Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Independent Reserve
eToro
Independent Reserve
Higher score in this comparison
What sets them apart
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | Independent ReserveReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | 0.02% to 0.5%Lower |
| Coins listed | from 150 | 25 |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | AUSTRAC |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 flat fee | AUD EFT free; AUD 1.50 PayID/NPP instant; USD 25 SWIFT; NZD 29; BTC 0.0001 |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Fiat deposit methods (Card, Bank), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Independent Reserve scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC.
- Regulators: only Independent Reserve offers AUSTRAC.
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2013.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Taker fee is lower at Independent Reserve: 0.02% to 0.5% vs 1%.
- Support channels: only Independent Reserve offers Email, Community.
- Features: only eToro offers Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares.
- Features: only Independent Reserve offers Custodial.
Our verdict on each
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.
Independent Reserve
Independent Reserve is an Australian custodial exchange suited to traders and savers who want low trading fees and a regulated account. Taker fees run 0.02% to 0.5%, and AUSTRAC registration with published proof of reserves adds reassurance, though the coin list is short.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Account fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 rank 1 and 1, while withdrawals cost $5 flat fee. | 9.7Higher |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.1HigherTaker fees of 0.02% to 0.5% sit under the 0.25% median, but 25 coins trail the 71.5 median. |
| Trust | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
Cost in a real example
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
eToro
20
1% of 2,000
Independent Reserve
0.4 to 10
0.02% to 0.5% of 2,000
Independent Reserve comes out 19.6 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto | 3 of 428 | 17 of 428 |
| Crypto exchanges | 1 of 330 | 15 of 330 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | AUSTRAC DCE-100461150-001 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | Not confirmed |
If neither fits
ActivTrades has taker fee at 0%, against 1% for eToro and 0.02% to 0.5% for Independent Reserve.
ActivTrades reviewEvery fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile app | Custodial |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Independent Reserve Pty. Ltd. (ABN 46 164 257 069) |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Australia |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2013 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Savings
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.8% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Not confirmed |
| Minimum deposit | $1 to $10,000 | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Not confirmed |
| Access terms | Interest on USD cash balance, no lock-in, withdraw at any time, calculated daily and paid monthly | Not confirmed |
| Monthly fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account kind | Cash management | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | Not confirmed |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | Not confirmed |
| Account types | ISA | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, Crypto | Not confirmed |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Custodial | Not confirmed |
Credit cards
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1%highest quarter | 0.02% to 0.5%lowest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | from 150above the median | 25lowest quarter | 89.5 |
Median across 222 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Independent Reserve
Pros
- Taker fees of 0.02% to 0.5% come in under the 0.25% median for the category.
- AUSTRAC registration in Australia under licence DCE-100461150-001.
- Proof of reserves is published, so customer balances can be checked against assets held.
Cons
- The coin list is short at 25, against a 71.5 median across the exchanges compared.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only.
- Withdrawal costs vary by rail: AUD bank transfers are free, while SWIFT, New Zealand dollar and Bitcoin withdrawals cost more.
Who each suits
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.
Independent Reserve
Who it suits
- Traders who care about the trading fee more than the length of the coin list.
- Australian residents who want an exchange registered with AUSTRAC in their own country.
- People happy with a custodial account, where the exchange holds the coins, as listed under custodial.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after a long coin list, since Independent Reserve lists 25 coins while the median here is 71.5.
- Anyone who wants phone or live chat help, since support runs on email, help centre and community.
- Readers heading to bunq or eToro for a cheaper trade, at 0.25% to 1.99% and 1% against 0.02% to 0.5% here.
Country by country
| Country | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| Singapore | No | Yes |
Questions about each
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.
Independent Reserve
What does Independent Reserve charge to trade?+
Taker fees run 0.02% to 0.5%, which is below the 0.25% median across the exchanges compared here. For contrast, bunq charges 0.25% to 1.99% and eToro 1%, so the rate here is among the lower ones. What you pay depends on the market you trade.
How many coins can I buy?+
The exchange lists 25 coins, well under the 71.5 median across the exchanges compared and the 74.5 median for this category. Pick it for the main pairs rather than for breadth of listings.
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