Firstrade vs eToro
Firstrade or eToro – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Firstrade and eToro in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Firstrade | eToro |
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Firstrade is ranked #50 among UK brokers. | eToro is ranked #63 among CFD brokers. |
Firstrade, based in the US, operates as a discount broker-dealer and is authorised by the SEC. The firm is a member of both FINRA and SIPC. Firstrade Securities stands out as a leading online brokerage, offering enticing welcome bonuses, robust tools and apps, and commission-free trading. Opening a new account is straightforward and efficient. |
eToro has closed or no longer accepts UK clients.
eToro, a leading multi-asset platform, provides access to trading services across thousands of CFDs, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Established in 2007, it boasts millions of active traders worldwide and is sanctioned by top-tier regulators such as the FCA and CySEC. It stands out for its extensive social trading feature. Crypto investments are unstable and carry risk. Tax implications might apply. Acknowledge the risks involved. 61% of retail CFD accounts incur losses. |
61% 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. 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. | |
Pros | |
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Cons | |
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Awards | |
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FCA Regulated | |
No | Yes |
Instruments | |
Stocks, ETFs, Options, Mutual Funds, Bonds, Cryptos, Fixed | CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, ETFs, Smart Portfolios, Commodities, Futures, Crypto, NFTs |
Demo Account | |
No | Yes |
Minimum Deposit | |
$0 | $50 |
Payment Methods | |
Minimum Trade | |
$1 | $10 |
Regulator | |
SEC, FINRA | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSA, FSRA, MFSA, CNMV, AMF |
Mobile Apps | |
iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
Trading App | |
eToro offers a mobile social trading platform, allowing users to replicate trades, manage accounts, and invest using Android or iOS. Trade major forex pairs conveniently from your mobile device. | |
iOS App Rating | |
Android App Rating | |
Margin Trading | |
Yes | Yes |
Margin Rate | |
4.50% | 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 | |
Yes | 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 | |
No | Yes |
Robo Advisor | |
No | No |
Negative Balance Protection | |
No | Yes |
Market Maker | |
Yes | Yes |
P2P Trading | |
No | No |
Spot Trading | |
No | Yes |
Auto Trading | |
Automate your trades via CopyTrader - follow profitable traders. Open and close trades automatically when they do. | |
Copy Trading | |
No | Yes |
Copy Trading Platform | |
eToro consistently provides an outstanding proprietary trading platform for clients, free of charge. The web-based system is both intuitive and engaging, complemented by a community chat that appeals to novice traders. The recent 'Live Trades' feature grants immediate access to real-time insights on securities purchased by top investors on the platform. | |
Social Trading | |
No | Yes |
Trade Signals | |
Yes | |
VPS Hosting | |
No | No |
Tournaments | |
No | No |
Demo Competitions | |
No | No |
Ethical Investing | |
No | Yes |
Custodial Account | |
Yes | No |
Guaranteed Stop Loss | |
No | No |
Inactivity Fee | |
$0 | $10 |
Islamic Account | |
No | Yes |
Account Currencies | |
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Commodities | |
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CFD | |
Trade CFDs across more than 3,000 assets with access to detailed market data through integrated TradingView charts. The eToro Academy provides extensive free learning resources for beginners, featuring specific courses and guides on CFD trading. In 2025, eToro enhanced flexibility for UK clients by enabling direct CFD trading on US assets with GBP. | |
Leverage | |
1:30 | |
FTSE Spread | |
1.5 | |
GBPUSD Spread< | |
1.9 | |
Oil Spread | |
0.05 | |
Stocks Spread | |
$0 per trade | 0.57 (Apple) |
Forex | |
A broad range of 55 currencies is offered, with competitive spreads averaging 0.9 pips on EUR/USD during peak trading hours. Traders can refine their forex strategies by seamlessly transitioning between demo and live accounts, retaining full access to over 100 technical indicators provided by the broker. | |
Assets | |
55 | |
GBPUSD Spread | |
1.9 | |
EURUSD Spread | |
0.9 | |
EURGBP Spread | |
1.3 | |
Currency Indices | |
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Cryptocurrency | |
Engage in trading across a wide range of top cryptocurrencies with minimal fees and all-day access. Traders can begin speculating on popular tokens such as Bitcoin with as little as £1. Additionally, clients can purchase cryptocurrencies instantly through a few simple steps. | eToro excels in cryptocurrency trading with competitive spreads and a flat 1% commission, plus its own wallet service. The platform provides a growing selection of over 100 tokens, adding 29 new ones in April 2025, from AI to memecoins. In 2025, it introduced crypto staking, enabling users to earn rewards for holding digital assets. Trading in cryptocurrencies is risky and volatile. Taxes might apply. Grasp the risks involved. |
Spread | |
Variable | BTC 1% |
Coins | |
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Crypto Lending | |
No | No |
Crypto Mining | |
No | No |
Crypto Staking | |
No | Yes |
Auto Market Maker | |
No | No |
Firstrade | eToro |
61% 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. 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. | |
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