Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs eToro, 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 online brokers IG and eToro: IG was founded in 1974 while eToro launched in 2007. Both companies are publicly traded; IG also operates as a bank, whereas eToro is not a bank. Each broker is regulated in multiple jurisdictions, which supports clear rules for client protection.
Regulatory details: IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses, while eToro holds 4 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns a Trust Score of 99 and eToro a 97; scores from 90–99 are categorized as highly trusted. Both rank as highly trusted for regulation and safety, with IG carrying more top-tier licenses and the higher score.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IG generally comes out ahead of eToro for cost-conscious traders. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers competitive pricing for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account. On its main Forex Direct offering, IG’s EUR/USD spread averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, which works out to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG also offers volume-based rebates for professional traders, which can lower costs further. IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
IG’s standard CFD pricing is also fairly strong. During the main trading session, average spreads were 0.69 pips, which is slightly better than the industry average. Like most brokers, costs can rise during quieter market hours, but IG still offers a useful mix of spread-based and commission-based pricing depending on the account type and trading style. This makes it a strong choice for active forex and CFD traders who want more flexibility in how they pay for trades.
eToro, by comparison, is more expensive on spreads, with a typical variable EUR/USD spread of 1 pip, which is a bit above the industry average. That said, many traders use eToro for its social and copy trading features rather than for low trading costs. eToro’s VIP Club can also offer some fee discounts and extra perks for higher balances. eToro is rated 4 stars and ranked #22 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $50-$10,000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG and eToro both give traders a wide choice of markets, including forex, U.S. shares, international shares, and cryptocurrencies. Each platform lets you trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, buy actual crypto, and trade crypto CFDs. They also both offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can invest in well-known companies from different regions.
That said, IG has the edge on range. It offers 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with eToro’s 7,441 symbols and 65 forex pairs. Both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, but ForexBrokers.com ranks IG higher overall in this category at #4 out of 36 brokers, while eToro sits at #10. One key difference is copy trading: eToro offers it, while IG does not.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7441 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
IG and eToro both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and their own in-house trading platform, so each broker makes it easy to get started and practice before trading live. Both also let you place trades directly from a chart, which can be handy if you like to act quickly while watching price moves. In platform quality, IG stands out with a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and a #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while eToro is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #8.
Where IG pulls ahead is choice and flexibility. It offers a Windows desktop trading download plus support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, giving more options for charting and trading styles. eToro does not offer a Windows desktop platform or MetaTrader support, but it does have one major feature IG lacks: copy trading, which lets you follow and automatically mirror other traders. For traders who want more platform options, IG may be the better fit; for those interested in social trading, eToro has the edge.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and eToro both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each lets users set stock or forex price alerts and keep watchlists synced between the app and their online account. Both apps also support trendline drawing on charts, making it easier to track price moves and plan trades while on the go. For traders who want a simple, connected mobile experience, both platforms cover the basics well.
Where IG pulls ahead is in chart tools and app quality. IG’s mobile app includes 33 technical studies, while eToro offers 104, giving eToro more charting options for users who like to dig deeper into analysis. Even so, IG auto-saves chart drawings in the app, while eToro does not. That edge, along with IG’s 5-star mobile trading app rating and #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, puts it ahead of eToro, which has a 4.5-star rating and ranks #10.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both IG and eToro give traders useful day-to-day insight. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, sentiment tools that show long and short positioning, TipRanks market research, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. This means both platforms can help users stay informed about price drivers and market moves.
IG has the edge overall because it adds extra research support from Autochartist and Acuity Trading, while eToro does not offer those tools. IG is also rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with eToro’s 4.5-star Research rating and #12 ranking. In simple terms, eToro covers the basics well, but IG offers a wider set of research tools and a stronger overall research experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG and eToro both give beginners plenty of help with learning the basics of trading. Each broker offers forex and CFDs education, regular client webinars at least once a month, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos, so users can find content for both new and more experienced traders. In simple terms, both platforms make it easy to get started and keep learning as your skills grow.
When it comes to overall education quality, eToro has a slight edge in rank, placing #3 out of 36 brokers for Education on ForexBrokers.com, while IG ranks #7. IG still earns a top 5-star Education rating, while eToro is rated 4.5 stars. For beginners comparing online brokers, both are strong choices, but eToro stands out a bit more for education, while IG also offers a very solid learning setup.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IG is better than eToro. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while eToro finished with an overall rank of #9.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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eToro
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 97 |
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IG vs eToro: both online brokers let you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, offering flexible options for crypto investors and CFD traders.
For funding and withdrawals, online brokers IG and eToro both support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires, but only eToro also offers Skrill.
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 | IG | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 97 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | eToro | |
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| Regulation | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 97 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 7441 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $50-$10,000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 33 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | eToro Review |
| Overall | IG | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 97 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | eToro Review |
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