How Wise can save you unnecessary currency fees on your next US Dollar RSU payout
You may not know it but if you receive RSUs or sell shares in US dollars you could be losing money paying currency conversion fees. Discover how to avoid this.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for reference purposes only. Wise does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and all information on this page should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Remember that investments, even in low-risk funds, are never guaranteed and your capital is at risk.
Considering investing, or looking for a new investment platform to try? One of the options available in the UK right now is eToro.
Launched in 2007, the Israeli-based Fintech company, eToro specialises in cryptocurrency trading. It has a popular mobile app, and also offers CFD trading and investing in Stocks and ETFs.
In this guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about eToro in the UK.
This includes who its best for, supported currencies, platform features, commission fees and how to get started with trading.
So, let’s dive right into our eToro review.
eToro is a great option for novices, who are new to stock trading - although it also has features for experts. It could also be argued that it’s best for short-term traders rather than investors looking to make a long-term commitment.1
To open an investment account with eToro, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and live in the UK - or one of the other countries the platform operates in.
You’ll need access to a computer or smartphone, and have a valid email address and mobile phone number.
You’ll also need to provide proof of ID and address on application, along with other personal details.2
eToro supports trading in 55 currencies3, including all the major ones you’d expect from a popular investment platform.
Now, let’s take a look at what kind of features you can expect when you open an investment account with eToro UK:4
eToro UK doesn’t charge commission fees for most trades, but this doesn’t mean there aren’t any fees at all.
Here are the main fees and charges you need to know about:5
Fees5 | Amount |
---|---|
Account management fee | None |
Deposit fee | None |
Withdrawal fee | $5 (approx £3.90 GBP) per withdrawal |
Currency conversion (applies to withdrawals and deposits not in USD) | 1.5% or 3.0%, according to currency and/or payment method6 |
Trading/commission fees | None for stocks and ETFs1% Buy/Sell fee for cryptocurrency |
Inactivity fee | $10 (approx £7.79 GBP) a month after 12 months with no login activity |
No, eToro doesn’t charge any fees for opening an account, nor does it have monthly maintenance fees.5
Let’s dive a little deeper into trading fees with eToro, so you can assess how much it’ll cost you to start trading on the platform.
eToro doesn’t charge any commission or spread fees to UK customers for UK stocks trading.
However, you may have to pay market spread fees (not charged by eToro). These represent the difference between the bid and ask prices, and can vary depending on market conditions.5
When you want to take your money out of your [eToro wallet])https://wise.com/gb/blog/etoro-wallet) or account, there’s a flat fee of $5 (approx £3.90 GBP) per withdrawal.5
eToro doesn’t charge any commission or spread fees in most cases, although other fees may apply. There’s also a 1% Buy/Sell fee for cryptocurrency.5
Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to buy stock with eToro:7
Buying shares or selling a stock or shares that aren’t traded in your local currency? Don’t let the currency conversion trip you up. Convert your stocks or shares into any currency with our handy tool, and you’ll always know what you’re getting.
Check out our handy international stock ticker tool.
Disclaimer: Wise's international stock ticker provides information for reference purposes only. This tool and platform does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and the data displayed here should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. We make no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information provided, and users should exercise caution and seek professional guidance when making investment choices.
The eToro app is available from Google Play for Android devices and the App Store for iOS devices. It’s free to download (although you will need to open an account) and it offers all of the main features as the eToro platform.
Need help? You can contact eToro customer service using the following methods:
There are lots of alternatives to eToro available to UK traders and investors, including:
Yes, eToro is a decent option for novice traders. The platform is relatively easy to navigate, and it also offers a virtual trading function where you can ‘practise’ with virtual money to see how your investments and trades would have performed had you made them.
eToro UK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. This means that it needs to adhere to certain regulatory standards.
eToro charges a fixed fee of $5 (approx £3.90 GBP) per withdrawal.5
eToro doesn’t charge any commission or spread fees for trading in most cases, although other fees may apply (including currency conversion fees). There’s also a 1% Buy/Sell fee for cryptocurrency.5
Here are the minimum trade sizes for eToro:8
Yes, if you don’t login to your account in 12 months, eToro charges a $10 (approx £7.79 GBP) a month inactivity fee.5
Once you’ve submitted your account, it may take some time for eToro to verify your identity, address, and documentation. The company doesn’t say exactly how long you’ll have to wait, only saying that the verification process can take a few days.
If you are buying or selling international stocks and funds listed abroad, you might be hit with extra costs for cross border money transfers.
But if you use Wise money transfer, you can avoid hidden currency exchange markups. Open a Wise account and you’ll be able to conveniently manage your money in up to 40+ currencies. This means you can convert your money into other currencies when the time is right for you at the mid-market rate for only a small, transparent conversion fee*.
Not sure about using investment platforms?
With a Wise account, you can choose how your money is used. Choose the balance or Jar then under Balance information, select ‘Earn’ and choose from one of three options.
All your money is held as ‘cash’ by default, so you can’t earn a return on the money you spend, but it isn’t at risk in the market. If you choose the ‘Stocks’ option, we’ll invest some or all of your money in the Jar or balance in the index tracking fund we’ve chosen.
Finally, if you opt for Interest you can choose to give us permission to invest all or some of your money in the Jar or balance in the interest-earning fund we’ve chosen. This will depend on the currency.
With Wise Interest, you can help grow your international money and start earning a return on the pounds, euros and dollars in your balance**.
**Wise Interest and Stocks is only available to some UK, Singapore and some EEA residents and most businesses that are tax resident in the UK. To discover if you are eligible, check your account and if you can see the option to change your Balance or Jar from Cash to Interest or Stocks, then you are eligible. Capital at risk.
You’ll also have full access, at all times without the typical access fees or spend restrictions so you can continue using your money as usual.
We’ll only ever invest your cash in a fund of government-backed assets - so when the central bank rates change, your return does too. We will always track the central bank rate whereas other providers may cut rates faster, which means you’re more likely get a fairer rate***.
***Investments in funds are never guaranteed and your capital can be at risk. Variable rate is based on 7 day performance as of 08/08/2024 at the time of publishing. This fund has returned a 1.31% annual average over the last 5 years, excluding Wise and fund manager fees. Interest is offered through Wise Assets. Wise Assets is a trading name of TINV Ltd, a subsidiary of Wise. TINV Ltd is authorised as an investment firm and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Our FCA number is 839689. We do not give investment advice, and you may be subject to pay tax. If you’re not sure, seek qualified advice. You can find more information about the funds on our website.
If you do decide to change how we hold your money, while the change is processing, the icon will temporarily display as "Pending" and this can take up to 2 business days, however may require an additional business day if you have ongoing transactions in progress or we are still processing previous changes.
Why not turn on Interest, to help boost your balance?
You may also be interested in:
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for reference purposes only. Wise does not offer to buy or sell stocks, and all information on this page should not be considered financial advice. All investment decisions should be made after thorough research and consultation with a qualified financial advisor. Remember that investments, even in low-risk funds, are never guaranteed and your capital is at risk.
Sources used:
1. UK.Stockbrokers.com - eToro review
2. eToro - getting started on eToro
3. eToro - trade markets on eToro
4. eToro - about eToro
5. eToro - eToro fees
6. eToro - conversion fees
7. eToro - buying stock
8. eToro - minimum trade size
Sources last checked on date: 12-Aug-2024
*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.
This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.
We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.
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