Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
eToro vs SoFi
What sets them apart
| Compare |  eToro |  SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Options, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | SIPC, FDIC |
| 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 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0), Account fee ($0).
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Key differences
- SoFi scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only SoFi offers FDIC.
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2011.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only eToro offers Forex, CFDs, Futures.
- Markets: only SoFi offers Options.
- Account types: only eToro offers ISA.
- Account types: only SoFi 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.
SoFi
SoFi suits retirement savers in the US, with a stock trade fee of $0, an account fee of $0 and a minimum deposit of $0. The named licences are US registrations, so readers outside the US should check the account types and terms first.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | 9.5HigherRanks 1 of 161 on stock trade fee, 1 of 138 on account fee, 1 of 56 on inactivity fee. |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.4Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Higher | 9.2 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | No |
| CFDs | Yes | No |
| Options | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Account types | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | No |
| IRA | No | Yes |
| Roth IRA | No | Yes |
| Joint | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 6 of 471 | 80 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 2 of 88 | 26 of 88 |
| Robo-advisors | 2 of 151 | 22 of 151 |
Licences and countries
| Country | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | SIPC SIPC member 68389 FDIC FDIC cert 26881 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
eToro
- etoro.com: 9 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
SoFi
- en.wikipedia.org: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sofi.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- banks.data.fdic.gov: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Demo account, Fractional shares, Copy trading, Mobile appCovers more | Crypto, Fractional shares, Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | SOFI SECURITIES LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | United States |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Not confirmed |
Robo-advisors
| Fact | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Minimum investment | $500 | Not confirmed |
| Portfolio types | ETF, ESG, Cash, CryptoCovers more | ETF, Cash, Crypto |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | SoFi | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | $0below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Account fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
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
SoFi
Pros
- A stock trade costs $0 on a commission free model, so cost does not decide which shares you can hold.
- The account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so extra accounts and balances left untouched are not billed.
- The minimum deposit is $0 where Vantage asks $5, so a small amount can start an account.
Cons
- The account types listed are ira, roth ira and joint, retirement and joint accounts, and a general taxable account is not among them.
- Markets stop at stocks, etfs and options, while eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, so forex, CFDs and futures are out of reach here.
- The group sits in US and its registrations are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881, with no UK or EU regulator named.
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%
SoFi
Who it suits
- Beginners, which the audience fact lists as beginners, who want to start small with a $0 minimum deposit.
- Retirement savers who want an IRA, a Roth IRA or a joint account at $0 in account fees.
- Fractional share buyers who want crypto and equities in the same app, as the feature list crypto, fractional shares and mobile app shows.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders after forex, CFDs or futures, since eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex and SoFi lists stocks, etfs and options.
- Investors who want a broader spread of instruments than shares, ETFs, options and crypto, since CFI lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who need a UK or EU regulated provider, because the licences named are SIPC member 68389 and FDIC cert 26881.
Country by country
| Country | eToro | SoFi |
|---|---|---|
| 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.
SoFi
What does it cost to open and hold a SoFi account?+
The published minimum deposit is $0, the account fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so opening and holding an account adds no charge on the listed terms. Those are account level figures, which is the first thing to check before you choose a wrapper or leave a balance untouched.
What does a stock trade cost?+
A stock trade costs $0 and the pricing model is commission free, so commission does not decide which shares you can hold. Other brands on the site charge a stock trade fee as high as €17.54, and the account fee of $0 and inactivity fee of $0 add nothing on top.
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