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, eToro offers better pricing than Barclays 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.
When comparing eToro and Barclays for UK investors, both platforms let you buy and sell shares, ETFs and investment trusts. eToro also offers CFD trading, while Barclays does not. On the other hand, Barclays gives you access to a wider range of traditional investments, including funds, corporate bonds and government bonds (gilts), which eToro does not offer.
In terms of investment choice, Barclays is rated 5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com, while eToro scores 4.5 stars and is ranked #11 out of 21 brokers. If you want a platform focused on shares, ETFs and investment trusts, eToro may suit you. If you want more account investment choices and access to adviser services, Barclays is the stronger option.
| 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 | ||
| 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 comparing eToro vs Barclays mobile apps: both offer iPhone and Android apps, but UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro’s app 5 stars and ranks it 4th out of 21 brokers for Mobile Apps, whereas Barclays’ app is rated 2.5 stars and is not ranked. If app quality matters most, eToro clearly outperforms Barclays on iPhone and Android based on these ratings.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
eToro vs Barclays for UK beginner investor education: neither broker runs client webinars or offers on-demand replays, but both provide guidance on share trading. Barclays also covers funds and retirement, which eToro does not. Even so, UK.StockBrokers.com rates eToro higher for beginners (5 stars) than Barclays (4.5 stars), and ranks eToro 7th out of 21 brokers; no ranking is listed for Barclays. Choose Barclays if you want broader topic coverage, or eToro if top-rated beginner resources matter most.
| 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 is a global investing platform best known for its social and copy trading features, wide range of stocks and instruments, and a polished mobile app experience.
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eToro offers crypto trading alongside stocks, ETFs, and other assets, making it a popular choice for investors seeking access to digital currencies, while Barclays does not offer crypto trading, so it is better suited to traditional banking and investment services rather than direct cryptocurrency access.
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↓×Compare
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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| 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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