eToro Review 2026

Brothers Yoni and Ronen Assia started eToro in 2007 with David Ring. Their theory was straightforward: most retail traders lose money partly because they trade in isolation. What if beginners could watch experienced traders and automatically copy their moves? The CopyTrader feature works because eToro made it transparent — you can see a trader's entire history before copying them, every trade, every drawdown, every recovery.

In 2019, eToro added commission-free stock trading to compete with Robinhood. Their crypto lets you own actual coins (not just CFDs), which matters to people who want to transfer holdings to external wallets. This mix of stocks, crypto, and copy trading is unusual — most platforms pick one lane.

eToro works well for beginners who learn by watching, passive investors who'd rather copy someone else's strategy, and anyone who wants commission-free stocks without caring much about forex spreads. If you're an active forex trader counting pips, this isn't your platform.

The hidden costs matter. Since eToro accounts are USD-only, non-US users pay conversion fees (0.5-1.5%) on every deposit and withdrawal. For a £1,000 deposit, that's £10-15 in fees before you even trade. The $5 flat withdrawal fee is small for large withdrawals but proportionally significant for smaller accounts.

Where eToro offers real value: stock trading is genuinely 0% commission with no hidden spreads on non-leveraged positions. Copy trading carries no additional fees beyond the same trading costs. And crypto ownership means you hold actual coins, not synthetic positions.

For US-based stock investors, eToro is cost-effective. For non-USD forex traders counting pips, the combination of wider spreads plus currency conversion makes it meaningfully more expensive than ECN alternatives like IC Markets or Pepperstone.

The web platform is genuinely well-designed for its target audience. The social feed, trader discovery, and one-click copy features are seamlessly integrated in ways that would be impossible on MetaTrader. For beginners, the clean interface and guided experience make getting started straightforward rather than intimidating.

The mobile app (iOS and Android) is one of the better trading apps available, with full copy trading support, biometric login, and a responsive design that doesn't sacrifice functionality. The app consistently earns high ratings in app stores — 4.6/5 on average.

The trade-off is clear: no Expert Advisors, no algorithmic trading, and limited advanced charting compared to MT4/MT5 or TradingView. If you need custom indicators, automated strategies, or institutional-grade technical analysis tools, eToro isn't the right platform. But for social trading and stock investing, the proprietary platform is purpose-built and effective.

Who should use eToro: beginners who learn by watching other traders, stock investors who want 0% commission on real shares, passive investors who'd rather copy someone else's strategy, and people who like discussing trades with a community of 30 million users.

Who should skip it: forex traders (the spreads are fine but not competitive), algo traders (no MetaTrader means no Expert Advisors), and non-USD users who trade frequently (the currency conversion fees are a persistent drag on returns). The $5 withdrawal fee and $10/month inactivity fee also add friction for small or inactive accounts.

4.0/5 for the right user. eToro knows who they're for and built accordingly. The commission-free stocks are real, the copy trading works, and beginners seem to stick around. Not great for forex scalpers or anyone who needs MetaTrader, but that was never the point.