eToro is a solid choice for beginners and social investors who want commission-free stocks, CopyTrader and access to crypto alongside traditional investments. The app is excellent and the platform is FCA-regulated. However, the £5 withdrawal fee, 0.5% currency conversion on GBP withdrawals and lack of a SIPP mean it falls short of Trading 212 and AJ Bell for long-term UK investors focused purely on cost or retirement saving.
eToro has built one of the most recognisable brands in UK investing, with over 3.8 million registered UK users and 38 million worldwide. The platform’s social trading features, particularly CopyTrader, give it a unique position that no other major UK broker replicates.
But brand recognition and clever marketing do not automatically make a platform the best choice for your money. This review cuts through the noise to examine what eToro actually charges, what it does well and where UK investors might be better served elsewhere.
What is eToro?
eToro was founded in Israel in 2007 and is now listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange. The UK operation is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and client funds are protected by FSCS up to £85,000.
The platform offers commission-free trading on real stocks and ETFs alongside CFD trading, forex, commodities, indices and cryptocurrency. What sets it apart from most UK brokers is the social trading layer: a news feed where investors share ideas, performance profiles for every user and the CopyTrader feature that lets you automatically mirror another investor’s trades.
eToro fees explained
Understanding eToro’s fee structure is important because the headline “commission-free” does not tell the full story.
| Fee Type | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Stock commission | £0 | Real stocks only, not CFDs |
| ETF commission | £0 | All ETFs |
| Platform fee | £0 | No annual or monthly charge |
| FX conversion | Varies by Club tier | Applied when converting currencies |
| Withdrawal fee | £5 | Per withdrawal |
| Inactivity fee | £10/month | After 12 months without login |
| Crypto spread | 1% buy + 1% sell | Built into the price |
| CFD overnight fees | Variable | Charged on leveraged positions held overnight |
| Stamp duty (UK) | 0.5% | Government tax, not an eToro fee |
The zero-commission stock and ETF trading is genuine for real (non-leveraged) positions. eToro does not charge a spread markup on stocks either, so you get transparent execution.
The costs that catch UK investors out are the currency-related fees. If you deposit GBP and buy US stocks, there is a conversion to USD. eToro Club members at higher tiers get reduced conversion fees, but entry-level users pay more. The £5 withdrawal fee applies every time you take money out.
The £10 monthly inactivity fee kicks in after 12 months without logging in. Simply opening the app resets the timer, so this is easy to avoid but worth knowing about.
Compared to Trading 212 , which charges zero platform fees, zero withdrawal fees and just 0.15% FX, eToro’s cost structure is notably higher for UK investors buying international stocks.
CopyTrader: how it works
CopyTrader is eToro’s signature feature and the main reason many people choose the platform. You browse profiles of other eToro investors, view their full trading history, risk scores and portfolio composition, then allocate a minimum of £200 to copy them.
Once you start copying, every trade that investor makes is automatically replicated in your account proportionally. You can copy up to 100 investors simultaneously and stop copying at any time.
The feature is genuinely useful for beginners who want exposure to different strategies without needing to research individual stocks themselves. However, past performance does not guarantee future results. You are relying entirely on another individual’s decisions.
CopyTrader works best as a learning tool rather than a set-and-forget strategy. Watching how experienced investors build and manage portfolios can teach you a lot about position sizing, diversification and risk management.
Smart Portfolios
Smart Portfolios are themed, pre-built investment baskets that automatically diversify across a sector or strategy. Examples include technology, renewable energy, cryptocurrency and a Warren Buffett-inspired portfolio.
These are managed by eToro’s investment team and rebalance periodically. There is no additional management fee beyond the standard trading costs, making them a low-cost way to get diversified exposure. Smart Portfolios require a minimum investment of £500.
What can you invest in?
Stocks: Thousands of shares from the UK, US, Europe and Asia. All bought commission-free as real assets (not CFDs) when purchased without leverage.
ETFs: Commission-free access to hundreds of ETFs covering global markets, sectors and themes.
Cryptocurrency: Around 100 cryptoassets available for UK users, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. Crypto fees are higher, with a 1% buy/sell spread.
Forex, commodities and indices: Available through CFDs for more experienced traders. These are leveraged products and carry significant risk.
What is missing: eToro does not offer mutual funds, bonds, gilts or investment trusts. There is no SIPP. If you need those products, AJ Bell (/best-trading-platforms-uk/) or Interactive Investor are better suited.
eToro ISA
eToro offers a flexible stocks and shares ISA through the eToro Money app. Flexible means you can withdraw and redeposit within the same tax year without it counting against your £20,000 annual allowance.
The ISA gives you commission-free access to real stocks and ETFs. However, the ISA does not include CopyTrader or Smart Portfolios, which removes two of eToro’s biggest differentiators.
For a comparison of ISA providers, see our guide to the best stocks and shares ISA
The eToro app
The mobile experience is one of eToro’s strongest points. The app mirrors the desktop platform almost perfectly, with smooth navigation between your portfolio, the social feed, CopyTrader and market research.
The interface is clean and well-designed. eToro also offers a free demo account with £100,000 in virtual funds, which is excellent for beginners who want to practise before committing real money.
For how eToro’s app compares to alternatives, see our best trading app UK
Safety and regulation
eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA (reference number 583263). Client funds are held in segregated accounts at tier-one banks.
FSCS protection covers up to £85,000 per person if eToro were to fail. Cryptocurrency holdings are not covered by FSCS. eToro is listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange, providing additional transparency through public company reporting requirements.
Who eToro suits
Good for: Beginners who want a user-friendly platform with CopyTrader guidance. Social investors who enjoy the community aspect. Anyone wanting stocks and crypto in one place.
Not ideal for: Cost-focused investors (better with Trading 212. Long-term retirement savers needing SIPPs. Advanced traders needing research tools.
eToro vs Trading 212
| Feature | eToro | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock commission | £0 | £0 |
| ETF commission | £0 | £0 |
| Platform fee | £0 | £0 |
| FX fee | Varies by tier | 0.15% |
| Withdrawal fee | £5 | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 12 months) | None |
| CopyTrader | Yes | No |
| Pies (auto-invest) | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency | Yes (~100 assets) | No |
| SIPP | No | No |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes (from £1) |
| ISA | Yes (flexible) | Yes (not flexible) |
| Trustpilot score | 4.2/5 | 4.6/5 |
Trading 212 wins on fees across the board. eToro wins on social features and crypto access. For a detailed breakdown, our Trading 212 vs eToro
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. eToro is FCA-regulated and FSCS-protected up to £85,000. The company is listed on NASDAQ for additional transparency. Cryptocurrency holdings are not covered by FSCS.
Stock and ETF trading is genuinely commission-free with no platform fee. However, there are costs for currency conversion, a £5 withdrawal fee, potential inactivity fees and higher spreads on crypto and CFDs.
Yes. eToro offers a flexible stocks and shares ISA through the eToro Money app with commission-free stock and ETF investing. The ISA does not include CopyTrader or Smart Portfolios.
No. For pension investing, consider AJ Bell, Freetrade or Interactive Investor.
Browse investor profiles, allocate a minimum of $200 to copy an investor and your account automatically mirrors their trades proportionally. You can stop copying at any time.
eToro charges a flat £5 fee per withdrawal. There may also be currency conversion costs. Withdrawals typically take 2 to 5 business days.
Trading 212 is cheaper with lower FX fees and no withdrawal charges. eToro offers unique social features and cryptocurrency access. Choose eToro for social trading and crypto, Trading 212 for lowest fees.
Capital at risk. 61% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro. Cryptocurrency is unregulated and not covered by FSCS. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
