IG vs eToro UK 2026: Which Broker Is Better?
Reviewed by Phillip Ashdown, Senior Forex Analyst · Last updated · How we review
This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Affiliate links may be present.
Quick Verdict
IG and eToro serve very different types of trader. IG is a 50-year-old, multi-platform broker offering spread betting, CFDs, and share dealing across MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and TradingView, with tight spreads from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD. eToro is built around CopyTrader, its signature social trading feature, on a proprietary platform with no MetaTrader support and wider spreads from 1 pip. IG suits traders who want platform choice and tax-efficient spread betting; eToro suits beginners who want to learn by copying experienced traders.
Best for cost-sensitive traders: IG — IG charges no commission on forex CFDs or spread bets, with EUR/USD spreads from 0.6 pips versus eToro's 1 pip — a meaningful gap for active traders, and IG has no minimum deposit.
Best for beginners: eToro — eToro's CopyTrader lets beginners learn by automatically replicating experienced traders' positions, and its proprietary platform is simpler than choosing between IG's seven platform options.
Best overall: IG — Tighter spreads, spread betting availability, and a far broader platform lineup (including MT4, MT5, and DMA via L2 Dealer) make IG the stronger all-rounder for most UK traders, though eToro's CopyTrader remains a genuinely unique feature IG doesn't match.
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IG and eToro are both FCA-regulated, but they represent different approaches to trading. IG has over 50 years of history and offers spread betting, CFDs and share dealing/ISA/SIPP across seven platform options including MT4, MT5, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer for direct market access. eToro is a social trading platform built around CopyTrader, letting users automatically replicate other traders' positions, with a simpler proprietary-only platform and broader multi-asset access beyond forex. This comparison covers pricing, platforms, CopyTrader, regulation and trader suitability.
New to comparing? Start here: how to compare forex brokers.
IG vs eToro: At a Glance
| Feature | IG | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| FCA Regulation | Yes (FRN 195355, IG Markets Ltd) | Yes (FRN 583263, eToro (UK) Limited) |
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | $100 (approx. £80) — unconfirmed, verify at build |
| Spread Betting Available | Yes | No |
| EUR/USD Min Spread | 0.6 pips | 1 pip |
| Platforms Offered | IG online, IG mobile, MT4, MT5, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, TradingView | eToro Platform, eToro App (TradingView charts embedded, not standalone) |
| Signature Feature | L2 Dealer (DMA), 15,000+ markets | CopyTrader (social/copy trading) |
| Best For | Traders wanting platform choice and tax-efficient spread betting | Beginners who want to learn by copying experienced traders |
Spreads and Fees
Typical spreads by pair
IG charges no commission on forex CFDs or spread bets, with EUR/USD spreads from 0.6 pips. Share CFD commission is 0.10% per side on UK and EU shares, and 2 cents per share on US shares. IG's minimum deposit is £0.
Commission and account fees
eToro charges no separate commission on forex CFDs — cost is entirely in the spread, quoted from 1 pip on major pairs, materially wider than IG's 0.6 pips. eToro does not offer spread betting, so UK traders lose that tax-efficiency route entirely on this platform.
Overnight financing and inactivity costs
eToro's withdrawal fee is free from a GBP local-currency account with no minimum, removing the older reputation eToro had for a blanket $5 withdrawal fee (that fee now applies only to USD-denominated accounts). An eToro inactivity fee has historically applied after 12 months of no login — the current amount should be confirmed directly before quoting a figure.
For a detailed breakdown of how spreads affect trading costs, see our guide to forex spreads explained. To turn a spread into pounds on your trade size, use our pip value calculator, and to estimate what a trade would make or lose at either broker, try the forex profit calculator.
| Fee | IG | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £0 | $100 (approx. £80, unconfirmed) |
| EUR/USD min spread | 0.6 pips | 1 pip |
| Forex commission | None (spread-only) | None (spread-only) |
| Withdrawal fee (GBP account) | Not applicable / standard banking only | None, from a GBP local-currency account |
| Spread betting available | Yes | No |
| Minimum to copy a trader (CopyTrader) | Not applicable | $200 (minimum $1 per copied position) |
Platforms
IG's platform lineup
IG offers seven platform options: its own IG online web platform, native mobile apps, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, ProRealTime for advanced charting, L2 Dealer for direct market access, and TradingView integration. This breadth suits traders who want to grow into more sophisticated tools over time.
eToro's platform lineup and CopyTrader
eToro is proprietary-platform-only, with no MT4, MT5 or cTrader support. TradingView charts are embedded within eToro's own platform for charting, but this is not standalone TradingView execution the way IG offers it. eToro's platform strength is CopyTrader: users can automatically replicate another trader's positions in real time, starting from a $200 minimum to copy a trader, with a $1 minimum per copied position and typical replication in under a second.
Traders who want MetaTrader, DMA access, or advanced charting should choose IG. Traders who want to learn by copying experienced traders, or who prefer a simpler single-platform experience, should choose eToro.
| Feature | IG | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | No |
| MT5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | No | No |
| TradingView | Yes (full execution integration) | Charts embedded only, not standalone |
| Proprietary platform | Yes (IG online, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer) | Yes (eToro Platform) |
| Social/copy trading | No | Yes (CopyTrader) |
FCA Regulation and Safety
Regulatory status and client protections
Both brokers are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. IG's UK offering spans three regulated entities: IG Markets Ltd (FRN 195355) for CFDs, IG Index Ltd (FRN 114059) for spread betting, and IG Trading and Investments Ltd (FRN 944492) for share dealing, ISA and SIPP. eToro's UK retail entity is eToro (UK) Limited, authorised under FRN 583263, part of a wider multi-jurisdiction group spanning Cyprus, Australia, Gibraltar and Seychelles.
Company structure and history
Both provide FSCS eligibility up to £85,000 per person, per firm, and negative balance protection for retail clients. One nuance specific to eToro: its cryptoasset service is explicitly unregulated and not covered by FSCS or the Financial Ombudsman — this applies only if crypto is part of the comparison, not to eToro's FX/CFD service.
Verify each broker's authorisation on the FCA Register: IG on the FCA Register and eToro 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 IG?
- UK traders who want a long-established, multi-platform broker with 50+ years of history
- Spread bettors who want tax-efficient exposure alongside CFDs — not available at eToro
- Traders who want MT4, MT5, ProRealTime or L2 Dealer for direct market access
- Those who want tighter spreads (from 0.6 pips vs eToro's 1 pip on EUR/USD)
Ready to open an account? Visit IG.
70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs or Spread Bets with this provider. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Who Should Choose eToro?
- Beginners who want to learn by copying experienced traders via CopyTrader
- Social traders who value community features and a simple, intuitive platform
- Traders wanting broad multi-asset access (7,000+ tradeable assets) beyond forex
- Those who prefer not to use MetaTrader and want a proprietary-only experience
Ready to open an account? Visit eToro.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 55% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Final Verdict
IG and eToro suit different priorities rather than competing head-on. IG offers tighter spreads, spread betting, and a genuinely broad platform lineup spanning MT4, MT5, ProRealTime and L2 Dealer — a strong choice for traders who want room to grow into more advanced tools. eToro's core strength is CopyTrader, letting less experienced traders learn by replicating others' positions, on a simpler proprietary-only platform with wider spreads and no spread betting option. For most UK forex traders prioritising cost and platform flexibility, IG is the stronger overall pick; for those specifically drawn to social/copy trading, eToro remains the only broker in this comparison offering it.
Read our full individual reviews for more detail: View IG Review and View eToro Review. You can also compare both brokers against the wider market on our best forex brokers UK page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does eToro offer MetaTrader 4 or 5?
No. eToro is a proprietary-platform-only broker — it does not support MT4, MT5 or cTrader. IG offers both MT4 and MT5 alongside ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and its own IG online platform, giving it a much broader platform lineup.
Is IG or eToro cheaper for forex trading?
IG is typically cheaper. Its EUR/USD spread starts from 0.6 pips with no commission, compared to eToro's spread from 1 pip. Neither broker charges a separate commission on forex CFDs — the cost is entirely in the spread for both.
Can I copy other traders on IG?
No, IG does not offer social or copy trading. eToro's CopyTrader is a genuinely unique feature in this comparison, letting users automatically replicate another trader's positions in real time, starting from a $200 minimum to copy a trader.
Does eToro offer spread betting?
No, eToro offers CFD trading only. IG offers both spread betting and CFDs, giving UK traders a tax-efficient option (spread betting profits are generally free from Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty, subject to individual circumstances and current tax law) that isn't available at eToro.
Are IG and eToro both FCA regulated?
Yes. IG's UK operations span three regulated entities depending on the product: IG Markets Ltd (FRN 195355) for CFDs, IG Index Ltd (FRN 114059) for spread betting, and IG Trading and Investments Ltd (FRN 944492) for share dealing. eToro's UK entity is eToro (UK) Limited, authorised under FRN 583263. Both provide FSCS eligibility up to £85,000 per person, per firm.
What is the minimum deposit for IG and eToro?
IG has no minimum deposit. eToro's minimum deposit is commonly cited as around $100 (roughly £80), though this should be confirmed against eToro's current terms, as it can vary by region and payment method. Note this is separate from eToro's $200 minimum to start copying a trader via CopyTrader.
Risk Warning: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Most retail investor accounts lose money when trading these products. You should consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money.
Full Risk Disclosures
IG: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading spread bets and CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work, and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.