Table of Contents
Short on time? Here’s the call:
- Choose Trading 212 if you want the cheapest all-round platform: a Stocks and Shares ISA, a new SIPP, a Cash ISA and a debit card, all with minimal fees.
- Choose eToro if you want to copy other investors’ trades or you’re after crypto alongside stocks. Its ISA got a lot more competitive in July 2026.
- Both are FCA-regulated, both offer commission-free real stocks and ETFs, and both let real shares sit alongside riskier CFD products, so read the small print before you trade.
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Best for Copy Trading
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Best Overall
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Primary Rating:
4.1
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Primary Rating:
4.6
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Description: Commission-free stocks and ETFs with social investing and copy trading built in. Its UK Stocks and Shares ISA became fee-free in July 2026. |
Description: Over 5 million funded accounts worldwide. Commission-free investing with a Stocks and Shares ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP, all from £1. |
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Cons:
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Cons:
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Disclaimer:
eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.
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Disclaimer:
Your capital is at risk. Other fees may apply. See terms and fees.
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Commission-free stocks and ETFs with social investing and copy trading built in. Its UK Stocks and Shares ISA became fee-free in July 2026.
- 0% commission on stocks and ETFs
- Social investing, including copy trading
- Extensive research and fast app
- 0.70% FX fee on non-GBP ISA holdings
Over 5 million funded accounts worldwide. Commission-free investing with a Stocks and Shares ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP, all from £1.
- Commission-free trading
- ISA, Cash ISA and SIPP available
- Smart mobile app and desktop version
- No copy trading or crypto
eToro
eToro built its name on social trading.
You can follow other investors, see what they’re buying, and copy their trades automatically with your own money via CopyTrader, still eToro’s headline feature and the reason a lot of beginners land here first.
Beyond stocks and ETFs, eToro gives you access to crypto (subject to FCA restrictions on the types UK users can buy), commodities and CFDs.
Real stocks and ETFs are commission-free, priced via the spread rather than a flat fee, and its own range runs to roughly 3,000+ stocks and ETFs.
The big 2026 change: eToro’s UK Stocks and Shares ISA (run in partnership with Moneyfarm) had its commission and custody fees scrapped on 29 July 2026.
A 0.70% FX fee still applies on non-GBP holdings, so it’s not entirely free, but it’s a genuine step forward.
Read our full eToro review for the details.
Trading 212
Trading 212 remains one of the UK’s most popular commission-free platforms, and in 2026 it’s arguably become the more complete one.
Real stocks and ETFs across roughly 13,000 instruments are commission-free, and Invest, ISA and SIPP accounts only carry a 0.15% FX fee on non-GBP trades.
No platform fee, no custody fee.
The 2026 additions matter here: Trading 212 launched a SIPP this year (zero platform, dealing, custody and transfer fees, automatic basic-rate tax relief claimed for you within 6-11 weeks), and it already runs a flexible Cash ISA paying Bank of England base rate minus 0.15%, currently 3.60% AER variable, with monthly interest.
Add its debit card for spending abroad at the interbank rate in 170+ currencies, and you’ve got investing, pension, cash savings and card spending under one roof.
You can read our full Trading 212 review for a deeper dive.
What's new in 2026
eToro’s Cash ISA now pays 4.87% AER for eligible new clients (variable), ahead of Trading 212’s 3.60%.
Its Stocks and Shares ISA also lost its commission and custody fees on 29 July 2026, though the 0.70% FX fee remains (versus Trading 212’s 0.15%).
It scrapped its inactivity fee too, and GBP withdrawals are now free.
Trading 212’s biggest addition is its SIPP: zero platform, dealing, custody and transfer fees, with basic-rate tax relief claimed automatically.
The trade-off is on the card side: from 1 August 2026 the card pays no cashback by default.
You can still get 1.5%, capped at £15 a month, by switching on Invest Cashback and paying for at least one subscription on the card.
If you were relying on card cashback as a sweetener, check the new terms.
eToro Pros and Cons
Pros
- Commission-free real stocks and ETFs (spread-based pricing)
- CopyTrader social/copy trading, still the standout feature
- ISA now commission and custody-fee free (as of July 2026)
- Boosted Cash ISA rate for eligible new clients (4.87% AER)
- Crypto access alongside stocks (FCA-restricted range)
- Inactivity fee abolished
Cons
- 0.70% FX fee on non-GBP assets inside the ISA
- Cash interest feature is USD-denominated, less useful for UK savers holding GBP
- Smaller core range than Trading 212 (~3,000+ vs ~13,000 stocks and ETFs)
- No SIPP
Trading 212 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Only fee on Invest / ISA / SIPP is a 0.15% FX charge, otherwise fee-free
- ~13,000 stocks and ETFs
- SIPP launched 2026 with zero platform / dealing / custody / transfer fees
- Flexible Cash ISA (3.60% AER variable) plus interest on uninvested cash (3.8% AER, opt-in)
- Trading 212 Card for fee-free spending in 170+ currencies
- Free share promo (code GAINS) still running
Cons
- No social or copy trading feature
- No Junior ISA
- Card cashback cut to 0% (or 1.5% capped £15/month with subscription) from August 2026
- Cash ISA rate now behind eToro's boosted offer
Investment Options
There’s genuine overlap here: both platforms give you the major global stocks, a wide spread of ETFs, and access to commodities and forex. The clearest split is crypto. eToro lets you buy crypto directly (within FCA restrictions on what UK retail customers can hold), while Trading 212 doesn’t offer crypto at all.
Trading 212 wins on sheer breadth, roughly 13,000 stocks and ETFs versus eToro’s 3,000+. If you’re building a diversified portfolio of individual shares, particularly smaller or overseas names, you’re more likely to find them on Trading 212.
What are the apps like to use?
Both apps are fast, well-designed and easy to navigate on mobile. eToro’s layout is a little more visual and social-feed-like, which suits people who like seeing what others are trading. Trading 212 leans on icons and a denser interface, so there’s a slightly steeper first-time learning curve, but once you know your way round it’s just as quick to use.
One thing that still matters for UK investors: Trading 212 lets you hold and trade in pounds without converting to dollars first. eToro historically ran USD-only accounts and now offers GBP accounts too, but if you end up on a USD account your GBP deposits get converted at 1.5%, so check which one you are opening. Both apps offer a demo account to practise with virtual money before risking anything real, and both have solid charting tools for checking an asset’s past performance.
Trading 212 provides access to over 10,000 stocks, funds, ETFs and investment trusts.
They offer commission-free trading* and their auto investing feature is excellent.
OUR OFFER - To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 using promo code 'GAINS'. Terms apply
*Other fees may apply. See terms and fees
**When investing, your capital is at risk. If you enable interest, Trading 212 will hold your cash in qualifying money market funds and banks. Otherwise, your cash will be held only in banks. Interest applies on cash in an investment account. Terms apply.
- Commission free trading*
- Earn interest on uninvested cash**
- Fantastic mobile app
- Award winning ISA
- Personal pension
- No Junior ISA
- Fewer research tools than other platforms
Fees
| eToro | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|
| Commission on real stocks/ETFs | £0 | £0 |
| Platform/custody fee | £0 | £0 |
| FX fee (ISA/Invest) | 0.70% | 0.15% |
| ISA commission/custody | £0 (from July 2026) | £0 |
| Inactivity fee | None (abolished May 2026) | None |
| Withdrawal fee | None on GBP; $5 on USD ($30 min) | None |
| Card deposit fee | N/A | Free first £2,000 lifetime, then 0.7% |
| Cash ISA rate | 4.87% AER variable (eligible new clients) | 3.60% AER variable (base rate minus 0.15%) |
| Interest on uninvested cash | 2.75%-3.55% AER (USD balances, opt-in) | 3.8% AER (GBP, opt-in) |
| Crypto fee | 1% | Not offered |
Rates and promotional terms change regularly. Figures above are correct as of August 2026, check both providers’ current terms before opening an account.
Deposits and withdrawals
We tested withdrawing from both apps and the difference was marginal: Trading 212 landed the next working day, eToro the morning after. That matches Trading 212’s stated 1-2 business days via Faster Payments (up to 2-3 days for SWIFT transfers). Card, Apple Pay and Google Pay deposits are free up to £2,000 lifetime, then 0.7%, while bank transfers stay free. eToro charges no fee on GBP withdrawals, though USD withdrawals carry a $5 fee with a $30 minimum.
Account types
Both platforms now offer a General Investment Account and a Stocks and Shares ISA. Trading 212 has gone further in 2026, adding a SIPP and a Cash ISA, so you can hold investing, pension and cash savings in one app. eToro doesn’t currently offer a SIPP or a Junior ISA, but its ISA is now meaningfully cheaper than it was, and its Cash ISA rate is currently ahead of Trading 212’s on paper for eligible new clients.
If you’re comparing ISA providers more widely, see our Best Stocks and Shares ISA guide.
Trading 212 provides access to over 10,000 stocks, funds, ETFs and investment trusts.
They offer commission-free trading* and their auto investing feature is excellent.
OUR OFFER - To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 using promo code 'GAINS'. Terms apply
*Other fees may apply. See terms and fees
**When investing, your capital is at risk. If you enable interest, Trading 212 will hold your cash in qualifying money market funds and banks. Otherwise, your cash will be held only in banks. Interest applies on cash in an investment account. Terms apply.
- Commission free trading*
- Earn interest on uninvested cash**
- Fantastic mobile app
- Award winning ISA
- Personal pension
- No Junior ISA
- Fewer research tools than other platforms
Opening an Account
Opening an account with either broker is quick, usually same-day, though extra ID checks can add a day or two depending on your circumstances (my unusually long name has tripped up verification on Trading 212 before, so don’t be surprised if you need to submit an extra document). You’ll need photo ID and your National Insurance number for either platform.
Both apps use FaceID and two-factor authentication for login, and both are FCA-regulated. One quirk worth flagging: Trading 212 can stay logged in on desktop between sessions, which isn’t to everyone’s taste when money’s involved, so it’s worth checking your own device settings if that bothers you.
CFD risk: read this before you trade
Both platforms let you trade CFDs (contracts for difference) alongside real shares, and CFDs are a different, much riskier product. You don’t own the underlying asset, you’re speculating on price movement using leverage, and losses can happen fast.
Trading 212’s own disclaimer states that 73% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with them. eToro’s own disclaimer states that 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with them.
Either way, most people trading CFDs on either platform lose money. For long-term investing, we’d point most readers towards real shares, ETFs and an ISA rather than CFDs. If you do want to trade CFDs, only risk money you can afford to lose and understand the leverage involved first.
Research and Educational Resources
Research
eToro’s research tools include analyst estimates, curated articles and sentiment data showing what other eToro users think about an asset. Trading 212 is lighter here: it’s more of a do-it-yourself platform, so you’ll lean more on outside research if you use it.
Education
eToro’s academy (videos, courses, guides) remains one of the more thorough offerings in the market and is genuinely useful if you’re starting from scratch. Trading 212 has its own academy covering the basics, solid but with less depth than eToro’s.
Customer Reviews
Trading 212 sits at 4.6 on Trustpilot from around 99,700 reviews, still the stronger of the two. eToro sits at roughly 4.1 (“Great”) from over 30,000 reviews. Both platforms are rated on the app stores too, and Trading 212’s global figures (4.7 App Store, 4.6 Google Play) edge eToro’s typical range, though exact app-store scores vary by region and update over time.
Trading 212 provides access to over 10,000 stocks, funds, ETFs and investment trusts.
They offer commission-free trading* and their auto investing feature is excellent.
OUR OFFER - To get free fractional shares worth up to 100 EUR/GBP, you can open an account with Trading 212 using promo code 'GAINS'. Terms apply
*Other fees may apply. See terms and fees
**When investing, your capital is at risk. If you enable interest, Trading 212 will hold your cash in qualifying money market funds and banks. Otherwise, your cash will be held only in banks. Interest applies on cash in an investment account. Terms apply.
- Commission free trading*
- Earn interest on uninvested cash**
- Fantastic mobile app
- Award winning ISA
- Personal pension
- No Junior ISA
- Fewer research tools than other platforms
FAQs
eToro vs Trading 212: the winner
It’s closer than it was in 2023, but Trading 212 is our pick overall. The 0.15% FX fee (versus eToro’s 0.70%), the far wider range of roughly 13,000 stocks and ETFs, and the 2026 addition of a genuinely fee-free SIPP alongside its existing ISA and Cash ISA make it the stronger all-round platform for most UK investors. Trading 212 also holds the higher Trustpilot score, 4.6 versus eToro’s 4.1.
eToro still wins if copy trading is what you’re after. CopyTrader remains unmatched for letting you mirror experienced investors’ trades, and its 2026 ISA fee cut plus boosted Cash ISA rate make it a genuinely more competitive option than it was. If crypto or social trading matter to you, eToro is still worth a look.
Want to see how both stack up against the rest of the market? Check our Best investing apps roundup.
Trading 212 is a multi-asset platform offering real shares and ETFs alongside CFD trading. CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 73% 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.
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eToro is a multi-asset platform which offers both investing in stocks and cryptoassets, as well as trading CFDs. Please note that CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 51% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. Cryptoasset investing is unregulated in the UK and not protected by the FCA. Capital at risk.
