eToro is an outstanding mobile trading app, established in 2006 by two brothers whose aim was to provide traders from various jurisdictions with a safe and fair trading experience. Over the years, the Israel-based trading app has grown in popularity thanks to its multiple trading instruments and customer-centred approach. eToro is a place where people from around the world can trade stocks, commodities, forex, CFDs, social trading, indices, and cryptocurrencies.
The brokerage received a stamp of approval from several regulatory bodies, namely the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Following this train of thought, it is not surprising that the brokerage has one of the most extensive customer bases. Currently, over 10 million traders use eToro.
The mobile trading app features an intuitive interface that works smoothly on various portable devices. Moreover, mobile traders from international markets can choose from several language options, including English, Spanish, Italian, German, Russian, French, Dutch, Polish, and others. Traders can reach the trading site directly from the browser of their hand-held devices or download the apps designed especially for iOS and Android users. Unfortunately, we must note that the broker does not utilise MetaTrader 4, but instead uses a proprietary web platform.
| General Information about eToro | |
|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $50 or $100 based on country ($10 for the UK) |
| Supported Languages | N/A |
| Supported Currencies | EUR, GBP, USD |
| Website | https://www.etoro.com/ |
| Support Email | complianceCY@etoro.com |
| Headquarters Address | 24th floor, One Canada Square Canary Wharf London, E14 5AB United Kingdom |
| Trading Information | |
|---|---|
| Trading Platforms | eToro App, eToro CopyTrader, eToro Investing |
| Demo Account | |
| Hedging | |
| Scalping | |
| US Traders | |
| Arabic Traders | |
Account types
Prior to signing up with eToro, you should be aware that it offers four types of trading account: a demo account, a retail-client account, a professional-client account and a zero-commission account for stock traders. Choosing the right account is essential for traders.
Once you decide to open an account via eToro’s mobile trading app, you will see that the registration procedure is very straightforward. In the upper left corner of your touchscreen device, you will find the Main Menu that will lead you to the Sign-Up button. It will take you just a few minutes to register with the eToro mobile trading app.
| Market | Leverage |
|---|---|
| Metals CFDs | 1:20 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Commodities CFDs | 1:10 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Commodities CFDs | 1:100 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
| Crypto CFDs | 1:2 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Crypto CFDs | 1:5 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
| ETF CFDs | 1:5 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| ETF CFDs | 1:10 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
| Forex CFDs | 1:400 (CySEC | Pro Account) |
| Forex CFDs | 1:30 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Forex CFDs | 1:400 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
| Indices CFDs | 1:20 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Indices CFDs | 1:100 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
| Stock CFDs | 1:5 (CySEC | Retail Account) |
| Stock CFDs | 1:10 (FSAS | Retail Account) |
Demo account
If you are an inexperienced trader, you can start your trading career by setting up a demo account. The idea behind this type of account is to allow novice traders to improve their skills in a risk-free manner. In addition, demo account holders still have access to the latest trading insights from experts. Besides being able to put your knowledge into practice, you will have the opportunity to familiarise yourself with eToro’s mobile trading platform and find the trading strategy that best suits your goals.
Retail-client account
If you open a retail-client account, you can start trading with real money. Once your demo mode expires, we recommend opting for this type of account if you are still not completely confident in your knowledge. Retail clients receive access to all the trading assets offered on the eToro mobile trading app.
We must note that retail clients are offered lower leverage. Moreover, they are provided with negative balance protection and closeout restrictions. If your skills are not yet fully honed, we strongly recommend choosing the retail-client account, as it offers a range of tools designed to protect traders from significant losses.
Professional-client account
To be eligible for a professional-client account, you need to pass a test that will determine your knowledge and skills. If you pass the test, your status can be upgraded. But keep in mind that even if you possess the required knowledge, the market can be extremely volatile and you can still lose large amounts. You should know that the leverage differs between countries because of specific regulations.
Zero commission stock account
The broker rolls out the red carpet for its stock traders, providing them with the opportunity to set up a 0% account. This means that no fee is charged when opening or closing a position. However, it is important to mention that other charges might apply. To stand out from the pack, eToro’s mobile trading app even saves its customers paying Stamp Duty and Financial Transaction Tax whenever possible. But the 0% commission is not the only reason to buy stocks on eToro. The brokerage also offers no limits on trading volume, the possibility to buy fractional shares, and free access to expert stock analysis.
Trading Instruments
When trading on eToro mobile app, you will be treated with a fantastic number of instruments. Enthusiasts can trade soft commodities such as sugar, cotton, cocoa, and wheat or hard commodities such as platinum, silver, gold, oil, etc. The other options at eToro mobile trading app include index and stock trading, Forex trading, trading with CDFs, social trading, cryptocurrency trading, and ETFs trading.The minimum trade size varies between countries. For registered traders that do not reside in Russia, China, India, or Asia, the minimum trade size for indices and commodities is set at $2,000. If you are wondering what is the minimum trade size for the residents of the aforementioned countries when trading indices and commodities, it is said to be $1,000. Cryptocurrencies come with a minimum trade size of $25, while commission-free stocks have a $50 minimum trade size. Trading stocks and ETFs feature a minimum trade size of $500 and trading currencies comes with a minimum trade size of $4,000. We need also to mention that the minimum amount required to copy another trader is $200.Index and Stock Trading
The eToro mobile trading app offers users the opportunity to trade stocks of leading companies such as Bank of America Corp., Alibaba, CSX Corp., CubeSmart, and others. The platform allows traders to speculate on a company’s performance without having to own the underlying assets, thanks to CFDs. It is important to note that eToro does not allow traders to transfer open positions out of their accounts to another broker or person. Users can buy and sell stocks only within the eToro trading platform.
The mobile trading app also allows users to trade indices. Some of the most popular indices available include AUS200, China50, DJ30, ESP35, and FRA40. It is important to mention that the leverage for major indices is set at 1:20.
Soft and Hard Commodities
Soft and hard commodities are also included in the brokerage’s list of offerings. Some of the soft commodities you will come across include cotton, cocoa, and wheat. When it comes to hard commodities, enthusiasts have the opportunity to trade various metal ores, oil reserves, and other assets. The leverage for commodities, with the exception of gold, is 1:10.
We should inform our readers that trading commodities is considered a risky activity because the market is influenced by numerous factors. The commodities market is primarily driven by the principle of supply and demand. Therefore, traders should remain vigilant when embarking on commodities trading.
Forex Trading
Forex traders who open an account through eToro’s mobile app will be fascinated by the wide variety of currency pairs available. Some of the major currency pairs include EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and USD/JPY. As for minor currency pairs, you can trade NZD/JPY, GBP/NZD, and others. If you are interested in exotic currency pairs, you can trade NOK/SEK, ZAR/JPY, CAD/CHF, NZD/CAD, and more.
The leverage offered for trading foreign currencies on eToro is 1:20 for non-major currency pairs, while the leverage for major pairs is 1:30. It is worth mentioning that the foreign exchange market provides great flexibility, as there are no restrictions on the amount of currency that can be traded. In addition, the foreign exchange market has the largest customer base and is therefore considered highly liquid.
Social Trading
Social trading is a recent development that allows traders to follow the trading behavior of experts and copy their trades. This saves you time analyzing the market, as you can simply adopt the trades of more experienced traders. Enthusiasts can access this social trading opportunity on the eToro mobile trading platform.
You can see exactly how many people have copied the trades of a particular trader. The platform also provides a risk assessment for each trade, so even if you’re a beginner, you can trade with the help of professional traders. In this way, you can learn from others. However, keep in mind that social trading can make you complacent, as you may end up relying solely on other people’s strategies.
Cryptocurrency Trading
Trading cryptocurrency is one of the most popular activities today. Therefore, eToro has not missed the chance to include this asset in its offerings. If you sign up with eToro, you will find a wide selection of cryptocurrencies available for trading. These include Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, and more. The leverage associated with this asset class is 1:2.
ETFs Trading
eToro offers its users the opportunity to trade more than 140 exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs are created by institutional investors. The reason these have exploded in popularity is the favorable tax advantages they offer. It is important to note that buying or selling a share does not change ownership of the underlying assets. Trading ETFs is similar to trading stocks. ETFs can be described as baskets of securities composed of stocks, commodities, or bonds.
Fees and spreads
Traders should be aware that the spreads offered by eToro vary between instruments. Generally speaking, instruments that are more volatile are subject to wider spread variations. However, traders should also be aware that eToro collaborates with reputable liquidity providers to ensure the best rates possible.
If you wish to trade cryptocurrencies, note that spreads start at just 1% for Bitcoin and rise to 4.5% for IOTA. As Bitcoin is the most popular cryptocurrency, it is worth noting that eToro does not charge overnight fees and the minimum investment for trading BTC is set at $1,000.
With currencies, the situation is quite similar. Major currency pairs such as EUR/USD and USD/JPY come with an average spread of 1 pip, while exotic pairs such as USD/TRY come with 50 pips. The spreads for minor currency pairs range from 20 to 30 pips.
The spreads for commodities start from 2 pips for copper and reach up to 20,000 pips for palladium. Trading indices on eToro has a minimum spread of just 4 pips for the US Dollar Index and swells to 1,200 pips for the China A50 Index. Enthusiasts who prefer trading stocks and ETFs should keep in mind that the average spread is estimated at 0.09%.
A small fee is charged on CFD positions left open overnight to cover the cost of the leverage you use. Furthermore, the brokerage does not impose management fees even when you copy other traders and invest in portfolios.
| Instrument | Spread |
|---|---|
| AUDUSD | AVG 1 pips |
| EURGBP | AVG 1.5 pips |
| EURUSD | AVG 1 pips |
| GBPUSD | AVG 2 pips |
| NZDUSD | AVG 2.5 pips |
| USDCAD | AVG 1.5 pips |
| USDCHF | AVG 1.5 pips |
| USDCNY | AVG 10 pips |
| USDJPY | AVG 1 pips |
Banking
When trading on eToro, you might be interested in the available banking options. As we already hinted above, this mobile trading app is among the most reputable on the market. Consequently, you should not be surprised to find more than enough trustworthy payment solutions. It is important to note that USD is the only account base currency, and if you deposit in another currency the conversion fee is 50 pips.
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly | |
| $500 | No Fees | 7 business days | |
| $200 | No Fees | Instantly |
| Brand | Minimum | Fees | Processing Time |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 8 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 8 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 2 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 2 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 2 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 8 business days | |
| $30 | $5 | 1 - 8 business days |
Deposits
If you join eToro, you can fund your account via Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, Neteller, Skrill and wire transfer. Giropay and Revolut are also available for deposits, but these do not support USD. The minimum first deposit amount starts at $50, although this varies between countries. If you fund your account via wire transfer, the minimum first deposit is $500.
It is important to mention that for Australian residents the minimum first-time deposit is $50. Traders who have not verified their accounts cannot deposit more than $2,250 in total.
Deposits are processed instantly, except for those made via wire transfer, which may take up to seven business days. If you make a deposit in USD, you do not need to pay additional fees. As far as safety is concerned, you have nothing to worry about, as the brokerage employs reliable and proven methods.
To make a deposit, you need to create and log in to your account. Then tap the ‘Deposit Funds’ button, enter the amount and currency, and select your preferred payment method. Depending on the payment solution you choose, you will be required to provide certain information. If you hit a snag, you can always contact customer support.
Withdrawals
Of course, traders are keen to know how to withdraw their profits. You must withdraw funds via the same method used for your deposit. If you selected a deposit-only method, the brokerage will ask you to provide an alternative method for your payout. Withdrawal methods include credit cards (Visa, Mastercard or Maestro), digital wallets (Neteller, PayPal and Skrill) and wire transfer.
The minimum amount that traders can withdraw is set at $30. There is a $5 withdrawal fee, and the brokerage will inform you by email when your withdrawal request has been processed. You can cancel a withdrawal request as long as it is still ‘Under Review’. To do so, go to your Portfolio, tap the History button, and then tap the Reverse icon.
Depending on the payment method selected, you will need to wait between one and eight business days to receive your funds. Digital wallets clear payments within one-two business days, while withdrawals via bank-dependent methods such as credit cards and wire transfers may take up to eight business days.
Regulation
The brokerage is licensed by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). Choosing a licensed mobile trading app is the easiest way to ensure a remarkable trading experience. Knowing that your money is safe, you can focus on more important things such as crafting your strategy and analysing the market.
Whether you are signing up, depositing, trading, or withdrawing, you can count on an advanced SSL encryption system that keeps your data safe. Moreover, the brokerage has been around since 2006 and has cemented its strong position in the market. Traders should keep in mind that 76% of retail investors lose money when trading CFDs with this broker.
| Regulator | Licence |
|---|---|
| CySEC | 109/10 |
| FCA | 583263 |
| FRSA | 220073 |
| FinCEN | 31000204884179 |
| FINRA | 298361 |
| FSAS | SD076 |
| GFSC | 1333B |
| AMF | E2022-038 |
| MFSA | C97952 |
| SEC | 0001753042 |
| ASIC | 491139 |
FAQ
1. How do I verify my account?
2. Do you offer some educational tools and guides?
3. Do I need to add extra funds to open my position and how do I close them?
4. Why should I choose eToro for my trading experience?
5. Who can trade on eToro?
Conclusion
To sum up, eToro is an outstanding brokerage, fully licensed to provide its services to traders from various jurisdictions. If you wish to trade via your mobile device, you will appreciate the site’s intuitive interface. Traders can also download the brokerage’s dedicated apps, specially designed for Android and iOS users. Another ace up the broker’s sleeve is the fantastic assortment of trading instruments it offers.
Are you ready to trade?
eToro is a multi-asset platform that offers investing in stocks and cryptocurrencies, as well as trading CFDs.
Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage.
61% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
This communication is intended for information and educational purposes only and should not be considered investment advice or an investment recommendation. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
Copy trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
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.
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eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and makes no representation and assumes no liability as to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, which has been prepared by our partner utilising publicly available non-entity-specific information about eToro.
