eToro Review 2025. Pros, Cons, Is It Safe and Why to Choose It

eToro has grown into one of the world's largest social trading platforms, boasting over 40 million registered users globally and approximately 3.63 million funded accounts as of Q2 2025. The company made headlines in May 2025 when it completed its initial public offering on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol ETOR, marking a significant milestone in its journey from Tel Aviv startup to publicly traded fintech giant.

But what does this mean for you as an American investor? This comprehensive eToro review cuts through the marketing hype to examine what really matters: platform safety, fee structure, available investments, and whether eToro actually delivers on its promise of making investing more accessible through social trading.

You'll learn exactly what eToro is, how its signature CopyTrading feature works, what fees you'll pay, whether the platform is safe and legitimate for US investors, and most importantly, whether it's the right fit for your investing goals.

We've analyzed eToro's regulatory standing, compared its costs to competitors, and identified who benefits most from its unique approach to investing.

Whether you're a complete beginner curious about social trading or an experienced investor evaluating your options, this review gives you the facts you need to make an informed decision about opening an eToro account in 2025.

eToro started in 2007 but became really famous in in 2010, when they introduced CopyTrading, a feature that fundamentally changed how people think about investing. Instead of researching stocks and making trades alone, you can see what successful traders are doing in real-time and automatically copy their entire portfolio with a single click.

Think of it as the social media of investing: you follow traders instead of celebrities, and their investment moves get replicated in your account proportionally.

For US investors, eToro operates through two separate entities to comply with American regulations:

• eToro USA Securities Inc., which handles stocks, ETFs, and options trading
• eToro USA LLC manages cryptocurrency transactions

You can trade over 3,000 US stocks, hundreds of ETFs, and over 100 cryptocurrencies (crypto trading is not available in NY, NV, HI, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.).

What sets eToro apart from traditional brokerages like Fidelity or Charles Schwab is this community-driven approach. You're not just buying and selling investments; you're joining a network of millions of traders, learning from their strategies, discussing market trends, and potentially copying the portfolios of investors who have proven track records.

It's investing with training wheels, which appeals to beginners but also offers value to experienced investors looking for new perspectives.

eToro isn't your typical brokerage. While competitors focus on low fees or advanced tools, eToro built its reputation on features that make investing more collaborative and educational, better suited for beginners and amateur investors.

These distinctive offerings explain why millions of investors worldwide choose eToro despite other platforms offering similar or even lower costs:

CopyTrading

CopyTrading is eToro's signature feature and the main reason most people open an investment account on their platform. Here's how it works:

• You browse through thousands of experienced traders
• You can review their performance history, risk scores, and investment strategies
• When you've made up your mind, you then allocate funds to automatically copy their moves.
• When they buy Tesla stock, you buy Tesla stock proportionally to your own portfolio. When they sell, you sell.
• You can choose to copy a trader's existing portfolio (replicating everything they currently hold) or only copy new positions they open going forward.

The system uses proportional weighting, so if you allocate $1,000 to copy someone and they invest 10% of their portfolio in Apple, you'll invest $100 in Apple.

You maintain full control with the ability to set stop-loss limits on the copy relationship itself, automatically disconnecting if the trader's performance drops below your threshold.

This feature particularly appeals to beginners who want to learn by observing successful strategies in action, though it's important to remember that past performance never guarantees future results.

Social Community Features

Beyond CopyTrading, eToro functions as a social network for investors. Each stock, ETF, and cryptocurrency has a dedicated discussion feed where users share analysis, news, and opinions.

You can see sentiment indicators showing what percentage of the community is bullish or bearish on specific assets.

You can follow other investors (without copying their trades), read their market commentary, and engage in discussions about investment strategies.

While this community aspect can provide valuable insights and different perspectives, remember to approach all user-generated content critically. Not everyone sharing opinions has your best interests or risk tolerance in mind, and popularity doesn't equal expertise.

Smart Portfolios

Smart Portfolios are professionally constructed, thematic investment portfolios that you can invest in with a single click. These aren't mutual funds or ETFs; they're curated collections of stocks, ETFs, or even other traders grouped around specific themes like renewable energy, technology innovation, or dividend growth.

The minimum investment is $500, but there are no management fees beyond the standard trading commissions for the underlying assets. eToro's investment committee rebalances these portfolios periodically to maintain their strategic allocation.

For investors who want instant diversification without spending hours researching individual stocks, Smart Portfolios offer a middle ground between buying individual securities and investing in traditional funds.

Virtual Trading Account

Every new eToro user receives immediate access to a virtual trading account loaded with $100,000 in practice money. This isn't a limited trial that expires after 30 days; it's a permanent feature you can use indefinitely alongside your real account.

The virtual account uses real-time market data, so you experience actual price movements and can test strategies, learn how CopyTrading works, or simply get comfortable with the platform interface before risking real money.

This risk-free environment is invaluable for beginners who need to build confidence before making their first real investment.

eToro Academy

eToro Academy offers a comprehensive library of free educational content covering everything from basic investing concepts to advanced trading strategies.

You'll find structured courses on topics like Investing 101, cryptocurrency fundamentals, stock analysis, ETF investing, options trading, technical analysis, and portfolio construction.

The courses combine video lessons, written content, and quizzes to reinforce learning. For beginners, this educational resource can be worth thousands of dollars in avoided mistakes.

The content is designed to progress from foundational concepts to more sophisticated strategies, allowing you to grow your knowledge at your own pace.

Mobile Trading

eToro's iOS and Android apps deliver a comprehensive mobile trading experience that rivals the desktop platform.

You get access to advanced charting tools with 103 technical studies, customizable watchlists, price alerts, and full CopyTrading functionality from your smartphone.

The mobile interface is intuitive and designed for quick execution, making it easy to monitor your portfolio, respond to market movements, or adjust your copy relationships while on the go.

For investors who prefer managing their money from their phones rather than computers, eToro's mobile experience is a significant advantage.

Understanding eToro's fee structure is critical for calculating your true investment costs and comparing the platform to alternatives.

Unlike traditional brokerages that charge flat commissions across the board, eToro uses a diversified fee model where costs vary significantly depending on what you're trading and how you're using the platform.

Here is a summary of eToro's investment costs and available options:

Stocks

eToro charges $0 commission on U.S. stock trades; when you sell, only tiny regulatory fees are passed through.

Coverage is broad (roughly 3,581 U.S. stocks are available) and you can buy fractional shares, which helps with dollar-cost averaging and building positions in high-priced names.

Social features (feeds, CopyTrade) add discovery and sentiment context without changing execution costs.

For transfers, note ACATS-out is $75 if you move positions to another broker. Overall, stock pricing is competitive for long-term investors and frequent traders alike.

ETFs

ETF trades are commission-free on eToro. You still pay each fund’s expense ratio (charged by the ETF provider, not by eToro), but there’s no eToro commission on buys or sells.

With ~385 U.S.-listed ETFs available, you can build diversified core portfolios and rebalance without per-trade friction. Pair this with recurring deposits (which can reduce FX conversion fees when funding in non-USD - see “Other fees” below) to keep total investing costs low.

Crypto

In the U.S., eToro currently supports 120 crypto for trading. Fees are 1% to buy and 1% to sell, displayed clearly before you place an order.

You can transfer assets from the trading platform to the eToro Money wallet (a separate product) but that transfer has its own fee - see table below.

Important: crypto trading isn’t available in NY, NV, HI, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Options

eToro options pricing is straightforward: $0 commission and $0 per-contract. A small $2/month operational fee applies to the options program, but it’s waived if your combined eToro balances are $5,000+.

Standard regulatory fees still apply (e.g., ORF/TAF/SEC on sells), typically just pennies per contract.

Coverage spans listed equity and ETF options on U.S. markets, integrated in the same app experience as stocks/ETFs.

Additional Fees That Add Up

Beyond trading commissions, eToro charges several other fees that can impact your total costs:

Beyond trading commissions, consider:

• Currency conversion when funding/withdrawing in non-USD - Recurring Investment can drop FX to 0.75%, and some 2025 promos waive conversion on recurring deposits for all Club tiers.
• Withdrawals come with $0 fees, but have a $30 minimum; USD investment-account withdrawals to external accounts cost $5, while your bank may add receiving fees.
• Inactivity is $10/month after a year without login.
• Moving crypto from the trading platform to the eToro Money wallet costs 2% (min $1/max $100) plus blockchain fees; sending from the wallet to external addresses has no eToro fee beyond network costs.
• Sell-side regulatory fees on stocks/options are tiny but real.

eToro occupies a unique position in the crowded brokerage landscape. It's not trying to be the cheapest option or the most feature-rich platform. Instead, it's built something different: a social investing experience that makes the markets more accessible and less intimidating for newcomers while offering enough functionality to keep experienced investors engaged.

The platform's strengths are substantial and specific:

• The innovative CopyTrading feature genuinely delivers on its promise of letting you learn from successful traders by automatically replicating their strategies in real-time.
• The user-friendly interface removes the intimidation factor that keeps many people from starting their investment portfolio.
• The competitive pricing structure with $0 stock and ETF commissions makes buy-and-hold investing cost-effective.
• The exceptional $100,000 virtual account provides unlimited risk-free practice.
• The comprehensive free educational resources through eToro Academy can save beginners thousands of dollars in costly mistakes.
• The low $100 minimum deposit removes financial barriers to entry.
• The strong regulatory standing as an SEC-registered broker-dealer with SIPC protection provides legitimate investor safeguards.
• And the successful global platform with over 40 million users demonstrates that eToro's approach resonates with investors worldwide.

However, the limitations are equally important to acknowledge:

• The high 1% crypto trading fees makes eToro not the best choice for serious crypto investors.
• The absence of bonds, mutual funds, and futures limits portfolio diversification options.
• The research tools and stock screener are basic compared to established brokerages like Fidelity or Charles Schwab.
• US customers cannot access margin accounts for stock trading, short selling, or advanced order types.
• The simplified options interface limits sophisticated trading strategies.
• And as a newly public company facing financial headwinds, with its stock price down 29% from its IPO price, questions about long-term stability are legitimate.

So who should choose eToro?

• The platform is excellent for beginning investors seeking social trading features and educational support to build confidence and knowledge.
• It works well for long-term stock and ETF investors who prioritize low costs and don't need advanced tools.
• It's ideal for those wanting to learn from experienced traders through CopyTrading rather than figuring everything out alone.
• And it suits mobile-first investors who prefer managing their portfolios from smartphones.

Who should look elsewhere?

• Active cryptocurrency traders should consider Coinbase, Kraken, or Robinhood for better coin selection and lower fees.
• Sophisticated investors needing comprehensive research tools, advanced order types, or margin accounts should explore Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, or Fidelity.
• Options traders requiring advanced functionality and analysis tools should consider dedicated platforms like Tastyworks.
• And investors seeking bonds, mutual funds, or futures need full-service brokerages that offer these asset classes.

For the right investor profile, particularly beginners and social traders, eToro offers a compelling, innovative platform that makes investing more accessible and educational.

The combination of CopyTrading, educational resources, and a supportive community creates an environment where new investors can learn while actually investing, rather than being paralyzed by fear or overwhelmed by complexity. If you fit that profile, eToro deserves serious consideration.