Two regulation-heavy brokers clash on platform ecosystems and cost. ActivTrades leans on MT4/ActivTrader with risk features, while eToro emphasizes a social, proprietary platform.
ActivTrades and eToro are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with eToro offering 3,000 instruments versus ActivTrades' 1,000.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ActivTrades if…
Choose ActivTrades if you value MT4/MT5 access, phone support, and no inactivity fee.
Choose eToro if…
Choose eToro if you want social trading leadership and a proprietary platform with no MT4/MT5 support.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ActivTrades offers tighter spreads from 0.50 pips vs 1.00 pips for eToro, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
FCA regulated with supplemental insurance up to GBP 1,000,000 per client
ActivTrader's volatility protection feature is a genuine risk management differentiator
No minimum deposit
Strong southern European presence, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ActivTrades | eToro |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Fail |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ActivTrades rates 4.3/5 and eToro rates 4.2/5. ActivTrades has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
ActivTrades starts from 0.5 pips, tighter than eToro's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, while eToro requires at least $50. This makes ActivTrades more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ActivTrades and eToro hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: ActivTrades has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ActivTrades lists maximum leverage of 400:1, while eToro lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ActivTrades supports MetaTrader 4, ActivTrader, while eToro supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. ActivTrades has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and ActivTrader. eToro has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
eToro benefits from a broader set of top-tier regulators, including ASIC, FCA and CySEC.
ActivTrades wins for active traders due to MT4/MT5 access and advanced charting with volatility protection.
ActivTrades is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.50 pips.
ActivTrades offers MT4/MT5 and ActivTrader, giving platform versatility.
ActivTrades with $0 min deposit supports beginners seeking low entry.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2001 | 2007 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Tel Aviv, Israel |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $50 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 1 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 400:1▲ higher | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPal | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple PayGoogle Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | USD 5 per withdrawal |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA CMVM SCB | FCA ASIC CNB CMVM AMF FSRA FSA Seychelles Finanstilsynet HCMC CySEC Finanstilsynet ASF MFSA Finansinspektionen FSC MNB KNF CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 ActivTrader | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Social and copy trading leader
Multi-asset (stocks, crypto, FX)
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Product range narrower than IG or Saxo
No cTrader or raw ECN account option
Less known outside Europe compared to global competitors
Cons
Wider FX spreads
Withdrawal fee
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
Pricing transparency could be improved
No phone support
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
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