eToro is a well-known fintech startup established in Israel in 2006 and the leader in the social trading field, with over 30 million users worldwide.
Their huge popularity and growth have been facilitated since offering commission-free stock and ETF trading (other fees apply) in most regions, social trading, and their intuitive and simple-to-use trading platform both in PC and mobile versions, making it a good choice for all sorts of investor
However, it has a comparatively smaller selection of assets in some categories, like the unavailability of Futures contracts, and it also provides only one currency account (USD), which means that you’ll incur currency conversion fees when depositing in another currency.
Want to know if you can trade futures in eToro? Wondering about alternative investment platforms to invest in futures? We’ve got you covered!
Can you trade Futures on eToro?
Unfortunately, you are not able to trade futures in eToro! As of this writing, eToro doesn’t offer futures trading.
However, you can trade Contracts-for-difference (CFDs) on Futures in eToro, which gives you exposure to the futures market but without requiring you to take on any obligations that are associated with futures trading, like having to actually deliver the underlying asset (if you are a seller) or receiving the underlying asset (if you are a buyer).
Please note that US investors are not allowed to invest in CFDs due to regulatory reasons. So, if you are a US investor, please skip to the section “Best eToro alternatives for investing in Futures”.
Let’s look at the example of crude oil below:
Source: eToro
eToro allows you to invest in Crude Oil (shortened to just “oil”) through a CFD. If you were to buy oil futures contracts, you would have to buy the barrels of oil if you kept the futures contract until maturity (contract’s expiry date). With CFDs, you can get exposure to the price of oil in the future without taking direct ownership. In essence, a CFD simply mimics the price movement of the futures contract with no maturity date.
In a nutshell, CFDs let you speculate on prices rising or falling in an underlying asset without taking direct ownership. Futures are financial contracts in which a buyer and a seller agree to exchange an underlying asset for a predetermined price at a future date.
Source: eToro
One possible reason eToro doesn’t offer futures trading is that they might want to keep things simple for their users. They have a diverse user base, including both beginners and experienced traders, so they could provide a straightforward trading experience for a broad audience rather than catering to more specialised and experienced traders and investors.
However, eToro offers Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, and CFDs on Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Forex, Indices, and Cryptocurrencies, with a minimum deposit of $10 (it varies between countries). eToro is also overseen by top-tier regulators, such as FCA and ASIC.
| Products | Available? |
| Stocks | ✔ |
| ETFs | ✔ |
| Bonds | ✘ |
| Funds | ✘ |
| Options | ✘ |
| Futures | ✘ |
| Forex | ✔ (CFDs) |
| Cryptocurrencies | ✔ |
| Commodities | ✔ (CFDs) |
| CFDs | ✔ (on stocks, ETFs, cryptos, commodities, forex and indices) |
Best eToro alternatives for investing in Futures
Plus500 Futures | Best futures broker overall
Plus500 Futures markets platform that is 100% focused on Futures trading. The range of underlying assets is wide, so you can quickly access several asset classes. It is part of the Plus500 group, listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Interactive Brokers | Best for futures trading platform
Founded in 1978, IBKR is one of the world’s most trustworthy brokers. It offers an enormous range of financial products, including futures contracts. For monthly volumes lower than 1,000, it charges $0.85 per future contract in the US. The price may drop to $0.10 when considering E-micro Futures.
Saxo Markets | Best for experienced non-US investors (not available in the US)
Saxo Bank offers diverse trading instruments, providing traders access to over 300 futures from 28 global exchanges, including equity indices, energy, metals, agriculture, rates, and Forex. They offer competitive fees for futures trading, ranging from $1 to $3 per contract, depending on your account.
TD Ameritrade | Best broker for low future fees
TD Ameritrade is one of the leading U.S. Some major advantages are commission-free stock, ETF, and options trading, alongside a wide offering of different financial products, including futures contracts. They offer a flat fee of $2.25 per contract for future trading.
E*TRADE | Best for beginners
E*TRADE is a well-known US broker, considered both reputable and beginner-friendly. They offer a wide range of financial products, including +200 futures contracts. These encompass contracts on agricultural products, energy, precious and industrial metals, equities, currencies, and interest rates. E*TRADE provides a highly competitive flat-rate fee for futures contracts at $1.5 per contract, except for crypto contracts, which incur a fee of $2.5 per contract.
| Broker | Minimum Deposit | Supported Products | Available in the US? | Futures Trading Fees |
| Plus500 Futures | $100 | Futures only (on market indices, energy, interest rate, commodities, crypto and Forex) | Yes | $0.49 (per trade) in micro contracts and $0.89 (per trade) in Standard contract |
| Interactive Brokers | $0 | Futures, Stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, currencies, options, warrants | Yes | From $0.25 to $0.85 for US contracts (depending on the volume). Up to $0.25 for Micro contracts, and max of $5 for crypto futures contracts |
| Saxo Markets | $2,000 (can vary by country) | Futures, Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, bonds, options, forex, CFDs, crypto | No | Ranges between $1 and $3 per contract |
| TD Ameritrade | $50 (electronic transfers); no account minimum | Futures, Stocks, ETFs, mutual funds, options, fixed income (including bonds), forex | Yes | $2.25 per contract |
| E*TRADE | $0 | Futures, Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, mutual funds, managed portfolios | Yes | $1.5 per contract, except for cryptocurrency futures, which cost $2.5 per contract |
What Makes a Good Broker for Futures Trading?
When choosing a futures broker, it’s important to consider several factors that can impact a trader’s success. These include:
- Low trading fees: To enhance your profitability in futures trading, choosing a broker with competitive trading fees is crucial. You’ll want to look for a broker that offers low spreads and minimal or no commissions. In addition, consider choosing a broker with low account minimums if you want to start with a small amount.
- Reliable platform: The trading platform is your primary tool and should have all the necessary features for effective trading. The platform should be user-friendly, fast, and reliable. It’s also helpful if the platform includes market news and real-time data feeds, which can give you valuable insights into the market. Additionally, risk management tools such as stop-loss orders and trailing stops can help protect your trades and minimise your risk.
- Excellent customer support: A futures broker’s customer support is essential, particularly for new traders. Fast response times and helpful support staff should be available via phone, email, or live chat to ensure you can get the help you need when needed.
- Regulatory compliance: To ensure the safety of your funds, it’s important to choose a futures broker that is regulated by the relevant regulatory bodies in the country where they operate. For example, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is a member of the National Futures Association (NFA) in the United States, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in Australia, the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) in Canada, or any other reputable global regulatory bodies.
The Bottom Line
eToro, a user-friendly investment platform, doesn’t offer futures trading. This keeps their approach simple for a diverse user base. For futures trading, alternatives like Interactive Brokers, Saxo Markets, TD Ameritrade, and E*TRADE offer options with competitive fees. Consider low fees, platform reliability, and regulatory compliance when choosing a futures broker. While eToro suits many investors, these alternatives cater to those interested in futures trading.
If you want to know more about eToro, read our review!
Mariana is currently a finalist in Management program at the University of Minho, and she also serves as a digital ambassador for a leading Big4 company in the field of financial consulting, Ernst & Young.
Mariana's primary areas of interest revolve around the exact sciences, numbers, and the financial sector. Presently, Mariana holds the position of COO at a junior initiative within her university, dedicated to promoting financial literacy among the youth and addressing the educational challenges faced in Portugal.
