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eToro vs Plus500 for US stocks
eToro gives you the actual share; Plus500 gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment.
Pick eToro if beginners. Pick Plus500 if simple one-screen CFD trading.
Whether a position is a real share or a derivative is decided by your region and leverage setting — check before assuming ownership.
Visit eToroDeliberately minimal. Fine as a CFD terminal, wrong tool for building a long-term US portfolio.
Visit Plus500Side by side
| eToro | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you hold | The share | A CFD on the price |
| US stock access | 3,000+ stocks across US and global exchanges | Several hundred US share CFDs |
| Minimum deposit | $50 | $100 |
| Fractional shares | Yes | n/a |
| Published pricing | $0 commission on real stock investing in most regions; currency conversion and withdrawal fees apply. | Costs are spread-only with no separate commission; overnight funding and an inactivity fee apply. |
| Platforms | eToro web, eToro mobile | Plus500 web, Plus500 mobile |
| Extended hours | Not offered on real-stock orders | Not offered |
| Regulation | FCA 583263, CySEC 109/10, ASIC 491139 | FCA 509909, CySEC 250/14, ASIC 417727 |
| Founded | 2007 | 2008 |
Where each one wins
eToro
- Beginners
- Copy trading
- Mixing real shares and CFDs in one app
- Whether you get a real share or a CFD depends on your region and whether leverage is applied
- FX conversion costs on non-USD deposits
Plus500
- Simple one-screen CFD trading
- No share ownership
- Inactivity fee
- No third-party platforms
Frequently asked questions
eToro or Plus500 — which is better for US stocks?
eToro gives you the actual share; Plus500 gives leveraged exposure to the price without ownership. That is not a preference — it is a different product, with different tax, dividend and risk treatment. eToro: beginners. Plus500: simple one-screen CFD trading.
Which is cheaper?
eToro: $0 commission on real stock investing in most regions; currency conversion and withdrawal fees apply. Plus500: Costs are spread-only with no separate commission; overnight funding and an inactivity fee apply. Both figures are restated from each broker's own pricing page; for small non-USD accounts, currency conversion usually costs more than commission does.
Which is better regulated?
eToro is authorised by FCA, CySEC, ASIC; Plus500 by FCA, CySEC, ASIC. What matters is which entity holds your account, since that determines your compensation scheme and leverage limits.
Reviewed August 2026. Figures restated from each broker's published pages.