Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
eToro vs M1
What sets them apart
| Compare |  eToro |  M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, FuturesCovers more | Stocks, ETFs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPCCovers more | SIPC |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Account types | ISA | IRA, Roth IRA, Joint |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9% |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | Up to 50% of portfolio value |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.35% |
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
- eToro scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2015.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only eToro offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Account types: only eToro offers ISA.
- Account types: only M1 offers IRA, Roth IRA, Joint.
- Features: only eToro offers Demo account, Copy trading.
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.
M1
M1 is a low-cost brokerage built for retirement savers and small investors who want shares, ETFs and crypto in a single account. Stock trades run at $0 and it places 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, though the managed portfolios want $10,000 to start.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.5Higher |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.0HigherCosts carry the offer: 0% management fee, $0 stock trades and a $0 minimum deposit. |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
Positions in our rankings
| Ranking | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 6 of 471 | 145 of 471 |
| Robo-advisors | 2 of 151 | 55 of 151 |
Licences and countries
| Country | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | SIPC SIPC member 69670 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | M1 FINANCE LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2015 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Help centre |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | 0% |
| Minimum investment | $500Lower | $10,000 |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | M1 | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Margin rate | Not confirmed | 5.9%below the median | 8.75% |
| Interest on cash | Not confirmed | 3.35%above the median | 3% |
Median across 134 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
M1
Pros
- Placing 1 of 213 brands on minimum deposit, so an account opens without a funding hurdle.
- Placing 1 of 161 brands on stock trade fees, with a stock trade costing $0.
- Uninvested cash earns 3.35%, and Pie portfolios mix etf, cash and crypto.
Cons
- Margin borrowing at 5.9% can cost more over a held position than the $0 trade fee saves.
- Support runs on help centre only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Managed portfolios want $10,000 to start, well above the $0 brokerage entry point.
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%
M1
Who it suits
- Self-directed investors who want to trade shares and ETFs without a per-trade charge.
- Retirement savers, since accounts include ira, roth ira and joint.
- People who want crypto alongside equities in the same account, under stocks, etfs and crypto.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders who need forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and M1 stops at stocks, etfs and crypto.
- Readers who want a wider asset list in the same app, because CFI covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Managed portfolio buyers starting below $10,000, a floor that sits well above the $5 deposit Vantage asks to open an account.
Country by country
| Country | eToro | M1 |
|---|---|---|
| United States | No | Yes |
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.
M1
What does it cost to trade shares at M1?+
Stock trades cost $0 and the account opens with a $0 minimum deposit, so there is no per-trade commission and no funding hurdle. The running cost sits in the spread and in currency conversion when shares priced in dollars are bought. Margin borrowing is charged at 5.9% and is the line most likely to run up a bill.
Is my money protected at M1?+
Protection runs through the scheme listed as SIPC, with cover stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000. It is the only regulator on file, so there is a single scheme to claim against and a single register to check. The membership record reads SIPC member 69670. The stated figure is a ceiling on the payout, not a stand-in for the balance itself.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
- eToro vs Nexo
- eToro vs Nectaro
- eToro vs flatex Online-Broker (DE)
- eToro vs TradeStation
- eToro vs Finhabits
- eToro vs Charles Schwab
- eToro vs ChoiceTrade
- eToro vs Freetrade
- eToro vs AJ Bell
- eToro vs Merrill Edge
- eToro vs Moneyfarm
- eToro vs SoFi
- eToro vs Acorns Checking
- eToro vs Saxo
- eToro vs Trading 212
- eToro vs DKB (Deutsche Kreditbank)
- eToro vs XTB
- eToro vs UNest
- M1 vs Bitpanda
- eToro vs Revolut
- M1 vs Robinhood
- eToro vs S Broker
- M1 vs Kraken