Etoro Copy Trading

Thinking about trying copy trading on eToro? CopyTrader lets you link part of your account to another investor, so your portfolio buys and sells what they do, in proportion to the amount you allocate. It’s a way to learn how other people invest. It is also a way to lose money quickly if you copy the wrong person.

This guide covers how eToro copy trading works in the UK, what it costs in 2026 and the risks to weigh first.

eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 583263). 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.

Copy trading does not amount to investment advice. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk. Past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.

eToro copy trading at a glance

Regulation	FCA, FRN 583263
Minimum to copy one trader	$200
Maximum per trader	$2 million
Traders you can copy at once	Up to 100
Minimum per copied position	$1
Management fee for copying	None
Minimum first deposit	$50
Account currency	GBP account available
Currency conversion (GBP to USD)	0.75%
Withdrawal fee	Free from the GBP account, $5 from the USD account (minimum $30)
Inactivity fee	None since 28 May 2026
Demo account	$100,000 in virtual funds

Pros of eToro copy trading

• No management or performance fee for copying a trader
• You can see each trader’s history, risk score and holdings before you copy
• Start with $200 per trader
• GBP account, so GBP deposits and withdrawals carry no conversion fee
• Free demo account to test copying with virtual money

Cons of eToro copy trading

• A trader’s past returns say little about the future
• Copied positions can include leveraged CFDs and crypto, which carry more risk and higher costs
• 0.75% currency conversion when your GBP buys US assets
• Gains from copy trading in the main eToro account sit outside an ISA, so Capital Gains Tax and dividend tax rules apply

How does copy trading on eToro work?

When you copy someone, eToro opens the same positions in your account, scaled to the amount you allocated. If a trader puts 10% of their portfolio into a share, 10% of your copy goes into the same share. When they sell, you sell.

You can choose whether to copy their open trades or only new ones. You can also add or remove funds from a copy, pause it or stop it at any time.

Each trader has a risk score from 1 to 10, based on how volatile their portfolio has been. eToro’s Popular Investor programme rewards traders whose copiers stay with them, and it expects them to keep risk within set limits.

How to copy trade on eToro

1. Open an eToro account and pass the identity checks. The minimum first deposit is $50.
2. Go to the CopyTrader section and filter traders by asset class, risk score, return period, number of copiers and country.
3. Open a trader’s profile. Check how long they have traded, their worst drawdown, how often they trade and whether they use CFDs or crypto.
4. Click Copy, enter an amount of at least $200 and decide whether to copy open trades.
5. Set a copy stop loss. This closes the whole copy if its value falls to the level you choose.

Not ready to risk real money? The demo account gives you $100,000 in virtual funds, and you can copy traders there first.

What are eToro copy trading fees?

eToro does not charge for the act of copying. You pay the same costs as if you had placed each trade yourself:

• Spreads on every position the copy opens and closes.
• Currency conversion of 0.75% when GBP is converted to USD for US assets.
• Crypto fees of 1% to buy and 1% to sell if the trader holds crypto.
• Overnight fees on any leveraged or CFD positions held overnight.
• Withdrawals: free from the GBP account, $5 from the USD account.

A trader who opens and closes lots of positions costs you more in spreads than one who buys and holds. Check the full list on eToro’s fees page before you copy.

Example: you copy a trader with £1,000 from your GBP account and they hold only US shares. The conversion alone costs about £7.50 on the way in. If the copy is closed and converted back, a similar charge applies again.

Is eToro copy trading profitable?

It can be, but many copiers lose money. Returns depend on the trader you choose, the markets they trade and when you start and stop copying. A trader with a strong year can have a weak one next, and people often join after the best run is over.

Spread your money across a few traders with different styles, keep each copy small compared with your savings and use a copy stop loss.

Is eToro copy trading worth it?

For beginners who want to see how others build a portfolio, CopyTrader is a practical way to learn. The lack of a copy fee helps and the GBP account removes the old withdrawal charge for UK users.

The main drawbacks are risk and tax. Check whether a trader uses CFDs before you copy them. Copying happens in your main eToro trading account, so gains don’t get ISA protection. eToro also offers a Stocks and Shares ISA, which is a separate product for your own investments.

Final thoughts

eToro copy trading suits investors who want to learn from others and are comfortable with the risk. Start small, read each trader’s profile carefully and test it in the demo account first.

Start copy trading on eToro

Not ready yet? Read our eToro review, based on our own use of the platform, and our answers to the most frequently asked questions about eToro.

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.

Crypto: 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.

Disclaimer: Your capital is at risk. This is not financial advice. Do your own research or speak to a regulated adviser.