Comparison of eToro and Markets.com
| Feature | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2008 |
| Broker Type | MM, Social | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Instant | Market |
| Regulation | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
| Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
| Spread | ⬈ High | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:500 |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | USD | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | $5 | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Cyprus ICF |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✔ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✖ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✖ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✖ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Currencies, Shares, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies |
| Review | eToro Review | Markets.com Review |
About eToro
eToro is a globally renowned social trading platform, offering a unique approach to forex and CFD trading through its innovative copy trading feature. Established in 2007 and regulated by multiple top-tier authorities, including the FCA, CySEC, and ASIC, eToro has become a popular choice for traders of all experience levels. The platform allows users to follow and copy successful traders, making it particularly appealing to beginners seeking to learn and profit from experienced professionals. Beyond social trading, eToro offers a diverse range of instruments, including forex, stocks, ETFs, commodities, and cryptocurrencies, making it a versatile platform for portfolio diversification. Its proprietary platform is user-friendly and comes with robust analytical tools, catering to both novice and seasoned traders. However, while eToro's zero-commission stock trading is a standout feature, its relatively high spreads and inactivity fees may deter cost-conscious traders.
Pros
- Unique copy trading feature for following successful traders
- Regulated by multiple top-tier authorities (FCA, CySEC, ASIC, etc.)
- Offers a wide range of instruments, including cryptocurrencies and stocks
- User-friendly proprietary platform with robust analytical tools
- Zero-commission stock trading for non-leveraged positions
- Integrated social features for sharing insights and strategies
Cons
- Relatively high spreads compared to other brokers
- Inactivity fees applied after 12 months of non-use
- Limited options for advanced trading platforms like MT4 or MT5
- Withdrawal fees for certain transactions
- Customer support may have delayed response times during peak periods
About Markets.com
Markets.com is a multi-asset CFD and FX broker, operating since 2008 under CySEC, FSCA and SVGFSA oversight. A modest $100 deposit opens the door to 50-plus currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, crypto and more on MT4/MT5, TradingView and the proprietary app, all backed by segregated client funds, negative-balance protection and multilingual 24/5 support. The broker best suits active retail traders who want flexible leverage (up to 1:500 outside the EU), floating spreads from 0.7 pips, copy-trading tools and frequent bonus promotions, yet still value basic regulatory safeguards. Long-term buy-and-hold investors may find the CFD-only model and $10 monthly inactivity fee less appealing.
Pros
- Multi-regulated (SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA)
- Low $100 entry threshold, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- Choice of MT4/MT5 and TradingView
- 50+ FX pairs and broad multi-asset CFD selection
- Negative-balance protection for all retail clients
Cons
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Only one live trading account type available
eToro & Markets.com Regulation
| Feature | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Companies | eToro (Seychelles) Limited, eToro (UK) Ltd, Etoro (Europe) Ltd, eToro AUS Capital Limited, eToro USA Securities Inc. | Markets International Ltd, Safecap Investments Limited, Markets (South Africa) Pty Limited |
Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, United States | Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Cyprus, South Africa |
Regulators | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA |
Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Cyprus ICF |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | eToro | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Instant | Market |
| Min Spread | 1 | 0.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:30 | 1:500 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 50% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $5 |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 82 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | high | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 47 | 54 |
Indices | 13 | 36 |
Stocks | 2500 | 260 |
Cryptocurrencies | 112 | 29 |
Bonds | 0 | 4 |
Metals | 7 | 8 |
Energies | 2 | 5 |
Soft Commodities | 4 | 6 |
ETFs | 250 | 68 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Bonuses
| Bonus | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | 20%, up to $10000 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
| No Deposit Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | — | $1020 |
| Details | — | Learn More |
Customer Support
| Contact | eToro | Markets.com |
|---|---|---|
Email | customerservice@etoro.com | support@markets.com |
Phone | +1800778439 | +27104470539 |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | ||
TikTok | — | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing eToro and Markets.com, eToro comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
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Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.