Through eToro, users can buy and sell a range of assets including stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and cryptoassets. Many assets can be bought and sold with a 0% commission fee, but if you want to invest in cryptoassets you may incur higher fees than other platforms. As with other investment platforms, eToro has built-in educational resources, but users can also learn from one another through a news feed and other social features.
Pros
- User friendly
- multiple asset class investing, including crypto
- social and educational features
Cons
- Withdrawal fees apply
- Inactivity fees kick in after 12 months
- Cryptocurrency fees
Who should choose eToro?
If you’re new to investing, eToro could be a good point of entry. The platform is easy to navigate, and available through a browser or mobile app.
eToro lets users invest in a selection of over 2,700 stocks and shares, but if you don’t feel confident picking out your own portfolio you can choose a ready-made option based on your interests and priorities.
It’s also a cost-effective starting point, since you won’t be charged any commission or management fees on the stocks and ETFs you buy and sell. Rather than relying on income from share investing fees, eToro makes its money through charges like its flat £3.83 ($5) withdrawal fee, inactivity fees, currency conversion fees, and crypto investing fees.
eToro could equally be a good choice if you want to connect with other investors, since the platform incorporates social elements that let users share their thoughts.
To get the most out of these features, you’ll need to understand investment terminology. But since eToro has its own education resources, you could quickly get up to speed.
eToro offerings and features
As a multi-asset investing platform, eToro gives users the option to invest in cryptocassets, stocks and ETFs all in one place, as well as offering a few extra functions.
Invest in stocks
eToro users can invest in around over 2,700 stocks as well as a range of ETFs, investing with as little as £7.67 ($10). You can choose your own collection of assets, or also choose to invest in a ready-made ‘Smart Portfolio’.
In the UK, eToro users can also choose to trade contracts for differences (CFDs). CFDs are complex and extremely risky. If the trade goes wrong, you can end up owing money as well as losing your initial investment because contracts involve borrowing capital – 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro.
Invest in cryptoassets
The eToro platform lets users to buy and sell more than 60 cryptoassets, including:
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- EOS
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Ethereum Classic (ETC)
- Litecoin (LTC)
- NEO
- Stellar Lumens (XLM)
- Uniswap
eToro offers its own crypto wallet for users to store their tokens.
Smart Portfolios
Through Smart Portfolios, users can invest in a pre-selected collection of assets, which aim to diversify their holdings.
Some portfolios focus on a specific theme, these can be industries such as technology or crypto, and others are composed with a type of investment strategy in mind.
There are also CopyPortfolios which allow you to automatically replicate the portfolios of successful investors on the platform. If these ‘popular investors’ gain enough copiers, they can earn additional income on top of their investment profits.
To use eToro’s Smart Portfolios and CopyPortfolios, you’ll need to invest at least £382 ($500). You can only cash out by closing the whole portfolio.
Social investing community
eToro lets investors connect with one another through a social media-like news feed, where news and strategies are discussed. Regular blogs and personalised alerts are another way users can keep track of the market.
Education
Anyone, even those who aren’t users, can visit eToro and gain access to lessons on investment terms, interpreting the markets, and different types of assets through the eToro Academy. Topics range in complexity from beginner to expert level.
When you first join and create an account with eToro, you can access a ‘practice account’ that allows you to invest a virtual fund of $100,000 so you can get to grips with the platform before real money changes hands.
eToro club
eToro users who have made at least £3,833 ($5,000) profit from sold assets can join the eToro Club, which grants perks including personalised investment guidance, free webinars, and access to subscription services like The Wall Street Journal.
Mobile apps
It’s possible to invest from an Android or iOS device with eToro’s investing app. If you purchased cryptoassets through the platform, there’s also the eToro Money wallet app, which allows you to store or transfer your coins.
Security
eToro is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and the platform uses advanced encryption to secure users’ information. You can also select two-factor authentication to log in.
eToro commissions and fees
One of the main advantages of eToro is that users can invest in stocks and ETFs without paying commission or management fees.
Although there’s a flat withdrawal fee of £3.83 ($5), it’s possible to buy and sell on the platform without fees eating into your profits. This is a particular bonus for new investors, since there’s no financial barrier to entry.
However, investing in cryptoassets does incur a fixed fee of 1%, whether you’re buying or selling.
