| Feature | eToro | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | Regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), FINRA (US - subsidiary) | Regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), registered in the Seychelles (offshore license) |
| Minimum Deposit | $10 (varies by region) | $10 |
| Platform Type | Proprietary platform | Proprietary platform |
| Assets Available | Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Commodities, Indices | Forex, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities, Options (binary and digital) |
| Copy Trading | Yes, Social trading with CopyTrader and CopyPortfolios | No, lacks advanced copy trading tools |
| Demo Account | Yes, $100,000 virtual money | Yes, $10,000 virtual money (replenishable) |
| Trading Fees | Spread-based fees for most instruments, zero commission for stocks (non-leveraged) | Low spreads for forex and CFDs, binary options fees embedded in payouts |
| Leverage | Up to 1:30 for retail clients (FCA-regulated regions), up to 1:400 for professional users | Up to 1:30 for retail clients (CySEC-regulated), higher for offshore clients |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes, wide selection of cryptocurrencies | Yes, a smaller selection compared to eToro |
| Options Trading | No | Yes, binary and digital options |
| Deposits & Withdrawals | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney |
| Deposit Fees | None | None |
| Withdrawal Fees | $5 | $2 for most methods |
| User Interface | Beginner-friendly, intuitive social trading interface | Simple and modern, optimized for options trading |
| Mobile App | Available for iOS and Android | Available for iOS and Android |
| Trading Education | Comprehensive library of guides, webinars, tutorials | Tutorials, videos, and regular webinars |
| Customer Support | 24/5 live chat, email, phone (priority support for Club members) | 24/7 live chat, email, and limited phone support |
| Account Types | Standard account, Islamic account, Professional account | Standard account, VIP account for high-volume traders |
| Trading Tools | Advanced charting tools, economic calendar, sentiment data, analyst ratings | Basic charting tools, technical indicators, trading signals |
| Regulated Countries | Globally available but restricted in some jurisdictions like Canada and Japan | Available in most countries, but not in the US or Canada |
| Best For | Social trading, beginners, long-term investments | Binary options traders, high-risk short-term trading enthusiasts |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Customizable Trading Layout | Limited customization; focuses on simplicity and social feed integration | Highly customizable trading interface, especially for binary and digital options |
| Market Coverage | Over 3,000 instruments, including global stocks and cryptocurrencies | Over 300 instruments, with a focus on forex and options markets |
| Fractional Investing | Yes, available for stocks and ETFs | Yes, available for most assets |
| Algo/Automated Trading | No direct algo trading support, but offers CopyPortfolios (managed portfolios) | No built-in algo trading, third-party tools needed |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop Loss, Take Profit, Trailing Stop, Negative Balance Protection | Stop Loss, Take Profit, and Predefined Expiry in options trading |
| Social Features | Community feed, CopyTrader, CopyPortfolios | No social trading or community-based tools |
| Payout for Options | Not applicable | Up to 95% for binary options (depending on market conditions and asset type) |
| Account Verification Speed | Typically 1-3 days, depending on region and document submission | Generally within 1-2 days |
| Multilingual Support | Supports over 20 languages | Supports over 10 languages |
| Web-Based Trading | Fully functional, no download required | Fully functional, no download required |
| Desktop Application | No dedicated desktop app (browser-based platform) | Yes, downloadable desktop app for enhanced performance |
| Innovative Features | Smart Portfolios (thematic investments), News Sentiment analysis | Pending Orders for options, high payouts for short-term trades |
| Chart Types | Line, Bar, Candlestick | Line, Bar, Candlestick, Heikin Ashi |
| Execution Speed | Fast, but market execution may vary due to spread-based pricing | Extremely fast, particularly for binary and digital options |
| Asset Ownership | Real ownership for stocks, ETFs (non-leveraged) | No real asset ownership, all trades are CFDs or options |
| Interest on Funds | None | None |
| VIP Features | Available for professional investors with higher balances | Yes, VIP accounts offer personal managers, higher payouts, and exclusive tools |
| Regulatory Restrictions | Restricted in some regions like Canada, Japan, North Korea, and Iran | Not available in the US, Canada, Israel, or some EU countries for binary trading |
| Trading Competitions | None | Offers trading tournaments (for binary/digital options) with cash prizes |
| Third-Party Integrations | Limited, focuses on its proprietary platform | No major third-party integrations |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop Orders | Market, Limit, and Expiry-based orders |
| Custom Indicators | Limited to what the platform provides | Users can customize indicators to some extent |
| Currency Conversion Fees | Yes, $5 per conversion (base currency USD) | Yes, typically 2%-3% for non-USD accounts |
| Community Support | Large user base with active forums and groups | Smaller community, focused primarily on trading competitions and tournaments |
| Spread Range (Forex) | Starts from 1 pip for major currency pairs | Starts from 0.6 pips for major currency pairs |
| Trading Signals | Integrated market analysis, analyst recommendations, and social sentiment tools | Basic signals for options and forex (less comprehensive) |
| Margin Requirements | Retail clients: 50% margin call level | Retail clients: 50% margin call level |
| Weekend Trading | Limited to cryptocurrencies | Binary options trading available on cryptocurrencies |
| Islamic Accounts | Available, interest-free for eligible users | Available, interest-free for eligible users |
| Corporate Accounts | Yes, available for businesses and institutions | Not available |
| Market Analysis Tools | Economic calendar, earnings reports, professional-grade news feed | Economic calendar and basic market news |
| Geographic Restrictions | Not available in Canada, Japan, Turkey, and a few other regions | Not available in the US, Canada, Israel, or specific EU countries |
| Platform Complexity | Beginner-friendly, intuitive social design | Suitable for both beginners and experienced traders due to high customization |
| Execution Model | Market Maker | Market Maker for most instruments, options use a payout-based model |
| Trading Competitions or Rewards | No rewards or competitions | Yes, frequent trading tournaments for binary options |
| Affiliate Programs | Yes, robust affiliate and partner programs | Yes, offers a competitive affiliate program |
| Scalping Allowed | Limited scalping due to spread-based pricing | Permitted, especially for binary options |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Algorithmic Backtesting | Not available | Not available |
| Daily Market News/Insights | Yes, integrated daily news and market analysis | Basic updates provided in the trading platform |
| Trader Sentiment Indicator | Available, includes percentage of buyers/sellers per instrument | Available, primarily focused on binary options |
| Regulatory Compensation Scheme | Yes, investors protected under CySEC/FCA compensation schemes (up to €20,000 or £85,000) | Yes, investors protected under CySEC schemes (up to €20,000) |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1-3 business days | 1 business day (VIP accounts) or up to 3 days for standard accounts |
| Account Balance Requirements | Minimum balance: $10 | Minimum balance: $10 |
| Interest on Margin Funds | No interest charged on open trades | No interest charged on open trades |
| Advanced Risk Features | Risk score for portfolios, alerts for excessive risk exposure | Standard alerts for price movements |
| Number of Cryptocurrencies | Over 70 cryptocurrencies | Around 25 cryptocurrencies |
| Webinars and Events | Regular webinars, interactive live sessions, and events for VIP users | Irregular webinars, primarily aimed at beginners |
| Options Expiry Time | Not applicable | Flexible expiry times (ranging from 1 minute to several hours) |
| Cross-Device Syncing | Seamless across mobile, web, and desktop | Seamless across mobile, web, and desktop |
| API Access | No API access | No API access |
| Cloud-based Portfolios | Supports cloud storage for portfolio tracking | No cloud-based features |
| Real-Time Notifications | Yes, on price movements, trade executions, and account alerts | Yes, on price movements and trade expiry |
| Custom Asset Watchlists | Fully customizable watchlists | Fully customizable watchlists |
| VIP Perks | Club membership tiers, including exclusive benefits for high-net-worth clients | Higher payouts, personal account managers for VIP clients |
| Offline Trading | Not available | Not available |
| Tax Reporting | Offers tax reporting tools for certain regions | No dedicated tax reporting tools |
eToro offers a broader asset range and social trading features, making it ideal for beginners and long-term investors. IQ Option excels in binary options, offering higher customization and fast execution for short-term traders.