Head to head
eToro vs Interactive Brokers
- Written by
- Juan Manuel Gonzalez
- Published
- Data verified
Verdict
These are the two extremes of our database. eToro USA Securities publishes the narrowest range we recorded — stocks, ETFs, options and crypto, in individual taxable accounts only — with no per-contract options fee for US users. Interactive Brokers publishes the widest range, across four regional markets and every asset class we track, with the most complex pricing here. For anything beyond a simple taxable stock account, this is not a close comparison.
No commissions and no options contract fee for US users, on the narrowest product range in our set.
- Safety and regulation
- 7/10
- Fees and total cost
- 8/10
- Investment selection
- 5/10
- Account types and features
- 3/10
The widest published market access in our set, with a two-tier commission model and no account minimum.
- Safety and regulation
- 9/10
- Fees and total cost
- 9/10
- Investment selection
- 10/10
- Account types and features
- 8/10
What actually separates them
eToro US has no retirement accounts
We identified individual taxable accounts only. No IRA, joint, custodial or trust account appeared in what we read. That single fact excludes eToro US from our retirement and long-term rankings entirely, and it is the most consequential difference on this page.
Options are free at one and unquantified at the other
eToro publishes no per-contract options fee for US users, against $0.50 for non-US users. Interactive Brokers' options schedule sits on a separate page we did not read at this revision, so we recorded its per-contract options fee as unverified rather than filling in a number. Check it directly if options pricing is your deciding factor.
Registration history differs by decades
Interactive Brokers LLC holds SEC file number 8-47257 and CRD 36418. eToro USA Securities Inc. holds 8-70212 and CRD 298361 — the newest US registration in our database. Both are active and both are SIPC members, so custody protection is equivalent; what differs is length of track record, which is the only reason eToro scores 7 on safety against IBKR's 9.
Crypto pricing
eToro publishes a flat 1% to buy or sell crypto. Interactive Brokers offers crypto but we did not read its crypto pricing from a primary source at this revision. A 1% round trip is 2% of the position, which is expensive against dedicated venues — worth weighing if crypto is a meaningful part of why you are choosing a broker.
Consider eToro (US) if
You want a single taxable account, you trade options and value paying no contract fee, and you do not need retirement wrappers, mutual funds, bonds or futures.
Consider Interactive Brokers if
You need anything beyond US stocks and ETFs — non-US listings, futures, bonds, spot currencies — or you need an IRA, and you are willing to read a more complicated fee schedule to get it.
These are conditionals describing which published facts favour which firm, not recommendations. Neither is a statement about what is suitable for you.
Full side-by-side
Both firms across every field we track, verified on August 28, 2026. You can add up to two more brokers to the comparison.
Sources
- [1]eToro US — FeesRead August 28, 2026
- [2]FINRA BrokerCheck — eToro USA Securities Inc.Read August 28, 2026
- [3]Interactive Brokers — Stocks, ETFs, warrants and structured products commissionsRead August 28, 2026
- [4]Interactive Brokers — Options commissionsRead August 30, 2026
- [5]FINRA BrokerCheck — Interactive Brokers LLCRead August 28, 2026
- [6]Interactive Brokers — Other feesRead August 30, 2026
Affiliate disclosure
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Risk warning
Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Nothing on this site is personalized investment advice, a recommendation to buy or sell any security, or a solicitation. Figures are read from public sources on the dates shown and can change without notice — verify anything you intend to act on with the provider directly. Read the full risk disclosure.