Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Interactive Brokers
Where eToro and Interactive Brokers differ
| Compare |  eToro |  Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| 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).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
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.
- 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.
- Pricing model: only Interactive Brokers offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits readers who want to hold shares, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one app without paying commission on trades. Costs look light on the standard account, with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, though the account fee applies to the virtual portfolio rather than every standard account.
Interactive Brokers
Interactive Brokers suits investors who want a single account across ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint and corporate holdings, with stocks, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures behind it. It ranks 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit at $0, and stock trades are charged at $0.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Commission-free pricing with a stock trade fee of $0 and account fee of $0, but currency conversion on non-USD balances sits outside that headline. | 9.3Stock trades cost $0, the minimum deposit is $0 and an options contract costs $0.65. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.6HigherAccount types cover isa, sipp and ira, and the market list spans bonds, etfs and forex. |
| Trust | 9.3 | 9.8Higher |
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 |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 6 of 490 | 35 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 4 of 147 | 13 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 4 of 145 | 11 of 145 |
| Futures trading platforms | 2 of 83 | 8 of 83 |
| Robo-advisors | 2 of 153 | 10 of 153 |
Where each is licensed and available
| 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 |
What we checked
eToro
- etoro.com: 9 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 |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Interactive Brokers | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 4.38%below the median | 8.79% |
| Options contract fee | Not confirmed | $0.65above the median | $0.59 |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.38%above the median | 3% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- No commission on share dealing: stock trade fees are $0
- No account fee on the standard dealing account: $0
- Regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, and a SIPC member in the US
Cons
- A separate management fee of 0% applies to the managed portfolio service, so headline dealing costs are not the whole bill
- Support runs on help centre only, so there is no stated phone or live chat route for account problems
- The same commission-free model at XTB comes with a stated stock trade fee of €0, so commission alone does not separate the two
Interactive Brokers
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, the pairing behind rank 1 of 161 on stock trade fees among the brokers tracked here.
- The account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira, so an ISA, SIPP, IRA, joint or corporate account all sit under a single provider.
- bonds, etfs and forex puts stocks, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures on the same account, with a margin rate of 4.38% for geared positions.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre and community, so a phone line and live chat sit outside the offer.
- bonds, etfs and forex covers shares, ETFs, bonds, funds, forex, options and futures but leaves out crypto and CFDs, which eToro lists in stocks, etfs and forex.
- An options contract costs $0.65 against a stock trade at $0, so options strategies pay a visible premium per contract.
Who each suits
eToro
Who it suits
- Beginners who want commission-free share dealing plus fractional shares
- Readers who want stocks, ETFs, crypto, forex and CFDs in one place
- Anyone saving in a currency other than US dollars who wants to watch the cost of conversion
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want a stated phone or live chat support channel, since support runs on help centre
- Day traders who judge a broker on spreads alone, as no spread figure is listed
- Anyone wanting managed portfolios at no cost, since the management fee is 0%
Interactive Brokers
Who it suits
- Investors holding money across several wrappers, since the account types listed cover isa, sipp and ira.
- Traders who want options, futures, forex and bonds alongside shares on a single account, per bonds, etfs and forex.
- Anyone starting with a small balance: the minimum deposit is $0 and fractional shares appear in the feature list (fractional shares and mobile app).
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who trades crypto or CFDs, since bonds, etfs and forex leaves both out while eToro lists them in stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want a stated entry figure as a signal of the provider's target size, since Vantage publishes $5 where this broker's minimum is $0.
Questions about each
eToro
What does it cost to buy shares with eToro?+
The stock trade fee is $0, and the account fee is $0. Both sit at the low end of the market, and eToro is ranked at 1 on trade fees and 1 on account fees among the brands compared here. Currency conversion can still apply if your balance is not in the account currency.
Is there an account fee on the standard eToro account?+
The account fee is $0 for the standard dealing account, which is why eToro places at 1 out of 138 brands on that measure. The managed portfolio service is charged differently, at a management fee of 0%, so treat the dealing and portfolio costs as two separate lines.
Interactive Brokers
What does it cost to trade shares?+
A stock trade is charged at $0 and the minimum deposit is $0, so opening an account and dealing in shares carry no charge. The money sits in derivatives and leverage instead, where an options contract costs $0.65 and the margin rate is listed at 4.38%.
Is my money protected?+
The regulatory list runs to SEC, FCA and SIPC, and investor protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. The UK entry is the FCA under licence 208159, while the US side names the SEC and the SIPC membership SIPC member 53615. The protection figure describes the scheme stated for the account and says nothing about how a trade performs.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- eToro vs Nexo
- eToro vs Fidelity
- eToro vs Firstrade
- eToro vs Merrill Edge
- eToro vs IG
- eToro vs Webull
- eToro vs Topstep
- eToro vs Wealthsimple
- eToro vs Ally Bank
- eToro vs Betterment
- eToro vs One (One Finance)
- Interactive Brokers vs Angel One
- Interactive Brokers vs CFI
- Interactive Brokers vs FXTM
- Interactive Brokers vs ActivTrades
- eToro vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- eToro vs XTB
- Interactive Brokers vs NAGA
- eToro vs UNest
- Interactive Brokers vs Robinhood
- eToro vs S Broker
- Interactive Brokers vs EBC Financial Group
- eToro vs Revolut