Yes, eToro is safe to use in the UK in the sense that matters most: it is a regulated broker. UK clients open accounts with eToro (UK) Ltd, which has been authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) since May 2013, with firm reference number 583263. Its parent company has been listed on Nasdaq since May 2025.
That doesn’t make every product on eToro low risk. Shares and ETFs are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) if the broker fails. Crypto is not, and CFDs can lose you money quickly. Below we explain how eToro protects your money, what isn’t protected and what it costs, so you can decide whether it suits you. eToro is often recommended as a beginner-friendly platform, so we also cover the risks new investors tend to miss.
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 at a glance
| Feature | eToro UK |
| Founded | 2007 |
| UK company | eToro (UK) Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 583263) |
| Other regulators | CySEC (Europe) and ASIC (Australia), for clients outside the UK |
| Stock market listing | Nasdaq (ETOR) since May 2025 |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to £85,000 per person (not crypto) |
| Minimum first deposit | $50 |
| Demo account | Yes, with $100,000 in virtual funds |
| Assets | Stocks, ETFs, cryptoassets and CFDs on shares, currencies, commodities and indices |
| CFD leverage | Up to 30:1 on major currency pairs and 5:1 on individual shares (FCA limits for retail clients) |
| Accounts | Trading account, Stocks and Shares ISA and a GBP account |
| Platforms | Web platform and mobile apps (iOS and Android) |
| Customer service | Live chat and support tickets |
Sources: eToro regulation page, FCA register and eToro fees, October 2026.
Is eToro legal and safe to use in the UK?
Yes. eToro is legal in the UK and is listed as authorised on the FCA register. As an FCA-regulated firm, it has to hold enough capital, keep client money and assets apart from its own and treat customers fairly under the Consumer Duty.
These are the main protections for UK clients:
- Segregated client assets: when you buy a real share or ETF without leverage, you own it. eToro holds client money and assets in segregated accounts, apart from the company’s own funds. If eToro failed, these assets shouldn’t be used to pay its creditors.
- FSCS protection: eToro (UK) Ltd is covered by the FSCS. If eToro UK went bust and there was a shortfall in client money or assets, you could claim up to £85,000 per person. The FSCS doesn’t cover losses from falling prices.
- Financial Ombudsman Service: if eToro doesn’t resolve a complaint about its regulated services, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service for free.
- Public company reporting: eToro Group has been listed on Nasdaq since May 2025, so it publishes audited results every quarter. In the second quarter of 2026, it reported 4.28 million funded accounts and $19.2 billion in assets under administration.
eToro used to advertise a private insurance policy through Lloyd’s of London. Its 2021 disclosure covered UK clients for up to £1 million above the FSCS limit, with a total cap of £10 million for all UK claims, and excluded crypto. eToro’s current UK regulation page doesn’t mention this insurance, so don’t count on it.
Crypto has much less protection. eToro (UK) Ltd is registered with the FCA for crypto only under the anti-money laundering rules. That registration doesn’t mean the FCA supervises eToro’s crypto products, and crypto isn’t covered by the FSCS or the Financial Ombudsman Service.
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.
Is eToro regulated?
Yes. eToro uses a different company in each region, and your protections depend on which one holds your account:
- UK: eToro (UK) Ltd, authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 583263), registered at One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London.
- GBP account: eToro Money UK Ltd, authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (FRN 900203).
- Europe: eToro (Europe) Ltd, regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Australia: eToro AUS Capital Limited, regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
If you live in the UK, your account is with eToro (UK) Ltd. You can check this in the terms you accepted when you signed up. Always check a broker on the FCA register before you deposit, and make sure you’re on the real eToro website or app, since scammers often copy well-known brands.
What do customers say about eToro?
In October 2026, eToro has a TrustScore of 4.0 out of 5 (“Great”) on Trustpilot, from more than 32,000 reviews. 66% of reviewers give 5 stars and 20% give 1 star, so opinions are split.
Positive reviews often mention the easy app and CopyTrader. The most common complaints are about delayed withdrawals, accounts held up during identity checks and slow replies from support. Trustpilot reviews are a useful signal, but they don’t tell you whether your money is protected. Regulation and the FSCS do that.
What can you invest in with eToro?
At eToro, UK clients can invest in:
- Stocks: more than 6,000 real stocks from 20 exchanges, including London, Frankfurt, New York and Nasdaq.
- ETFs: funds from providers such as iShares, Vanguard and Invesco.
- Cryptoassets: you can buy and hold real crypto. UK retail clients can’t trade crypto with leverage, since the FCA banned crypto derivatives for retail investors in January 2021. eToro stopped giving staking rewards to new UK users in February 2022.
- CFDs: contracts for difference on shares, currencies, commodities such as gold and oil, and indices. CFDs use leverage, which magnifies losses as well as gains.
- Stocks and Shares ISA: eToro’s ISA runs on Moneyfarm’s platform, with no commission and no custody fee. A 0.70% FX fee applies to non-GBP assets.
With CopyTrader, you can automatically copy the portfolio of another investor. The minimum to copy one trader is $200, you can copy up to 100 traders at once and each copied position must be at least $1. Copying doesn’t remove risk: if the trader you copy loses money, so do you. Read more in our guide to eToro copy trading.
eToro fees for UK clients
eToro charges no commission on real stocks and ETFs for UK clients. Other fees may apply. These are the main costs in October 2026:
| Fee | eToro UK |
| Stocks and ETFs | No commission (other fees may apply). 0.5% stamp duty on UK shares |
| Currency conversion | 0.75% to move money from the GBP account to the USD account |
| Deposits | No fee from eToro |
| Withdrawals | Free from the GBP account. $5 from the USD account (minimum $30) |
| Inactivity fee | None since 28 May 2026 |
| Crypto | 1% to buy and 1% to sell (lower for higher Club tiers). 2% to transfer crypto off the platform |
| CFDs | Spread plus overnight fees on positions held overnight |
Source: eToro fees, October 2026.
For US shares, the 0.75% conversion fee is the cost most people miss. Investing £1,000 in US shares from the GBP account costs about £7.50 in FX each way. If low costs are your priority, compare eToro with the platforms in our guide to the cheapest stock trading platforms.
How does eToro protect your account?
eToro encrypts your data and lets you turn on two-factor authentication (2FA), which asks for a code as well as your password when you log in. It also runs a bug bounty programme on HackerOne, where security researchers can report weaknesses.
The biggest risk to most accounts is phishing: fake emails, texts or social media accounts that try to get your login details. To stay safe:
- Turn on 2FA.
- Log in only through the eToro app or by typing etoro.com yourself.
- Never share your password or 2FA codes, and ignore anyone who contacts you offering to manage your account.
Customer support
You can contact eToro through live chat or by opening a ticket in the Help Centre, on the website or in the app. There is also an automated chatbot for simple questions.
Use live chat for quick questions. For anything that needs documents or screenshots, such as identity checks, open a ticket. eToro is active on social media, but it will never ask for your password or offer to trade for you through private messages.
Pros and cons of eToro
| Pros | Cons |
| Regulated in the UK: FCA-authorised, with FSCS cover up to £85,000 for shares, ETFs and client money. | Crypto isn’t protected: no FSCS or Financial Ombudsman cover for crypto. |
| Public company: listed on Nasdaq since May 2025, with audited quarterly results. | FX fee on US shares: 0.75% to convert pounds to dollars. |
| No commission on stocks and ETFs: for UK clients. Other fees may apply. | Crypto costs: 1% to buy and 1% to sell, plus 2% to move crypto off the platform. |
| CopyTrader: copy other investors from $200 per trader. | CFD risk: 52% of retail CFD accounts lose money with eToro. |
| GBP account and ISA: free withdrawals from the GBP account and a Stocks and Shares ISA. | No phone support: support is by live chat and tickets. |
| Free demo account: practise with $100,000 in virtual funds. | No spread betting: see our eToro spread betting alternatives. |
What are the risks of using eToro?
eToro’s regulation protects you if the company fails. It doesn’t protect you from investment losses. The main risks are:
- CFDs: leverage means a small price move can wipe out your deposit. Under FCA rules, eToro must close positions when your margin falls to 50% of the required level, and you can’t lose more than your account balance.
- Crypto: prices are very volatile and there is no FSCS or Ombudsman protection.
- Copy trading: past returns of the traders you copy don’t guarantee future results.
- Currency risk: most shares on eToro are priced in US dollars, so a stronger pound reduces your returns.
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.
Conclusion
Is eToro safe in the UK? As a company, yes. eToro (UK) Ltd has been FCA-regulated since 2013, holds client assets in segregated accounts and is covered by the FSCS up to £85,000. Its parent company is listed on Nasdaq, with 4.28 million funded accounts in mid-2026.
The products are a different question. Real shares, ETFs and the ISA carry normal investment risk, with FSCS protection if eToro fails. Crypto has no FSCS or Ombudsman cover, and 52% of retail CFD accounts lose money. If you stick to shares and ETFs, use the GBP account and turn on 2FA, eToro is a reasonable choice, especially if you want to copy other investors.
When investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than you invest.
FAQ
Is eToro legit or a scam?
eToro is a legitimate broker. eToro (UK) Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA (FRN 583263), and its parent company is listed on Nasdaq. Scammers do pretend to be eToro, so only use the official app and website.
Is my money protected if eToro goes bust?
Your shares and ETFs are held in segregated accounts, separate from eToro’s own money. If there was a shortfall, the FSCS could pay up to £85,000 per person. Crypto isn’t covered.
Where are my securities held by eToro UK?
eToro UK holds client securities in pooled, segregated accounts, separate from its own assets. This means they shouldn’t form part of eToro’s assets if it became insolvent.
Has eToro had security problems?
eToro hasn’t reported a breach of client funds, but no platform can promise it will never be attacked. Most account takeovers happen through phishing, so turn on 2FA and never share your login details.
How can you deposit money into eToro?
UK clients can deposit by bank transfer, debit card and PayPal, among other methods. eToro doesn’t charge a deposit fee, and the minimum first deposit is $50. Withdrawals from the GBP account are free.
How does the account opening process work?
You sign up online or in the app, answer questions about your experience and upload proof of identity and address. You can try the $100,000 demo account while your account is checked.
Does eToro charge an inactivity fee?
No. eToro stopped charging its $10 monthly inactivity fee on 28 May 2026.
What is the eToro risk score?
eToro gives every portfolio a risk score from 1 to 10, based on how volatile it is. Popular Investors whose portfolios you can copy must keep their risk score at 7 or below. A higher score means a higher chance of large losses.