | Yes, frequently offers deposit bonuses (e.g., 30% or 50% bonuses) |
| Trading Leverage Restrictions | Yes, regulated leverage caps (1:30 for retail in EU/UK) | No strict restrictions unless regionally mandated |
| Account Migration Options | No migration between retail and pro accounts | Allows migration between Micro, Pro, and ECN accounts |
| Risk Management Insights | Yes, with built-in exposure notifications | Limited to manual monitoring and MetaTrader features |
| Advanced Order Customization | Partial close, multiple order levels | Full customization of order types via MT4/MT5 |
| Trading Education Levels | Beginner, Intermediate, Expert guides and webinars | Mostly beginner and intermediate webinars and trading courses |
| Regional Availability | Available in over 100 countries, restricted in some due to regulation (e.g., U.S. CFDs) | Available in over 85 countries, not available in the U.S. and some EU countries |
| Community Support | Active forums and live streams from top traders | No official forums, but active third-party MetaTrader groups |
| Cash Withdrawal Times | 3–5 business days for bank transfers, instant for e-wallets | 1–3 hours for e-wallets, 24 hours max for others |
| Customer Support Languages | 20+ languages including English, French, Spanish | 12+ languages including English, Indonesian, Hindi, Russian |
| Personal Account Manager | Yes, for high-tier or premium clients | Yes, for Pro and VIP account holders |
| Mobile Platform Features | Full trading and copy trading functionality | Full trading, analysis, and alerts in MT4/MT5 mobile apps |
| Asset Coverage in Indices | Major U.S., EU, Asian indices available | Major U.S., EU, and Asian indices (fewer options compared to eToro) |
eToro is best for social and copy trading enthusiasts, offering a user-friendly platform with extensive assets. OctaFX caters to Forex traders seeking high leverage and MetaTrader tools with lower fees and flexible account types.