Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Plus500, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
eToro vs Plus500: eToro was founded in 2007 and Plus500 in 2008. Both are publicly traded brokers and neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, eToro holds a Trust Score of 96/99 and Plus500 scores 99/99—both fall in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range (80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, below 59 not trusted).
On regulation, eToro holds 4 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses, while Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted. In short, both are well regulated, with Plus500 edging ahead on license count and Trust Score, and eToro also offering a high level of regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees at eToro and Plus500 starts with their EUR/USD pricing. eToro, a market-maker, lists a typical variable spread of 1.0 pip on EUR/USD—slightly above the industry average—while Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than average. On spreads alone, eToro is a bit tighter, though neither is a low-cost leader. For this category, ForexBrokers.com rates eToro 4.5/5 stars (ranked #23 of 63) and Plus500 4.0/5 stars (ranked #24 of 63).
Their extras differ. eToro runs the eToro Club, a five-tier VIP program (Silver to Diamond) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000, with perks such as access to Trading Central, discounted deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager. Plus500 doesn’t offer retail discounts, but eligible Professional clients may receive cash rebates that work like an active-trader program.
Bottom line: retail traders don’t usually pick eToro for its spreads—they’re often drawn to its social copy trading—so weigh those platform features against slightly above-average costs. If your main concern is the EUR/USD spread, eToro typically comes in lower than Plus500; however, active traders who qualify as Professional at Plus500 might offset some costs with rebates. Always check current spreads and non-trading fees before you trade.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
eToro vs Plus500 for range of investments: eToro lists 7,441 tradeable symbols, while Plus500 offers about 5,500. For forex, both support trading as CFDs or spot; Plus500 covers 65 currency pairs compared with eToro’s 55. Both brokers let you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone on the LSE). Each provides crypto derivatives, but only eToro lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies. eToro also offers copy trading, which Plus500 does not.
Independent ratings back this up: eToro earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #22. In short, eToro suits investors who want copy trading, access to real crypto, and a larger overall list of instruments; Plus500 may appeal if you prioritize a slightly wider choice of forex pairs within a large CFD lineup.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Comparing eToro vs Plus500 for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts and run proprietary, web-based platforms. Neither provides a Windows desktop download, and neither supports MT4, MT5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. A key difference is copy trading—eToro includes built-in copy trading, while Plus500 does not. Another standout is chart trading: you can place trades directly from charts on eToro, but not on Plus500.
For charting tools, eToro lists 73 drawing tools versus 36 on Plus500, and both platforms include common technical indicators. Watch lists differ too: eToro offers 6 columns, while Plus500 offers 10. According to ForexBrokers.com, both platforms earn 4.5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools; eToro ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #14.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | 73 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For traders seeking mobile app solutions, both eToro and Plus500 offer impressive options for iPhone and Android users. Each app gives access to stock or forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. eToro provides 104 technical studies for charting, while Plus500 offers a slightly higher number at 115. When it comes to interactive features, Plus500 stands out by allowing users to draw trendlines on charts, a feature not available in eToro's app. Both platforms, however, do not have the capability to auto-save chart drawings. Time frame viewing is flexible on both apps, supporting daily, weekly, and intraday analysis.
In terms of overall user satisfaction, both apps receive a strong rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. However, eToro slightly edges out Plus500 in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, holding the #10 spot compared to Plus500's #14. This suggests that both platforms deliver excellent mobile trading experiences, though the ability to draw trendlines in Plus500 may appeal to traders who frequently utilize technical analysis. Overall, choosing between eToro and Plus500 could come down to personal preference in charting tools and the specific needs of each trader.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
If you’re comparing eToro vs Plus500 for market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary, Trading Central analytics, an economic calendar, and a sentiment gauge that shows the share of long vs short positions. Neither integrates Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.
Where they differ: eToro offers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and includes TipRanks research, while Plus500 does not. That advantage shows up in third-party ratings: eToro scores 4.5/5 stars and ranks 13th out of 63 brokers for Research at ForexBrokers.com, versus Plus500 at 4.0/5 stars and 19th. If you want broader, news-driven insights and extra stock research, eToro is the stronger choice; if you just need core tools and commentary, Plus500 covers the basics.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to dive into the world of forex and CFDs, both eToro and Plus500 provide a wealth of educational resources to help new traders learn the ropes. eToro prides itself on offering a diverse selection of educational content, including over 10 targeted pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars that focus on forex and CFDs. They also host monthly webinars and maintain a searchable archive for users to revisit previous sessions. eToro further enhances learning with a comprehensive set of beginner videos and an investor dictionary, defining over 50 investing terms, making it a user-friendly choice for novice traders. This wealth of resources contributes to eToro's high educational rating of 4.5 stars and a commendable ranking of #5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Similarly, Plus500 makes significant efforts to educate its users, offering at least 10 educational pieces centered on forex and CFDs. They cater to beginners with an array of videos and host monthly webinars complete with previously recorded sessions for ongoing learning. Although Plus500 lacks a detailed investor dictionary, it still provides advanced educational content for more experienced traders. Despite this shortfall, Plus500 earns a solid 4.0-star educational rating and is positioned at #31 in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, reflecting its dedication to supporting traders at all levels while illustrating its areas for growth compared to eToro’s offerings.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that eToro is better than Plus500. eToro finished with an overall rank of #9, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
eToro is a winner for its easy-to-use copy-trading platform, where traders can copy the trades of experienced investors – or receive exclusive perks for sharing their own trading strategies.
| Feature |
eToro
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Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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eToro allows users to purchase actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, while Plus500 exclusively offers cryptocurrency derivatives without the option to buy actual cryptocurrencies.
In a comparison of online brokers eToro and Plus500 for deposit and withdrawal options, eToro supports ACH and SEPA transfers in addition to PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, while Plus500 offers a similar range with PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH and SEPA transfer options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7441 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50-$10,000 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 106 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | 73 | 36 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | eToro | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | eToro Review | Plus500 Review |
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