Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs eToro
ActivTrades
Higher score in this comparison
eToro
What sets them apart
| Compare | ActivTradesReviewVisitVisit | eToroReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $1 to $10,000 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures |
| Regulators | FCA, SCB, CMVM, FSC, BACEN | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84% | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
| Platforms | ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, TradingView | Not confirmed |
| Account types | Not confirmed | ISA |
| Interest on cash | 3.3% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0).
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Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only ActivTrades offers FCA, SCB, CMVM.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Minimum deposit is lower at ActivTrades: $0 vs $1 to $10,000.
- Markets: only ActivTrades offers Bonds.
- Markets: only eToro offers Futures.
- Features: only eToro offers Copy trading.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades suits active traders seeking broad market access with commission free share dealing alongside forex, CFDs and bonds in a single account. Minimum deposit sits at $0 with stock trade fees at $0 and cover through FSCS up to GBP 85,000, while retail loss share stands at 84%.
eToro
eToro suits new investors who want shares, crypto and cash interest in a single app, with an account fee of $0 and a stock trade fee of $0. The catch is the withdrawal fee of $5 flat fee, which makes it a poor fit for anyone moving small sums in and out often.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Account upkeep stays light with charges at $0 for everyday holders. | 9.3Account fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 rank 1 and 1, while withdrawals cost $5 flat fee. |
| Offer | 9.6HigherChoice spans asset classes listed as stocks, ETFs and forex for varied strategies. | 8.8 |
| Trust | 9.5HigherOversight spans regulators shown as FCA, SCB and CMVM for added assurance. | 9.2 |
What each covers
| Markets | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 |
| United States | Not confirmed | SIPC SIPC member 70212 |
The bill, worked out
A year: 5,000 invested, 4 US stock trades a month
ActivTrades
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
eToro
$0
48 × $0 + 1 × $0
Both come to the same total.
Excludes currency conversion fee (not stated by eToro). Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 28, 2026.
Sources behind this comparison
ActivTrades
- activtrades.com: 12 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- help.activtrades.com: 1 fact, checked September 29, 2026
eToro
- etoro.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Savings | 1 of 1492 | 4 of 1492 |
| Savings accounts | 1 of 658 | 3 of 658 |
| Investing | 2 of 654 | 5 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 1 of 358 | 4 of 358 |
| Trading platforms | 1 of 24 | 4 of 24 |
| Forex brokers | 1 of 147 | 4 of 147 |
| Crypto | 1 of 428 | 3 of 428 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Mobile app | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | eToro (Europe) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2007 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Help centre |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0%Lower | 1% |
| Coins listed | 10 | from 150 |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Card, Bank |
| Maker fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | $5 flat fee |
| Derivatives | Yes | Yes |
| Exchange type | Cex | Cex |
Savings
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.3% | 3.8%Higher |
| Rate type | Variable | Variable |
| Deposit protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 |
| Access terms | Funds stay in the account and are free to trade at any time; interest on free margin is paid monthly | Interest on USD cash balance, no lock-in, withdraw at any time, calculated daily and paid monthly |
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account kind | Easy access | Cash management |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Minimum investment | Not confirmed | $500 |
| Portfolio types | Not confirmed | ETF, ESG, Cash, Crypto |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Not confirmed | Mobile |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Custodial |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | eToro | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $1 to $10,000below the median | $23.50 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 84%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.21% |
| Currency conversion fee | 0.5%above the median | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Interest on cash | 3.3%above the median | Not confirmed | 2.875% |
Median across 138 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Share dealing costs nothing with fees at $0, unlike DKB with fees of €10.
- Entry stays accessible with minimum deposit at $0 alongside funding via card and bank.
- Crypto derivatives are available with taker pricing at 0% for cost aware traders.
Cons
- Coin choice stays narrow at 10 for traders seeking wide crypto coverage.
- Currency conversion applies at 0.5% which adds cost for cross currency activity.
- Retail loss share stands elevated at 84%, highlighting CFD risk.
eToro
Pros
- Interest on the USD cash balance pays 3.8% on a variable basis, calculated daily and paid monthly, and withdrawals are allowed at any time.
- Regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC, with client asset protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 and deposit protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000.
- Minimum deposit $1 to $10,000 and minimum portfolio investment $500 keep the starting point low, and fractional shares are among the listed features.
Cons
- Withdrawal costs $5 flat fee each time, which makes small, regular transfers expensive next to the $0 stock trade fee.
- Client asset protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 sits well below deposit protection of EU DGS up to EUR 100,000, so a large share portfolio can outrun the cover.
- Taker fee 1% sits above the 0.25% median, which matters for anyone trading crypto often rather than holding.
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- Traders seeking commission free stocks with fees at $0 and varied venues at ActivTrader, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
- Investors comfortable with forex and CFD exposure across assets at stocks, ETFs and forex.
- Savers holding trading cash who value interest at 3.3% with easy access.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders seeking bank bundled saving plus investing may consider DKB, which structures share dealing around €10.
- Investors seeking social portfolios and guided themes may consider eToro, where entry starts at $50.
eToro
Who it suits
- New investors, since the audience is listed as beginners and the minimum deposit is $1 to $10,000.
- Investors who want cash and markets together, with USD balance interest at 3.8% alongside stocks, etfs and forex.
- UK savers who want a tax wrapper, since an ISA sits among the isa on offer.
Who should look elsewhere
- bunq, which covers stocks, etfs and crypto and suits anyone who wants shares, ETFs and crypto and can set derivatives aside.
- CFI, for readers who want stocks, etfs and forex and can leave futures aside; eToro is the wider of the two.
- Fiesta Credito MX, which answers to CONDUSEF rather than Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC, for readers trading outside those markets.
Country by country
| Country | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge for investing?+
Stock dealing carries fees of $0 with account upkeep at $0. Deposits and withdrawals are described as Free deposits and withdrawals. Currency conversion applies at 0.5%, so cross currency moves need care when sizing orders and planning holding periods.
How is money protected at ActivTrades?+
Investor protection is stated as FSCS up to GBP 85,000 with deposit protection described as FSCS up to GBP 85,000. Oversight comes from regulators listed as FCA, SCB and CMVM. Such cover has limits and conditions, so readers should check eligibility for their entity before funding.
eToro
What does eToro charge to open and run an account?+
The account fee is $0 and the monthly fee is $0, so the account costs nothing to hold. Stock trades are charged at $0 and the platform describes itself as commission-free. Managed portfolios carry a management fee of 0%. Money moving out is the exception, at $5 flat fee per withdrawal.
Is my money protected at eToro?+
eToro is regulated by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and SIPC. Client assets sit under investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, while cash deposits are covered by a separate scheme at EU DGS up to EUR 100,000. These ceilings are very different, so anyone holding a large share portfolio should treat the lower figure as the real limit on recovery.
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