| Feature | eToro | Interactive Brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platform Type | Social trading platform, broker for retail traders | Comprehensive brokerage platform for professional and retail traders | |
| Commission Fees | Zero commission on stocks and ETFs (spread applies) | Low commissions, tiered pricing, volume-based discounts | |
| Account Minimum | $50 | $0 for IBKR Lite, $100 for IBKR Pro | |
| Regulation | FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), SEC (US) | SEC (US), FINRA (US), FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), multiple global regulators | |
| Asset Classes | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Commodities, Indices, CFDs | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Futures, Forex, Bonds, Mutual Funds, Cryptocurrencies | |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, over 30 cryptocurrencies | Yes, 4 cryptocurrencies directly, others via ETFs or futures | |
| Fractional Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Leverage | Up to 30:1 for retail clients, varies by jurisdiction | Up to 50:1 for Forex, varies by asset class and jurisdiction | |
| Research Tools | Limited proprietary research, community insights | Extensive research tools, news feeds, technical and fundamental analysis tools | |
| Social Trading | Yes, copy trading and social network | No | |
| Trading Platform | Proprietary platform (web and mobile), easy to use | Trader Workstation (TWS), highly advanced, mobile and web platforms available | |
| Educational Resources | Basic trading guides, webinars, tutorials | Comprehensive resources including webinars, trading courses, research tools | |
| API Access | No | Yes, for algorithmic trading | |
| Order Types | Market, limit | Wide range including market, limit, stop, trailing stop, conditional orders | |
| Customer Support | Email and chat support, 24/5 | Email, phone, chat, 24/7 support available | |
| Fees for Inactivity | $10 per month after 12 months of inactivity | $0 for IBKR Lite, $10 or $20 per month for IBKR Pro depending on trading activity | |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Fees | Free deposits, $5 withdrawal fee | Free ACH deposits and withdrawals, fees for wire transfers and other methods | |
| Currency Conversion Fees | 0.50% | Spot rate plus up to 1% (depends on trade volume and account type) | |
| Mobile App | User-friendly, designed for beginner to intermediate traders | Feature-rich, designed for professional traders | |
| Global Market Access | Limited to 19 countries | Access to over 150 global markets | |
| Demo Account | Yes, unlimited virtual account | Yes, with $1,000,000 in virtual funds | |
| Best For | Beginner traders, social and copy trading enthusiasts | Experienced traders, professionals, algorithmic traders | |
| Account Base Currencies | Limited to USD | Multiple currencies, including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and more | |
| Payment Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Transfers, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Bank Transfers, ACH, SEPA, SWIFT, no support for e-wallets | |
| Margin Rates | Not applicable for retail accounts | Tiered, starting from 1.5% for high balances | |
| Payout Dividends | Supports fractional dividends | Full dividend payouts | |
| Account Types | Individual accounts only | Individual, Joint, Institutional, Trust, Retirement accounts (IRA in the US) | |
| Regulatory Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (up to €20,000, EU), segregated funds | SIPC protection (up to $500,000), segregated funds | |
| Portfolio Diversification Tools | CopyPortfolio for thematic investments | PortfolioAnalyst for performance tracking and diversification | |
| Customizable Trading Interface | Limited customization | Highly customizable trading interface | |
| Trading Algorithms | Not supported | Full support for algorithmic trading through IBKR API | |
| Spread Cost | Fixed spread, higher on some assets | Variable spread, lower cost on high-volume trades | |
| Retirement Investment Options | Not available | Available (IRA accounts in the US) | |
| Tax Documentation Support | Basic tax reports | Advanced tax reporting tools, including integration with TurboTax | |
| Reputation for Beginners | Very user-friendly, community support through social trading | Steeper learning curve due to advanced tools | |
| Advanced Charting | Basic charting tools with limited technical indicators | Advanced charting tools with custom indicators and scripting options | |
| Interest on Cash Balances | Not provided | Interest paid on uninvested cash (varies by account type and balance) | |
| Short Selling | Limited | Full short-selling capabilities | |
| Integration with Third-Party Tools | Not supported | Integrates with third-party platforms like MetaTrader, NinjaTrader | |
| Corporate Action Handling | Limited support for voting rights, dividends | Full support for corporate actions, including rights issues, proxy voting | |
| Account Opening Speed | Quick, online approval within minutes | Longer due diligence, approval may take days | |
| Access to IPOs | Not available | Available for qualified clients | |
| Pension Fund Investment | Not available | Supported for eligible clients (through retirement accounts) | |
| Commission-Free ETFs | All supported ETFs are commission-free | Only for IBKR Lite clients, not for IBKR Pro | |
| Copy Trading for Funds | CopyPortfolios (eToro-curated thematic funds) | Not available | |
| Corporate Clients | No | Yes, corporate and institutional accounts supported | |
| Market Data Subscription | Free basic real-time data | Charges for advanced real-time data feeds | |
| Trading Tutorials | Beginner-focused tutorials and trading guides | Advanced guides, webinars, and white papers | |
| Community Features | Social feed, user discussions, leaderboards | None | |
| Security Features | Two-factor authentication, segregated accounts | Two-factor authentication, biometric login, advanced risk controls | |
| Access to Emerging Markets | Limited to a few markets | Broad access to emerging market exchanges | |
| Portfolio Hedging Tools | Limited | Comprehensive tools including options, futures, and forex | |
| Fee Transparency | Transparent fee structure, no hidden fees | Transparent but more complex fee structure | |
| Investor Sentiment Indicators | Yes, based on the social trading network | No | |
| Performance Reporting | Basic account performance tracking | Detailed performance analytics through PortfolioAnalyst | |
| Trading Competitions | Occasional competitions to engage users | Not available | |
| Integration with Robo-Advisors | Not available | Supports robo-advisory tools through third-party integrations | |
| Mobile Push Notifications | Alerts for trades, price movements, and social updates | Alerts for trades and market updates | |
| Forex Pair Availability | 47 currency pairs | Over 100 currency pairs | |
| Advanced Risk Management | Basic stop loss and take profit levels | Advanced features like margin alerts, real-time risk analysis | |
| Access for Non-US Residents | Available in most countries except a few restricted regions | Broad access, but restricted in some jurisdictions | |
| Market Hours | Limited pre-market or after-hours trading | Extensive pre-market and after-hours trading | |
| Interest on Margin | Not applicable | Competitive, tiered margin interest rates | |
| Account Linking | Cannot link to external investment or bank accounts | Can link to external accounts for transfers and consolidated reporting | |
| Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) Investments | Thematic portfolios like "Renewable Energy" | Offers ESG research tools but no dedicated thematic portfolios | |
| IPO Participation | Not available | Available for qualified investors | |
| Multiple Language Support | 20+ languages supported | 10+ languages supported | |
| Transfer Fees for Assets | Fees for transferring assets out | Free inbound, fees for outbound transfers | |
| Customer Reviews and Ratings | Generally positive for ease of use and beginner-friendly features | Highly rated by advanced traders for robust tools but criticized for complexity | |
| Custom Indicators for Trading | Limited | Fully customizable technical indicators | |
| Access to Bonds | No | Extensive selection of government and corporate bonds | |
| Collateral for Loans | Not available | Securities-based lending available for eligible clients |
eToro is ideal for beginner and social traders with zero commissions and copy trading, while Interactive Brokers caters to advanced traders with diverse asset classes, low fees, and advanced tools.