Plus500 vs eToro
| Plus500 | eToro |
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4.1
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4.1
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Established in 2008 and headquartered in Israel, Plus500 is a prominent brokerage that boasts over 25 million registered traders in over 50 countries. Specializing in CFD trading, the company offers an intuitive, proprietary platform and mobile app. It maintains competitive spreads and does not charge commissions or deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also continues to shine as one of the most trusted brokers with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. |
eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 76% of retail accounts lose money. |
| Customer Reviews | |
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3
Based on 1 Plus500 customer reviews
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4
Based on 2 eToro customer reviews
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| Comment by Reviewer | |
| "Plus500 offers a super-clean experience for traders with a CFD trading platform that sports a modern design and dynamic charting. That said, the broker’s research tools are limited, fees trail the cheapest brokers, and there’s room for enhancement in its educational resources." | "eToro's social trading platform leads the pack with a terrific user experience and active community chat that can help beginners find opportunities. There are also competitive fees on thousands of CFDs and real stocks, plus excellent rewards for experienced strategy providers." |
| Pros | |
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| Cons | |
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| Awards | |
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| Instruments | |
| CFDs on Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Commodities, Bonds |
| Demo Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Deposit | |
| $100 | $50 |
| Trading Platforms | |
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| Payment Methods | |
| Minimum Trade | |
| 0.01 Lots | $10 |
| Regulator | |
| FCA, ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, MAS, FSA, FSCA, FMA, EFSA | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA |
| Margin Trading | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Margin Rate | |
| 1% | |
| STP Account | |
| No | Yes |
| ECN Account | |
| No | No |
| DMA Account | |
| No | No |
| MAM Account | |
| No | No |
| PAMM Account | |
| No | No |
| LAMM Account | |
| No | No |
| Demat Account | |
| No | No |
| AI / Machine Learning | |
| No | Yes |
| Robo Advisor | |
| No | No |
| Negative Balance Protection | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Market Maker | |
| Yes | Yes |
| P2P Trading | |
| No | No |
| Spot Trading | |
| No | Yes |
| Mobile Apps | |
| iOS, Android & Windows | iOS & Android |
| App Review | |
Plus500 have developed their mobile apps to match the WebTrader online platform . Secure and reliable, the app is among the best out there. Stop loss and limits are available, free alerts and a full range of markets and instruments are available. Visit the download page here. |
eToro bring their social trading platform to your mobile, enabling you to copy trades, manage your account and invest via Android or iOS. Trade the key forex pairs from the palm of your hand. |
| Android App Rating | |
4.3 |
4 |
| iOS App Rating | |
4.1 |
4.8 |
| Auto Trading | |
| No | Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. |
| Copy Trading | |
| No | Yes |
| Copy Trading Platform | |
| eToro continues to deliver one of the best proprietary copy trading platforms on the market, at no additional cost for eToro clients. The web-based platform features a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with a community chat, making it a stand-out choice for beginners. | |
| Social Trading | |
| No | Yes |
| Trade Signals | |
| Yes | |
| VPS Hosting | |
| No | No |
| Tournaments | |
| No | No |
| Demo Competitions | |
| No | No |
| Ethical Investing | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Custodial Account | |
| No | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
| Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fee | |
| $10 | $10 |
| Islamic Account | |
| Yes | Yes |
| Account Currencies | |
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| Stock Exchanges | |
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| Commodities | |
| CFD Trading | |
| Plus500 presents commission-free CFDs encompassing a vast array of markets, spanning currencies, stocks, indices, and commodities. You can engage in long or short positions on popular assets, benefiting from adaptable leverage without encountering any concealed fees. | You can trade CFDs on over 3,000 assets and access rich market data through the integrated TradingView charts. There are also comprehensive free learning tools available for beginners via the eToro Academy, including dedicated CFD trading courses and guides. |
| Leverage | |
| 1:30 | |
| FTSE Spread | |
| 1.2 | 1.5 |
| GBPUSD Spread | |
| 1.1 | 1.9 |
| Oil Spread | |
| 0.04 | 0.05 |
| Stocks Spread | |
| 0.08 | 0.57 (Apple) |
| Forex Trading | |
| Plus500 provides forex trading through CFDs, featuring narrow spreads across an impressive selection of over 60 currency pairs. During testing, spreads came in as tight as 0.6 pips on the EUR/USD, which is notably lower than many alternatives. | An above-average selection of 55 currencies are available with reasonable spreads averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD during peak hours. Aspiring traders can continuously hone their forex strategies by switching between demo mode and their live account any time, with full access to the broker's 100+ technical indicators. |
| Forex App | |
Plus500 have developed their mobile apps to match the WebTrader online platform . Secure and reliable, the app is among the best out there. Stop loss and limits are available, free alerts and a full range of markets and instruments are available. Visit the download page here. |
eToro bring their social trading platform to your mobile, enabling you to copy trades, manage your account and invest via Android or iOS. Trade the key forex pairs from the palm of your hand. |
| GBPUSD Spread | |
| 1.1 | 1.9 |
| EURUSD Spread | |
| 0.6 | 0.9 |
| EURGBP Spread | |
| 1.4 | 1.3 |
| Assets | |
| 60+ | 55 |
| Currency Indices | |
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| Cryptocurrency | |
| Investors can trade on rising and falling prices with CFDs on popular cryptos like Bitcoin. Plus500 also stands out for its crypto indices, which offer diversification opportunities by tracking a basket of leading digital currencies. Availability subject to regulation. | eToro leads the way in cryptocurrency trading, offering competitive spreads and a fixed 1% commission, plus their own wallet service. The broker offers a vast list of 95+ tokens which is continually being updated. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more |
| Spread | |
| Variable | BTC 1% |
| Coins | |
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| Crypto Lending | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Mining | |
| No | No |
| Crypto Staking | |
| No | Yes |
| Auto Market Maker | |
| No | No |
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| More Comparisons | |
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Plus500 vs |
eToro vs |
How are Plus500 and eToro Different?
Plus500 and eToro are both multi-regulated, award-winning forex and CFD brokers. But which is better, eToro or Plus500, and how are they different? In this comparison, we look at fees, welcome bonuses, business credentials, minimum investments, market share, and more. Find out which is best for beginners and experienced traders in our Plus500 vs eToro breakdown.
Business Credentials
Plus500 is present in 50+ countries and has 22+ million customers that have opened 300+ million trades with a total volume of $800+ billion. Plus500 Ltd, which was founded in 2008, and is located in Israel.
eToro was founded in 2007 and is based in Tel Aviv, Israel. The firm has 25+ million users and is active in 100+ countries. The brand has also processed hundreds of millions of orders with a total trade volume in excess of $1 trillion.
Importantly, both Plus500 and eToro are highly rated trading brokerages with a strong international presence and a good track record.
Minimum Investment
Plus500 offers a minimum deposit of $100 in all of its major trading jurisdictions. eToro, on the other hand, requires that new clients deposit at least $200, unless they’re based in the US (where it’s $50) or the UK (where it’s $10).
As a result, Plus500 is cheaper to start trading with (unless you’re based in the UK), making it popular with beginners. Note, Plus500 does not accept clients from the US.
Assets & Products
eToro offers a wider selection of trading assets, particularly stocks. Over 3,000 shares are available, alongside 49 currencies, 16 indices, 23 commodities (energy and metal), and 264 ETFs.
Plus500 offers over 2,000 assets spanning 8 indices, 60 forex pairs, 8 commodities, 1,500+ shares, and a modest collection of ETFs. The brokerage also offers the added extra of options trading, which is not available on eToro.
Dozens of cryptocurrencies are available at both brokers, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Litecoin (LTC). Note, regional restrictions apply to crypto trading.
Platforms & Tools
Both Plus500 and eToro offer proprietary trading platforms. Each terminal is compatible with major web browsers and can be downloaded as a mobile app.
While each platform offers a decent selection of analysis and drawing tools, instant and pending orders, plus trading opportunities on over 2,000 assets, the eToro terminal is easier to navigate and the most beginner-friendly.
It’s also worth pointing out that eToro’s platform has a strong focus on social investing. This allows users to follow and replicate the positions and strategies of thousands of registered traders. The 50 most copied traders in 2021 achieved an average yearly profit of 30.4%.
Overall then, the eToro platform is best suited to rookie traders and those interested in copy trading. The Plus500 terminal is a better fit for experienced traders looking to scan the markets and conduct detailed technical and fundamental analysis.
Note, both platforms offer one-click trading and neither Plus500 or eToro supports the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. Execution speeds are also similar on both platforms.
Spreads & Fees
Plus500 offers slightly tighter spreads on forex pairs. However, eToro is better priced for investing in stocks and ETFs, with a long list of commission-free assets.
Both brokerages charge overnight fees and inactivity penalties, though Plus500’s dormancy fee kicks in after three months at $10 per month while eToro’s $10 monthly charge isn’t levied on accounts until one year of inactivity. Currency conversion and Guaranteed Stop Orders also incur charges at both firms.
Overall then, eToro is the best option if you want to trade stocks and ETFs.
It’s also worth pointing out that eToro charges a $25 withdrawal fee and a $50 minimum withdrawal via some methods, a notable drawback versus Plus500.
Leverage
Both Plus500 and eToro cap leverage in line with regulatory requirements. This means EU-regulated traders, for example, will not be able to trade with rates above 1:30.
Importantly, leverage also varies by asset with volatile markets, such as cryptocurrencies, usually coming with lower maximum rates of around 1:2.
Deposits & Withdrawals
When it comes to Plus500 vs eToro for funding options, eToro is better. Plus500 offers debit and credit cards, wire transfers, plus basic e-wallets, such as PayPal. eToro, on the other hand, offers all of the above, plus a selection of local payment solutions to suit a wider client base, from Diners Club and Venmo to Yandex Money and Dragonpay.
Both eToro and Plus500 offer near-instant deposits and fast withdrawals for most payment solutions. But as outlined above, the $25 withdrawal fee at eToro and minimum payment of $50 may deter some investors.
Note, KYC checks are required at both Plus500 and eToro and a delay in submitting the relevant documentation could delay withdrawals.
Mobile App
When it comes to Plus500 vs eToro on the mobile trading front, both are solid options. Each brokerage offers a fully functioning trading application that is compatible with iOS, Android and Windows.
The mobile app can be downloaded for free once an account has been created. The firm’s mobile apps allow for complete account management, secure deposits and withdrawals, technical analysis and one-click trading, plus in-app customer support.
Regulation
Plus500 holds licenses with more regulatory bodies. As well as oversight from the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission plus the UK Financial Conduct Authority (which eToro is licensed with), Plus500 is registered with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the Financial Services Authority. In addition, the brand has been approved by financial regulators in South Africa and New Zealand.
The additional regulatory licenses provide additional safeguards and recourse options for traders registered in the respective regions. With that said, it’s worth highlighting that both brands are trustworthy and legitimate.
Note, both eToro and Plus500 offer negative balance protection. Each firm also offers secure logins with two-factor authentication options.
Bonuses
Due to regulatory restrictions, neither eToro or Plus500 offer welcome bonuses and sign-up incentives. This is standard practice amongst top-rated firms. Instead, each trading brokerage highlights its suite of educational materials and copy trading services (in the case of eToro).
Demo Account
Plus500 and eToro both offer free demo accounts. There are no limits or restrictions with either.
The Plus500 demo account starts with $40,000 in virtual credit. Once your balance drops below $200, your account will be topped up with virtual credit.
Alternatively, the eToro paper trading account comes with $100,000 in virtual funds so clients have plenty of practice capital to refine strategies and explore platform features.
Basic contact details are required to open a paper trading account with either brand. And the sign-up time is just a few minutes.
Note, joint accounts are not available with either firm.
Customer Service
Plus500 offers customer support 24/7, whereas eToro’s support team are only available 24/5 Monday to Friday.
Support at Plus500 is available via email or live chat. eToro offers these support channels, plus an online contact form and ticket-based query system.
Multilingual customer support is available with both brands and response times on live chat were under two minutes for each firm upon testing.
Plus500 vs eToro – Which Is Better?
Plus500 or eToro, which one should you open a trading account with? Both firms are highly regulated, offer an extensive range of assets, plus a competitive fee structure. Yet for beginners and those interested in trading stocks and shares, eToro is the best fit. The brand offers commission-free investing plus a copy trading service where new traders can learn from elite investors. eToro is also the only brand available in the US.
Plus500 is a better fit for active forex traders, offering low spreads and advanced risk management alerts. We’d also recommend that beginners consider switching to Plus500 further down the line when they feel more confident.
Use the pros and cons of Plus500 vs eToro outlined above to find the right broker for your trading needs.