Two regulated brokers face off on platform quality, pricing clarity, and product breadth. The tension centers on whether a broad instrument universe outweighs platform limitations.
The clearest differentiator is instrument variety, with eToro offering about 3,000 instruments versus Forex.com's 400, shaping diversification and trading possibilities.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 1.00 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.2/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
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
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | eToro | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Fail | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
eToro and Forex.com share the same editorial score of 4.2/5. One concrete differentiator: eToro requires a lower minimum deposit.
Both eToro and Forex.com start from 1 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
eToro has $50, while Forex.com requires at least $100. This makes eToro more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both eToro and Forex.com 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: eToro requires a lower minimum deposit ($50), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
eToro lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Forex.com lists up to 50:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Forex.com charges $7 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for eToro are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
eToro supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Forex.com supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Forex.com has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Equally matched; both maintain segregated client funds, negative balance protection, and investor compensation schemes.
Forex.com wins for active traders thanks to MT4/MT5 access and advanced charting.
Forex.com is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Forex.com edges on platform choice with MT4/MT5 plus proprietary Web/Mobile.
eToro is best for beginners due to social trading and a simple interface.
eToro wins for instrument variety with about 3,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2007 | 1999 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Tel Aviv, Israel | Bedminster, New Jersey, USA |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $50▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1 pips | 1 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | $7/lot |
|---|
| N/A | 1.7 pips |
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 50:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 12 months)▼ lower | $15/month (after 12 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple PayGoogle Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | USD 5 per withdrawal | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CNB CMVM AMF FSRA FSA Seychelles Finanstilsynet HCMC CySEC Finanstilsynet ASF MFSA Finansinspektionen FSC MNB KNF CMA | FCA ASIC MAS IIROC CFTC NFA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
Pros
One of the few brokers accepting US retail forex clients
Deep research tools including macro analysis
Raw spread account with competitive $7 round-turn commission
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
$100 minimum deposit is higher than some peers
US clients restricted to 50:1 leverage on major pairs
Raw account pricing not available in all jurisdictions
Inactivity fee applies
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.2 / 5
Score 4.2 / 5
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