Trying to decide between eToro and Trade Republic for your investing needs? Both are popular European-accessible platforms, but they serve quite different types of investor – and the right choice depends heavily on what you want to do and where you’re based.
eToro is a global, multi-asset social trading platform with over 40 million users worldwide, known for copy trading, a broad range of instruments (stocks, ETFs, crypto, CFDs), and a USD-based account structure with local currency options. Trade Republic is a German neobroker with over 10 million customers across 18 European countries and more than €150 billion in customer assets, built around low-cost, long-term investing – commission-free ETF savings plans, fractional shares, bonds, and up to 3% interest on uninvested cash – all within a clean, mobile-first, EUR-denominated experience.
In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse eToro vs Trade Republic across the features that matter most: fees, available instruments, regulation and safety, account currencies, platform experience, and who each broker is best suited to. Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each, a detailed comparison table, and a clear verdict to help you make a better-informed decision. Keep reading!
eToro vs Trade Republic
- eToro is best for social/copy trading, multi-asset variety, and access to global markets in a single platform.
- Trade Republic is best for low-cost, long-term ETF investing, automated savings plans, and earning interest on uninvested cash.
Trade Republic offers competitive interest on uninvested cash and very low costs on stocks and ETFs, with free automated savings plans that make it ideal for passive, long-term investors. On the downside, it has an EUR-only account base (non-EUR trades incur an embedded FX cost), no direct access to US exchanges, a narrower product range, and a shorter track record (founded 2015).
eToro, founded in 2007 and now NASDAQ-listed, has a longer track record, a broader product range, social/copy trading features, and multi-currency local account options. On the downside, its platform mixes real assets with CFDs (complex, higher-risk leveraged products), and some costs (such as FX conversion on certain deposits) can add up.
Side-by-side comparison
| Category | eToro | Trade Republic |
| Founded | 2007 | 2015 |
| Users | 40M+ worldwide | 10M+ across 18 European countries |
| Demo account | Yes ($100,000 virtual) | No |
| Account minimum | $50 (varies by country) | €0 |
| Interest on uninvested cash (annually) | Varies by entity/currency | Up to 3.00% EUR (new clients; 2% standard; up to €50,000; Germany excluded from the 3% promo) |
| US stock fees | $0 commission | €0 commission + €1 settlement fee per trade |
| EU stock fees | $0 commission | €0 commission + €1 settlement fee per trade |
| ETFs | $0 commission (not all ETFs are commission-free) | €0 + €1 settlement fee per trade (free via savings plans) |
| Fractional shares | Yes | Yes |
| Automated savings plans | Limited (Smart Portfolios) | Yes (free, 4,900+ assets) |
| Currency conversion fee | From 0.50% (USD account; EUR local account avoids this on EUR trades) | Embedded in spread on non-EUR trades |
| Account base currency | USD (with local currency accounts incl. EUR, GBP) | EUR only |
| Products | Stocks, ETFs, crypto, CFDs (forex, indices, commodities) | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, crypto, derivatives |
| Regulators (EU clients) | CySEC (also FCA, ASIC globally) | BaFin |
| Investor protection | €20,000 (CySEC ICF) + €1M private insurance | €20,000 securities + €100,000 cash deposits |
About eToro
eToro is a well-known global fintech founded in 2007 and the leader in social/copy trading (automatically following and replicating other investors’ trades), with over 40 million users worldwide. In May 2025, eToro went public on the NASDAQ (ticker: ETOR), adding a layer of transparency and financial disclosure.
Beyond social trading, eToro offers real stocks, ETFs, and crypto, plus CFDs on a range of markets, through an intuitive, beginner-friendly platform. For European investors, eToro operates through eToro (Europe) Ltd, regulated by CySEC, and offers a EUR local currency account that lets Irish and other eurozone users fund and trade EUR-denominated assets without conversion fees.
Opening and funding an account is straightforward, and you can test the platform with a free demo account loaded with $100,000 in virtual funds. On the downside, the platform mixes real assets with CFDs (which are complex, higher-risk leveraged products – a large share of retail CFD accounts lose money), and spreads or FX costs can add up on certain products and deposits.
eToro pros and cons
Pros
- Low stock trading fees (from $0 per trade)
- Commission-free ETFs (other fees apply)
- Social trading and other innovative products
- Wide variety of financial products
- Slick, modern, and easy for anyone to use
- European users have access to three account currencies: EUR, USD and GBP
- Top tier regulators
Cons
- Limited disclosed financial information
- Withdraw and inactivity fees
- Spread, overnight, inactivity, and currency conversion fees higher than average
- Doesn’t offer bonds, futures, or options
About Trade Republic
Trade Republic is a Berlin-based neobroker founded in 2015, operating as a fully licensed German bank (Trade Republic Bank GmbH) under BaFin supervision. With over 10 million customers across 18 European countries and more than €150 billion in customer assets, it has become one of the largest investment platforms in Europe.
Trade Republic offers five main asset classes: stocks, ETFs, bonds, cryptocurrencies, and derivatives (the latter being knock-out certificates, factor certificates, and warrants, available only to German residents for regulatory reasons). Its ETF range exceeds 2,000 funds, including all the most popular global index trackers (iShares MSCI World, Vanguard FTSE All-World, Amundi S&P 500), and both government and corporate bonds are available from as little as €1 in fractional amounts.
The platform built its reputation as a low-cost, “no order fee” broker. In practice, a €1 external settlement fee applies to each trade (so a full buy-and-sell round trip costs €2), but there’s an important exception: automated savings plans are completely free of this fee. With over 4,900 assets available for recurring savings plans – executed commission-free from €1 – Trade Republic is one of the most cost-effective platforms in Europe for passive, long-term investing through regular contributions (e.g., a monthly €50 ETF plan at zero cost).
Other notable features include up to 3% annual interest on uninvested EUR cash (for new clients, on balances up to €50,000; 2% standard rate; German residents excluded from the 3% promo), a debit card with 1% “Saveback” on card spending reinvested into your savings plan, and round-up investing. On the downside, Trade Republic has an EUR-only account base (non-EUR trades carry an embedded FX cost), no direct access to US exchanges, no mutual funds or options, and a mobile-only experience with no dedicated desktop platform.
Trade Republic pros and cons
Pros
- Automatic saving plans
- Interest paid in idle cash balances
- Invest from only €1
- No minimum deposit
- Direct debit in the share-saving plans
- Supervised and regulated by a top-tier regulator
- Has a banking license - deposits are protected by deposit guarantee scheme
Cons
- €1 flat external fee in every single trade (Except saving plans)
- No demo account
- Only one base currency (EUR), except in Poland where it accepts Zloty.
- No direct access to US Stock Exchanges - you might not be able to buy some popular US-listed companies, such as Reddit
- Currency conversion fees apply
- Engages in PFOF - Payment for Order Flow
How to invest in the S&P 500 on eToro and Trade Republic (videos)
If you’re still unsure about which platform to choose, check our videos where we explain step-by-step how to invest in the S&P 500 on eToro and on Trade Republic:
Trade Republic vs eToro: our veredict
eToro
Best for social trading and commission-free stock tradingTrade Republic
Best for interest and creating savings plans with stocks/ETFs
Choosing between these two online brokers isn’t always an obvious decision. The differences between eToro vs Trade Republic come from the trading platforms, products, fees, and security. Do you prefer a basic trading platform? Do you want to invest in ETFs only? Do you value security more?
Ultimately, the best online broker for you will depend on your profile, personal preferences, and objectives. Explore the websites above and decide for yourself!
Want to know more about eToro vs Trade Republic? Explore our in-depth broker reviews, comparison table, and BrokerMatch tool.
Additionally, you can also look at particular comparisons between these two platforms and some of its competitors, such as the following:
Disclaimer
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 52% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Copy Trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.
