Comparison of eToro and Expert Option
| Feature | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2014 |
| Broker Type | MM, Social | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Instant | Instant |
| Regulation | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SVGFSA |
| Platforms | eToro | ExpertOption |
| Spread | ⬈ High | - N/A |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:1 |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $10 |
| Base Currencies | USD | USD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Wire, WhatsApp Pay, Google Pay, Binance Pay, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $50 per month after 3 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | $5 | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | FinancialCommission.org |
| 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, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Commodities |
| Review | eToro Review | Expert Option 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 Expert Option
ExpertOption is a binary options broker launched in 2014. With a $10 minimum deposit and a proprietary web/mobile platform, it lets beginners trade 60+ assets across forex, stocks and commodities in deals from 30 seconds to 8 hours. The company is a Category A member of the Financial Commission, which provides up to €20 000 compensation in case of disputes. Although not regulated by top-tier authorities and unavailable in the US, EU and dozens of other countries, ExpertOption attracts 70 million+ clients thanks to social trading, priority withdrawals for Gold+ tiers and payouts up to 95% on successful trades.
Pros
- Low $10 entry barrier with $1 trade size
- Payouts up to 95 % on binary option contracts
- Social trading feed and copy-trade feature
- Member of the Financial Commission (€20 k protection fund)
- 24/7 multilingual live-chat support
Cons
- Not supervised by FCA, ASIC or CySEC
- Only proprietary platform – no MT4/MT5 or cTrader
- Short expiries unsuited to many strategies
- Limited education compared with larger CFD brokers
eToro & Expert Option Regulation
| Feature | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Companies | eToro (Seychelles) Limited, eToro (UK) Ltd, Etoro (Europe) Ltd, eToro AUS Capital Limited, eToro USA Securities Inc. | EOLabs LLC |
Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, United States | St Vincent & the Grenadines |
Regulators | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | SVGFSA |
Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | FinancialCommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
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% | — |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Binary Options | ||
| Account | — | Binary Options |
| Minimum Deposit | — | $10 |
| Option Types | — | Call/Put |
| Minimum Stake | — | $1 |
| Payout | — | from 25% to 95% |
| Expiration Time | — | from 30 seconds to 8 hours |
Funding and Fees
| Feature | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD | USD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, UnionPay, Skrill, Neteller, Bank Wire, WhatsApp Pay, Google Pay, Binance Pay, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT) |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $50 per month after 3 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $5 |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | eToro | ExpertOption |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 80 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | high | N/A |
Trading Assets
| Asset | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 47 | 17 |
Indices | 13 | 11 |
Stocks | 2500 | 25 |
Cryptocurrencies | 112 | 0 |
Bonds | 0 | 0 |
Metals | 7 | 4 |
Energies | 2 | 1 |
Soft Commodities | 4 | 0 |
ETFs | 250 | 16 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | eToro | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
Email | customerservice@etoro.com | help@eo.support |
Phone | +1800778439 | — |
Telegram | — | Telegram |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing eToro and Expert Option, Expert Option 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.
More Comparisons
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.