eToro vs Kraken: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between eToro and Kraken This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

eToro

Kraken

⚠️ We look for what’s best for you.

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Available Countries

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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eToro is ideal if:

All-in-one, intuitive platform You can trade multiple asset types and tap into a global trading community, all from a single, streamlined interface.
Social investing with guided learning You can mirror real investors through CopyTrader and learn via interactive education—perfect if you prefer peer-driven discovery.
Begin with confidence using demo tools Access a generous virtual demo account from day one, letting you practice with zero risk before investing real money.

Kraken is ideal if:

Built for both simplicity and sophistication: Kraken’s intuitive interface makes it approachable for newcomers, while Kraken Pro delivers advanced trading tools, analytics, and charting for serious traders.
Security-first, regulation-backed platform: With an unbroken crypto protection record, proof-of-reserves audits, cold storage, and licenses across major markets—including new MiCA approval for EU operations—Kraken prioritizes trust and compliance.
More than a crypto exchange: Beyond trading, Kraken now offers a peer-to-peer payments app (Krak), commission-free U.S. stock and ETF trades, and staking options—making it an all-in-one digital finance hub.

eToro isn’t ideal if:

Serious day traders might feel constrained platform performance may lag, and its simplicity could limit sophisticated short-term strategies (like scalping).
Advanced traders may find tools lacking there's no support for third-party platforms like MetaTrader or advanced order types ideal for expert users.
U.S. crypto enthusiasts face restrictions regulatory constraints limit available tokens and access compared to many global markets.

Kraken isn’t ideal if:

Overwhelming for total beginners: The interface and tiered platforms (Lite vs Pro) may feel complex without a solid understanding of trading, tools, and order types.
Limited access and features in some regions: Certain U.S. states and geographies have restrictions on staking, derivatives, or account creation—potentially blocking full platform use.
Support and platform bottlenecks: Account verification or support processes can be slow, and mobile app performance or customer assistance (no phone line) may frustrate users in need of swift help.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

eToro doesn’t follow the traditional maker/taker pricing model; instead, all spot crypto trades are subject to a flat buy/sell fee, which simplifies the pricing structure without requiring volume-based tiers or native token discounts.

Kraken uses a tiered maker-taker structure where both maker and taker fees decrease as your 30-day trading volume grows, and higher activity triggers reduced costs—even reaching zero for makers—though the schedule excludes transactions via instant buy tools.

Futures/Derivatives

eToro offers derivative trading through CFDs, without separate maker/taker charges—instead, costs arise from built-in spreads and overnight funding or weekend rollover fees on leveraged positions.

Futures follow a volume-based tiers system—lowering maker and taker rates as volume increases—paired with periodic funding payments (every eight hours) that depend on contract premiums versus spot prices.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

While eToro doesn’t list minute-by-minute spread values by pair publicly, it applies market spreads plus its flat fee, leading to competitive but not razor-thin spreads on top crypto pairs.

While Kraken doesn’t publish fixed spreads, its instant-buy feature embeds variable spreads that widen or narrow depending on market volatility, order size, and asset type.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Deposits into eToro are free via common methods (cards, bank transfers, e-wallets) with varying processing times; fiat withdrawals carry a standard flat fee (e.g., USD) and may be instantaneous or take a few business days depending on method and region.

Kraken supports methods like ACH, SWIFT, PayPal, SEPA, domestic transfers, etc., with low or no deposit fees; but deposits may trigger temporary withdrawal holds (e.g. 72-hour for cards, 7-day for ACH).

On-chain Withdrawals

For transferring crypto on-chain, eToro applies a wallet transfer commission—independent of the blockchain network—while the underlying blockchain network fee (e.g., BTC, ETH) is dynamic and paid separately.

Cryptocurrency withdrawal fees vary per network—e.g. BTC, ETH, TRX have different fixed minimums depending on blockchain and congestion, not necessarily dynamic or network-based.

Hidden Costs

Beyond trading, costs can include currency conversion charges when operating non-base currencies, a monthly inactivity fee for dormant accounts, and any optional accelerated verification services, though those tend to be avoidable with minimal activity.

Be aware of currency conversion premiums (from asset swaps), inactivity terms, and express KYC fees—these can add extras atop headline trading charges.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Buying €500 worth of BTC would typically involve the flat crypto buy/sell fee folded into the transaction price plus any spread effect, and if you later withdrew funds in crypto, you’d face the wallet transfer charge plus the dynamic network fee—altogether representing a single, compounded cost experience.

Suppose you convert €500 to BTC and withdraw it—your total cost would include the instant-buy embedded spread, then a network withdrawal fee during transfer, and possible fiat hold timing—resulting in slightly less BTC and slower access.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

eToro offers over 120 cryptocurrencies across its global platform, and although a ranked top-20 list isn’t publicly detailed, it typically includes the most liquid names like BTC, ETH, SOL, ADA, DOT, and a handful of high-volume altcoins.

Kraken supports over 1,000 spot, margin, and futures markets overall, and its top 20 trading pairs by volume typically include high-cap assets like BTC/USD-variant, ETH/USD-variant, and other popular tokens.

Product Range

eToro supports spot crypto trading, CopyTrader social investing, and Smart Portfolios, along with crypto staking; it offers ETFs, stocks, options, and CFDs in regions where enabled, but does not provide margin, futures, perpetuals, loans, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

You’ll find a full suite including spot, margin (up to 10× leverage), futures/perpetuals, staking (recently reenabled in the U.S.), with access to ETFs and options still pending—plus no native copy-trading, grid bots, DCA autos yet.

Liquidity

Specific liquidity metrics aren’t displayed publicly, but eToro’s scale and regulated status suggest solid 24-hour crypto volumes and sufficient order-book depth in major pairs like BTC and ETH, offering dependable execution for most retail traders.

Kraken ranks among the world’s most liquid venues—especially for BTC-EUR and ETH-EUR—and sees substantial 24-hour volumes with deep order-book depth, enabling tight execution even for large trades.

Tools

The platform features standard order types such as market and limit, plus alerts and built-in charting with indicators; while it lacks native TradingView integration and public API access, it offers intuitive chart tools suitable for mainstream users.

Kraken Pro offers advanced tools—limit, stop, OCO orders, real-time alerts, native TradingView-style charts, downloadable historical OHLCVT data, plus full REST and WebSocket API access.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Offering varies significantly by user location—derivatives like CFDs and options may be unavailable or limited depending on local regulations, while staking and certain crypto products may also be restricted in regions like the UK or UAE.

Certain products, like margin, futures, or staking, are restricted by jurisdiction—eligibility varies and some features may be blocked in specific countries due to regulatory constraints.

Innovation

Although eToro does not currently support launchpad or launchpool-style token offerings, it provides flexible, opt-in staking rewards on assets like ETH, ADA, SOL, DOT, and others, allowing users to participate or withdraw at their discretion.

While traditional launchpad/launchpool programs aren’t yet offered, Kraken distinguishes between flexible vs. locked staking options and continues evolving with new offerings, particularly for institutional clients.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

eToro Group Ltd was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Tel Aviv, Israel. Its European arm, eToro (Europe) Ltd, is based in Limassol, Cyprus, operating under CySEC, and it also maintains legal entities across the UK, UAE, Australia, Malta, and Seychelles, reflecting a broad and multi-jurisdictional operational structure.

Kraken operates under several legal entities depending on region, including Payward, Inc. (U.S.), Payward Europe Solutions (Ireland, EEA), and Payward Ltd. (UK), all founded around 2011, headquartered in the U.S. with significant European presence.

Licenses/Registration

eToro (Europe) Ltd holds a CySEC license and is registered as a Digital Asset Service Provider in France (AMF), in Spain via Bank of Spain as a VASP, and operates under the EU-wide MiCA framework, enabling compliant crypto services across the European Union.

Kraken holds multiple regulatory approvals, including VASP licenses in EU countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Ireland, and FCA registrations in the UK, in addition to its SPDI charter in Wyoming and MSB registration in the U.S.

Custody

Customer crypto assets are held in omnibus digital wallets in custody by eToro (Europe) Ltd, with private keys retained by the platform—not the user—and segregated from corporate reserves; although eToro doesn’t publicly publish proof-of-reserves or cold-storage percentages, this structure aims to reduce client-side risks.

Kraken self-custodies customer assets with a substantial portion held in cold storage; it publishes regular Proof-of-Reserves (PoR) attestations audited by external parties to ensure transparency.

Insurance & Protection Funds

For higher-tier members like Platinum and above, eToro offers private insurance via Lloyd’s of London covering cash, CFDs, and securities in case of insolvency; additionally, clients may access compensation from relevant investor compensation schemes governed by their regulatory body.

Kraken maintains insurance for digital assets held online, though the coverage is limited; there is no formal protected fund for customer losses but additional insurance for certain custodial assets exists.

Incident History

eToro has no major recent hacks, but it faced a €1.3 million fine in Italy for misleading promotion practices and settled with the U.S. SEC in 2024 for operating as an unregistered broker; it also has a history of regulatory actions including fines and blacklisting in Quebec and Canada.

Kraken has not experienced any major platform hacks; compliance suspensions or asset freezes have been minimal, and the exchange has not faced any public multi-million dollar regulatory fines.

Risk Controls

eToro provides standard security measures such as 2FA and anti-phishing mechanisms; however, it doesn’t offer features like sub-accounts, granular API permissions, or whitelisting yet—keeping risk controls accessible but basic. (No citation available.)

Kraken enforces robust account security with multiple 2FA options (passkeys, hardware keys, authenticator apps), whitelisting, anti-phishing tools, sub-accounts, and granular API permissions for sophisticated client control.

Transparency

While eToro does not disclose public wallet addresses or monthly reserves reports, it supports transparency through Key Information Documents (KIDs) and SEC filings, but it doesn’t offer service-level agreements or public audit trails tied specifically to crypto custody.

The platform regularly publishes audit-style reports and Proof-of-Reserves summaries; users can view wallet addresses and Kraken maintains service-level expectations without public SLA guarantees.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

eToro accepts a variety of funding methods, including bank transfers, debit/credit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill, with minimum first deposits ranging from about $50 to several thousand depending on your country and method, daily or transaction limits often apply, and deposit times vary from immediate (cards and e-wallets) to a few business days (bank transfers).

Users can deposit fiat via bank transfers (ACH, SWIFT, SEPA), credit/debit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal; minimums are low (starting around 1 USD/EUR), but maximums depend on your verification level and jurisdiction, with deposit arrival ranging from near-instant to several days depending on the method.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

On opening, unverified accounts are subject to lower deposit limits (e.g., around $2,000); full identity verification lifts those constraints—though eToro doesn’t generally publish tier names like “basic” or “advanced,” completing KYC empowers higher funding and withdrawal options.

Kraken offers tiers like Intermediate and Pro (plus Express/Starter in some regions) — Intermediate unlocks full trading and funding access, while Pro raises both deposit and withdrawal limits, with each level subject to rolling daily/monthly caps shown in your dashboard.

Withdrawals

Limits, Times, Networks

Limits, Timing, Networks

Customer Support

eToro offers help via email and a comprehensive online help center with articles, though live chat availability can vary by region; response times generally range from a few hours to a couple of business days depending on complexity and support volume.

Kraken provides 24/7 live chat and email support in multiple languages (including Spanish), alongside a comprehensive support center; while most issues are resolved quickly, some users report delays during high-traffic periods.

Languages & Localization

eToro supports multiple language interfaces including Spanish, displays fees and balances in your preferred fiat (like EUR), and aligns its offerings with local regulatory requirements to ensure regional compliance.

The platform is available in over a dozen languages, including native Spanish; local currencies and fees are displayed based on your region, ensuring comfortable and compliant user experience.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app is frequently updated, offering a stable experience on iOS and Android; while official crash-rate statistics aren’t shared, user feedback suggests solid performance and consistent feature enhancements over time.

The Kraken mobile app mirrors most web functionality and supports biometric or PIN access; it generally performs reliably, though user feedback on crashes or app issues is mixed and depends on device and OS.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

eToro’s interface is clean and intuitive, designed so that beginners can feel comfortable right away; while there isn’t a formal “Lite” vs “Pro” mode, advanced users can dive deeper via more detailed chart tools and layout options that gradually reveal themselves as you get more experienced.

Kraken offers two distinct experiences—“Lite” is streamlined for instant buys and basic navigation, while “Pro” and “Desktop” are modular and customizable, designed to support advanced traders executing complex strategies across flexible layouts and in-depth tools.

Performance

Order execution is generally smooth, but during extreme price swings or system maintenance you might notice slight latency; the platform reliability is strong overall, though KYC reviews can occasionally take longer during periods of high account openings—especially in bull market surges.

Kraken Pro is built on institutional-grade infrastructure to minimize order latency and handle peak demand efficiently, although during market surges user-reported delays in KYC verification and performance pops may still arise.

Education

eToro provides a comprehensive Academy with video lessons, podcasts, and articles, and a $100,000 virtual portfolio simulator to practice trading; while most content is in English, platform navigation and key resources are also available in Spanish to support Spanish-speaking users.

Kraken’s Learn Center delivers comprehensive articles, videos, and webinars (including futures tutorials), complemented by a derivatives demo environment for live practice—but it doesn’t currently offer a dedicated DCA simulator or localized Spanish academy; some content is translated.

Community

There’s a built-in social network where you can comment on trades, follow investors, and invite friends via referral links—though it doesn’t rely on external forums or Telegram for community features, everything is kept within the platform to foster interaction.

Kraken publishes user reviews and interactive feedback across its site, but does not maintain official public discussion forums, Discord, or Telegram communities—though it does offer a referral program to reward users bringing in new clients.

Integrations

eToro doesn’t support direct TradingView embedding, external bot automation, or built-in tax/accounting tools, so you’ll need to rely on third-party services to analyze charts or manage your portfolio’s tax reporting externally.

Kraken Pro integrates with TradingView-style charting and pattern tools, fully supports third-party trading bots via REST/WebSocket/FIX APIs, and connects seamlessly to tax/accounting platforms like Koinly, Crypto Tax Calculator, and others.

Who Each One Is Best For

eToro is ideal for traders who value simplicity, social features, and all-in-one access to assets—even if that means fewer professional-grade tools; active day traders or institutional users might find it less fitting due to lack of algorithmic support or deep integration capabilities.

“Lite” suits beginners, offering simplicity and straightforward buying; “Pro” and “Desktop” excel for active, technical traders needing granular control, advanced order forms, analytics, and deep customization.