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.
eToro (founded 2007) and FXCM (founded 1999) are both publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score, where 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted, eToro scores 97/99 and FXCM scores 95/99—placing both firms in the highly trusted range.
On regulation, each broker holds 4 Tier-1 licenses, considered the most reliable by ForexBrokers.com. eToro also holds 1 Tier-2 license, while FXCM holds 2 Tier-2 licenses. In short, both are well-regulated with a high level of oversight, with eToro edging FXCM on overall Trust Score 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, FXCM generally offers tighter pricing than eToro on major pairs like EUR/USD. eToro, a market maker, lists a typical variable spread of 1.0 pip on EUR/USD, which is a bit above the industry average. FXCM’s time-weighted average spread on EUR/USD was 0.78 pips for its EU/UK/AU entities in May 2024 (and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity). On FXCM’s commission-based accounts, the core spread averaged 0.28 pips in May 2024; after adding the commission equivalent, the effective cost was closer to 0.74 pips. Ratings and rankings: eToro is 4/5 stars and ranked #22 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while FXCM is 4.5/5 stars and ranked #17 of 63.
Active traders may find more ways to cut costs at FXCM. Its five-tier Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) pays $5–$25 per million traded if you meet monthly volume thresholds starting at $10 million. Requirements and discounts vary by region; for example, in the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can bring the commission to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn), translating to an effective EUR/USD cost around 0.78 pips based on a 0.28-pip core. As with most brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or volatile market conditions.
eToro’s fee appeal is less about the lowest spreads and more about platform features. Its typical EUR/USD spread sits at 1.0 pip, and many clients choose eToro for its social copy trading. For higher-balance clients, the eToro Club VIP program offers five tiers (Silver to Diamond) for balances of $5,000–$250,000, with perks that can include access to Trading Central, discounted deposits and withdrawals, and a dedicated account manager.
| Feature |
eToro
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1 | 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.
eToro offers a wider range of investments than FXCM. You can trade 7,441 symbols on eToro versus 440 on FXCM, including 55 forex pairs at eToro and 46 at FXCM. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot and both provide copy trading. Where eToro pulls ahead is access to exchange-traded securities: you can buy U.S. stocks like Apple and shares on international markets like Vodafone on eToro (not as CFDs), while FXCM does not offer exchange-traded shares. For crypto, both brokers let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but only eToro also lets you buy actual crypto.
Independent ratings back up this coverage: eToro earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 11th out of 63 brokers, while FXCM earns 4.5 stars and ranks 21st. In short, eToro suits investors who want the biggest symbol list plus real stocks and crypto, and FXCM suits traders who focus mainly on forex and CFD markets with copy trading features.
| 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.
The eToro mobile app and the FXCM mobile app are both available on iPhone and Android. Each offers price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, so symbols and changes carry over between devices. That makes tracking markets and managing positions on the go straightforward for either platform.
Charting is where they differ most: eToro includes 104 technical indicators in its mobile app, while FXCM offers 59. Both let you draw trendlines, but only FXCM auto-saves your drawings; eToro does not. Both apps are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps rankings out of 63 brokers, eToro is #10 and FXCM is #16. Pick eToro if you want more built-in indicators, or choose FXCM if automatic saving of chart annotations is a priority.
| 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 | Yes | 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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| Trust Score | 97 | 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 | 97 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | eToro | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 97 | 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 CMA 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 | 1 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1 | 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 | Yes | 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 | 97 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | FXCM Review |
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