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eToro vs Plus500 UK 2026: Which Broker Is Better?
Reviewed by Phillip Ashdown
This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Affiliate links may be present.
Quick Verdict
Plus500 is the sharper choice for cost-focused UK traders who want a low minimum deposit and tighter headline forex spreads on a clean, focused platform. eToro is the stronger pick for beginners who want CopyTrader and multi-asset breadth across stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and crypto, accepting that forex spreads are wider. Both are FCA regulated, CFD-only and use their own proprietary platforms; neither offers MetaTrader.
Best for cost-sensitive traders: Plus500 — Plus500 offers tighter headline forex spreads from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD versus 1.0 pips at eToro, both spread-only with no FX commission. The £50 minimum deposit also undercuts eToro's approximately £80.
Best for beginners: eToro — eToro's CopyTrader and social feed give absolute beginners a structured way to learn by observing other traders, alongside a single multi-asset account spanning stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and crypto. Capital is at risk; past performance is not indicative of future results.
Best overall: Plus500 — For straightforward, cost-aware UK CFD traders, Plus500's lower minimum deposit, tighter forex spreads and LSE-listed parent edge the overall pick, provided you don't need CopyTrader or eToro's wider multi-asset range.
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eToro and Plus500 are both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, and both are popular with UK traders looking for a simple, app-led trading experience. Each broker runs its own proprietary platform, prices forex on spread only, and does not offer MT4, MT5 or cTrader. The differences sit in cost, product range and features. Plus500 keeps things focused on CFD trading with a low £50 minimum deposit and tighter forex spreads. eToro is a multi-asset broker built around its CopyTrader social-trading feature, with a wider minimum deposit of approximately £80 (USD-denominated, around $100) and wider headline forex spreads. This comparison walks through pricing, platforms, regulation and who each broker suits best.
eToro vs Plus500: At a Glance
| Feature | eToro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| FCA Regulation | Yes (FRN 583263) | Yes (FRN 509909) |
| Minimum Deposit | Approx £80 (~$100, USD-denominated) | £50 |
| Pricing Model | Spread-only, no FX commission | Spread-only, no FX commission |
| EUR/USD Min Spread | From 1.0 pips | From 0.8 pips |
| Platforms Offered | eToro proprietary platform (web + app), TradingView charts embedded | Plus500 proprietary platform (web + app) |
| MetaTrader (MT4/MT5) | No | No |
| CopyTrader / Social Trading | Yes (CopyTrader, free to use) | No |
| Multi-Asset Breadth | Stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, currencies, crypto | CFD-only (forex, indices, shares, commodities, crypto CFDs) |
| Withdrawal Fee | Free from GBP eToro Money account; $5 from USD account | No standard withdrawal fee |
| Inactivity Fee | An inactivity fee applies after an extended period of no account login | Charged after a period of account inactivity |
| Public Listing | No | Yes (LSE) |
| Best For | Beginners wanting CopyTrader and multi-asset breadth | Cost-focused beginners wanting a low minimum deposit and tighter forex spreads |
Spreads and Fees
Typical spreads by pair
Both brokers price forex on a spread-only basis with no separate FX commission. Plus500's EUR/USD spreads start from 0.8 pips, while eToro's EUR/USD spreads start from 1.0 pips. On the major pairs Plus500 is the tighter quote, though both are materially wider than ECN-style brokers that offer raw spreads plus a commission. Neither is positioned as a low-spread broker for high-frequency trading.
Commission and account fees
Plus500 charges no separate dealing commission on standard CFD trades; trading costs are embedded in the spread, with overnight financing on positions held overnight. eToro likewise has no FX commission. For UK clients using a GBP-denominated eToro Money account, withdrawals are free; a $5 fee applies on USD-account withdrawals. Plus500 does not charge a standard withdrawal fee. The minimum deposit at Plus500 is £50, while eToro's minimum is USD-denominated at around $100, working out to approximately £80 at typical exchange rates.
Overnight financing and inactivity costs
Both brokers apply overnight financing on positions held past the daily rollover. Both also apply an inactivity fee after an extended period of no account login; eToro's specific amount and timing should be checked on the broker's current fees page. Neither broker is designed for traders chasing the lowest possible per-trade cost, but for casual and beginner traders the all-in pricing is straightforward and easy to read.
For a detailed breakdown of how spreads affect trading costs, see our guide to forex spreads explained.
| Fee | eToro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Approx £80 (~$100, USD-denominated) | £50 |
| EUR/USD min spread | From 1.0 pips | From 0.8 pips |
| USD/JPY min spread | From 1.0 pips | From 0.8 pips |
| FX commission per lot | None (spread-only) | None (spread-only) |
| Withdrawal fee | Free from GBP eToro Money account; $5 from USD account | No standard withdrawal fee |
| Inactivity fee | Applies after an extended period of no account login | Charged after a period of account inactivity |
| Overnight financing | Applies on positions held overnight | Applies on positions held overnight |
Platforms
eToro's platform and CopyTrader
eToro runs its own proprietary platform on web and mobile, built around a social feed, watchlists and the CopyTrader feature. TradingView charts are embedded inside the platform for charting only; execution stays on the eToro platform, so this is not a separate TradingView terminal. eToro does not support MT4, MT5 or cTrader.
Plus500's platform
Plus500 also runs a proprietary platform on web and mobile, with a stripped-back, focused interface aimed at CFD traders who want clarity over configurability. Tools include price alerts, guaranteed stops on selected instruments and integrated risk-management controls. Plus500 does not offer MT4, MT5 or cTrader either, so neither broker suits traders who specifically want MetaTrader or third-party algorithmic environments.
On platforms the contrast is about feature set rather than choice. eToro adds the social and copy-trading layer plus multi-asset breadth; Plus500 keeps the interface clean and CFD-focused.
| Feature | eToro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Proprietary platform (web + app) | Yes | Yes |
| MT4 | No | No |
| MT5 | No | No |
| cTrader | No | No |
| TradingView charts (charting only, embedded) | Yes | No |
| CopyTrader / social trading | Yes (CopyTrader, free) | No |
| Multi-asset (stocks, ETFs, crypto, etc.) | Yes | CFD-only |
| Guaranteed stop-loss orders | Selected markets | Selected markets |
FCA Regulation and Safety
Regulatory status and client protections
Both brokers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for UK retail clients. eToro (UK) Limited operates under FRN 583263. Plus500UK Ltd operates under FRN 509909, and the wider Plus500 group is listed on the London Stock Exchange, which adds a layer of corporate disclosure. Client funds at both brokers are held in segregated accounts, retail clients benefit from negative balance protection, and eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person, per firm.
Company structure and history
Both brokers are CFD-only for retail clients in the UK and do not offer MetaTrader. Both apply the FCA's leverage caps for retail clients (typically 30:1 on major FX pairs) and the standard ESMA-aligned product intervention rules. eToro's specific risk disclosure is that 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider, while Plus500's is that 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Verify each broker's authorisation on the FCA Register: eToro on the FCA Register and Plus500 on the FCA Register.
For more on what FCA regulation means for traders, see our guide to FCA regulation explained.
Both brokers provide FSCS protection for eligible UK retail clients up to £85,000 per person, per firm.
Who Should Choose eToro?
- Beginners who want CopyTrader to automatically replicate other traders' positions (capital at risk, past performance is not indicative of future results)
- Traders who want a single account spanning stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities, currencies and crypto
- Users who value a social feed and community-driven investing alongside CFD trading
- UK traders comfortable with a USD-denominated minimum deposit of approximately £80
- Traders who accept wider forex spreads in exchange for the social and multi-asset feature set
Who Should Choose Plus500?
- Cost-focused beginners who want tighter headline forex spreads from 0.8 pips on EUR/USD
- Traders who want the lowest minimum deposit of the two, at £50
- Users who prefer a clean, focused CFD platform without social or copy-trading features
- UK traders who value the additional disclosure that comes with a London Stock Exchange listing
- Self-directed traders who don't need MetaTrader or third-party algorithmic platforms
Ready to open an account? Visit Plus500.
Final Verdict
eToro and Plus500 are both FCA-regulated, CFD-only, proprietary-platform brokers; the choice comes down to what you want around the trading itself. Plus500 is the cleaner pick for cost-focused beginners: a £50 minimum deposit, tighter EUR/USD spreads from 0.8 pips and a focused, no-frills CFD platform. eToro is the better pick for traders who want CopyTrader and a single multi-asset account spanning stocks, ETFs, indices, commodities and crypto, accepting that forex spreads from 1.0 pips are wider and the minimum deposit of around £80 is higher. Neither broker offers MetaTrader, so traders who specifically want MT4, MT5 or cTrader should look elsewhere. For a low-cost, focused CFD experience: Plus500. For social trading and multi-asset breadth: eToro.
Read our full individual reviews for more detail: View eToro Review and View Plus500 Review. You can also compare both brokers against the wider market on our best forex brokers UK page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is eToro or Plus500 cheaper for forex trading?
Plus500 is generally cheaper on headline forex pricing. EUR/USD spreads start from 0.8 pips at Plus500 versus from 1.0 pips at eToro, and neither broker adds a separate FX commission. Plus500 also has the lower minimum deposit at £50, compared to approximately £80 at eToro. Both are spread-only brokers, so neither is in the same low-cost bracket as ECN-style raw-spread brokers, but for forex specifically Plus500 has the tighter starting spreads.
What are the fees for eToro and Plus500?
Both brokers price forex on spread only, with no separate FX commission. eToro's EUR/USD spreads start from 1.0 pips; Plus500's start from 0.8 pips. eToro charges no fee on GBP-account withdrawals via eToro Money UK Ltd, and a $5 fee on USD-account withdrawals; Plus500 has no standard withdrawal fee. Both apply overnight financing on positions held overnight, and both apply an inactivity fee after an extended period of no account login. Always check each broker's current fees and charges page for full details.
Does eToro charge a withdrawal fee in the UK?
For UK clients using a GBP-denominated eToro Money account (provided by eToro Money UK Ltd), there is no withdrawal fee. A $5 fee applies on withdrawals from a USD-denominated eToro account. The practical answer for most UK users on a GBP account is no, but it depends on the account currency you hold.
What is the minimum deposit for eToro and Plus500?
Plus500's minimum deposit for UK retail clients is £50. eToro's minimum is USD-denominated at around $100, which works out to approximately £80 at typical exchange rates. The figure for eToro is approximate because it is set in dollars and will move with the GBP/USD rate, so the equivalent in pounds varies slightly day to day.
Is eToro safe for UK traders?
eToro (UK) Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FRN 583263. UK retail client funds are held in segregated accounts, clients benefit from negative balance protection, and eligible deposits are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person. Regulation does not remove market risk: 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro, so safety in the regulatory sense does not mean safety from trading losses.
Can you copy other traders on eToro or Plus500?
Yes on eToro, no on Plus500. eToro offers CopyTrader, a feature that lets you automatically replicate other traders' positions in real time. CopyTrader is free to use; normal spreads still apply on the underlying trades. Capital is at risk and past performance of any trader is not indicative of future results. Plus500 does not offer copy or social trading; it is a focused, self-directed CFD platform.
Risk Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with eToro, and 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with Plus500. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.