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.
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.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £105 per year.
12 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £147 per year.
36 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £291 per year.
120 trades per year - eToro would cost £0 per year, while Barclays would cost £75 or £795 per year.
3 fund trades per year - eToro would cost $50 per year, while Barclays would cost £0 per year.
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 it comes to online trading platforms, eToro and Barclays offer varied investment options catering to different investor needs. Both platforms provide access to share and ETFs trading, but eToro stands out by allowing crypto and CFD trading, which are not available with Barclays. On the other hand, Barclays offers a broader traditional investment spectrum, including funds, corporate bonds, government bonds (gilts), and investment trusts, along with advisor services, which eToro does not provide. These differences highlight eToro's emphasis on modern, flexible investment opportunities while Barclays maintains a focus on conventional, comprehensive investment and advisory services.
eToro is rated 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for its investment choices, earning a rank of 9th out of 18 brokers. In comparison, Barclays is rated 5 stars for its broader investment options and is ranked 6th. While eToro appeals to those interested in diverse and modern trading opportunities, Barclays' higher-rated investment services might be more attractive to investors seeking traditional financial products and expert guidance. Overall, the choice between them will largely depend on individual investment preferences and the importance placed on modern versus traditional investment offerings.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | No |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No |
| Advisor Services | No | Yes |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
When comparing eToro and Barclays for their trading tools, it's clear that eToro offers a more comprehensive set of features for active traders. eToro impresses with 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, making it a robust choice for charting enthusiasts. Although neither eToro nor Barclays provides the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, or dividends on charts, eToro stands out by allowing users to add notes, stock overlays, and index overlays to their charts, adding an extra layer of depth to their trading analysis.
Both eToro and Barclays offer browser-based trading platforms and the ability to set alerts for stock price updates. However, eToro's platform further distinguishes itself with the delivery of real-time market data, whereas Barclays lacks this feature. For those who prioritize a rich set of charting tools and real-time data, eToro emerges as the preferred choice over Barclays.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 0 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 56 | 0 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | No |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | No | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes | No |
When comparing eToro and Barclays for individuals seeking retirement accounts, both platforms offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to save and invest. However, a key difference arises with their pension offerings: Barclays supports Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), catering to those looking to take control of their retirement planning, while eToro does not provide this option. Prospective account holders should consider these variations when deciding the best fit for their financial goals and retirement strategy.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile apps of online broker eToro and traditional bank Barclays, both platforms offer applications for iPhone and Android users. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, eToro's mobile app boasts a stellar 5-star rating and is ranked 5th out of 18 brokers for mobile app quality. In contrast, Barclays' mobile app holds a modest 2.5-star rating and is positioned much lower, at 16th place. This notable difference showcases eToro's strong emphasis on delivering a top-notch mobile experience for its users compared to Barclays.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both eToro and Barclays offer insights into share trading, but only Barclays extends its educational content to cover topics like funds and retirement. Neither platform provides educational webinars or archives them for on-demand viewing. Despite these offerings, both brokers have garnered a 4.5-star rating for beginner education from UK.StockBrokers.com. However, Barclays outshines eToro in the rankings, securing the 5th spot among 18 brokers, while eToro comes in at 10th place. This suggests that Barclays may provide a slightly more comprehensive learning experience for new investors.
| 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 |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing eToro and Barclays for their market research features, both platforms offer extensive resources, but with distinct differences to consider. eToro provides users with the ability to view portfolio allocation by asset class, shares research, ETFs research, and CFDs research, making it a versatile choice for those interested in exploring a wide range of asset types, though it lacks research reports for funds and bonds. In contrast, Barclays excels in offering research across a broader spectrum, including funds and bonds, along with the ability to see portfolio allocation by asset class and shares and ETFs research, but it does not provide research on CFDs. Therefore, the choice between eToro and Barclays will depend on one's specific investment focus and research needs.
| Feature |
eToro
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | No |
| 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
|
Barclays
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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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 | |
| Funds | No | Yes | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | Yes | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | Yes | |
| Investment Trusts | No | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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) | £0 | £105 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £147 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £291 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £75 or £795 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | £75 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | £0 - £525 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | £525 - £650 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | £650 - £850 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | £850 and up | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 | £6 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | N/A | £6 | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | £25 |
| Broker Screenshots | eToro | Barclays | |
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| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | 56 | 0 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | 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 | Yes | No | |
| 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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