Charles Schwab vs eToro

Charles Schwab or eToro – which is better for UK traders 2024? Compare Charles Schwab and eToro in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Charles Schwab vs eToro Comparison Table 2024
Charles Schwab eToro
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2.8
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4.1
Charles Schwab is ranked #118 among UK brokers. eToro is ranked #14 among CFD brokers.
Charles Schwab is a large US investment broker offering a massive range of stocks, ETFs and equity derivatives in a variety of savings and investment accounts. The trustworthy brand has been offering financial services for 45+ years with over 35 million brokerage accounts and $870+ billion in assets under management. Charles Schwab is also regulated by top-tier watchdogs including the SEC and FCA. eToro is a top-rated multi-asset platform which offers trading services in thousands of CFDs, stocks and cryptoassets. Launched in 2007, the brand has millions of active traders globally and is authorized by tier one regulators, including the FCA and CySEC. The brand is particularly popular for its comprehensive social trading platform. Cryptoasset investing is highly volatile and unregulated in the UK and some EU countries. No consumer protection. Tax on profits may apply. 76% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Pros
  • Strong investment offerings covering stocks, mutual funds, options, bonds and cryptocurrency
  • Powerful trading software with real-time quotes, fundamental research and investment screeners
  • Responsive customer support team available 24/7 via live chat or telephone
  • Competitive trading fees with no commissions on stocks and ETFs
  • Fractional shares on the S&P 500 with a $5 minimum investment
  • Thematic investing categories and ESG compliant portfolios
  • Strong regulatory oversight from the US SEC and UK FCA
  • No account minimums for individual brokerage accounts
  • High-quality educational resources for new investors
  • The copy trading app facilitates a best-in-class social environment, with an engaging social feed and community chat
  • The broker's services are great for beginners, with commission-free stock trading, a low minimum deposit and an unlimited demo
  • Charts are powered by TradingView and offer strong technical analysis features, including 9 chart types and over 100 indicators
  • There's a comprehensive online training academy with accessible resources, from bitesize articles to comprehensive courses
  • eToro has bolstered its investment offering, most recently with new crypto assets, now offering over 90 digital currencies
  • The web platform and mobile app perform better in user reviews and app rankings than top competitors, including AvaTrade
  • Top copy traders can receive annual payments up to 1.5% of assets under copy in the broker's Popular Investor Program
  • Exciting investment portfolios are available covering traditional market trends as well as tech, crypto and more
  • eToro is a world-renowned brand with top-tier global regulation and a 25M+ user community
Cons
  • Only US markets available (except 12 foreign markets on the Global Account)
  • High minimum investment of $5000 to use robo-advisors
  • Limited funding methods with no e-wallets
  • No email support
  • The lack of additional charting platforms like MT4 will reduce the appeal for seasoned traders accustomed to using third-party software
  • There are no guaranteed stop loss orders which would be a useful risk management feature for beginners
  • There is a $30 minimum withdrawal amount and a $5 fee, which will affect novices with low capital
  • Traders will face currency conversion fees for account denominations other than USD
  • There are limited contact methods aside from the in-platform live chat
Awards
  • Best Cryptocurrency Trading Platform 2022 - Finder
  • Education Materials/Program 2022 - Investment Trends
  • Best Copy Trading Platform 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Multi-Asset Trading Platform 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Stockbroker 2021 - Ultimate Fintech Awards
  • Best Social Trading Platform 2019 - ADVFN International Financial Awards
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Options, Commodities, Bonds CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0 $50
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
$1 $10
Regulator
SEC, FINRA, FCA1 FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

eToro bring their social trading platform to your mobile, enabling you to copy trades, manage your account and invest via Android or iOS. Trade the key forex pairs from the palm of your hand.

iOS App Rating
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4.8
Android App Rating
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4
Margin Trading
No Yes
Margin Rate
1%
MetaTrader 4
No No
MetaTrader 5
No No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No Yes
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes Yes
Robo Advisor
Yes No
Negative Balance Protection
No Yes
Market Maker
No Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
No Yes
Auto Trading
Yes Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do.
Copy Trading
No Yes
Copy Trading Platform
eToro continues to deliver one of the best proprietary copy trading platforms on the market, at no additional cost for eToro clients. The web-based platform features a user-friendly and interactive layout and also comes with a community chat, making it a stand-out choice for beginners.
Social Trading
No Yes
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
Yes Yes
Custodial Account
Yes No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$10
Islamic Account
No Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • USD
Commodities
  • Soybeans
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Copper
  • Cotton
  • Coffee
  • Livestock
  • Wheat
  • Precious Metals
  • Platinum
  • Gasoline
  • Cocoa
  • Sugar
  • Palladium
  • Corn
  • Aluminium
  • Soybeans
  • Nickel
  • Lead
  • Iron
  • Lithium
  • Cannabis
  • Natural Gas
  • Orange Juice
  • Zinc
CFD
You can trade CFDs on over 3,000 assets and access rich market data through the integrated TradingView charts. There are also comprehensive free learning tools available for beginners via the eToro Academy, including dedicated CFD trading courses and guides.
Leverage
1:30
FTSE Spread
1.5
GBPUSD Spread<
1.9
Oil Spread
0.05
Stocks Spread
0.57 (Apple)
Forex
An above-average selection of 55 currencies are available with reasonable spreads averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD during peak hours. Aspiring traders can continuously hone their forex strategies by switching between demo mode and their live account any time, with full access to the broker's 100+ technical indicators.
Assets
55
GBPUSD Spread
1.9
EURUSD Spread
0.9
EURGBP Spread
1.3
Currency Indices
  • USD
Cryptocurrency
Charles Schwab supports indirect crypto trading through digital coin trusts and crypto-related stocks. You can get exposure to popular digital currencies such as Bitcoin, Ripple and Ethereum. eToro leads the way in cryptocurrency trading, offering competitive spreads and a fixed 1% commission, plus their own wallet service. The broker offers a vast list of 95+ tokens which is continually being updated. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more
Spread
Floating BTC 1%
Coins
  • GBTC
  • BITW
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • BCH
  • XRP
  • DASH
  • LTC
  • ETC
  • API3
  • CRO
  • SKL
  • IMX
  • ADA
  • MIOTA
  • XLM
  • EOS
  • NEO
  • TRX
  • ZEC
  • BNB
  • XTZ
  • DOT
  • MKR
  • COMP
  • LINK
  • UNI
  • YFI
  • DOGE
  • AAVE
  • FIL
  • ALGO
  • ATOM
  • MANA
  • APE
  • LRC
  • ENJ
  • BICO
  • BAT
  • BNT
  • OGN
  • MATIC
  • FLR
  • GALA
  • ALICE
  • CHZ
  • HBAR
  • DYDX
  • SOL
  • THETA
  • FTM
  • GRT
  • 1INCH
  • CRV
  • ANKR
  • OXT
  • REN
  • SNX
  • STORJ
  • ZRX
  • CELO
  • SUSHI
  • QNT
  • BAL
  • FET
  • SHIBxM
  • AMP
  • AXS
  • SGB
  • CTSI
  • ENS
  • UMA
  • LUNC
  • FTT
  • SRM
  • LPT
  • KNC
  • ARB
  • RNDR
  • OP
  • LDO
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No
Charles Schwab eToro
76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading with this provider. eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
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