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 (founded in 2007) and Plus500 (founded in 2008) are online brokers that are publicly traded and not banks. Both are overseen by multiple top-tier regulators: eToro holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses.
On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score scale—90–99 = highly trusted, 80–89 = trusted, 70–79 = average risk, 60–69 = high risk, under 59 = not trusted—eToro scores 97/99 and Plus500 scores 99/99. That places both brokers in the highly trusted category.
| 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 sit slightly above the industry average on spreads. eToro, a market‑maker, lists a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, while Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips on EUR/USD in April 2024. For this category, eToro is rated 4 stars and ranked #22 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and ranked #24 out of 63.
eToro’s pricing tends not to be the main draw for retail traders; its appeal is the social copy trading platform. For potential savings and perks, eToro offers the eToro Club, a five‑tier VIP program (Silver to Diamond) for account balances from $5,000 to $250,000. Benefits can include access to Trading Central, discounted deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager.
Plus500’s overall pricing is slightly above average and trails top brokers for active trader pricing. It doesn’t provide discounts to retail clients, but qualified Professional clients may receive cash rebates. If you value lower spreads alone, Plus500’s 1.5‑pip average on EUR/USD is higher than what many cost‑focused traders look for.
| 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.
eToro and Plus500 both deliver daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment data that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, and an easy-to-read economic calendar. Where they diverge is research depth: eToro adds forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and includes TipRanks analyst insights. Plus500 does not offer those two extras. Neither broker provides Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.
Both brokers earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for research, but eToro ranks higher at #13 of 63 brokers, while Plus500 sits at #17. Traders who value integrated premium news and TipRanks research may prefer eToro, whereas Plus500 can suit those who want core tools and daily commentary without the added news feeds.
| 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.
For beginner traders comparing eToro vs Plus500 education, both brokers make it easy to learn the basics of forex and CFD trading. Each hosts online client webinars at least once a month and offers more than 10 beginner-focused videos, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. This blend of on-demand lessons and live sessions helps you build skills step by step and get questions answered in real time.
Both eToro and Plus500 earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education, but their standings differ: eToro ranks #3 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 ranks #26. In practice, that means eToro’s learning experience tends to feel more comprehensive and beginner-friendly overall, even though Plus500 still delivers helpful videos and regular webinars. If you want the most polished path for new traders, start with eToro; if you’re satisfied with solid videos and monthly webinars, Plus500 remains a capable option.
| 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
|
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| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 97 | 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 | 97 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 97 | 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 | 97 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
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