Trading 212 is the better choice for most UK investors. It charges lower FX fees (0.15% versus up to 0.75%), has no withdrawal or inactivity fees and offers a free in-app stocks and shares ISA. eToro wins on crypto access (100+ assets), CopyTrader social trading and Smart Portfolios. Choose Trading 212 for cost-effective ISA investing. Choose eToro for crypto and social trading.
Trading 212 and eToro are two of the most popular commission-free platforms in the UK, but they are built for different types of investor. One prioritises low-cost simplicity. The other builds around social features and multi-asset access.
I have tested both platforms with real money and this comparison covers every meaningful difference to help you decide which one deserves your money.
Head-to-head comparison
| Feature | Trading 212 | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Stock commission | £0 | £0 |
| ETF commission | £0 | £0 |
| Platform fee | £0 | £0 |
| FX fee | 0.15% | Up to 0.75% (varies by tier) |
| Withdrawal fee | £0 | £5 |
| Inactivity fee | None | £10/month (after 12 months) |
| S&S ISA | Free (in-app) | Via Moneyfarm partnership |
| Cash ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency | No (CFDs only) | Yes (100 assets) |
| CopyTrader | No | Yes |
| Smart Portfolios | No | Yes |
| Pies (auto-invest) | Yes | No |
| Fractional shares | Yes (from £1) | Yes |
Fees: Trading 212 wins
Both platforms charge zero commission on stock and ETF trades. The difference lies in the fees around those trades.
Trading 212’s FX fee is 0.15% on currency conversions when buying non-GBP assets like US stocks. eToro’s FX fee varies by Club tier but starts higher, with most UK users paying around 0.75% on currency conversions. On a £5,000 investment in US stocks, that is £7.50 with Trading 212 versus £37.50 with eToro.
Trading 212 charges no withdrawal fees, no deposit fees and no inactivity fees. eToro charges £5 per withdrawal and a £10 monthly inactivity fee after 12 months of not logging in.
Verdict: Trading 212 is substantially cheaper, particularly for UK investors buying international stocks.
ISA: Trading 212 wins
Trading 212 offers a free stocks and shares ISA built directly into its app. Zero platform fees, zero trading commissions and just 0.15% FX fee on non-GBP trades.
eToro does not offer its own ISA. UK users access ISAs through eToro’s partnership with Moneyfarm, which carries management fees that vary depending on portfolio type and size.
For a full comparison of ISA providers, see our best stocks and shares ISA
Verdict: Trading 212’s free, self-directed ISA is clearly superior for DIY investors.
Cryptocurrency: eToro wins
eToro offers around 100 cryptoassets for UK users, including Bitcoin and Ethereum. You can buy and hold real crypto, not just derivatives. The cost is a 1% spread on both buy and sell sides.
Trading 212 does not offer direct cryptocurrency purchasing. Crypto exposure is limited to CFDs, which are leveraged derivatives unsuitable for most retail investors.
Verdict: eToro is the clear choice for crypto investors.
CopyTrader and social features: eToro wins
CopyTrader remains unique to eToro. You browse investor profiles showing their historical performance and risk scores, then allocate a minimum of £200 to automatically mirror their trades.
eToro also offers Smart Portfolios, themed investment baskets managed by eToro’s team with no additional fee.
For a detailed look at how CopyTrader works, read our full eToro review
Verdict: eToro’s social trading features are unmatched.
Auto-invest features: Trading 212 wins
Trading 212’s Pies feature lets you create custom portfolio allocations and automatically distribute deposits according to targets. This effectively turns Trading 212 into a free robo-advisor.
eToro has no equivalent to Pies. If you want to automate your investing without relying on another person’s decisions, Trading 212 gives you more control.
Verdict: Trading 212’s Pies provide superior automated investing for self-directed investors.
Investment range: Trading 212 wins on volume
Trading 212 offers over 13,000 stocks and ETFs. eToro offers around 7,000 stocks, ETFs and investment trusts, plus crypto, commodities and index trading.
Neither offers mutual funds, bonds or gilts. See our best trading platforms UK
Verdict: Trading 212 for stock and ETF range. eToro for multi-asset diversity.
App quality: both excellent
Trading 212 scores 4.5/5 on iOS with stronger charting and faster execution. eToro scores 4.2/5 with its social feed and CopyTrader taking centre stage.
For a comparison of all major UK investing apps, see our best trading app UK
Verdict: Both excellent. Trading 212 edges ahead on functionality, eToro on social features.
Safety and regulation
Both are FCA-regulated with FSCS protection up to £85,000 and segregated client accounts. Trading 212 has £25 billion in client assets. eToro is listed on NASDAQ with 38 million users worldwide.
For more on Trading 212’s safety, read Is Trading 212 Safe?
Which should you choose?
Choose Trading 212 if: You want the lowest possible fees, a free self-directed ISA, automated portfolio building through Pies, and the widest stock and ETF range.
Choose eToro if: You want real crypto alongside stocks, CopyTrader to mirror experienced investors, Smart Portfolios for themed investing, and enjoy the community aspect.
New to Trading 212? Get a free share with our .
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Lower FX fees (0.15% versus up to 0.75%), no withdrawal fees and no inactivity fees. On a £5,000 US stock investment, Trading 212 costs approximately £30 less in FX fees alone.
Trading 212 offers a free, self-directed ISA within its app. eToro offers ISA access through a Moneyfarm partnership with management fees.
Not directly. Trading 212 offers crypto CFDs but not real cryptocurrency ownership. eToro offers approximately 100 cryptoassets.
Both are beginner-friendly. Trading 212's lower costs and simpler fee structure make it easier for new investors. eToro's CopyTrader provides useful learning tools.
Yes. You could use Trading 212 for your ISA and low-cost stock investing while using eToro for crypto and social trading.
Neither offers a SIPP. For pension investing, consider AJ Bell, Interactive Investor, Freetrade or InvestEngine. See our (/best-sipp/) guide.
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.
