Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of eToro vs Barclays, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Barclays offers better pricing than eToro for share dealing.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
eToro and Barclays both let you buy and sell shares, ETFs and investment trusts. eToro also offers crypto trading and CFDs, which may appeal to active traders. Barclays does not support crypto or CFDs, but it adds funds, corporate bonds and UK government bonds (gilts), plus optional human adviser services for those who want guidance.
On investment choice, UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it 15th of 21 brokers, while Barclays earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks 9th of 21. In short, eToro suits those who want shares alongside crypto and CFDs, whereas Barclays caters to investors seeking shares, funds and bonds with access to advice.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
In the eToro vs Barclays trading tools comparison for UK investors, eToro offers more charting features: 9 drawing tools, 106 technical indicators, plus index and stock overlays. Barclays has no drawing tools or indicators and no overlays. Neither platform shows corporate events (earnings, splits, dividends) on charts or lets you add notes.
Both provide a browser-based trading platform and price alerts. For market data, eToro supplies real-time prices, while Barclays does not. If you prioritise detailed charting and live data, eToro is the stronger option; if you only need basic web trading and alerts, Barclays covers the essentials.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | No | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing online broker eToro to Barclays in terms of available retirement accounts for UK users, there are some key differences. Both eToro and Barclays offer ISA accounts, which provide a tax-efficient way to save and invest. However, if you're looking to contribute to a Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP), Barclays has you covered with their offering, while eToro does not provide SIPP accounts. This makes Barclays a more versatile choice for those seeking comprehensive retirement planning options alongside tax-efficient savings through ISAs. Consider your retirement planning needs when choosing between these two financial service providers.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors evaluating online trading platforms, the mobile app offerings from eToro and Barclays present notable differences. Both eToro and Barclays provide apps available for iPhone and Android users. However, when it comes to user satisfaction and functionality, eToro significantly outshines Barclays. Rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its mobile app, eToro boasts the 5th best app among 21 brokers. In contrast, Barclays' app received a 2.5-star rating and is positioned at the bottom of the ranking, at 21st. This comparison highlights eToro as a more user-friendly option for mobile trading enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners comparing eToro and Barclays, both lack client webinars and on-demand replays, and both offer education on share trading. Barclays goes further with materials on funds and retirement, areas eToro does not cover. UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro at 5 stars and Barclays at 4.5 stars for beginner education, yet Barclays ranks slightly higher overall (#10 of 21) than eToro (#11 of 21). If you want broader topics like funds and retirement, Barclays has the edge; for straightforward share trading education, either platform will suit.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
For UK investors comparing market research features, eToro and Barclays cater to different needs. eToro provides insights into portfolio allocation by asset class and offers research on shares and ETFs, but it lacks reports on funds and bonds. In contrast, Barclays not only offers the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class but also provides comprehensive research across a wider range of assets, including shares, ETFs, funds, and bonds. This makes Barclays a more detailed option for those seeking in-depth information on various asset classes, while eToro offers straightforward insights ideal for those focused on shares and ETFs.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes |
| Research - Funds | No | Yes |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, eToro or Barclays? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found eToro to be a better trading platform overall.
eToro offers a wide range of assets and instruments and is well-known for its ‘social trading’ approach. It has among the lowest fees and best mobile app experiences of brokers we tested in the U.K., and offers a great starting point for those new to stock trading. Our analysis finds it better suited to short-term traders than long-term investors.
| Feature |
eToro
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Barclays
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|---|---|---|
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eToro stands out for crypto enthusiasts by offering cryptocurrency trading, whereas Barclays does not provide this option, making eToro a compelling choice for investors interested in digital assets.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | eToro | Barclays | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | eToro | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | No | Yes | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Trading Fees | eToro | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $50 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £6 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | |||
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £0 - £250,000 | N/A | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £250K-£500K | N/A | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £500,000 - £1m | N/A | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Platform Fee (Funds): £1m and over | N/A | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Barclays | |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | eToro | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 9 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | No | No | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
| Research | eToro | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | |||
| Research - Funds | No | Yes | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | eToro | Barclays | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | eToro | Barclays | |
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| Review | eToro Review | Barclays Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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