Updated August 31, 2023

eToro Review: Pros and Cons

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eToro is a stock and crypto exchange known for its CopyTrading feature. Find out if it's worth the fees and how it compares to other platforms.

5-point scale (the higher, the better)

Pros and Cons

  • Copy actions of top traders
  • Virtual practice account
  • Slow customer service response time

Bottom Line

Good crypto exchange for learning, socializing and copy-trading

Securities trading offered by eToro USA Securities, Inc. ("the BD"), member of FINRA and SIPC. Cryptocurrency offered by eToro USA LLC ("the MSB") (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured.

Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance.

Interested in crypto trading, but too busy to do the research?

With eToro's popular CopyTrading feature, you can mimic the moves of other successful traders.

But why do so many people lose money on eToro? And is it really a smart choice for your investments? In this review, find out how it works, the fees they charge, and how it compares to Coinbase and Robinhood.

Read our detailed review to find out for sure.

What is eToro?

eToro is a user-friendly brokerage platform for buying and selling cryptocurrencies in the U.S., with a wider range of assets available to non-U.S. residents.

eToro is based in Tel Aviv, and was launched by co-founders Ronen Assia, David Ring, and Yoni Assia in 2007. It originally operated under the name RetailFX, as a forex online broker.

eToro customers in the United States may now diversify their portfolio with investments in US stocks, ETFs, and crypto. They can also invest in fractional stocks for as little as $10, with 0% commission and gain access to a community.

eToro trading instruments include:[1]

  • 24 crypto (BTC, ETH, BCH, LTC, Doge, and others)
  • 2089 stocks
  • 269 ETFs (SPY, GLD, XLE, VOO, SLV, VTI, VNQ and others)

The platform was founded with the goal of making trading more accessible. Since then, they've become the world's leading social trading platform and have made plans to go public.

What makes eToro stand out is their popular CopyTrading feature, added in 2010 as part of the OpenBook social investment platform. It allows users to automatically mimic the trades of top-performing traders.

In 2013, they began offering the ability to trade stocks and CFDs (not available for US customers), as well as expanding into the UK. They started offering cryptocurrencies in 2014.

In 2017 eToro joined CoinDash in an effort to support Blockchain social trading. This was also the year they launched their CopyPortfolio feature, which lets users copy portfolios instead of individual trades.

eToro introduced a cryptocurrency wallet in 2018, and began offering services in the US market, with initial access to 10 cryptocurrencies.

As of 2019, eToro was reportedly operating in 140 countries, and in 2020 they acquired Marq Millions, the e-money division in the UK, and renamed it eToro Money.

In 2021 they launched the eToro Money debit card for users in the UK.

As of 2023, eToro reported over 30 million users worldwide.

You can also chat with the traders you copy and learn from their strategy, which makes eToro a great platform for education.

However, it's worth noting that these stand-out features come at a price. Below, find out how much eToro costs and what you get for your money.

eToro is available in 46 states in the US, as well as Washington DC, however you won't be able to trade crypto if you live in Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, or New York.[2]

Pros and Cons

Is eToro safe and legit?
Yes. eToro operates within the regulations of FINCEN in the U.S. and FCA, CySEC, and ASIC internationally. As of June 2023, eToro had over 30 million registered users worldwide. eToro keeps clients' funds in tier-1 banks with the capital reserves to fulfill customer withdrawals even in the event that eToro went out of business.

As with any investing platform, eToro has its own set of unique upsides and downsides. First, let's take a look at the reasons eToro is good.

Pros

  • Easy to get started, sign up in minutes, and get to trading.
  • Mobile and desktop platforms are very user-friendly.
  • CopyTrading allows inexperienced or busy users to trust their investments to experienced traders.
  • The social platform encourages discussion and learning.

Cons

  • High fees compared to more expert-level platforms.
  • Can't withdraw your cryptocurrency directly—only exchange it for fiat currency or transfer supported coins to the eToro Wallet. Once there, they cannot be transferred back.

Why is eToro bad? They have relatively high non-trading fees, as there are fee for inactivity. Some users have found it difficult to contact customer support. And of course, it is difficult to withdraw your crypto.

App Download: Apple, Google Play

Why can't I withdraw my crypto from eToro?
eToro is primarily designed for trading, and while you can buy and sell cryptocurrency, it can be difficult or impossible to access it directly. In the case of supported coins (currently Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Stellar), it's possible to transfer them to the eToro Wallet, a separate feature, and from there into a personal hardware or software wallet. If you're interested in using cryptocurrency for financial transactions, eToro may not be your best bet.

How eToro Works

eToro makes money in exchange for the service they provide their users, in this case, offering the ability to trade cryptocurrencies and other investments, as well as the unique methods they offer for optimizing returns. Much of their income is generated by a 1% fee they charge on all buy and sell orders, detailed further down.

Overall Score: 3.8

eToro has a lot to offer for cryptocurrency enthusiasts, including their popular social trading feature, the CopyTrading option. In the sections below, we'll break down how they stand up in a range of important aspects including their exchange, commissions and fees, safety, and more.

Cryptocurrency Trading StarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star

eToro makes buying and selling cryptocurrency easy via their mobile app or desktop site. After signing up, you'll fund your account. The minimum first deposit varies from $50 to $10,000 depending on your region and country and $200 if you're using CopyTrader.

For U.S. residents, eToro currently offers trading in cryptocurrency, US stocks, and ETFs. Non-U.S. residents can trade cryptocurrencies, as well as forex, CFDs, stocks and more. (This review focuses on eToro's U.S. offerings.)

eToro has different trading minimums for each asset class, as you'll see in the table below:[3]

AssetMinimum Trade
Stocks and ETFs$10
Crypto$10
Currencies$1,000
Commodities+$1,000
Indices$1,000

eToro Wallet
eToro Money is a separate app that serves as a wallet for your cryptocurrency. Use a single username and password combination instead of keeping track of private keys and track your portfolio through the app.

That said, reviews are mixed, and a hardware, not software wallet is typically considered the safest place to store your crypto.

eToro Virtual Portfolio
The eToro Virtual Portfolio is a virtual trading account that lets you practice trading risk free with $100,000 of virtual currency.

You can practice trading crypto, ETFs, and stocks, as well as discuss strategy with other users, in order to hone your trading skills and test market theories without worrying about losing real money in the process.

CopyTrader
Their CopyTrader feature is where eToro really shines. Instead of paying for an expensive fund manager or advisor, eToro's top-performing traders are available to follow absolutely free. Note: regular trading fees apply.

They're just everyday people who've been successful and are willing to be transparent about their trades. They do, however, have to apply to be in eToro's Popular Investor program, so not just anybody can be copied.

Popular Investors are given a Risk Score out of 10 to help you gauge how risky their strategy is (most top traders score 7 or 8). You can also see their trade frequency, average holding time, portfolio composition, and historical performance.

Remember, past performance is not a guarantee of future results.

And because eToro is a social platform, Popular Investors can also post comments and interact with their "copiers".

The minimum for copy trading is $200, and the max is $500,000. You can follow up to 100 traders at a time.[4] In order to mitigate risk, you can stop copying any trader if the value drops below a certain percent.

Smart Portfolios
This feature is a step up from eToro's CopyTrading. With a minimum investment of $500, it allows you to minimize risk by investing in a portfolio of cryptocurrencies, rather than following a single trader.

In the U.S., there are currently three to choose from:

  • Crypto-Currency: Made up of Bitcoin and Ethereum
  • CryptoPortfolio: Made up of cryptocurrencies with a market cap of $1 billion or more
  • CryptoEqual: Made up of equal amounts of a number of large cap cryptocurrencies

A Note About CopyTrading: eToro's CopyTrading feature is a huge perk for inexperienced traders, but it's not without risk. In fact, no Popular Investor will ever ONLY profit, and you'd be wise not to over-trade for fear of missing out on the "next big thing". Always be careful when choosing a Popular Investor to copy, and aim for long-term returns over short-term spikes.

What cryptocurrencies does eToro support?
eToro currently supports 24 different cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, including:

  • Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Ripple, Litecoin, Ethereum Classic, IOTA, Stellar, EOS, NEO, TRON, ZCASH, Tezos, Maker, Compound, Chainlink, Uniswap, Yearn.finance, Dogecoin, Aave, Enjin, Basic Attention Token, Shiba

CFD Trading (not available for US customers)
Trading CFDs or Contracts for Difference is one method of investing available to eToro users.

The difference between purchasing a CFD and a regular trade is that you won't own the underlying asset.

When you purchase a CFD from your broker, whether it's for Bitcoin or oil, the two of you are agreeing to honor the market price of the asset in question at the time of purchase and sale, without trading the asset itself.

This can be beneficial if all you're interested in is trading for profit. However, if you're interested in owning cryptocurrency itself, CFDs may not be right for you.

Commissions and Fees StarStarStarStarEmpty Star

eToro accounts are free to open and they charge no commissions or management fees. However, they do charge "spread fees" when you trade cryptocurrencies.

The spread is the difference in buying and selling prices for assets available on a platform.

Essentially, eToro and other platforms make their money by including their fee in the price of the currency. It charges 1% fee on all buy and sell orders of crypto assets on its platform.[5]

Deposit Fees

  • Cryptocurrency transactions, including transferring funds, will also incur a fee. Fees vary, depending on each blockchain provider.

  • eToro does not charge for USD deposits.

  • When converting funds to USD, a conversion fee is charged which depends on the currency.

Withdrawal Fees

  • $5 withdrawal fee for non-U.S. customers. eToro USA LLC does not charge any fees on withdrawals.[6]

  • The minimum withdrawal is $30.

Other Fees

  • eToro charges a $10 inactivity per month if your account has no activity for 12 months.

  • eToro charges an overnight fee for leveraged positions held overnight, per night.

Is eToro really free?
eToro may appear to be free, but they charge a 1% fee for buying or selling crypto. The fee is already included in the price when you open or close a position.

eToro Club
eToro users can enjoy a variety of perks if they meet the equity requirements of their tiered VIP accounts.

Base users start at the Bronze level with no requirements. The extra benefits start at Silver, which requires $5,000 in equity, and go up to Diamond, which requires $250,000.[7]

Benefits include dedicated account managers, various newsletters and reports, access to webinars, and customer service benefits, among other things.

TierEquity Requirement
Silver$5,000
Gold$10,000
Platinum$25,000
Platinum+$50,000
Diamond$250.000

Research StarStarStarStarStar

Compared to other top cryptocurrency exchanges, eToro offers an impressive wealth of research tools, though perhaps not quite as extensive as more traditional investors might expect.

Along with the standard features like economic calendars and news, they also incorporate fundamental analysis, sentiment data of top traders, daily market commentary by their own staff, and a social wall section for each currency that lets users see what others are saying about it.

Practice Account
If you'd like to experiment with investing in cryptocurrency without the risk, eToro will give you $100k in a practice account. Obviously, you won't be able to earn anything this way, but it's a useful way for beginners to get a feel for the platform.

Educational Resources
eToro's blog publishes Weekly Crypto Roundups to keep you updated on the latest in crypto news. They also offer in-depth financial guides and video tutorials to help new traders understand the ins and outs of cryptocurrency and how to trade on the platform.

Ease of Use StarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star

For a platform that is designed to let novice traders benefit from the experience of more established investors, eToro could benefit from putting more effort into designing a user-friendly interface. Because, unlike some other trading platforms, eToro takes some getting used to.

Users have access to a wide range of useful information, social media posts, news feeds, watchlists, and more, and for those new to the world of cryptocurrency, all of that can be a little overwhelming at first. Given time, it's likely that almost all users will be able to accustom themselves to the layout of the eToro platform, which does have a lot to offer.

But whether it's better labeling, clearer icons, or a more obvious central menu, there are undoubtedly improvements that could make eToro a lot more user-friendly.

Safety StarStarStarStarEmpty Star

It's important for any crypto investor that your cash and your coins stay safe. In order to ensure that, eToro employs the following security features:

  • Insurance
  • $1m investment insurance for clients of eToro Europe, UK, and Australia
  • Two-Factor Authentication
  • SMS
  • Secure Socket Layer (SSL) Encryption to protect transactions and personal information
  • Cold Storage

Can you make money with eToro?
It's definitely possible to make money with eToro, but when it comes to investing, there are no guarantees. Cryptocurrency is a very volatile investment option, with big changes often occurring over very short periods. As a general rule, never invest money you aren't willing to lose.

eToro Mobile App Review StarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star

eToro has a useful mobile app that offers all of the same features available on its desktop site. Where some of the top competitors in the crypto space have gone for ease of use, eToro has focused on offering all the bells and whistles that a trader could want.

On the one hand, this is great for experienced traders who know their way around analytical tools, market charts and graphs, and price histories. But for less experienced traders, opening the eToro app for the first time may prove somewhat daunting.

Simply put, there's a lot going on, and it isn't always clear what buttons will take you where, or how to do what you intend to.

eToro's mobile app is by no means impossible to get the hang of, but when competing with beginner-friendly exchanges like Coinbase, there's a lot they could do to make their interface more intuitive.

Customer Service StarStarStarHalf StarEmpty Star

eToro's customer service appears to be on par with a lot of other popular cryptocurrency exchanges, which is to say it leaves something to be desired. While there are multiple ways to get in contact with them, either via live chat or web-based ticketing, they don't offer phone support.

They are not available 24/7, and live chat is, unfortunately, frequently offline. On top of that, you can't get ahold of them on weekends.

When you do get ahold of them, it appears their response time is quite fast, and they provide useful, relevant answers to user questions.

eToro Customer Satisfaction

eToro has reported over 30 million users, which should give you some indication of their popularity.

On Trustpilot, over 19,000 users have given eToro an average score of 4.4 out of 5 stars, with 62% of reviewers rating the company excellent.[8]

App users also generally liked eToro. On the App Store they've received a 4.2 out of 5 stars,[9] and on the Google Play Store, their rating is 4.0.[10]

There have been negative reviews, however. Many of them revolve around the difficulty involved with withdrawing funds, and trouble with customer support, which some users found frustrating to deal with.

How to Get started on eToro

Opening an account with eToro is very easy, and should only take a couple of minutes.

  1. First, visit their website or download the app, pick a username, and set a password.

  2. After your account is created, they recommend filling out your profile. This helps eToro tailor your News Feed to you.

    You'll also need to verify your identity with one of the following:

    • Valid U.S. passport
    • Valid driver's license
    • Valid state ID

  3. Then you will fund your account. The minimum first deposit varies by country. In the US and UK it's $100. See the table below for other countries' requirements. After your first deposit, the minimum deposit requirement in the US is just $1. [11]

  4. After that, you're ready to start trading. Be sure to explore the 'Watchlist', which features other traders and markets that might interest you. Virtual trading is also a great place to get started for beginners.

CountryMinimum First Deposit
Australia, Austria, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Guernsey, Hungary, Indonesia, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Vatican City$50
Belgium, Czech Republic, France (including French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Mayotte), Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States$100
All other eligible countries$200
French Polynesia, Isle Of Man, Jersey Island, Kuwait, New Zealand, the Philippines, Reunion Island$1,000
Bulgaria, Cayman Islands, Croatia, Gibraltar, South Africa, Vietnam$2,000
Israel$10.000

Contact Customer Service

To contact eToro customer service, visit their Customer Service page, where you can open a ticket as a new or existing user or access live chat.

Due to a high volume of requests, they recommend checking their Help Center for answers to your questions, as responses to support tickets can take up to 14 days.

Is my money safe on eToro? eToro client funds are secured in tier 1 banks, and in the U.S., cash funds are FDIC insured custodial account.[12] However, cryptocurrency is not FDIC insured. Transactions and personal information are protected with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) encryption.

Compare Similar Apps

When it comes to buying and selling cryptocurrencies, there are a number of popular platforms to choose from. See how eToro compares.

Coinbase vs eToro

Coinbase is arguably the best-known cryptocurrency exchange platform working today, currently offering over 150 unique cryptocurrencies for trade, compared to the 24 on eToro.

Coinbase fees are around 2.49% for bank transfer purchases,[13] but eToro's fees are variable, so which are better depends to some extent on the currency you're buying.

If you're looking for more options, Coinbase may be your best bet, but eToro will offer more opportunities for new buyers looking to learn.

Robinhood vs eToro

Robinhood is an investment platform offering commission-free trades. Users can purchase stocks, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrency, which means it has more options than eToro, which only offers crypto, stocks, and ETFs to U.S. customers.

Robinhood does not offer pre-made portfolios like eToro's CopyTrading platform but instead has a wealth of educational resources for new investors.

Investors looking to be more hands-on, who want to buy stocks and crypto on the same platform, may prefer Robinhood. While investors looking to mimic successful CopyTraders, who are only interested in cryptocurrencies, will probably prefer eToro.

Is eToro a Good Platform for Bitcoin Trading?

For those who are confident in their ability to read the market, and who want to take a hands-on approach to investing, eToro's relatively high fees may not make it the first choice.

And if you are interested in using cryptocurrency for something other than an investment vehicle, then you ought to consider exchanges that make it easier to transfer to and from your personal crypto wallet.

Which are the best eToro trading tips?

Those looking to succeed on eToro should take advantage of its unique services, like CopyTrading and Smart Portfolios, as well as the social aspect that lets you learn from your peers.

Remember, no investment is risk-free, and past performance doesn't guarantee future results, but sometimes it's wiser to go it together.

Regardless of your level, eToro's user-friendly platform and wealth of experienced and successful traders to learn from make it a great place to dive deeper into the world of crypto.

eToro FAQs

In case you still have any questions about eToro, here are some of the most frequently asked questions regarding the popular social trading platform.

  • How long does eToro verification take?
    According to eToro, the verification process can take up to a couple of days.

    Users will be notified as soon as their verification is complete, and they can also stay up to date on the process by logging in and checking their account via the app or site.

  • How long does eToro withdrawal take?
    eToro places a 7-day hold on all funds deposited into an eToro account for withdrawals.

    After that period is over, eToro can take up to 2 days to process withdrawal requests, and online bank transfers can take up to 3 business days to complete, according to their site.

    Wire transfers can take up to 7 business days, while debit card withdrawals typically take around 4 business days.

  • What's the difference between an order and a trade on eToro?
    An order is an instruction by a trader to buy or sell an asset on eToro.

    While there is no strong distinction between an order and a trade, they may be tracked separately through an Order Book and a Trade Book. In this case, open orders refer to trades that have not been completed, and while the trade book records those that have.

  • How many users does eToro have
    At time of writing, eToro reports having over 30 million registered users worldwide.

  • Why does eToro ask for social security number
    eToro asks for certain information to verify user identity, including their social security number.

    This is done in order to comply with regulations such as those with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network ("FinCEN").

References

  1. ^ eToro USA LLC. Trade Markets on eToro, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  2. ^ eToro USA LLC. eToro US availability map, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  3. ^ eToro USA LLC. What is the minimum trade size?, Retrieved 3/8/2022
  4. ^ eToro USA LLC. What is CopyTrader™?, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  5. ^ eToro USA LLC. Trading Fees, Retrieved 3/30/2022
  6. ^ eToro USA LLC. Are there withdrawal fees?, Retrieved 3/8/2022
  7. ^ eToro USA LLC. eToro Club Membership tiers, Retrieved 3/8/2022
  8. ^ Trustpilot. eToro Reviews, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  9. ^ App Store. eToro Ratings and Reviews, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  10. ^ Google Play. eToro Reviews, Retrieved 6/16/2023
  11. ^ eToro. What's the deposit minimum? , Retrieved 03/11/2024
  12. ^ eToro USA LLC. Are my funds insured?, Retrieved 3/8/2022
  13. ^ Coinbase. Coinbase Pricing and Fees Disclosures, Retrieved 1/12/2022
eToro
eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.

Deposit $100 and Get $10 from eToro USA LLC

Expires 12/31/2024
For a limited time, you can get $10 when you deposit $100 in your eToro account. Here's how:
  1. Sign up for an eToro account
  2. Deposit $100
You'll automatically receive $10 directly to your account balance. Offer only applies to US customers. eToro USA LLC and eToro USA Securities Inc.; Investing involves risk, including loss of principal; Not a recommendation
Webull

Up to $100 Transfer Fee Reimbursement

Transfer fees of up to $100 will be reimbursed when you make an initial transfer of $2,000 or more.

Uphold

Trade from "Anything to Anything" in Just 10 Seconds

Trade between cryptocurrencies, precious metals, and national currencies.
Terms Apply. Cryptoassets are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk.

Jeremy Harshman is a creative assistant at CreditDonkey, a crypto comparison and reviews website. Write to Jeremy Harshman at jeremy.harshman@creditdonkey.com. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for our latest posts.

Note: This website is made possible through financial relationships with some of the products and services mentioned on this site. We may receive compensation if you shop through links in our content. You do not have to use our links, but you help support CreditDonkey if you do.

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Virtual currencies are highly volatile. Your capital is at risk. Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more. Cryptocurrency is offered by eToro USA LLC (“the MSB”) (NMLS: 1769299) and is not FDIC or SIPC insured. Investing involves risk, and content is provided for educational purposes only, does not imply a recommendation, and is not a guarantee of future performance. eToro USA LLC does not offer CFDs and neither does it represent or assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the content of this publication, prepared by the Affiliate, as a partner, using information available and public and not specific to the eToro entity.

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