Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Trading 212, 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.
Founded in 2007, eToro is an online broker known for its global reach and favorable trust rating. It holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93 out of 99, classifying it as highly trusted. This is backed by its possession of 3 Tier-1 licenses, which are considered a mark of high trust, and 1 Tier-2 license. Although eToro is not a publicly traded company nor a bank, its regulatory standing is strong and well-regarded.
Established in 2004, Trading 212 has a slightly different profile. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 79, it falls into the average risk category and holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, but lacks any Tier-2 licenses. Like eToro, Trading 212 is neither a publicly listed company nor a bank. While both brokers are credible, eToro's higher trust rating and additional regulatory licenses make it a more secure option in the online brokerage space.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing eToro and Trading 212 in terms of commissions and fees, eToro stands out for its unique social copy trading platform. While it operates as a market-maker broker, eToro typically features a variable spread of around 1 pip on the EUR/USD pair, which is slightly above the industry average. Retail traders tend not to choose eToro primarily for its spreads but rather for the benefits offered through its five-tier VIP club, ranging from Silver to Diamond. Members enjoy perks such as access to Trading Central, reduced transaction fees, and personal account managers.
Trading 212, on the other hand, is known for its zero-commission advertising on shares in its Invest account and CFDs in its CFD account. Despite this enticing offer, traders should be aware that they will still encounter spreads on CFD and forex trades. In January 2024, Trading 212 reported an average spread of 1.9 pips on the EUR/USD, a figure notably higher than the industry norm, making it less competitive in this area compared to other brokers.
Despite its higher spreads, eToro earns a rating of 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, ranking 22nd out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranked 43rd, highlighting the distinctions in their pricing strategies and trader appeal. Both platforms have their unique advantages, allowing traders to select based on their specific needs and priorities.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing eToro and Trading 212 on the range of investments, both platforms offer users a comprehensive selection, but with notable differences. eToro provides 5,461 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 boasts a larger selection with 8,025 tradeable symbols. However, eToro is particularly renowned for its copy trading feature, allowing users to replicate the trades of experienced investors, a service not available on Trading 212. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, yet Trading 212 leads with 146 forex pairs compared to eToro's 55 pairs. Additionally, both brokers offer access to exchange-traded securities on major international and U.S. exchanges, allowing clients to invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone.
In the realm of cryptocurrency, eToro enables the purchase of actual digital currencies, not just derivatives, giving it an edge over Trading 212, which only offers cryptocurrency derivatives. Despite these distinctions, both platforms rank highly for their range of investments, with eToro securing a #10 spot and Trading 212 holding the #15 position among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Overall, both platforms receive a commendable five-star rating for their investment offerings, showcasing their robust capabilities for a diverse range of traders.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 Trading 212 both shine in their dedication to providing users with innovative trading platforms and tools. Both platforms offer free virtual demo accounts and consist of their own in-house developed platforms. A major advantage of eToro is its copy trading feature, allowing users to mirror the trades of experienced investors. In contrast, Trading 212 does not support copy trading but does facilitate trading directly from stock charts, a feature eToro lacks. Both platforms skip integration with MetaTrader tools, and neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. eToro provides a wider range of drawing tools for charting with 161 options, compared to Trading 212's 20.
For web-based trading, both eToro and Trading 212 come equipped with user-friendly browser platforms, although they do not support Windows-based desktop downloads. When it comes to watch lists, eToro offers a slight edge with six fields compared to Trading 212's five. Overall, eToro is rated higher for trading platforms and tools with a commendable 4.5 stars and ranks 8th out of 62 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com rankings. Trading 212 follows closely with 4 stars, securing the 20th spot. These features make eToro more appealing for those interested in diversified charting options and social trading, while Trading 212 caters to those who prefer direct trading from charts.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of eToro and Trading 212, both options stand out with impressive features for both iPhone and Android users, such as stock and forex price alerts, and watchlist symbol syncing that ensures alignment with the client's online account changes. Each platform provides a comprehensive array of 104 technical studies for chart analysis, along with multiple time frames to view stock or forex charts. However, Trading 212 has a slight edge for users interested in more hands-on chart manipulation; it allows for drawing trendlines and automatically saving chart drawings, features not supported by eToro's app.
When it comes to user ratings, eToro secures a higher satisfaction score, earning 4.5 stars out of five, compared to Trading 212's 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where eToro stands at #10, surpassing Trading 212, which ranks at #17 out of 62 brokers. Both apps offer the capability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, serving traders who need up-to-the-minute data. Ultimately, while both platforms offer extensive resources to aid mobile traders, eToro generally receives higher acclaim, albeit with fewer options for chart customizations than Trading 212.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to delivering a range of market research tools, both eToro and Trading 212 have their strengths, but eToro arguably offers a broader spectrum of resources. eToro stands out by providing daily market commentary and market insights from TipRanks, making it a solid choice for traders who value regular updates and expert opinions. Furthermore, eToro offers tools from Trading Central, including Technical Analytics, for those interested in deep dive technical analyses. On the other hand, Trading 212 distinguishes itself by providing forex news from high-level sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, catering to users seeking top-tier news updates. Additionally, both platforms present an economic calendar and sentiment-based trading tools, offering insights into market trends and trader positions.
Overall, eToro's comprehensive suite of research tools and resources positions it higher in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, scoring 4.5 stars and securing the 13th spot out of 62 brokers in the research category. Trading 212, while a solid platform, receives a lower research rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 46th, indicating room for growth in its market research offerings. For traders who prioritize extensive market insights and daily commentary, eToro appears to offer a more attractive package.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
eToro and Trading 212 both offer a range of educational resources for beginners eager to dive into forex and CFD trading. eToro provides a comprehensive package with a minimum of 10 educational pieces focusing on these subjects, similar to Trading 212. Each platform ensures accessibility to knowledge through online client webinars held monthly, as well as maintaining archives of these sessions for further learning. For beginners, eToro and Trading 212 offer more than 10 educational videos on trading concepts, aiming to equip new traders with the necessary skills.
For those seeking advanced material, each platform offers over 10 educational videos tailored to more experienced traders. Their investor dictionaries, each containing definitions of over 50 investing terms, serve as valuable tools for understanding complex subjects. However, while both eToro and Trading 212 provide extensive resources, eToro edges out with a higher educational rating of 4.5 stars out of 5, compared to Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their ranking by ForexBrokers.com, with eToro holding the fifth spot out of 62 brokers, while Trading 212 stands at the twentieth position. Overall, eToro offers a slightly more enriching educational experience for both beginners and seasoned investors.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that eToro is better than Trading 212. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 |
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eToro allows users to purchase both actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Trading 212 offers only cryptocurrency derivatives, not the actual cryptocurrencies.
Both eToro and Trading 212 offer multiple options for depositing and withdrawing funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Visa or Mastercard, with eToro additionally supporting Skrill for enhanced flexibility, unlike Trading 212.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5461 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 104 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 161 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | eToro Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | eToro | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Trading 212 Review |
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