Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Plus500, 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 vs Plus500: eToro was founded in 2007 and Plus500 in 2008. Both are publicly traded brokers and neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro holds a Trust Score of 96/99 and Plus500 scores 99/99—both fall in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range (80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted).
On regulation, eToro holds 4 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses, while Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted. In short, both are well regulated, with Plus500 edging ahead on license count and Trust Score, and eToro also offering a high level of regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both eToro and Plus500 price slightly above the industry average, but eToro generally looks cheaper on the popular EUR/USD pair. eToro, a market‑maker broker, lists a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, while Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. That difference can make eToro lower cost for many forex trades, even though traders often pick eToro more for its social copy trading than for ultra‑tight spreads.
Discounts and extras differ, too. eToro offers a five‑tier VIP Club (Silver to Diamond) for balances of $5,000 to $250,000, with perks such as Trading Central access, discounted withdrawal and deposit fees, and a dedicated account manager. Plus500 does not discount pricing for retail clients; however, traders who qualify and are designated as Professional clients can receive cash rebates, which act like an active‑trader program. Overall, Plus500’s pricing sits a bit above average and trails leaders like IG or Saxo for active‑trader pricing.
Ratings snapshot for the Commissions and Fees category (ForexBrokers.com): eToro earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63. In short, eToro edges Plus500 on EUR/USD spreads and adds VIP perks; Plus500 may appeal if you qualify for Professional‑client rebates, but typical spreads are higher.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
eToro vs Plus500 on range of investments: eToro lists 7,441 tradeable symbols, while Plus500 offers about 5,500. Both support forex trading via CFDs or spot (availability can depend on your location). For currency traders, Plus500 edges ahead with 65 forex pairs versus eToro’s 55. Both brokers let you buy real, exchange-listed stocks on U.S. and international markets (think Apple and Vodafone), and both offer crypto CFDs. Only eToro lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies, and it also includes copy trading; Plus500 does not offer copy trading or direct crypto ownership.
Ratings reflect these differences: eToro earns 5 stars and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #17. Choose eToro if you want the largest overall selection, copy trading, and the ability to own crypto. Pick Plus500 if your priority is access to a wider set of forex pairs within a large, CFD-focused lineup.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Comparing eToro vs Plus500 on trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer a free virtual demo account and run proprietary, in-house platforms that work in your web browser. Neither provides a Windows desktop download, and neither supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is copy trading—eToro offers it, while Plus500 does not. Another practical edge for eToro is the ability to place trades directly from charts; Plus500 doesn’t support chart-based order placement.
For quality, both earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. That said, ForexBrokers.com ranks eToro higher (#8 of 63) than Plus500 (#14 of 63). If you want copy trading and chart trading, eToro stands out. If you prefer a simple, web-only platform without MetaTrader, both eToro and Plus500 fit the bill.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing mobile trading apps, both eToro and Plus500 offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts and watchlist syncing that keeps your symbols aligned between mobile and the web. Each app earns 4.5 out of 5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro places higher in the Mobile Trading Apps category at #10 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #14.
For charting, eToro provides 104 technical studies, while Plus500 offers 115. Plus500 also lets you draw trendlines directly on charts, a feature eToro lacks. Neither app saves chart drawings automatically. If drawing tools matter most, Plus500 has the edge; if overall standing is important, eToro’s higher category ranking may appeal.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both eToro and Plus500 cover the basics well. Each broker provides daily market commentary, an economic calendar, Trading Central tools for chart-based ideas, and a sentiment gauge showing the split between long and short positions. Neither platform includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools. The key difference is news and third‑party insights: eToro streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and adds stock research from TipRanks, while Plus500 does not offer those extras.
If you value real-time news and deeper equity research alongside technical analysis, eToro has the edge. Plus500 still supplies practical tools for scanning markets and timing trades, but with fewer external research feeds. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro scores 4.5/5 for Research and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 scores 4.0/5 and ranks #17.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing eToro vs Plus500 for beginner education in forex and CFD trading: both brokers host ongoing online webinars (at least one each month) and deliver a sizable video library. Each offers at least 10 beginner-friendly videos to explain core trading concepts, plus at least 10 videos for more advanced topics when you’re ready to level up. This mix of webinars and videos makes it easy for new traders to learn at their own pace.
Where they differ is overall quality and recognition. eToro earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.0 stars and ranks #26. If strong beginner education is a priority, eToro has the edge, though Plus500 still provides a helpful path for learning the basics and beyond.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
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
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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eToro vs Plus500: eToro lets you buy real, delivered cryptocurrency and trade crypto CFDs, while Plus500 offers only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support purchasing actual coins.
Both eToro and Plus500 support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only eToro also offers ACH/SEPA transfers.
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 | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
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