eToro

eToro's fee structure is more layered than most UK platforms. Here's the full breakdown:

Stock trading:

• Commission: $1 or $2 per trade (varies by exchange — US exchanges typically $1, others $2)
• No eToro spread markup — you only pay the natural market spread
• No custody or overnight fees on real stock positions
• Stamp Duty: 0.5% on UK-listed stocks (regulatory, not eToro-specific)
• Fractional shares available from $10 minimum

ETFs:

• Zero commission — no trading fees, no spread markup, no custody fees
• Short/leveraged ETF positions are executed as CFDs with different fee rules

Crypto:

• 1% fee on both open and close (2% round-trip) — expensive compared to specialist exchanges
• 2% transfer fee when moving crypto to the eToro Money wallet
• 0.6–1% selling fee depending on the asset and method

Futures (new):

• Micro-futures now available on select indices and commodities — see eToro's fee schedule for current rates

Other costs to watch:

• Inactivity fee: $10/month after 12 months without logging in
• Currency conversion: Fees apply when trading non-USD assets from a GBP account (reduced for higher Club tiers; Diamond members exempt)
• CFD overnight fees: Charged nightly at 22:00 UK time on leveraged positions
• USD account withdrawal fee: $5 (free from GBP accounts)

The GBP local currency account (eToro Money) is a genuine plus — it eliminates conversion fees on sterling-denominated transactions and comes with a Visa debit card.

eToro's UK entity (eToro (UK) Ltd) is authorised by the FCA (register entry 583263) and client funds are protected under the FSCS up to £85,000 per person.

For a broader look at how platform fees compare, see our investing hub or our ISA platform comparison.

Account types:

• Standard retail account — default, full FCA protection
• Professional account — for experienced traders, reduced protections
• ISA (via Moneyfarm) — Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, and Managed ISA
• Demo account — $100,000 virtual portfolio for practice
• eToro Money Account (GBP local currency) with Visa debit card

Notably missing: there's no SIPP or pension product. If you want a pension wrapper, look elsewhere.

What you can trade:

• 6,000+ stocks from 20+ exchanges worldwide
• 24/5 trading on the 100 most popular US stocks (including out-of-hours sessions)
• ETFs — zero commission
• Crypto — Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and others
• Futures — micro-futures now available on select instruments
• Forex, commodities, indices — via CFDs

Unique features:

• CopyTrader: Copy up to 100 investors simultaneously. Minimum $200 to start copying, $1 minimum per copied position. No additional fees.
• Smart Portfolios: Thematic, curated portfolios (5G, renewables, cloud computing) — no management fees on stock portfolios
• Stock lending: Opt in to lend your shares for passive income (50/50 revenue split with eToro)
• Real ownership: Non-leveraged stock purchases give you actual share ownership with proxy voting rights
• TradingView charts: Professional charting tools integrated into the platform

For a full breakdown of ISA types and allowances, see our complete guide to ISAs. If you're weighing up ISA vs pension, our ISA vs pension comparison covers the key trade-offs.

The good:

• Social trading is genuinely unique — CopyTrader lets beginners ride on experienced traders' strategies, and it's free to use
• Broad asset range — stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex, commodities, and now futures in one place
• Zero-commission ETFs — hard to beat for passive investors building an ETF portfolio
• 24/5 US stock trading — extended hours on 100 popular US stocks gives more flexibility than standard market hours
• Fractional shares from $10 — makes expensive US stocks accessible
• FCA-regulated (FRN 583263) with FSCS protection up to £85,000
• Free demo account with $100,000 virtual funds for practice
• Real stock ownership — you actually own the shares, including voting rights

The not-so-good:

• ISA is outsourced to Moneyfarm — ISA transfers are cash-only (no in-specie), and FSCS coverage is under MFM Investment Ltd, not eToro
• No SIPP — pension investors need to go elsewhere
• Crypto fees are steep — 1% open + 1% close (2% round-trip) is expensive vs Coinbase or Kraken, plus a 2% wallet transfer fee
• Inactivity fee — $10/month after a year without logging in catches occasional investors
• Currency conversion costs — trading US stocks from a GBP account incurs FX fees unless you're a Diamond member
• Stock commissions — $1–$2 per trade is low but no longer zero
• CFD complexity — some positions that look like stock purchases are actually CFDs, which can confuse newer investors

eToro is best suited for:

• Social/copy traders — if you want to mirror experienced investors' strategies, there's nothing else quite like CopyTrader in the UK market
• Global stock traders — 6,000+ stocks across 20+ exchanges, with 24/5 trading on popular US names
• ETF investors — zero-commission ETFs with no custody charges
• Futures traders — micro-futures add another layer for more active traders
• Crypto-curious investors — convenient access to multiple cryptocurrencies alongside traditional assets, though the fees are higher than specialist exchanges

Avoid eToro if you:

• Want a tax-efficient pension (SIPP) — not available
• Need a proper ISA experience — the Moneyfarm outsourcing makes it clunky
• Trade infrequently — the inactivity fee punishes occasional investors
• Want the cheapest crypto trading — specialist exchanges are far cheaper
• Prefer a simple, no-nonsense platform — eToro's social features can feel noisy

Complete beginners should also read our beginner's guide to investing before opening an account. For a side-by-side of the best ISA platforms, see our ISA comparison guide.

Against the main UK competition:

vs Trading 212: Trading 212 offers zero-commission stocks and a native Stocks & Shares ISA — no Moneyfarm workaround needed. eToro wins on social trading features, 24/5 US trading, and asset range (crypto, forex, commodities, futures).

vs Freetrade: Freetrade is simpler and offers a native ISA. eToro has far more stocks (6,000+ vs Freetrade's smaller selection) and CopyTrader, but Freetrade's free tier has no inactivity fees.

vs InvestEngine: InvestEngine is the ETF specialist with genuinely zero fees on its managed portfolios. If you only want ETFs, InvestEngine is cheaper and simpler. eToro matches on zero-commission ETFs but offers far more asset classes.

vs Hargreaves Lansdown: HL offers a comprehensive ISA, SIPP, and wider UK fund selection. eToro is cheaper for stock trading and better for global and social features, but HL's tax wrappers and research tools are superior.

eToro occupies a unique niche: it's the platform for investors who want social features, global market access, extended trading hours, and multi-asset exposure in one place. UK investors who just want a simple ISA or SIPP with low fees will find better options elsewhere.

For a broader platform comparison, MoneyHelper's investment platform comparison is a good independent starting point. Our own investing hub also covers the main UK options.

Regulation: eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA reference 583263). UK retail clients are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per eligible person. Client funds are held in segregated accounts separate from eToro's own assets.

Note: if you use the eToro ISA (powered by Moneyfarm), your ISA assets are held by MFM Investment Ltd (FCA reference 629539), not eToro (UK) Ltd. FSCS coverage for the ISA is therefore under Moneyfarm's authorisation.

Risk warning: Capital at risk. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Crypto assets are unregulated in some jurisdictions and highly volatile. CFDs and leveraged products carry a high risk of rapid loss. Always do your own research or consult a qualified financial adviser before making investment decisions. 66% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider (eToro's current disclosure — check eToro's website for the latest figure).