eToro vs Libertex - Which provider is better? Direct comparison of online brokers
eToro vs Libertex - the big comparison 2021. For every investor who wants to trade in shares, CFDs, ETFs or even cryptocurrencies, the question arises as to which broker to invest with. In the meantime, there are many operators that advertise with low prices and a wide range of offers. The differences are usually found in the small print. In order to relieve our readers of the work, we compare two of the best online brokers in our big Libertex vs eToro comparison, so that our readers get an exact picture of how and in what the two brokers differ. Everything else about the overview of costs and offers can be found in the following article.
eToro was launched in 2007 and has made a name for itself over the years as one of the most trusted and popular online brokers. On the one hand through strategic marketing in the main markets, but on the other hand above all through unbeatable functions that make trading easier for beginners in particular. These include an intuitive user interface, low-cost offers and social trading, which allows investors to participate in the portfolio of successful investors and thus support them at the same time.
eToro is represented all over the world and is regulated by two European financial authorities, which creates further trust. eToro also offers a wide range of products, including not only shares or CFDs, but also ETFs, cryptocurrencies and many other investments. Furthermore, the offers at eToro are available commission-free.
Even though Libertex is one of the lesser-known online brokers in this country, the trading platform based in Russia and Cyprus was able to make a name for itself within a very short time. Libertex was founded in 2015 by Forex Club, a Russian company that has specialised in financial services since 1997.
The provider gained attention especially in Great Britain and Spain through cooperations with the British Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur and the Spanish Primera Division club FC Valencia. The company is currently active in over 27 countries and is regulated and supervised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
active since | 2007 | 2015 |
publicly traded | No | No |
Approval in the EU | Yes | Yes |
Number of Tier 1 licenses | 2 | 1 |
Number of tier 2 licenses | 1 | 0 |
Number of tier 3 licenses | 1 | 1 |
head office | UK / Cyprus / Israel | Russia / Cyprus |
Costs and fees comparison
The costs and fees of the two providers are not easy to compare, as they vary greatly depending on the offer and have different cost structures. For example, in most cases eToro relies on commission-free trading and finances itself via the spreads, whereas Libertex does not finance itself via spreads but via commissions. The commissions can differ here depending on the investment and trading form.
For example, those interested in cryptocurrencies pay a spread of between 0.75% and 5% at eToro, while Libertex offers the largest selection of cryptocurrencies completely without spreads. However, cryptocurrency pairs can incur commissions of up to 2.5%. To give our readers a better insight, we have compared the most common costs.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
Custody account management | Free | n / A |
Inactivity charges | After 12 months without login, 10 USD per month | For trading accounts of less than $ 10,000, $ 5 per month plus a 2.00% withdrawal fee is due after 180 days. |
Stocks & ETFs order costs | Free, spread only; for ETF plus ETF-specific management fees | From 0%, usually between 0.1% and 0.2% for stocks |
Funds | n / A | n / A |
CFDs | Free of charge, spread + overnight charges only, if applicable | n / A |
Savings plans | n / A | n / A |
Bonds | n / A | n / A |
Crypto | Free, spread only | From 0% |
Spreads | Stocks & ETFs: from 0.2% | No spreads |
Overnight positions | Yes, depending on the leverage / margin / position | Yes, depending on the instrument |
Currency trading fees | From 50 pip / 0.5% | From 0% |
Withdrawal Fees | $ 5 per withdrawal | 0 - 1% |
Deposit fees | No | No |
Commissions on stocks | No | From 0% |
Account comparison
Even though neither provider officially offers a VIP account, the account status of customers differs depending on the amount of customer deposits. Generally, the more deposited, the more features and amenities the accounts offer.
eToro
The eToro VIP status is divided into 5 different account types:
Libertex
Just like eToro, Libertex also offers customers different status levels:
etoro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
Standard account | Yes | Yes |
Demo account | Yes | Yes |
Mini account | No | No |
Micro account | No | No |
VIP account | Yes (club member) | Yes (status level) |
Wallet | Yes | No |
Trading instruments
A first major difference between the two brokers becomes clear in the breadth of the offering. While eToro offers all common trading instruments such as shares, CFDs, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, Libertex is primarily a Forex and CFD broker.
Furthermore, eToro has a much larger number of securities in stock. While Libertex offers hundreds of different trading instruments, the number at eToro is in the thousands.
Due to the fact that you can trade real shares at eToro, investors can not only profit from the increase in value, but also have shareholder rights. eToro is also ahead in terms of crypto trading: in addition to CFDs, it is also possible to trade with real coins and tokens and store them in the provider's own eToro Wallet. In the eToro vs Libertex comparison, the trading instruments section clearly goes to eToro.
etoro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
Shares (number) | More than 2400 | n/a |
raw materials | 46 | n/a |
ETFs | 255 | n/a |
Indices | 13 | n/a |
Forex trading | Yes | Yes |
Currency pairs | 52 | n/a |
Number of CFDs | More than 2400 | More than 250 |
Cryptocurrencies | 16 | n/a |
Payment methods
Furthermore, it should be noted that the withdrawal options with both providers are more limited than the deposit options. While eToro offers credit card, PayPal and bank transfer, Libertex offers credit card, SEPA, Neteller and Skrill. Attention: Depending on the deposit and withdrawal method, the transfer duration as well as the costs may vary. Furthermore, not all payment methods are accessible for every market.
etoro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
PayPal | Yes | Yes |
Skrill | Yes | Yes |
Neteller | Yes | Yes |
Credit cards | Yes | Yes |
UnionPay | Yes | No |
Webmoney | Yes | No |
Yandex | Yes | No |
Bank Transfer | Yes | No |
Giropay | Yes | Yes |
RIGHT AWAY | Yes | Yes |
Trading conditions
The topic of trading conditions is also a very important point, but one that is neglected by most reviews. Depending on which trading method one chooses, the right broker is important. Based on one's trading method, it is important to find out about the trading conditions of the respective online broker, otherwise nasty surprises could await traders.
While eToro has a stricter set of rules in the area of scalping and hedging, Libertex generally takes a more liberal approach to trading conditions. In our eToro vs Libertex comparison, Libertex can score against eToro for the first time. The following is a summary of the most common trading conditions at eToro and Libertex.
eToro | Libertex | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Scalping | No | Yes | |
Hedging | estricted | Yes | |
EAs | No | Yes | |
STP broker | Yes | Yes | |
Market maker | Yes | Yes | |
Min. Trade |
| 10 EUR for all instruments | |
Max. Trade | n / A | n / A | |
lever | Yes | Yes | |
Margin trading | Yes | Yes | |
Min. Deposit | 100 USD | 100 EUR |
Seriousness
Due to the Tier 1 licences, the issue of security and seriousness is given with both providers. Both eToro and Libertex have a European licence, which means that deposits are secured and investors enjoy the greatest possible protection. Everything else about security, protection and licences is described in detail in the next section. In addition, beginners should also make sure that they receive sufficient training opportunities in order to continuously improve - and here, too, both providers are convincing.
First of all, eToro and Libertex offer a free and non-binding demo account, which not only gives beginners a good overview of the providers' menu and functions, but also allows them to test their trading strategy against real market conditions. Even though both providers cover most forms of training, it can still be said that eToro is ahead here as well.
While the training videos, webinars or entries at Libertex can be counted on one hand and can only provide a small insight into the extensive world of securities trading, eToro has spent a multitude of resources to optimise the training material in the best possible way. From news and analysis blogs to webinars and a glossary of key terms, eToro makes sure to shorten the path from beginner to trading pro as much as possible.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Advanced trading videos | Yes | No |
Webinars | Yes | Yes |
Forex learning material | Yes | No |
CFD learning material | No | Yes |
Glossary of the most important terms | Yes | No |
Security, protection and licence
Libertex vs eToro: In terms of security, protection and licence, the two providers do not have much in common. Both providers have a European Tier 1 financial regulator in the form of the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission, so that funds and deposits are protected. In addition, eToro is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK (eToro UK).
Through the European deposit guarantee in the event of a broker's insolvency, customers are protected with an amount of up to 20,000 euros. However, this is only one advantage. For example, EU retail investors do not have to make any margin calls, which means that, as a rule, no more can be lost than the broker's trading account provides. The following is an overview of the EU Tier 1 licences of the providers.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
License | Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (License No. 109/10) | Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (License No. 164/12) |
country | Cyprus | Cyprus |
SSL | Yes | Yes |
Deposit insurance | EUR 20,000 | EUR 20,000 |
Customer service
As a globally positioned company, eToro is also ahead in terms of customer service in our eToro vs Libertex comparison. While both online brokers offer an FAQ page to answer the most pressing questions without waiting, both providers have also set up an email service that responds promptly and competently. Both providers usually need no more than one working day to answer customer questions.
However, the features just mentioned are only basic requirements. eToro goes one step further and also has a live chat on offer, where already registered users or even new customers can ask any burning questions in real time. This is a huge advantage, because customers don't want to wait when it comes to bank data, error messages or other problems.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
Yes | Yes | |
phone | No | No |
Live chat | Yes | No |
Website | Yes | Yes |
Mobile and app comparison
eToro vs Libertex: In terms of apps and mobile applications, both providers are well positioned. The apps of both providers have an appealing design and convince with their user-friendliness. This allows investors to maintain a full overview of their finances - whether from home or on the move. The apps of both providers are available for iOS and Android in the Apple Store and on Google Play.
The eToro app has already been downloaded over 5 million times in the Google Play Store.
The Libertex online trading app has even been downloaded over 10 million times.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
iOS | Yes | Yes |
Android | Yes | Yes |
Windows | No | No |
User interface
When it comes to user-friendliness, there is hardly a platform that can hold a candle to eToro. Even beginners who have had little or no previous experience with trading can quickly make trading decisions on their own and execute them without any problems.
eToro can convince here with a beginner-friendly menu for browser, iOS and Android, which does not overwhelm beginners, but still goes into depth, so that trading professionals can also benefit equally.
Another advantage of eToro is social trading, which in this form is one of the unique selling points of the platform. Through social trading it is possible to profit from the trading decisions of experienced traders.
Libertex also offers an easy-to-use menu, which allows beginners to quickly navigate through the individual trading instruments. However, the start menu in particular can be daunting due to the large amount of information and data.
eToro | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 | No | Yes |
MT5 | No | No |
Web trader | Yes | No |
CTrader | No | No |
DupliTrade | No | No |
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Social trading / copy trading | Yes | No |
Opening an account for beginners
Opening an account with eToro and Libertex is quick and easy and can be done either via the browser variant or the mobile app. In the following instructions we explain the registration in simple steps for both providers.
Step 1: Register with eToro
If you want to register with eToro, you can either use a Facebook and Google account or an email address. If you register by email, this must then be confirmed. Users already have access to the demo account and can practice trading on real market conditions. For access and deposit to the real money account, further questions must be answered and the identity verified.
Step 2: Deposit into the eToro account
Once the registration has been completed, investors can deposit money into the trading account. Here, investors have a wide range of payment options at their disposal, including credit card, bank transfer, instant banking, Skrill, Neteller or PayPal. As soon as the money has been received, trading can begin.
Step 3: Start trading
Investors can easily invest in shares, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, CFDs and many other securities. All securities can be easily filtered for this purpose using the search function.*Spreads on CFD trading.
Step 1: Register with Libertex
To register with Libertex, all you need to do is click on the "Register" menu item on the homepage. Alternatively, you can download the Libertex app for Android or iOS. All that is then required is an e-mail address and a password in order to register free of charge and without obligation. In addition, the processing of personal data and the general terms and conditions must be agreed to.
Step 2: Deposit and opening a deposit with Libertex
In the next step, users are directly in the main menu of the provider and should go to the menu item "Deposit". Here, users can simply enter the amount of money (minimum deposit amount: 100€) as well as select the payment method. Depending on the deposit, customers are upgraded to a special status level, which offers more and more advantages as the amount increases.
If, as a first-time customer, you click on "Deposit" after entering the amount, the amount is not transferred immediately, but you are asked further questions about your identity beforehand. The questions include the level of education, employment status, net income and extent of assets, to name but a few.
After the formalities have been completed, money can be deposited into the account. Depending on the deposit method, it can sometimes take a few working days for the money to arrive in the trading account.
Step 3: Start trading
As soon as all steps have been completed, you can start trading. As with eToro, you can simply enter the name of the trading instrument in the search bar and open a trading position.
Advantages and disadvantages of the two brokers
Advantages and disadvantages of eToro
The following is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of eToro:
Pros
Cons
Advantages and disadvantages of Libertex
The following is a summary of the advantages and disadvantages of Libertex:
Pros
Cons
Differences
A big difference between eToro and Libertex can be seen in the asset classes. eToro has a wide range of stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs, cryptocurrencies and other assets, while Libertex mainly offers CFDs.
Who is eToro suitable for? For whom Libertex?
Egl whether eToro or Libertex - investors can be sure that their money is in good hands with both providers. However, the question arises as to which provider you should choose. The following is a brief overview of which broker is most suitable for which type of investor.
eToro
Libertex
Conclusion - who is ahead?
eToro vs Libertex - which online broker can take pole position? Even though preferences differ depending on one's own trading strategy and goals, the overall victory clearly goes to eToro.
Since Libertex is primarily a CFD broker, the selection of trading instruments at eToro is far greater. Even in the number of CFDs, eToro beats Libertex by a long way.
Social trading is a new form of investment made presentable by eToro that allows beginners to generate returns like trading professionals.
The user interface may not be as in-depth as Libertex, but it perfectly combines the interests of beginners and trading professionals.
eToro is an excellent way to build a diversified portfolio - and with zero commissions. Those who want to convince themselves of the offer should open a free demo account with the test winner as a first step.
Our recommendation: Buy cryptos with eToro
Incl. wallet
Buy and sell cryptocurrencies directly in the wallet
Paypal, credit card and instant bank transfer
Regulated provider
Real cryptos or CFD trades
