Comparison of eToro and Swissquote
| Feature | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2006 | 1996 |
| Broker Type | MM, Social | STP |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Instant | Market |
| Regulation | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | FINMA, CSSF, FCA, DFSA, SFC, MAS |
| Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), CFXD, TradingView |
| Spread | ⬈ High | ⬈ High |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:400 |
| Minimum Deposit | $200 | $1000 |
| Base Currencies | USD | USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CHF, CAD, AUD, TRY, PLN, SEK, NOK, SGD, XGD, HUF, CZK |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA), Visa, Mastercard |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 6 months of inactivity |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | $5 | $10 for standard bank withdrawals; card withdrawals 1.9 % (SEPA) / 0 % (non-SEPA) |
| Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | esisuisse / FGDL |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | CHF 100 000 / €100 000 |
| 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, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities, Bonds |
| Review | eToro Review | Swissquote 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 Swissquote
Swissquote is Switzerland’s flagship online banking and brokerage group, supervised by FINMA and listed on SIX (SQN). Combining a Swiss bank account with a multi-asset trading hub, it offers 70+ FX pairs, 400+ CFDs on MT4/MT5, the proprietary CFXD platform and TradingView. Retail leverage is capped at 1:100 (EU 1:30), spreads start from 1.7 pips on Standard and 1.1 pips on Prime, while client funds enjoy segregated custody and deposit insurance up to CHF 100 000/€100 000. The broker best suits safety-minded traders who value Swiss banking regulation, high-volume FX/CFD professionals needing FIX/API connectivity, and diversified investors seeking direct access to global exchanges from a single account. Beginners with very small deposits may find the USD 1 000 entry threshold and inactivity fee less attractive than at zero-commission fintechs.
Pros
- Bank-licensed, publicly traded and multi-jurisdictionally regulated
- 70+ FX pairs and 400+ CFDs; real stocks on 30+ exchanges
- Choice of MT4/MT5, proprietary Advanced Trader & FIX API
- Retail negative-balance protection and segregated funds
- Comprehensive research, Autochartist, free market news
Cons
- High minimum deposit ($1 000) and tiered account pricing
- Spreads above industry average on Standard account
- Inactivity fee after 6 months
- No support for Skrill/Neteller/PayPal funding
eToro & Swissquote Regulation
| Feature | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Companies | eToro (Seychelles) Limited, eToro (UK) Ltd, Etoro (Europe) Ltd, eToro AUS Capital Limited, eToro USA Securities Inc. | Swissquote Bank Ltd; Swissquote Bank Europe Ltd; Swissquote Ltd (UK); Swissquote MEA Ltd; Swissquote Asia Ltd; Swissquote Financial Services (Malta) Ltd; Swissquote Pte. Ltd; Swissquote Tech Hub Bucharest S.R.L; Swissquote Capital Markets Ltd; Swissquote South Africa (Pty) Ltd |
Countries | Seychelles, United Kingdom, Cyprus, Australia, United States | Switzerland, Luxembourg, UK, Dubai, Hong Kong, Malta, Singapore, Romania, Cyprus, South Africa |
Regulators | SFSA, FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SEC | FINMA, CSSF, FCA, DFSA, SFC, MAS |
Investor Protection | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) | esisuisse / FGDL |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | CHF 100 000 / €100 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | eToro | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $200 | $1 000 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Instant | Market |
| Min Spread | 1 | 1.7 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:30 | 1:100 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 30% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
STP Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Premium |
| Min Deposit | — | $10 000 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.1 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1.4 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:100 |
| Stop Out | — | 30% |
| Margin Call | — | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD | USD, EUR, JPY, GBP, CHF, CAD, AUD, TRY, PLN, SEK, NOK, SGD, XGD, HUF, CZK |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, Klarna, Rapid Transfer, Trustly | Bank transfer (SWIFT/SEPA), Visa, Mastercard |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 12 months | $10 per month after 6 months of inactivity |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee | $5 | $10 for standard bank withdrawals; card withdrawals 1.9 % (SEPA) / 0 % (non-SEPA) |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | eToro | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), CFXD, TradingView |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 9 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | high | high |
Trading Assets
| Asset | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 47 | 76 |
Indices | 13 | 26 |
Stocks | 2500 | 305 |
Cryptocurrencies | 112 | 2 |
Bonds | 0 | 3 |
Metals | 7 | 16 |
Energies | 2 | 9 |
Soft Commodities | 4 | 5 |
ETFs | 250 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Customer Support
| Contact | eToro | Swissquote |
|---|---|---|
Email | customerservice@etoro.com | fx@swissquote.com |
Phone | +1800778439 | +41448258777 |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter | ||
TikTok | — | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing eToro and Swissquote, 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.