Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of TradeStation vs eToro, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Bottom line: TradeStation offers a wider range of investments and account types than eToro, while eToro stands out for crypto and fractional shares. For Range of Investments, StockBrokers.com rates TradeStation 4 stars and ranks it #6 of 14 brokers; eToro earns 2.5 stars and ranks #14. Choose TradeStation if you want breadth and traditional retirement options. Choose eToro if you want easy crypto access and the ability to buy fractional shares.
Both brokers let you trade stocks and options, and neither supports forex. TradeStation adds margin trading, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and futures, plus Traditional and Roth IRA accounts. It does not offer crypto or fractional shares. eToro, by contrast, offers fractional shares and crypto trading with 104 coins, but no margin, OTC stocks, mutual funds, futures, or IRAs. Advisor services are not available at either broker.
In short, TradeStation suits investors who want a wide menu—stocks, options, futures, OTC stocks, mutual funds, and IRAs—inside one platform. eToro suits those who value crypto variety and fractional shares for low-dollar investing. Weigh the TradeStation vs eToro differences by the specific investment options and account features you plan to use most.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | No |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No |
| Mutual Funds | Yes | No |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 104 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Options Trading Platforms for 2026, Best Futures Trading Platforms for 2026
Bottom line: For trading platforms and tools, TradeStation clearly outpaces eToro. StockBrokers.com rates TradeStation 4 stars (ranked 3rd of 14) versus eToro at 1.5 stars (11th of 14). If you want advanced charting, deep customization, and true desktop software on both Windows and Mac, TradeStation is the stronger pick; eToro fits traders who prefer a simpler, browser-based experience with basic charting.
Platforms and workflow: TradeStation offers downloadable desktop platforms for Windows and Mac plus a web platform; eToro offers web only. Both provide paper trading and let you save multiple chart profiles. Neither includes a built-in trading journal. TradeStation’s watchlists are highly configurable (341 columns) compared with eToro’s 7, and TradeStation lets you adjust open orders directly on stock charts, which eToro does not.
Charting and analysis: TradeStation supplies 294 technical indicators and 45 drawing tools; eToro has 46 indicators and 48 drawing tools. Both let you add notes, but TradeStation can also show historical trades, corporate events, custom date ranges, and automated chart pattern recognition; eToro lacks those. Editing studies is more flexible on TradeStation (12 fields for a simple SMA vs 5 on eToro), and only TradeStation allows creating custom studies.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 341 | 7 |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 46 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 45 | 48 |
| Advanced Trading |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Brokers for 2026, Best Paper Trading Apps & Platforms for 2026
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TradeStation vs. eToro for beginner education: both teach stocks and options, and both provide paper trading and educational videos. eToro also covers ETFs and bonds, while TradeStation does not; neither broker offers mutual fund education. TradeStation hosts webinars, but eToro does not. Neither platform includes quizzes or tools to track your learning progress.
By third‑party ratings, StockBrokers.com gives TradeStation 2 out of 5 stars and ranks it 14th out of 14 for education, while eToro earns 3 out of 5 stars and ranks 9th. If you want the widest topic coverage (stocks, options, ETFs, and bonds), eToro has the edge. If live webinars are important to you, TradeStation is the better fit.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes |
| Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Platforms for Beginners of 2026
Bottom line: Both TradeStation and eToro earn 4-star ratings for their stock trading apps, but StockBrokers.com ranks TradeStation higher (#6 of 14) than eToro (#11). Choose TradeStation if you want customizable watch list columns and clearly supported mobile after-hours trading; go with eToro if you care more about deeper charting with 103 studies, comparison overlays, and an on-demand video library. Either way, you get iPhone and Android apps, options trading, streaming quotes, price alerts, and after-hours charting with multiple time frames.
Platform availability and core tools: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, mobile options trading, streaming quotes, stock alerts, and the ability to build custom watch lists. TradeStation lets you customize watch list columns, which eToro does not. Neither offers an Apple Watch app or streaming live TV. Only eToro provides videos on demand. TradeStation supports mobile after-hours order entry, while eToro’s mobile after-hours trading is not specified.
Charts and analysis on mobile: Both apps support after-hours charting and let you switch between multiple time frames, though neither lets you view charts in landscape mode. TradeStation includes 45 technical studies and does not allow stock-to-stock comparisons on charts. eToro packs in 103 technical studies and adds chart-based symbol comparisons, which can help you check relative performance at a glance.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple Watch App | No | No |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 103 |
| Mobile Trading Apps |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps for 2026
Here’s the quick takeaway on TradeStation vs eToro fees. eToro is the cheaper pick for options and transfers, with $0 stock commissions, $0 per options contract, and no fees for options exercise or assignment, plus lower account transfer (ACAT) charges. TradeStation stands out for a $0 minimum deposit, published margin rates, and IRA availability, but it adds per‑contract and options event fees and higher transfer costs. If you need margin or an IRA, TradeStation fits; if you want zero‑fee stock and options trading and lower transfer fees, eToro fits.
Core trading costs: both brokers offer $0 stock trades. Minimum deposit is $0 at TradeStation versus $50 at eToro. For options, TradeStation charges $0.60 per contract and adds $14.95 for exercise and $5.95 for assignment. eToro lists $0 per contract and $0 for both exercise and assignment.
Margin and other account fees: TradeStation posts margin rates of 12.5% up to $49,999 and 11.5% for $50,000–$99,999; eToro does not offer margin. TradeStation’s IRA fees are $35 annually with a $50 closure fee, while eToro’s IRA fees are not provided. For account transfers (ACAT), TradeStation charges $125 for partial or full transfers; eToro lists $75 for partial or full transfers.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $50.00 |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 |
| Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
| IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | |
| IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 |
Dive deeper: Best Free Trading Platforms for 2026
When it comes to day trading, TradeStation and eToro offer different features that cater to various trader preferences. For traders keen on deep market insights and control, TradeStation shines with features like direct market routing and ladder trading. These options provide traders with more precision and flexibility in executing trades. Additionally, TradeStation supports trading hotkeys for quick trade execution, level 2 quotes for better market depth, and both basic and advanced strategy backtesting, helping traders fine-tune their strategies effectively. The availability of a short locator tool is another advantage, offering real-time insights into shares available for shorting, combined with order liquidity rebates, enhancing the trading experience further.
On the other hand, eToro provides a more simplified approach to day trading. While it may not have the same extensive toolset as TradeStation, it does offer essential streaming time and sales data for stocks, which is crucial for monitoring market activity. However, absence of features like direct market routing, ladder trading, and trading hotkeys might make it less appealing to those who seek detailed market engagement. eToro lacks strategy backtesting tools and a short locator, which could limit traders looking for comprehensive trading analysis and strategies. In essence, TradeStation's platform is tailored for traders who require extensive tools and features, whereas eToro focuses on a more straightforward trading experience.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming TV | No | No |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No |
| Short Locator | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Day Trading Platforms of 2026 for Beginners and Active Traders
Bottom line: TradeStation offers broader, more traditional market research than eToro, scoring 2.5/5 stars and ranking #11 of 14 on StockBrokers.com, while eToro scores 2/5 stars and ranks #14. Pick TradeStation if you want screeners, OTC research, and a clear view of your portfolio by asset class. Choose eToro if social sentiment and ESG insights matter more to you than screeners and market coverage depth.
Both brokers provide stock and ETF research, and neither offers research on mutual funds or bonds. TradeStation covers Pink Sheets/OTCBB, whereas eToro does not. For downloadable PDF research reports, both list zero across stocks, ETFs, and mutual funds.
On tools, TradeStation gives you a portfolio allocation view by asset class and includes stock and ETF screeners for finding ideas. eToro lacks screeners and the allocation view, but it does add social media sentiment data and ESG research—features TradeStation does not include. Neither broker offers mutual fund or bond screeners.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No |
| Research |
|
|
When comparing the banking features of online brokers TradeStation and eToro, it's clear both platforms focus more on trading than traditional banking services. TradeStation doesn't provide any banking facilities like checking or savings accounts, debit or credit cards, mortgage loans, or certificates of deposit (CDs). Similarly, eToro also lacks these conventional banking products, including checking accounts, savings accounts, debit and credit cards, mortgage loans, and CDs. For users primarily interested in comprehensive banking options alongside trading, other platforms might better suit their needs, as both TradeStation and eToro focus specifically on investment and trading services.
| Feature |
TradeStation
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Checking Accounts | No | |
| Savings Accounts | No | |
| Debit Cards | No | |
| Credit Cards | No | |
| Mortgage Loans | No | |
| Brokerage CDs | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokerage Checking Accounts for 2026
After opening live accounts and testing 14 of the best online brokers, our research and live account testing finds that TradeStation is better than eToro. TradeStation finished with an overall score of 68.4%, while eToro finished with a score of 51.4%.
TradeStation is a brokerage best known for its highly customizable trading platforms, advanced options and futures capabilities, and powerful tools designed for active and experienced traders.
In the TradeStation vs eToro crypto trading comparison, TradeStation offers no cryptocurrency trading (0 coins). eToro supports crypto trading with access to 104 coins.
Dive deeper: Best Online Brokers for Crypto Trading in 2026
In comparing online brokers, TradeStation distinguishes itself by offering both traditional and Roth IRA accounts, with an annual fee of $35.00 and a $50.00 closure fee, whereas eToro does not provide IRA options, making TradeStation the favorable choice for individuals seeking retirement account offerings.
Dive deeper: Best IRA Accounts for 2026
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | TradeStation | eToro | |
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| Review | TradeStation Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | TradeStation | eToro | |
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| Trading Fees | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0.00 | $50.00 | |
| Stock Trades | $0.00 | $0.00 | |
| Penny Stock Fees (OTC) | $0.01 | N/A | |
| Mutual Fund Trade Fee | $14.95 | N/A | |
| Options (Per Contract) | $0.60 | $0.00 | |
| Futures (Per Contract) | $1.50 | (Not offered) | |
| Broker Assisted Trade Fee | $25 | $0 |
| Margin Rates | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margin Rate Under $25,000 | 12.5% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $25,000 to $49,999.99 | 12.5% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $50,000 to $99,999.99 | 11.5% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $100,000 to $249,999.99 | 11.5% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $250,000 to $499,999.99 | 12.0% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate $500,000 to $999,999.99 | 7.5% | Not offered | |
| Margin Rate Above $1,000,000 | 7.5% | Not offered |
| Account Fees | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| IRA Annual Fee | $35.00 | ||
| IRA Closure Fee | $50.00 | ||
| Account Transfer Out (Partial) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
| Account Transfer Out (Full) | $125.00 | $75.00 | |
| Options Exercise Fee | $14.95 | $0.00 | |
| Options Assignment Fee | $5.95 | $0.00 |
| Investment Options | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Account Feature - Margin Trading | Yes | No | |
| Fractional Shares (Stocks) | No | Yes | |
| OTC Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Options Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Complex Options Max Legs | 4 | 0 | |
| Futures Trading | Yes | No | |
| Forex Trading | No | No | |
| Crypto Trading | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading - Total Coins | 0 | 104 | |
| Fixed Income (Treasurys) | No | No | |
| Fixed Income (Corporate Bonds) | No | No | |
| Fixed Income (Municipal Bonds) | No | No | |
| Traditional IRAs | Yes | No | |
| Roth IRAs | Yes | No | |
| Advisor Services | No | No | |
| International Countries (Stocks) | 0 | 0 |
| Order Types | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Order Type - Market | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Limit | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - After Hours | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - Trailing Stop | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Type - OCO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - OTO | Yes | No | |
| Order Type - Broker Assisted | Yes | No |
| Beginners | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Stocks) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (ETFs) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Options) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Mutual Funds) | No | No | |
| Education (Fixed Income) | No | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Retirement Calculator | No | No | |
| Investor Dictionary | No | No | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Progress Tracking | No | No | |
| Interactive Learning - Quizzes | No | No |
| Stock Trading Apps | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple Watch App | No | No | |
| Trading - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - After-Hours | Yes | No | |
| Trading - Simple Options | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading - Complex Options | Yes | No | |
| Order Ticket RT Quotes | Yes | Yes | |
| Order Ticket SRT Quotes | Yes | Yes |
| Stock App Features | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobile Research - Market Movers | Yes | Yes | |
| Stream Live TV | No | No | |
| Videos on Demand | No | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Option Chains Viewable | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Real-time) | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist (Streaming) | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Create & Manage | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Column Customization | Yes | No |
| Stock App Charting | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - After-Hours | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Can Turn Horizontally | No | No | |
| Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Technical Studies | 45 | 103 | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Comparisons | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active Trading Platform | TradeStation 10 | N/A | |
| Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Mac) | Yes | No | |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Paper Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Journal | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 341 | 7 |
| Stock Chart Features | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charting - Adjust Trades on Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 294 | 46 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 45 | 48 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Historical Trades | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Corporate Events | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Date Range | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Custom Time Bars | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Automated Analysis | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Save Profiles | Yes | Yes | |
| Trade Ideas - Technical Analysis | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Study Customizations | 12 | 5 | |
| Charting - Custom Studies | Yes | No |
| Day Trading | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Streaming Time & Sales | Yes | Yes | |
| Streaming TV | No | No | |
| Direct Market Routing - Equities | Yes | No | |
| Ladder Trading | Yes | No | |
| Trade Hot Keys | Yes | No | |
| Level 2 Quotes - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting | Yes | No | |
| Trade Ideas - Backtesting Adv | Yes | No | |
| Short Locator | Yes | No | |
| Order Liquidity Rebates | Yes | No |
| Research Overview | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Stocks | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Research - Pink Sheets / OTCBB | Yes | No | |
| Research - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Screener - Stocks | Yes | No | |
| Screener - ETFs | Yes | No | |
| Screener - Mutual Funds | No | No | |
| Screener - Fixed Income | No | No | |
| Portfolio Asset Allocation | Yes | No |
| Stock Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Research - PDF Reports | 0 | 0 | |
| Stock Research - Earnings | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Insiders | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - Social | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - News | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Research - ESG | No | Yes | |
| Stock Research - SEC Filings | No | Yes |
| ETF Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ETFs - Investment Objective | No | Yes | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Inception Date | No | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Expense Ratio | No | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Assets | No | No | |
| ETF Fund Facts - Total Holdings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| ETFs - Sector Exposure | No | No | |
| ETFs - Risk Analysis | No | No | |
| ETFs - Ratings | No | Yes | |
| ETFs - Morningstar StyleMap | No | No | |
| ETFs - PDF Reports | No | No |
| Mutual Fund Research | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mutual Funds - Investment Objective | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Chart | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Performance Analysis | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Prospectus | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - 3rd Party Ratings | Yes | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Fees Breakdown | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Top 10 Holdings | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Asset Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Sector Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - Country Allocation | No | No | |
| Mutual Funds - StyleMap | No | No |
| Options Trading | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Option Chains - Total Greeks | 5 | 4 | |
| Option Analysis - P&L Charts | Yes | No |
| Banking | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank (Member FDIC) | No | ||
| Checking Accounts | No | ||
| Savings Accounts | No | ||
| Credit Cards | No | ||
| Debit Cards | No | ||
| Mortgage Loans | No |
| Customer Service | TradeStation | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Support (Prospective Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Phone Support (Current Customers) | Yes | No | |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Prospective Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| Live Chat (Current Customers) | Yes | Yes | |
| 24/7 Support | No | No |
| Overall | TradeStation | eToro | |
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| Research |
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| Education |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | TradeStation Review | eToro Review |
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