eToro Review 2025 - Is This Trading Platform Worth It?
Thomas Drury
Co-Founder
Thomas is an experienced financial trader in leverage instruments, crypto and general investing. He has over a decade experience in finance and holds Chartered Status in the financial industry, Thomas’s speciality is trading CFDs, Forex and Day Trading. His crypto portfolio is heavily weighted towards BTC and Eth, but enjoys trading low cap crypto’s with higher volatility. Thomas’s favourite trading strategy is break out Trading.
“Our commitment at The Investors Centre is unwavering. We strive to provide clear, actionable advice that empowers you to achieve financial success. Our vision is a future where anyone can invest confidently and wisely.”
Dom Farnell
Co-Founder
Dom is an experienced retail investor, learning his craft in what he likes to call the “hard way”. Through many of these lesson’s he has crafted himself a sound investment strategy that has enabled him to make investing into a business not just a hobby. He wanted to create The Investors Centre to be able to use these lessons and help other people establish them selves in the world of investing.
“Financial clarity and integrity are the cornerstones of everything we do. We’re here to ensure that your investment journey is built on a solid financial understanding and a sound strategic foundation.”
Table of Contents
Disclaimer
How We Test
Quick Answer: How Does eToro Rate Overall?
eToro scores highly for beginner-friendly investing, copy trading, and a sleek app. Fees are reasonable on stocks but higher on crypto and forex. Regulated by the FCA and CySEC, it’s generally safe. For most UK users, it’s a solid all-in-one platform.
eToro Overview
- Minimum Deposit: £1 (via UK bank transfer)
- Copy top-performing traders across a wide range of assets
- FCA regulated and compliant with UK crypto marketing rules
- User-friendly platform with social trading and mobile app support
- Perfect for beginners and casual investors looking to follow expert strategies with ease
CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 61% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading CFD’s with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
What Was My First Impression of eToro?
eToro stands out immediately for its slick interface and simple onboarding. The platform feels intuitive, guiding you through sign-up, deposits, and exploring markets with clear steps. It’s built for first-timers but robust enough that experienced traders won’t feel boxed in.
How Easy Was It to Sign Up?
Opening an account took under 10 minutes with instant ID checks. The process is straightforward—upload ID, answer a few experience questions, and fund your account. No clunky paperwork or long delays like with some older brokers.
Is the eToro Platform Beginner-Friendly?
Very. The dashboard is clean, terms are explained, and tooltips help you learn as you go. Watching others’ trades via the social feed also helps new investors pick up ideas, reducing the intimidation of trying to “go it alone.”
Are Deposits & Withdrawals Smooth?
Depositing was quick via debit card and e-wallets. Withdrawals were approved within two business days, though they charge a small £5 fee. Overall, moving money in and out was simpler than many other UK brokers I’ve tested.
| Feature | Available on eToro | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Easy registration process | ✔ | Took less than 10 minutes to sign up. |
| KYC verification | ✔ | Required for full account access; approval took ~24 hours. |
| Deposit options | ✔ | Supports bank transfers, and debit cards. |
| Minimum deposit required | ✔ | Starts at $50 in some regions. |
| User-friendly interface | ✔ | Simple and intuitive for beginners. |
What’s It Like to Trade on eToro?
Trading feels modern and flexible. You can buy real shares, speculate with CFDs, or copy top investors in a couple of clicks. The platform makes diversification easy—ideal if you want stocks, ETFs, and crypto all in one place.
How Many Assets & Markets Can You Trade?
eToro offers thousands of stocks, 250+ ETFs, dozens of crypto pairs, plus forex, indices, and commodities. Whether you’re after Tesla, Bitcoin, or the FTSE 100, you’ll likely find it. This broad choice makes it a true multi-asset platform.
Is Copy Trading Really That Useful?
Copy trading is eToro’s standout feature. You can mirror top investors automatically, seeing their portfolio moves in real time. It’s helpful for beginners or anyone short on research time, though still wise to pick carefully and monitor results.
How Competitive Are eToro’s Fees & Spreads?
Zero commission on stocks is a big win. Forex and crypto spreads are wider—Bitcoin often around 0.75%. Withdrawals have a £5 flat fee. Compared to UK peers, eToro is cheaper on shares but pricier on some leveraged trades.
Is The Mobile App Any Good?
eToro’s app mirrors the desktop platform almost perfectly. Charts, watchlists, and even copy trading are smooth on mobile. It’s quick to log in, easy to execute trades, and stable even during busy market hours—making it genuinely practical for trading on the go.
Can You Learn & Practise on eToro?
eToro is surprisingly educational for a trading app. It offers tools to help beginners learn markets, plus a free demo account. Whether you want articles, tutorials, or just to watch what seasoned investors do, there’s plenty to help you gain confidence.
Does eToro Offer Solid Educational Resources?
Yes. eToro’s “Learn” section has articles, short videos, and quick guides on stocks, crypto, and risk. It’s not as deep as full courses, but great for basics. The social feed also acts like live case studies, showing real-time investor strategies.
Is the Demo Account Helpful for Beginners?
Absolutely. eToro’s demo gives you $100,000 in virtual funds to practice with real market prices. You can test strategies risk-free, figure out order types, and see how diversification works before putting your own £100 on the line.
How Does It Help You Apply What You Learn?
By watching traders you follow, then mirroring small amounts, you turn theory into action. The demo lets you experiment without risk, while the live copy portfolios give you a gradual on-ramp to real investing decisions.
Summary Table: eToro’s Educational Offerings
| Feature | Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| eToro Academy | ✔ | Covers trading basics and market insights. |
| Webinars | ✔ | Weekly market updates and expert insights. |
| Copy Trading Learning | ✔ | Learn by following top traders. |
| Market Research | ✘ | Limited compared to IG and Saxo. |
What Didn’t I Like About eToro?
No platform is perfect. eToro’s fees on crypto and forex are noticeably higher, the research tools feel light compared to pro platforms, and while support is decent, response times can lag. Knowing these gaps helps you use it smarter.
Why Are Crypto & Forex Fees Higher?
eToro’s zero commission is great for stocks, but crypto spreads average 0.75% to 2% — steeper than specialist exchanges. Forex spreads can be wide too. For frequent traders in these markets, the costs add up fast.
Are There Withdrawal Fees or Delays?
Yes. eToro charges a £5 flat withdrawal fee, and currency conversion adds more if you’re not withdrawing in USD. Payouts typically arrive in 2-3 days, but big moves or busy markets can stretch this.
What About Limited Research Tools?
eToro’s platform is streamlined—great for ease, but it lacks deep screeners or technical indicators serious traders love. You’ll need outside tools if you want advanced charting, fundamental filters, or analyst reports.
How Responsive Is Customer Support?
eToro has live chat and a ticket system. For basic questions, replies come in hours; complex issues can take days. It’s decent for a mass-market platform but not hands-on like boutique brokers with personal managers.
Pros & Cons Table: Frustrations with eToro
| Aspect | Pros (✔) | Cons (✘) |
|---|---|---|
| Fees | ✔ 0% commission on stocks. | ✘ High spreads on crypto & forex. |
| Withdrawals | ✔ Easy process. | ✘ $5 fee & slow processing (2-5 days). |
| Research Tools | ✔ Basic charting available. | ✘ Limited compared to TradingView & IG. |
| Support | ✔ Help center & forums are useful. | ✘ Slow response times for urgent issues. |
Is eToro Safe & Trustworthy?
For most UK investors, eToro is considered secure. It’s heavily regulated, uses bank-level safeguards, and keeps client funds separate. While every investment has risk, eToro’s protections give confidence you’re trading on a solid, compliant platform.
Is eToro Properly Regulated & Licensed?
Yes. eToro is regulated by the FCA in the UK, CySEC in Europe, and ASIC in Australia. This means strict rules on how it holds client funds, verifies accounts, and prevents fraud — all essential for your peace of mind.
What Security Measures Does eToro Use?
eToro uses SSL encryption, segregates client money in tier-1 banks, and requires ID verification. You’ll also get alerts for new logins. While not bulletproof, these are robust protections compared to many offshore or lightly regulated trading apps.
What Was My Personal Experience With Safety?
I had zero security issues using eToro. Funds arrived back in my bank within days, and login notifications popped up if I switched devices. It’s always smart to use strong passwords and two-factor authentication to add another layer.
Security Feature Checklist
| Security Feature | Available | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC | ✔ | Strong oversight in multiple regions. |
| SSL Encryption | ✔ | Protects sensitive user data. |
| Two-Factor Authentication | ✔ | Extra security for login and transactions. |
| Fund Segregation | ✔ | Client funds stored separately from company funds. |
| Crypto Investor Protection | ✘ | Crypto holdings are not covered under regulation. |
How Does eToro Compare to Other Platforms?
Against UK rivals like Trading 212, Plus500, or IG, eToro stands out for copy trading and its simple multi-asset dashboard. But it trails in deep charting tools and some forex costs. Overall, it’s more balanced for casual investors.
What Made eToro Stand Out?
eToro’s biggest edge is copying top traders. It also shines by letting you hold real shares, trade crypto, and explore commodities in one place. The interface feels modern, pulling everything into a single, user-friendly hub.
Where Do Competitors Do Better?
Trading 212 beats it on zero-fee currency conversion. IG wins on advanced charting. For pure crypto, exchanges like Binance have tighter spreads. If you’re very focused on one niche, those might save money or offer deeper tools.
Fee Comparison Table: eToro vs Competitors
| Broker | Stock Trading Fees | Forex Trading Fees | Crypto Trading Fees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eToro | 0% (for real stocks) | 1 pip+ spread | 1% spread | Higher crypto fees than competitors. |
| Binance | N/A | 0.1% trading fee | 0.1% spot trading | Lower fees for crypto. |
| IG | $0 commission | 0.6 pip spread | Not available | Lower forex spreads than eToro. |
Why Did I Keep Using eToro?
Convenience. Having stocks, ETFs, crypto, and copy trading together was worth slightly higher fees in places. I like seeing everything in one portfolio, managing it from the same app. For general investing, that simplicity won me over.
Comparison Table: eToro vs Competitors
| Feature | eToro | Binance | IG Markets | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copy Trading | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ✘ | Best for social trading. |
| Crypto Fees | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ✘ | Binance has lower fees. |
| Stock Trading | ⭐⭐⭐ | ✘ | ⭐⭐⭐ | 0% commission on real stocks. |
| Forex Spreads | ⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | IG offers better forex pricing. |
| Education & Social Features | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐ | eToro leads in community learning. |
Final Verdict: Should You Try eToro in 2025?
eToro remains a top pick for new or casual investors wanting everything—stocks, crypto, copy trading—in one easy app. It’s secure, FCA regulated, and fun to use. Just watch the forex and crypto fees, and have realistic expectations on research depth.
Who’s eToro Best For?
Ideal for beginners or anyone who values simplicity and social features. If you want to copy successful investors or diversify into crypto alongside stocks without juggling multiple accounts, eToro makes it easy.
What Are the Key Strengths?
Simple interface, wide asset choice, real shares plus CFDs, and copy trading all under one roof. Zero stock commissions and a robust mobile app round it out, making eToro stand out among UK multi-asset platforms.
What Drawbacks Should You Keep in Mind?
Crypto and forex fees can eat into frequent trades. The research tools are fairly light for hardcore chart enthusiasts. You’ll also pay a £5 withdrawal fee, plus potential conversion costs if withdrawing in GBP.
My Final Recommendation
If you’re starting out or want an all-in-one place to experiment with stocks, ETFs, and crypto, eToro is well worth trying. It’s secure, beginner-friendly, and makes exploring new markets simple. Just go in aware of costs on leveraged trades.
CFDs are complex instruments with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 61% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading CFD’s with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Trade Smarter, not Harder
- Copy Trading
- Competitive Fees
- Multi-Asset Platform
61% of retail CFD accounts lose money when trading CFD’s with this provider.
FAQs
Is eToro regulated in the UK?
Yes, by the FCA. This means strict rules on safeguarding client money, verifying accounts, and keeping operations transparent. It adds strong trust compared to unregulated or offshore platforms.
Can you actually make money copy trading?
Many people do, but returns vary by who you copy and when. It’s no guarantee—popular traders can underperform. Always use small amounts to start, diversify, and monitor results closely.
How fast are eToro withdrawals?
Typically 2-3 working days. The £5 flat fee applies to each withdrawal, and converting USD back to GBP can cost extra. Plan to batch withdrawals to avoid repeated charges.
Is eToro good for UK beginners?
Definitely. It’s designed for ease, with a clear app, simple buy buttons, and the ability to copy seasoned investors. It’s a solid launchpad before branching into more advanced platforms later.
