eToro vs IG

IG is better than eToro overall for most UK traders and investors in 2026. IG wins on market depth, advanced trading tools, UK investment accounts and the breadth of products available from one provider. eToro is the better choice if CopyTrader, social investing or a simpler investing experience are your priorities.

The difference is less about one platform being universally cheaper or safer. It is about what you actually want to do.

Choose IG if you want: serious CFD or forex trading, spread betting, advanced charting, MetaTrader, ProRealTime, TradingView, a Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP or a broad investment account.

Choose eToro if you want: CopyTrader, social investing, an easier beginner interface or a portfolio built around following other investors.

For most UK users choosing a single platform that can grow with them, IG is our overall winner.

Fees and product availability can change.

eToro vs IG at a glance

Is IG or eToro better overall?

IG provides access to more than 15,000 trading markets and supports its proprietary platform alongside specialist tools including MetaTrader, ProRealTime, L2 Dealer and TradingView. ProRealTime alone includes more than 100 indicators and automated-trading functionality.

For long-term UK investors, IG also offers General Investment Accounts, Stocks and Shares ISAs, Junior ISAs and SIPPs. Its current UK pricing advertises commission-free investing and no platform fee for its investment products, although currency conversion and other transaction-specific costs can still apply.

eToro takes a different approach. Its strongest advantage is not greater market depth. It is making investing more accessible and social.

eToro's CopyTrader system lets users automatically replicate the investment activity of selected investors. The minimum allocation to copy an investor is currently $200, and eToro says users can copy up to 100 investors simultaneously.

That is a real differentiator. If CopyTrader is the reason you are comparing these two platforms, eToro wins.

If it is not, IG has more ways to win the comparison.

eToro vs IG fees: which is cheaper?

IG currently advertises £0 commission and no platform fee for its UK investing products. Its current charges page lists a 0.7% FX fee when currency conversion is required.

eToro's standard investment account has no opening or management fee. ETF trades are commission-free, but eToro states that a $1 or $2 stock commission may apply when opening and closing stock positions, depending on the customer's country of residence and the exchange involved. eToro also offers GBP local-currency accounts, which can reduce unnecessary currency conversion when funding or trading GBP-denominated assets.

This matters because old eToro vs IG comparisons that simply label eToro the “zero-commission broker” are no longer reliable.

Which is cheaper for CFD and forex trading?

IG currently lists minimum spreads from 0.6 on EUR/USD. Share CFDs use commission instead, with UK FTSE 350 share CFDs charged at 0.10% per side subject to minimum charges.

eToro's current CFD schedule expresses EUR/USD as 0.005% per trade, while stock and ETF CFDs are listed at 0.15% per trade.

That is why a useful broker comparison should not blindly place two numbers marked “spread” next to each other. The calculation basis, instrument, account currency, position duration and overnight financing all affect the actual cost.

For an active trader, compare the cost of the specific market and position size you expect to trade, not an abstract platform-wide fee score.

Is eToro or IG better for investing in stocks and ETFs?

IG's UK investment accounts currently provide commission-free stock and ETF investing in eligible GBP accounts, alongside ISA, GIA, Junior ISA and SIPP wrappers. IG says investors have access to more than 12,000 stocks and ETFs through these investment accounts.

eToro remains competitive. It advertises more than 6,000 stocks, supports fractional investing from $10 and charges zero commission on eligible ETF trades. Its interface is arguably easier to understand if you simply want to buy a handful of stocks and monitor them in one portfolio.

eToro also now has a UK DIY Stocks and Shares ISA powered by Moneyfarm. That closes an important historical gap between the two platforms.

IG still wins this category because its UK account ecosystem is broader. If you expect to use an ISA today, a SIPP later and perhaps more sophisticated trading products eventually, IG gives you a clearer progression without changing provider.

Is eToro or IG better for trading?

IG supports several different trading environments rather than forcing everyone onto one interface. Depending on the product, traders can use IG's own web and mobile platforms, MetaTrader, ProRealTime, TradingView and L2 Dealer. IG also provides features aimed at technical, algorithmic and direct-market-access traders.

IG also offers spread betting to UK customers, which eToro does not. For traders specifically searching for an eToro alternative for spread betting, the comparison is therefore straightforward: choose IG.

eToro's trading platform is not primitive. It includes TradingView-powered charts with more than 100 indicators and extensive drawing tools.

The difference is depth.

eToro is designed to make markets approachable. IG gives an experienced trader more control over how they analyse and execute.

For day traders, technical traders and users who expect to automate strategies, IG is the clear winner.

Is eToro or IG better for beginners?

eToro puts stocks, ETFs, crypto, portfolios, investor profiles and CopyTrader into a relatively simple interface. Every new eToro account also receives a virtual portfolio with $100,000 in simulated funds for practice.

CopyTrader makes eToro particularly distinctive. Instead of simply reading market research and placing trades manually, a user can allocate funds to another investor and automatically mirror that investor's positions. Copying does not remove investment risk, and another investor's historical performance does not predict future returns, but the feature changes the way people can use the platform.

IG is not a bad platform for beginners. Its newer investment proposition is substantially simpler than the traditional image of IG as a CFD platform, and its educational resources are extensive.

But if the question is simply “Which interface will a first-time investor probably find easier?”, eToro gets the edge.

eToro vs IG for crypto

eToro advertises more than 100 cryptocurrencies and combines crypto investing with stocks, ETFs and social-investing features. Standard Bronze, Silver and Gold eToro users currently pay a 1% fee per manual crypto position, with lower rates available at certain higher Club tiers and trading volumes.

IG changed this part of the comparison significantly in June 2026.

IG now charges 0% commission on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana, with a 0.07% external exchange fee included in the price. Its other cryptocurrencies currently carry a 1.49% charge, and IG advertises access to more than 55 cryptocurrencies through its UK crypto service.

So the correct verdict depends on the asset.

For someone mainly buying BTC, ETH or SOL, IG currently has a major cost advantage.

For someone who values a broader crypto-led social-investing ecosystem and wants to combine crypto with CopyTrader, eToro is more compelling.

Cryptoassets are high-risk investments, and UK crypto holdings do not receive the same FSCS protection as eligible regulated investment services.

Is IG safer than eToro?

eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 583263. eToro also states that eligible UK investment clients may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, subject to the applicable product and circumstances.

IG's relevant UK businesses are also authorised and regulated by the FCA. IG states that client money and assets are segregated and that an eligible shortfall following firm insolvency may be compensated through the FSCS up to £85,000.

IG has the longer operating history and a more institutional trading heritage, but that does not make every pound held or every product automatically protected.

FSCS coverage depends on the service and circumstances. Cryptoassets, for example, do not receive the same protection simply because the company providing access to them is FCA registered.

Who should choose eToro instead of IG?

Choose eToro over IG when social investing is part of the product you actually want.

eToro makes the most sense if you:

• specifically want CopyTrader
• want to follow and interact with other investors
• prefer a simpler interface over specialist trading software
• want fractional stock investing from small amounts
• want stocks, ETFs and a broad crypto selection inside one social-investing environment

If none of those features matter much to you, eToro loses much of the reason to choose it over IG.

Who should choose IG instead of eToro?

Choose IG over eToro if you want a platform with more room to grow.

IG is the stronger choice if you want advanced charting, forex, CFDs, spread betting, MetaTrader, ProRealTime, TradingView, specialist execution tools or a broader range of UK investment accounts.

It is also currently particularly competitive for UK investors who want commission-free stock and ETF investing, and for buyers of Bitcoin, Ethereum or Solana.

The interface can expose you to more complexity than eToro, but that complexity exists because IG supports substantially more trading workflows.

eToro vs IG: final verdict

IG offers the stronger combination of long-term investing accounts, active trading products, market coverage, platform choice and specialist tools. Its current UK commission-free investment proposition also removes one of eToro's historical pricing advantages.

eToro still wins decisively in one important area: social and copy investing. CopyTrader is a genuine product difference rather than a cosmetic feature. If automatically following other investors is central to how you want to invest, choose eToro.

The practical decision is therefore simple:

Choose IG for investing plus serious trading. Choose eToro for social and copy investing.

For the broadest UK use case, IG is the better all-round platform.

Is eToro better than IG for beginners?

eToro is generally better for complete beginners who value simplicity and social investing. IG is better for beginners who expect to progress into more advanced trading tools or want a wider selection of UK investment accounts.

Does IG have copy trading like eToro?

No equivalent native feature is central to IG's offering. eToro's CopyTrader automatically replicates selected investors' trading activity and is one of the clearest reasons to choose eToro instead of IG.

Is IG cheaper than eToro?

IG is cheaper in some important use cases but not universally. IG currently offers commission-free investing in eligible UK GBP accounts and charges only a 0.07% external exchange fee on Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana. eToro's costs vary by asset, account and user tier, so the cheapest platform depends on what you intend to trade.

Can I use an ISA with eToro or IG?

Yes. IG offers a Stocks and Shares ISA as part of its UK investment account range. eToro also offers UK ISA products, including a DIY Stocks and Shares ISA powered by Moneyfarm.

This comparison is general information, not personalised investment advice. Investments can rise or fall in value, and leveraged products and cryptoassets carry additional risks.