Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs FXCM, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Comparing eToro and FXCM: eToro launched in 2007, while FXCM dates back to 1999. Both companies are publicly traded and neither is a bank, which keeps their brokerage and banking activities separate.
On regulation and trust, ForexBrokers.com scores brokers on a 0–99 scale (90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted). eToro earns 96/99 and FXCM scores 95/99—both in the highly trusted range. Each holds four Tier-1 licenses considered the most secure, while eToro has one Tier-2 license and FXCM has two. In short, both are highly trusted and well regulated, with eToro edging FXCM on overall trust and FXCM carrying one additional Tier-2 authorization.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, eToro earns 4.5 out of 5 stars but ranks #22 of 63 brokers for this category, while FXCM earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks higher at #17 of 63. eToro is a market-maker and posts a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is a bit above the industry average. By contrast, FXCM’s overall pricing also sits slightly above average, but it offers more pathways to lower costs for high-volume traders.
eToro’s pricing appeal is straightforward: spreads are not its main draw, but the platform’s social copy trading is. For those holding larger balances, the eToro Club VIP program has five tiers (Silver to Diamond) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000, with extras such as Trading Central access, discounted deposits and withdrawals, and a dedicated account manager.
FXCM’s standard account spreads averaged 0.78 pips on EUR/USD in the EU, U.K., and Australia in May 2024 (and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity). Its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions; once you include the typical commission (about 0.50 pips per round turn), the effective spread is closer to 0.74 pips. Spreads can widen during rollover or volatile markets. Active traders may cut costs further through FXCM’s five-tier rebate program (not available in the U.K. or EU). For example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can reduce commissions to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn), putting the effective EUR/USD spread around 0.78 pips, with deeper discounts possible at higher volumes.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
In an eToro vs FXCM comparison for range of investments, eToro offers far more choice: 7,441 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, while FXCM lists 440 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or via spot contracts, and both support copy trading. For crypto, each offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but only eToro also lets you buy real coins. eToro additionally provides access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international stock exchanges (for example, Apple on Nasdaq and Vodafone in London), which FXCM does not offer.
These differences show up in independent ratings: for Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates eToro 5 stars and ranks it 11th out of 63 brokers, while FXCM earns 3.5 stars and ranks 21st. If you want the widest selection across stocks, crypto, and many markets, eToro is the more versatile pick; if you only need a smaller set of forex and CFD choices, FXCM can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
eToro and FXCM both offer free demo accounts for practice, proprietary platforms, and easy-to-use web-based trading. Each supports copy trading and lets you place trades straight from charts. Platform options differ: FXCM also provides a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while eToro does not offer a desktop download and does not support MT4 or MT5. FXCM and eToro both do not list the exact number of built-in chart indicators or watchlist columns.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, eToro earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM scores 5/5 stars and ranks #4. If you want MT4 or a downloadable Windows platform, FXCM is the better fit. If you prefer an in-house web platform with social and copy trading front and center, eToro is a strong choice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
eToro and FXCM both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with stock and forex price alerts and watchlists that sync across mobile and web. According to ForexBrokers.com, both apps earn 4.5 stars; out of 63 brokers, eToro ranks #10 while FXCM ranks #16. If you’re comparing eToro vs FXCM for everyday use, both cover the essentials and keep your account in sync wherever you trade.
Charting is where their mobile apps differ. eToro includes 104 technical studies, giving you a wide range of indicators. FXCM offers 59 studies but adds the ability to draw trendlines on charts, and the app auto-saves those drawings; eToro does not support drawing tools or auto-save. Choose eToro if you want more built-in indicators, or FXCM if you prefer hands-on chart annotations that persist between sessions.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In an eToro vs FXCM market research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary and premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each offers Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental analysis, a sentiment tool that shows the share of long vs. short positions, TipRanks research, and an economic calendar for tracking key events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre).
Both eToro and FXCM earn 4.5 stars for Research from ForexBrokers.com. FXCM holds a slight edge in the rankings at #11 versus eToro at #13 out of 63 brokers. With nearly identical research features and news coverage, the better pick may come down to which platform’s layout and presentation you find easier to use.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing eToro vs FXCM for education: both brokers provide forex and CFD education with well over 10 pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each also runs online client webinars at least once a month. If you prefer video learning, both eToro and FXCM offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, making it easy to move from the basics to more experienced topics.
When it comes to quality, both earn 4.5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com. However, eToro ranks higher at #3 out of 63 brokers, while FXCM is #13. If ranking matters to you, eToro has the edge; if you simply want frequent webinars and plenty of beginner-friendly material, FXCM remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that eToro is better than FXCM. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10.
eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.
| Feature |
eToro
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FXCM
|
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 |
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In the eToro vs FXCM crypto comparison, eToro lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, whereas FXCM supports crypto CFDs only and does not offer delivered crypto purchases.
Comparing eToro vs. FXCM: both online brokers support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either platform.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | eToro Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | eToro | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | FXCM Review |
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