Updated September 29, 2026 · SumCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Interactive Brokers
eToro
Interactive Brokers
Higher score in this comparison
Where eToro and Interactive Brokers differ
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | Interactive BrokersReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 to $10,000 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures | Bonds, ETFs, Forex, Funds, Futures, Options, Stocks |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | SEC, FCA, SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | ISA | ISA, SIPP, IRA, Joint, CorporateCovers more |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65 |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | Client Portal, IBKR Desktop, IBKR Mobile, Trader Workstation |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38% |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Interactive Brokers scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only Interactive Brokers offers SEC, FCA.
- Founded is lower at Interactive Brokers: 1978 vs 2007.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Interactive Brokers: $0 vs $1 to $10,000.
- Markets: only eToro offers CFDs, Crypto.
- Markets: only Interactive Brokers offers Bonds, Funds, Options.
- Account types: only Interactive Brokers offers SIPP, IRA, Joint.
- Support channels: only Interactive Brokers offers Community.
- Features: only eToro offers Crypto, Demo account, Copy trading.
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.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits active, self-directed investors who trade often and want low costs across many markets. Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, with SEC, FCA and SIPC oversight. Set aside time for a dense platform and remember most retail accounts lose money, 70.15% on site figures.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Account fee $0 and stock trade fee $0 rank 1 and 1, while withdrawals cost $5 flat fee. | 9.3Stock trades cost $0 on commissions and there is no minimum deposit, with options at $0.65. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.6HigherCovers bonds, etfs and forex plus isa, sipp and ira accounts, fractional shares and a mobile app. |
| Trust | 9.2 | 9.8Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Investing | 5 of 654 | 55 of 654 |
| Stock and ETF brokers | 4 of 358 | 33 of 358 |
| Forex brokers | 4 of 147 | 16 of 147 |
| Robo-advisors | 1 of 154 | 9 of 154 |
Feature by feature
| Markets | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | No | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Account types | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes |
| SIPP | No | Yes |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
| Corporate | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | SIPC SIPC member 53615 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 208159 |
Sources behind this comparison
eToro
- etoro.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Interactive Brokers
- interactivebrokers.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokersway.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- toponlineforexbrokers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- euinvestinghub.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | INTERACTIVE BROKERS LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2007 | 1978Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre | Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Crypto exchanges
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | Not confirmed |
| Coins listed | from 150 | Not confirmed |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Not confirmed |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 flat fee | Not confirmed |
| Derivatives | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Exchange type | Cex | Not confirmed |
Savings
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Headline rate | 3.8% | Not confirmed |
| Rate type | Variable | Not confirmed |
| Deposit protection | EU DGS up to EUR 100,000 | 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 | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Custodial | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 to $10,000below the median | $0below the median | $23.50 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%lowest quarter | 8.83% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65at the median | $0.65 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38%above the median | 2.875% |
Median across 138 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.
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- Stock trades cost $0 and the minimum deposit is $0
- Options contracts cost $0.65 and cash earns 3.38%
- Covers bonds, etfs and forex with isa, sipp and ira account types
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community only, with no phone line listed
- Fractional shares and a mobile app are the only extras listed, so portfolio building is limited to etf
- Most retail accounts lose money, 70.15% on site figures
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.
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors who place many trades and care more about the fee than the interface
- Anyone holding several markets at once, given bonds, etfs and forex
- Retirement savers, as isa, sipp and ira includes ISA, SIPP and IRA options
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants phone or chat support, since Interactive Brokers runs on help centre and community
- CFI, if you want a single app alongside stocks, etfs and forex
- bunq, if you want a bank account with a minimum deposit of €10 rather than trading
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.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade stocks?+
Commissions are tiered, with the headline level listed as $0 for US stocks. Options contracts are charged at $0.65. Uninvested cash earns interest at 3.38%, and margin is available at a base rate of 4.38%.
Is there a minimum deposit?+
The listed minimum deposit is $0, so you can open and fund an account at a small starting balance. It ranks first on the site for the lowest entry point. Fractional shares also let you hold a slice of a share rather than a full unit.
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eToro
Interactive Brokers