eToro
★★★★★3.9/5
Strengths
- 0€ Stock Trading
- Copy Trading
- Social Features
- Many Deposit Methods
- Demo Account
Weaknesses
- Spreads on CFDs
- $5 Withdrawal Fee
Best for
Social Trading
Go to eToro →* Affiliate link · no extra cost for you
Broker Comparison 2026
eToro vs. Plus500
Detailed comparison of all fees, features, and suitability — updated for 2026.
eToro
vs
Plus500
Our Recommendation
eToro is the better choice for Social Trading, while Plus500 wins for CFD Traders. Which one suits you depends on your strategy — the detailed comparison below shows every difference.
Numeric Comparison
| Metric | eToro | Plus500 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order fee per trade | 0.00 € | 0.00 € | identical |
| 10y savings plan cost @ €100/month | 0 € | 0 € | identical |
| Interest on €10,000 cash (1 year) | 4.55 % = 455 € | — | +455 € more at eToro / year |
| Available exchanges | 1 | 1 | identical |
| BMInsider rating | 3.9/5 | 3.8/5 | +0.1 at eToro |
Bottom line: on €10,000 cash eToro earns about 4.550 € more interest over 10 years.
Plus500
★★★★★3.8/5
Strengths
- 0€ Commission (Spread-based)
- Unlimited Demo Account
- Simple Platform
- Regulated (CySEC/FCA/ASIC)
- 2,800+ Tradeable Instruments
Weaknesses
- CFDs Only, No Real Stocks/Coins
- No Savings Plan
Best for
CFD Traders
No direct link availableAffiliate link coming soon
Detailed Comparison
All fees, products, and platform features compared side-by-side. The "Winner" column shows which broker leads in each category.
| Feature | eToro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fees & Costs | |||
| Order Fee | 0€ (Aktien) / Spread (CFDs & Krypto) | 0€ (Spread-based) | Tie |
| ETF Savings Plan Fee | - | - | Tie |
| Account Fee | 0€ + $5 Auszahlungsgebühr | 0€/Year | Tie |
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | $100 | Tie |
| Interest on Cash | bis 4.55% (eToro Money) | 0% | eToro |
| Product Range | |||
| Stocks | Tie | ||
| ETFs | Tie | ||
| Crypto | Tie | ||
| Options | Plus500 | ||
| CFDs | Tie | ||
| Fractional Shares | eToro | ||
| Number of Exchanges | eToro-intern | Plus500 intern | Tie |
| Platform & Tools | |||
| Mobile App | Tie | ||
| Desktop Platform | Tie | ||
| Demo Account | Tie | ||
| Security & Regulation | |||
| Regulated by | CySEC / FCA | CySEC / FCA / ASIC | Tie |
| Deposit Protection | €20.000 (ICF) | €20.000 (ICF) | Tie |
| Founded | 2007 | 2008 | Tie |
| Overall Rating | |||
| Rating | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | eToro |
Which Broker for Whom?
Depending on your strategy and experience, one broker fits better. Here's how to decide:
For Beginners
eToro
Low barriers, simple app, demo account and no hidden costs — perfect to get started.
More about eToro →For Active Traders
Plus500
Low per-order fees, many trading venues and derivatives access — important if you trade regularly.
More about Plus500 →For Long-Term Investors
eToro
Free savings plans, interest on cash and no custody fee — what matters when you buy & hold.
More about eToro →Detailed Assessment
Who is eToro?
eToro combines social trading with commission-free stock trading. Ideal for beginners who want to learn from experienced traders.
Strengths in Detail
- 0€ Stock Trading
- Copy Trading
- Social Features
- Many Deposit Methods
- Demo Account
Weaknesses
- Spreads on CFDs
- $5 Withdrawal Fee
- Only Traded on eToro Platform
- USD Conversion Fee
Who is eToro worth it for?
Particularly suitable for: Social Trading, Beginners, Copy Trading, Crypto.
Who is Plus500?
Plus500 is a CFD broker with 0 commission and spread-based pricing. Over 2,800 instruments across CFDs on stocks, forex, crypto CFDs, commodities, ETFs and options. Note: 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.
Strengths in Detail
- 0€ Commission (Spread-based)
- Unlimited Demo Account
- Simple Platform
- Regulated (CySEC/FCA/ASIC)
- 2,800+ Tradeable Instruments
Weaknesses
- CFDs Only, No Real Stocks/Coins
- No Savings Plan
- Inactivity Fee after 3 Months
- No Crypto Wallet
Who is Plus500 worth it for?
Particularly suitable for: CFD Traders, Active Traders, Experienced CFD Traders.
eToro vs Plus500 — Social-trading platform with real stocks vs pure CFD broker
eToro (eToro Europe Ltd., CySEC Cyprus, USD base) and Plus500 (Plus500CY Ltd, CySEC Cyprus, LSE-listed) are both Cypriot CFD houses — but with different emphases. eToro offers real stocks and ETFs without commission (only 0.09–0.39% spread), crypto at 1% flat, plus the famous CopyTrader feature for following other traders. Plus500 is a pure CFD trader with no social component and no real stocks.
Honest take: eToro is the pick for social trading, multi-asset casual traders and spot crypto. Plus500 is the pick for pure CFD speculation with slim UX and tighter spreads on index CFDs.
When eToro is the better pick
You want social trading / CopyTrader. eToro lets you follow a top trader from $200 investment — your account copies their trades automatically. Plus500 has no social component.
You want real stocks alongside CFDs. eToro offers real US/EU stock buys (no leverage) without commission — only 0.09–0.39% spread. Plus500 has only CFDs, no real buys.
You want real crypto coins. eToro spot crypto buy/sell at 1% flat, optional wallet withdrawal to eToro Money. Plus500 has only crypto CFDs.
You want smart portfolios / thematic investments. eToro offers curated portfolios (e.g. "BigTech", "Renewables", "GenAI") for passive thematic investing. Plus500 has nothing like it.
You want crypto staking. eToro offers staking on 7 coins. Plus500 CFDs can't be staked.
When Plus500 is the better pick
You want tighter index CFD spreads. Plus500 DE40 spread ~0.8 points. eToro DE40 spread ~1.5 points. On 100 trades/year you save ~50% on spread cost.
You want no $5 withdrawal fee. eToro charges a flat $5 per withdrawal. Plus500 has no withdrawal fee on the first withdrawal per month.
You want no USD-base conversion. eToro account is always USD-based — every EUR deposit is converted, and withdrawal again with FX markup. Plus500 allows EUR-base account.
You want no 12-month inactivity risk. eToro: $10/month after 12 months of no login. Plus500: $10/month after only 3 months of no login — stricter but transparent.
You want a broader CFD asset universe. Plus500 offers 2 800 CFDs incl. option CFDs. eToro's CFD list is smaller.
Taxes — DACH specifics
Germany — neither steuereinfach. eToro and Plus500 are Cypriot CySEC; no German withholding. Both pay gross; declare all gains in Anlage KAP.
€20 000 loss cap on CFDs: Applies to both on CFD trades. eToro real stocks/crypto are unaffected — only the CFD line.
Austria — neither steuereinfach. Both via FinanzOnline E1kv with 27.5% AT special rate on CFDs.
Crypto tax: eToro spot crypto under §23 EStG — 1-year holding tax-free. Plus500 crypto CFD is derivative transaction — always 25% KESt.
US dividend: eToro real US stocks W-8BEN-capable, 15% credited. Plus500 CFD: cash adjustment minus 30%.
Cost example — Multi-asset trader over 1 year
Profile: 10 real stock buys at €1 000, 5 crypto spot buys at €500, 100 DE40 CFD trades at €3 000, 1 withdrawal €5 000.
| Item | eToro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| 10× real stocks €1 000 | ≈€25 (0.25% spread) | not offered |
| 5× crypto spot €500 | €25 (1%) | not offered (CFD) |
| 100× DE40 CFD spread | ≈€150 (1.5 pt) | ≈€80 (0.8 pt) |
| Withdrawal €5 000 | $5 + FX spread ≈€70 | €0 (1st withdrawal) |
| Yearly cost | ≈€275 | ≈€80 |
Plus500 ~€195 cheaper via tighter CFD spread and no FX fee — the trade-off: no real stocks, no spot crypto, no social trading. eToro pays off only if the social/multi-asset features are explicitly used.
Verdict by investor profile
Social trader / CopyTrader fan
Pick: eToro. Only mainstream platform for social trading. Plus500 has zero social functions.
Pure CFD day trader on index/forex
Pick: Plus500. Tighter spread, no $5 withdrawal fee, EUR account. eToro CFD spread wider.
Crypto buy-and-hold investor
Pick: eToro. Real coins, §23 tax-free after 1 year, staking. Plus500 only CFD bet.
Real stock/ETF buy-and-hold
Pick: eToro. Plus500 has no real stocks. But: for DACH investors, Smartbroker+, Trade Republic or Scalable usually beats eToro on tax-simple handling.
Thematic-portfolio investor
Pick: eToro. Smart Portfolios are a unique feature. Plus500 offers nothing similar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about eToro vs Plus500.
For order fees, eToro leads at 0€ (Aktien) / Spread (CFDs & Krypto), while Plus500 charges 0€ (Spread-basiert). Note: with CFD brokers, spreads add hidden cost — the lower nominal price isn't always cheaper overall.
eToro is regulated by CySEC / FCA, Plus500 by CySEC / FCA / ASIC. Both fall under EU oversight. Deposit protection: eToro €20.000 (ICF), Plus500 €20.000 (ICF).
For German/Austrian customers, language, BaFin regulation and tax-simple status often matter most. Check the 'Regulated by' and 'Languages' rows — DACH-focused brokers usually have the edge.
Neither eToro nor Plus500 offers free ETF savings plans. If recurring investing matters, check a savings-plan-focused broker.
Both are covered under their home regulator's deposit protection. eToro: €20.000 (ICF), Plus500: €20.000 (ICF). Securities are held in segregated accounts and protected in case of broker insolvency.
eToro leads on cash interest at 4.55%. Watch the conditions — some brokers require a paid plan or cap the amount.
Both offer native mobile apps with good app-store ratings. Which is better depends on your needs — try both with a demo account if available.
A second broker makes sense when one offers features the other lacks (e.g. options, crypto, more exchanges). A full switch is only worth it if the cost difference or missing features are significant.
Ready to Get Started?
Sign up with the broker that fits your strategy. Both are regulated and offer a demo account to test risk-free.
Sign up at eToro →Plus500: link coming soon