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.
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, IG offers better pricing than eToro 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 £0 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - IG would cost £0 per year, while eToro would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - IG would cost £0 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 for investment options available to UK investors, both brokers exhibit strengths in various areas. IG and eToro offer share trading and trading of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), providing a solid foundation for a diversified portfolio. For those interested in cryptocurrency, eToro holds an edge as it supports crypto trading, unlike IG. However, IG shines with a unique offering of investment trusts, a feature eToro lacks.
Both IG and eToro accommodate Contracts for Difference (CFD) trading, broadening the scope for UK investors seeking diverse strategies. Rated at 4.5 stars by UK.StockBrokers.com for investment choices, IG is recognised for its broader availability of investment trusts, earning it an 11th place ranking out of 21 brokers. eToro's selection also received a commendable 4.5-star rating, though it's positioned at 15th place due to a slightly narrower range despite its inclusion of crypto assets.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | Yes | |
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
|
|
Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools available to UK traders on IG and eToro, several differences stand out. IG offers a user-friendly browser-based platform where you can display corporate events directly on charts and add personalized notes, keeping you informed and organized. However, IG falls short in offering index and stock overlays on their charts, a feature eToro provides, allowing traders to see comprehensive market data in one place.
eToro excels in providing a wide array of tools for chart analysis, with an impressive 56 drawing tools and 106 technical indicators, compared to IG's 19 drawing tools and 33 technical indicators. Both platforms support real-time market data and the ability to set alerts for stock price changes, ensuring you're always plugged into market movements. Overall, eToro offers a more feature-rich suite for detailed technical charting, while IG provides essential tools that cater to traders interested in corporate events and straightforward chart annotations.
| 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 | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
For UK investors exploring retirement account options with online brokers, both IG and eToro offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to save. However, when it comes to Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), IG stands out by offering this option, while eToro currently does not provide a SIPP account. This distinction may influence those looking to manage their pensions alongside their other investments, making IG a compelling choice for individuals prioritizing comprehensive retirement planning tools. eToro, however, remains a strong contender for those focusing primarily on ISAs.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
For UK investors seeking reliable mobile trading platforms, both IG and eToro provide excellent options with dedicated apps for iPhone and Android users. UK.StockBrokers.com rates both IG and eToro mobile apps with an impressive 5 stars, reflecting their quality and user satisfaction. However, when it comes to ranking among 21 brokers for mobile app effectiveness, IG takes the spotlight, securing the 2nd position, while eToro holds a respectable 5th place. This makes IG a slightly more appealing choice for traders prioritizing mobile app performance.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginner investors, IG seems to hold a slight edge over eToro. IG offers educational client webinars, which are also archived for on-demand viewing, providing flexible learning opportunities. In addition, IG covers essential topics such as share trading and retirement, whereas eToro includes education on share trading but not on retirement. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, IG shines with a 5-star rating for beginner education, securing the top spot out of 21 brokers. On the other hand, eToro receives a still respectable 4.5-star rating, ranking 11th. Both platforms provide valuable resources, but IG's offerings might slightly better suit UK beginners seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | ||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
In comparing IG and eToro for market research features, IG stands out by offering research reports for funds, while eToro does not provide this service. Both platforms deliver shares, ETFs, and CFDs research, ensuring comprehensive data for traders. However, eToro provides an additional feature by allowing investors to see portfolio allocation by asset class, a function that IG does not offer. Users seeking in-depth fund analysis may prefer IG, though eToro caters well to those interested in asset class diversification.
| Feature |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | 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 |
IG
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Charges & Fees |
|
|
| Investment Choices |
|
|
| Mobile App |
|
|
| Website |
|
|
| Ease of Use |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers, it's important to note that eToro offers crypto trading, while IG does not provide this service.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | IG Review | eToro Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | Yes | ||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | |||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | Yes | ||
| Crypto Trading | Yes | ||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £0 | $50 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | Yes | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays | Yes |
| Research | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | |||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | Yes | ||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes |
| Education | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | |||
| Education (Retirement) | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes |
| Overall Summary | IG | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Charges & Fees |
|
| |
| Investment Choices |
|
| |
| Mobile App |
|
| |
| Website |
|
| |
| Ease of Use |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Review | IG Review | eToro Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
Trading 212 Review
Interactive Brokers Review
Hargreaves Lansdown Review
XTB Review
IG Group Review
eToro Review
Saxo Review
CMC Invest Review
Freetrade Review
Halifax Review
Vanguard Review