Comparison of eToro and Rakuten Securities Hong Kong
| Feature | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1999 |
| Broker Type | MM, Social | STP |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Instant | Market |
| Regulation | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SFC |
| Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MARKETSPEED FX |
| Spread | ⬈ High | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:20 |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1200 |
| Base Currencies | USD | USD, HKD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank Transfer, FPS, Cheques |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | HK$200 annual admin fee after 12 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | $5 | Bank wire - depends on sender bank |
| Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Investor Compensation Fund |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | HK$500000 |
| 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 |
| Review | eToro Review | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong 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 Rakuten Securities Hong Kong
Rakuten Securities Hong Kong is the SFC-licensed arm of Rakuten Securities Group, designed for local and expat traders who want a Hong Kong–regulated venue for spot FX. Clients trade 40 currency pairs on MarketSpeed FX or MT4 with tight spreads from 0.5 pip and zero commissions. Accounts denominated in HKD or USD start from HK $10000, leverage is capped at 1:20 under SFC rules, and support is available in English, Cantonese and Japanese.
Pros
- SFC regulation (Type 3 licence) and segregated client funds
- Backed by publicly listed Rakuten Group
- Spreads from 0.5 pip with HK$0 commission
- HKD funding via FPS / local bank transfer
- Regular in-person seminars and bilingual support
Cons
- High minimum deposit HK$10000
- Leverage limited to 1:20 by regulation
- FX-only offering - no metals, indices or crypto
- Annual HK$200 maintenance fee after 12 months of inactivity
eToro & Rakuten Securities Hong Kong Regulation
| Feature | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Companies | eToro (Seychelles) Limited, eToro (UK) Ltd, Etoro (Europe) Ltd, eToro AUS Capital Limited, eToro USA Securities Inc. | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong Ltd |
Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, United States | Hong Kong, Japan |
Regulators | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SFC |
Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | Investor Compensation Fund |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | HK$500000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | eToro | — |
| Min Deposit | $200 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Instant | — |
| Min Spread | 1 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:30 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 100% | — |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Forex Account |
| Min Deposit | — | HK$10000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 0.5 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:20 |
| Stop Out | — | 40% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD | USD, HKD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank Transfer, FPS, Cheques |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | HK$200 annual admin fee after 12 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $5 | Bank wire - depends on sender bank |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MARKETSPEED FX |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 100 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | high | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 47 | 40 |
Indices | 13 | 0 |
Stocks | 2500 | 0 |
Cryptocurrencies | 112 | 0 |
Bonds | 0 | 0 |
Metals | 7 | 0 |
Energies | 2 | 0 |
Soft Commodities | 4 | 0 |
ETFs | 250 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | eToro | Rakuten Securities Hong Kong |
|---|---|---|
Email | customerservice@etoro.com | support@rakuten-sec.co.jp |
Phone | +1800778439 | +85221190116 |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing eToro and Rakuten Securities Hong Kong, 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.