Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs eToro, 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 IG 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 - IG would cost £136 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £96 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £108 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £360 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while eToro would cost $50 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 comparing IG and eToro, both brokers present appealing investment options for UK investors. IG excels in share trading, investment trusts, and offers a robust platform for CFD trading and ETFs. However, it lacks options for crypto enthusiasts and does not provide spread betting or funds trading. With a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, IG's investment offerings are well-regarded, positioning it 11th among 18 other brokers for investment choices.
On the other hand, eToro caters to those interested in both share and crypto trading, along with CFD trading and ETFs. Despite its strong suit in crypto trading, eToro, like IG, does not offer spread betting or funds trading, nor investment options in trusts or bonds. Sharing an equal 4.5-star rating for its investment choices, eToro is ranked 15th of 18, highlighting subtle differences in comparison to IG for UK investors evaluating diverse trading avenues.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
For UK traders considering online brokers, both IG and eToro come with unique strengths in their trading tools. IG stands out by offering the ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature that eToro currently does not provide. While IG includes 19 drawing tools for charting, eToro significantly increases charting versatility with 56 options. Additionally, for technical analysts, eToro offers an impressive 106 technical indicators compared to IG's 33.
When it comes to customization, both platforms allow users to add notes to charts. However, eToro provides the extra capability to overlay indices and stocks onto charts, a feature IG lacks. Both brokers ensure seamless access via browser-based trading platforms and deliver the convenience of real-time market data. Moreover, investors can set up stock price alerts on both platforms, keeping them informed on critical price movements. Each platform has its distinct features, suiting different preferences and trading styles.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 56 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
For UK investors seeking suitable online brokers with retirement account options, both IG and eToro offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), which allow for tax-efficient savings. However, for those interested in Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), only IG provides this option, offering clients more flexibility in managing their pension funds. eToro does not currently offer SIPP accounts, potentially narrowing retirement planning choices for users. Overall, IG presents a broader range of retirement investments compared to eToro, catering to diverse needs with both ISA and SIPP accounts available.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors exploring mobile trading platforms, both IG and eToro offer highly rated apps available on iPhone and Android devices. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG's app shines with a 5-star rating and an impressive rank of second among 18 brokers for its mobile experience, ensuring a top-tier trading interface. Similarly, eToro's mobile app also boasts a 5-star rating, reflecting its strong performance and user satisfaction, though it ranks fifth in the same evaluation. Both platforms cater to mobile traders effectively, though IG edges ahead in ranking, making it a slightly more favored choice for mobile trading enthusiasts.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the beginner investor educational resources of IG and eToro, IG stands out as an excellent choice for UK investors starting their trading journey. IG offers a range of educational client webinars, both live and archived for on-demand viewing, providing users with flexible learning options. These webinars cover important topics like share trading and retirement, which are crucial for those new to the investment world. Conversely, eToro does not provide educational webinars, live or archived, and its educational focus is limited to share trading without covering retirement. IG's commitment to comprehensive education is reflected in its top ranking and 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, while eToro, though still strong with a 4.5-star rating, ranks 11th among 18 brokers for beginner education.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No |
| Education |
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Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When comparing IG and eToro for market research capabilities, UK investors will find some distinct differences between the two online brokers. IG stands out with its provision of research reports for funds, an area where eToro does not offer support. On the other hand, eToro enables users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, a feature not available with IG. Both platforms provide research for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, but neither offers research for bonds or funds. This trade-off between advanced research reports from IG and the detailed portfolio insights from eToro is crucial for investors when deciding which platform aligns with their investing needs.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, IG or eToro? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found IG to be a better trading platform overall.
IG is an investment platform aimed at experienced investors looking to make frequent trades on the stock market, with thousands of shares, trusts and ETFs to trade. It offers a comprehensive and easy-to-use trading platform that is used by both private and professional investors.
| Feature |
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eToro
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While IG does not offer crypto trading, eToro provides an accessible platform for users to engage in cryptocurrency trading.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | eToro | |
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| Review | IG Review | eToro Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Trading Fees | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | $50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0-£10 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £3 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £136 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £96 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £108 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £360 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | N/A | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 / £96 | £0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | £0 - £8 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | £0 - £8 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | £50 | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | eToro | |
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| Platforms & Tools | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 19 | 56 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | Yes |
| Research | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | No | Yes |
| Education | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Overall Summary | IG | eToro | |
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| Review | IG Review | eToro Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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