Stake Vs eToro: How Do They Stack Up?

Stake may be the better all-round choice for most beginners in this matchup because it is simpler, cheaper to understand and more focused on the core job of buying shares and ETFs. eToro is still compelling if you specifically want social investing features or broader product access, but Stake is the ‘simpler’ pick.

In short, Stake is the more traditional share-investing platform, while eToro is the broader global investing and social-investing platform. Stake is built around CHESS sponsorship and gives you your own HIN, so ASX shares are held in your name. eToro, by contrast, offers AUD accounts, 400+ Aussie stocks, and 0% FX fees on local stocks when you invest from the AUD account, but in Australia its stock investing is provided through a managed investment scheme.

Fees

For ASX shares, the fee structure is very similar, as eToro’s USD$2 order fee equates to ~A$2.76, against that of Stake at A$3. Stake is the cheaper of the two, yet the difference is not significant enough to be a differentiator.

Moving over to ETFs, eToro charges zero commission for ETF trades, and that this applies regardless of transaction size or whether the order is entered manually, through CopyTrader, or through Smart Portfolios. Stake, by contrast, applies its usual brokerage structure, which is A$3 on Australian trades up to A$30,000 and US$3 on U.S. trades up to US$30,000. So if your strategy is centred on buying ETFs regularly, eToro has the cleaner and cheaper headline pricing

Stake’s international pricing is extremely easy to understand: US$3 per Wall St trade up to US$30,000, with a 55 bps FX fee only when you convert into or out of USD, not every time you buy or sell a U.S. stock. eToro is less straightforward. Stock commissions may be $1 or US$2 depending on your country and the exchange, and there can also be conversion fees depending on the currency account you hold, and then choose to transact in. So on overseas shares, Stake is usually the easier platform to model in advance, while eToro may or may not work out cheaper depending on the market you’re buying and how often you need to convert currency.

Stake still wins out here for fee simplicity and ongoing account costs, but eToro now deserves to be taken seriously on price, especially for Australian investors using the AUD account and building ETF-heavy portfolios.

International Investing

This is where eToro starts to pull ahead. eToro’s allows you to invest in over 6,000 stocks from 20 exchanges, and its platform also supports fractional shares starting from $10, which makes it easier to build diversified global exposure with smaller amounts of money. It also layers in CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios, which are designed for investors who want either to follow other investors or access pre-built thematic portfolios.

Stake is still very good for international investing, especially if your focus is the U.S. market. For many Australian investors, that is enough global reach, nut eToro is the broader multi-market, multi-feature investing ecosystem. If you want to add European markets, Asian equities, and others, eToro has more to give.

Platform

Stake feels more like a focused investing app. Its pitch is simplicity with CHESS-sponsored ASX investing, easy Wall St access, and a clean mobile and desktop experience. It is especially strong if you want a low-friction app for buying Australian shares, ETFs and U.S. stocks without too many extra layers.

eToro feels broader and more feature-led, and gives you a lot more bang for your buck. It is still one of the best platforms if you like the idea of investing in shares while also being able to follow other investors, use CopyTrader, access Smart Portfolios, and build positions with small amounts via fractional shares, but those additional features mean there is more to learn. eToro also has 40 million registered users, which means its social-investing community remains a genuine differentiator however, and in practice it is very straightforward to get to grips with if you have used any social media apps or anything similar in the past. The app itself feels very intuitive, and there is a lot more available if you want it.

From a trading standpoint, there is also more offered via eToro, virtue of the charting functionality and technical indicators. If you are planning to be more active, and can spend a little time getting to grips with eToro, the platform is a stronger all around proposition on mobile and desktop.

eToro vs Stake: TheBull Case

On balance, Stake is the cleaner choice if CHESS sponsorship and direct HIN-based ASX investing are your top priorities, but eToro comes out slightly ahead as the more rounded platform for most investors.

That is because it offers a more advanced and feature-rich investing experience, stronger international market access, and a more compelling cost advantage for ETF investors thanks to its commission-free ETF trading.

So while Stake has the edge on traditional Australian share ownership, eToro feels like the broader, more flexible platform overall, especially if you want to invest beyond the ASX and make use of more sophisticated platform tools.

Why Choose Either

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Better for CHESS

Stake

Simple mobile experience and clean pricing for investors focused on Australia and the US.

Better all around

eToro

Better suited to investors who want more from their broker than simply ASX shares.

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FAQ

Which is cheaper, eToro or Stake?

Stake has the clearer pricing, with A$3 per trade up to A$30,000 and 0.01% above that. eToro has $2 order fee for ASX shares, but other markets have different fees/spreads by country and exchange, while ETFs are zero commission.

Which broker is better for beginners?

Stake is usually the simpler choice for beginners who want a clean share-investing app. eToro is better for beginners who want social investing and broader multi-asset access.

Does either broker support Australian shares?

Yes. Both offers ASX shares and ETFs.

Which one offers more asset classes?

eToro has the broader product set, including stocks, ETFs, cryptoassets, CopyTrader and Smart Portfolios.