Investing, risk, adrenaline, profit: do these four words speak to you? Then trading is probably the right activity for you. To make the most of it, you need to find the best online broker to maximize your gains. In this online broker comparison, we help you find your way. Vantage or eToro: which one should you choose? Find out right now!
Online Broker Comparison — Our Top Picks
By comparing online brokers, we were able to put together our top 3. There are many brokers on the market today, but a few stand out from the crowd. They include:
- Vantage: the Best Broker for Professionals
- eToro: the Best Broker for Social Trading
Vantage — Best Online Broker for Fees
Vantage offers top-quality trading services with a low fee schedule, making it one of the best online brokers on the market today. Its 12 years of experience have also allowed Vantage to develop its offering, tools and trading platforms for the benefit of traders. Vantage has also risen to the top by introducing the MetaTrader MT5 platform, which is especially popular with professionals.
By choosing Vantage, you will benefit from:
- High-quality brokerage services with competitive spreads
- A 50% welcome bonus on your initial deposit
- Various trading bonuses for active traders
Vantage does not have AMF authorization to set up subsidiaries in France. However, it is supervised by top international regulators, which allow it to promote its services around the globe. And as it is an online broker, French residents can still use Vantage’s trading services in practice.
eToro — Best Online Broker for Copy Trading
eToro currently has 14 years of experience in online trading. From its founding in 2007 until November 2019, the broker kept expanding around the world to become the Social Trading leader it is today. In 2010, it launched a unique platform, “eToroOpenBook”, based on Copy Trading, which earned it a rock-solid reputation.
eToro mainly stands out for:
- Its introductory trading services
- Community-based trading
- Commission-free stock trading
eToro is fully regulated internationally. It also holds an authorization from the AMF to promote its trading services in France.
Raise FX — Best Online Broker for Education
Founded in 2001, Raise FX is the most experienced broker in our online broker comparison. It offers comprehensive trading services in Europe and internationally. Raise FX is also the best-positioned broker on the stock market across several areas.
By trading with Raise FX, you will benefit from:
- Comprehensive educational content on stock trading
- More than 8,000 assets to trade
- Fast order execution, estimated at a few milliseconds
In terms of regulation, Raise FX has some of the best licenses in the industry, as it is regulated by globally recognized authorities. This naturally allows it to promote its business worldwide. It also has AMF approval to operate in France.
Broker Comparison — Customer Reviews
To find the online broker that best meets your needs, we recommend reading reviews from other traders. Their shared experiences will help you identify the broker with the most favorable trading conditions. By paying attention to customer reviews, you can gauge trader satisfaction and, in turn, a broker’s reliability.
In the following online broker comparison table, we have gathered some trader reviews that give you an overview of the best trading services:
Customer Satisfaction | Customer Reviews | |
 | 98% | Dossou Mathias’s opinion of Vantage FX’s services: Julien Desrues left this comment: Brahim Derradji’s opinion of Vantage FX: |
 | 92% | PATRICK LABAT shared his opinion of eToro: Nicolas Petit also left his review of eToro: DELON made sure to leave the following comment: |
 | 96% | Tatiana’s review of Avatrade:
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6 Tips for Choosing a Good Broker
Choosing an online broker is crucial, as it is the foundation of investing in the stock market. That is why selecting your broker requires a systematic approach.
Even though most brokers today offer trial periods to test their services, you should carefully follow these selection steps to find a good broker and save time and money:
- Set goals based on your needs;
- Find the training you need to improve your performance;
- Compare online brokers to draw up a comprehensive list of the best ones;
- Check that the broker that fits your needs is properly regulated to ensure your safety;
- Analyze the broker’s fee schedule for your investments;
- Start with a Demo Account so you can get used to the online broker.
Broker Comparison — Spreads and Commissions
On every trade, the online broker charges the trader a fee called the “spread”. Simply put, it is the difference between the bid price and the ask price. To find the right broker for you, you therefore need to consider the spreads each broker offers. The best online brokers always offer tighter spreads.
Online Broker Forex Spreads
| BROKER | EURUSD | USDJPY | EURGBP | GBPUSD | USDCHF | AUDUSD | USDCAD | EURCHF | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try |  | 0.5 | 1 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 1.6 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Try | | 3 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Try |  | 0.6 | 0.9 | 1 | 1 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.6 | 3.8 |
Online Broker Commodity Spreads
BROKER | GOLD | BRENT | WTI | NATGAS | SILVER | PALLADIUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try | | 0.32 | 0.036 | 0.027 | 0.005 | 0.032 | – |
| Try | | 0.45 | 0.05 | 0.05 | 0.01 | 0.05 | 20 |
| Try |  | 0.25 | 0.03 | 0.03 | 0.003 | 0.021 | 19 |
Online Broker Index Spreads
BROKER | DAX 30 | CAC 40 | DJI30 | S&P 500 | Nasdaq 100 | Nikkei 225 | Stoxx 50 | FTSE 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try | | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 1 | 9 | 1.5 | 1.1 |
| Try | | 2 | 10 | 6 | 0.75 | 2.4 | 10 | 3 | 1.5 |
| Try | | 0.8 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 1 | 9 | 1.3 | 0.8 |
Based on these figures, we can confirm that Vantage offers the tightest spreads across all financial markets.
Other Online Broker Fees and Commissions
Online Broker | Other Fees and Commissions | |
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Broker Comparison — Trading Accounts
To grow your stock market investments, you need to consider the account types offered by the online broker. They let you diversify across investment sectors to increase profits and reduce the risk of loss. On the one hand, traders can maximize their gains by choosing the account type that suits them. On the other, the online broker can extend its trading activities to other areas of the market.
Online Broker | Account Type | |
| Depending on your trader profile, you can choose one of the following accounts:
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| eToro offers 2 live accounts:
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| Avatrade | Avatrade offers several types of trading accounts:
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Trading stocks does not usually require a specific account. This means that generating gains with an online broker depends solely on account diversification.
Broker Comparison — Regulation
The online broker comparison table below gives full details on the regulation of the brokers on our list.
Online Broker | Free Demo | Regulation | Founded | Headquarters | Rating | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try | ASIC – Australia CIMA — Cayman Islands | 2009 | Sydney | ★★★★★ 5/5 | Read Review |
 | Try | CYSEC – Cyprus FCA — England | 2006 | Cyprus | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 | Read Review |
| Try | FCA – England FSA — Estonia | 2001 | United Kingdom | ★★★★☆ 4.5/5 | Read Review |
An accredited regulator sets out the legal framework that governs online brokers. Its main role is to regulate market transactions within a given jurisdiction. Regulators are also responsible for the safety of funds, protection against scams and the resolution of disputes between traders and their brokers.
Pros and Cons of Online Brokers
Investing in the stock market is now within everyone’s reach. Thanks to new technologies such as the internet, you can carry out financial transactions in just a few clicks. However, the more accessible financial services become, the more you need to consider the risk of loss. Good risk management is essential to avoid losing everything, as stock market losses are not to be taken lightly, especially since you don’t get the human contact a physical branch would provide.
So before you get started, we recommend paying close attention to the following pros and cons of investing with an online broker.
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Online Broker Comparison — Awards Received
To find out which broker offers the best trading services, consider the awards it has received over its years in business. An online broker’s strength does not depend on experience alone; it is also reflected in its rankings at various award ceremonies, which build its reputation in the financial world.
The table below shows the awards won by each broker in our online broker comparison:
Online Broker | Awards Received | |
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| Avatrade |
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As this shows, Vantage has received awards in recent years that demonstrate it is a serious online broker committed to meeting its clients’ expectations. In this online broker comparison, it is not only a reliable broker but also offers better customer service and the best trading services.
The Best Online Broker for Beginners
If you are new to trading, particularly stock trading, we recommend eToro. The table below shows the trading services this online broker offers beginners:
eToro is a leader in social trading. Through Copy Trading, or Mirror Trading, this online broker lets you replicate other traders’ investments. This approach can reduce the risk of loss and increase your returns. That is why eToro is the best broker for beginners in our online broker comparison.
However, compared with Vantage, eToro’s trading tools and customer service do not guarantee your development as a trader.
Broker Comparison — Minimum Deposit
When you decide to invest with a broker, a minimum initial deposit may be required. Note that the minimum deposit can vary from one account to another at the same broker, with pro accounts requiring a larger amount. But an account with no minimum deposit does not necessarily mean the services are lacking; the deposit is rather a sign of the client’s commitment to trading. Generally, the best brokers do not require a minimum deposit of more than €500.
The following online broker comparison table shows the initial amounts you need to invest:
Online Broker | Minimum Deposit | |
| Vantage FX sets the minimum deposit at USD 200 | |
| eToro requires a minimum deposit of USD 200 | |
| Avatrade | At Avatrade, the initial deposit depends on the type of account you open:
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On the other hand, Vantage’s 50% welcome bonus on your initial deposit gives you more investment capital to work with, which makes it an option worth considering!
Broker Comparison — Available Platforms
To help you trade with confidence, each broker provides one or more trading platforms. Depending on your experience, your needs and the devices you use (mobile, tablet, computer), you can choose the platform that suits you best. Some brokers develop their own platforms, while others use more common ones such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
MetaTrader is currently the best-performing platform for market investing, which leads us to conclude that Vantage is the best online broker here. First, it offers both MT4 and MT5. It also offers other highly successful platforms, namely ZuluTrade, which gives Vantage a prominent place in the world of Copy Trading.
Broker Comparison — Financial Instruments
To help you maximize your gains, online brokers let you trade a variety of financial instruments. Each broker offers a wide choice of tradable products.
Most online brokers mainly offer Forex currency or CFD trading. However, some brokers also let you trade other instruments, such as securities (stocks, ETFs, etc.) or banking assets such as futures, bonds and options.
Diversifiez votre patrimoineInvestissez dans l’artDes tableaux originaux, pièces uniques signées par l’artiste. Un actif tangible, loin des écrans et des cotations.Voir les tableaux →Broker Comparison — Mobile Trading
Technological progress lets every trader trade market assets whenever they like. Today, we rarely go anywhere without our phones, so brokers have built systems that let you trade on mobile, whether on a smartphone or a tablet. It is an effective way to save time and boost your chances of growing your gains discreetly! Whether you use Android or iOS, every broker develops a mobile app to make trading easier.
This online broker comparison shows that, in addition to their official websites, which are also accessible on mobile, these brokers have their own mobile apps based on their original platforms. Judging by the performance of these platforms, we conclude that Vantage has the best mobile trading app with MyFXBook Autotrader.
Broker Comparison — Demo Account
A demo account lets traders try out the different trading styles that online brokers allow. If you are a beginner, it is the best way to refine your techniques to maximize your gains. Admittedly, the length of the trial period is limited depending on the broker. However, you can trade assets in real market conditions and practice risk management.
To compare online brokers based on their demo accounts, you need to consider two main factors:
- The length of the account trial
- The amount of virtual funds provided
The data we collected shows that eToro offers the most trader-friendly demo account: the broker gives the general public a virtual portfolio of USD 100,000 for an unlimited trial period.
Broker Comparison — Education
Online brokers now offer comprehensive trading education for both beginners and experienced traders. In principle, their educational content helps you:
- Master the various platforms and trading tools
- Keep up with stock market news
- Understand how market transactions work
- Ensure your growth and development as a trader
Training can therefore help you reduce the risks and doubts surrounding trading. Learning remains the best way to improve your performance. Even if trading starts out as a hobby, education helps you become a real trader.
Broker Comparison — Trading Tools
The stock market is a financial system in constant flux: the value of tradable assets changes continuously throughout the trading session. To follow market movements and decide on the best strategy, you need good trading tools. These tools help you identify the best opportunities for your trades. Whether you rely on market sentiment and financial news or on charts, each broker offers different technical resources.
Bear in mind that the best tools for analyzing today’s market movements are Smart Trader Tools and the Pro Trader Tool. Combined with the MetaTrader tools, they deliver concrete results for traders. This means Vantage is the best online broker in terms of trading tools, as it is the only one to offer these analysis instruments.
Online Broker Comparison — Trading Styles
To grow your gains effectively, you need to apply the right trading styles based on market movements. These strategies improve your chances by taking advantage of the price volatility of financial instruments during a trade.
In short, you can choose from the trading styles below. Your choice depends on how much time you can devote to trading, your technical knowledge and the kind of experience you want from trading:
- Day Trading: assets are bought and sold within a single day.
- Position Trading: you choose the right moment to open or close a position.
- Swing Trading: you keep a position open for several days.
- Copy Trading: replicate other traders’ strategies to grow your investments. This technique is especially popular with beginners.
- Hedging: you are protected against asset price volatility while your positions are open.
- Scalping: take advantage of market movements over very short periods. Like hedging, it is a rather risky technique, but it can also be very profitable.
- Algorithmic Trading: decode market trends to fine-tune your positioning
Hedging and scalping are the riskiest strategies, which is why some brokers do not allow them. Hedging protection is not fully guaranteed, because market movements are very frequent. With scalping, there is a risk of loss when opening and closing the position. Throughout your trading career, a broker that allows all trading styles could work to your advantage.
Broker Comparison — Available Leverage
If your invested capital is lower than the value of the assets you would like to trade, you can always use leverage. To better serve their clients, online brokers let them increase their positions with a multiplier; that is the role of leverage in market investing. Of course, the broker sets the maximum leverage, whether for a retail or a professional client.
ESMA caps leverage for retail traders at 1:30, so our online broker comparison by available leverage depends solely on the maximum leverage available to professional traders. Based on the table above, we can confirm that Vantage offers maximum leverage of 1:500, which undoubtedly puts it in first place in this online broker comparison.
Broker Comparison — Protection of Client Funds and Data
Protection of client funds and data is one of the top criteria to consider when choosing a broker through an online broker comparison. To safeguard your investment, always check the security measures the broker has in place. It is a simple way to secure your funds and protect your data as a client and trader, with complete peace of mind.
To ensure your investments are protected, you should consider:
- Account segregation
- Compensation if the online broker becomes insolvent or goes bankrupt
- Negative balance protection
This online broker comparison shows that each broker uses its own methods to protect your funds and data. To prevent hacking, for example, eToro uses cutting-edge technology. Vantage, for its part, has a compensation scheme in place in the event of the broker’s insolvency or bankruptcy.
Broker Comparison — Customer Service
As we have seen, online brokers do not have physical branches to support you with your trades, so it is important to look closely at customer service before making your choice. If you run into a problem, a responsive customer service team can be a real asset. The more responsive it is, the more freely you can keep investing. From market open to market close, good customer service listens to and supports its traders.
Here are a few key criteria to help you identify the best customer service in an online broker comparison:
- A service that works professionally
- A responsive service that offers the right solutions at the right time
- Available at all times, at least during market hours
- Reachable through multiple channels and in several languages
- Available even on weekends and public holidays
At present, Vantage offers the best customer support. First, it is an online broker that has won awards in this area. Second, its customer service availability is a key factor that keeps it in first place in our online broker comparison.
Online Broker vs. Online Bank: What Are the Differences?
Strictly speaking, an online broker is a web-based firm that places and executes trading orders on behalf of an investor. It is also a financial intermediary between a trader and the financial markets. The online broker organizes, interprets and carries out the trader’s instructions to generate profits, offering high-quality trading services to do so.
An online bank, on the other hand, is a credit institution that offers banking services through a web platform. Unlike traditional banks, online banks have no physical branches. Some online banks also offer brokerage services, but their fees are exorbitant.
Although banks may seem more solid than brokers, brokers are becoming increasingly reliable thanks to their experience and responsive support services.
Based on this analysis, the main differences between an online broker and an online bank are:
- Services: a broker is an intermediary, while a bank is a liquidity provider.
- Platforms: besides its official website, an online broker offers several platforms.
- Type of operation: an online broker requires a precise strategy and provides specialized software to generate profits.
- Fees: online brokers specialize in executing investors’ orders, so they can offer their clients better rates than online banks.
Why Invest with an Online Broker?
First, many investors choose to invest through an online broker because it offers innovative tools for traders. These tools include:
- Trading platforms
- Technical tools such as trading robots and trading software
- Chart indicators (decision-support tools)
Second, unlike traditional brokers, online brokers offer more accessible and easy-to-understand trading education. The rise of new information and communication technologies has greatly changed the way people invest, and the development of digital tools has clearly worked in online brokers’ favor.
Finally, investing with an online broker is attractive because it offers comprehensive trading services at reasonable prices. The commissions or spreads these brokers charge are very low compared with traditional brokers’ fee schedules.
Speaking of costs, remember that trading is not exempt from tax. If you compare online brokers in Switzerland or Belgium, you may be surprised to find that taxation is rather high for French online brokers. This is nothing new, as France remains a demanding country when it comes to tax. However, the tax rate depends on the type of asset traded, so it is worth looking into how trading is taxed in France.
Discover Other Online Brokers
Besides the 3 brokers in our online broker comparison, there are many other brokers you can work with. We have listed all the brokers worth considering today in the table below.
How to Test an Online Broker
To test an online broker’s trading conditions, go to its official website and open a demo account. As mentioned above, the online broker sets the length of the trial and the amount of virtual funds you can use to trade assets in real market conditions.
This gives you the chance to test the trading techniques that suit you and hone your skills. When you feel ready, go ahead and open a live account!
Conclusion
At first glance, many of us think trading is just a simple bet. But as the analysis in this online broker comparison shows, investing with a broker is much more than a hobby. It requires real knowledge, and it is an activity that often keeps you on the edge of your seat.
By choosing the right online broker and sharing your performance with other traders through copy trading, you can make significant profits. Based on this online broker comparison, we conclude that Vantage is the best broker on the market today. You get a welcome bonus from your very first deposit. Above all, it is a broker that supports you all the way to becoming a true trading pro!
Have you found the best broker for your trader profile? Share your experience by leaving a comment!