Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
eToro vs Independent Reserve
eToro
Higher score in this comparison
Independent Reserve
eToro vs Independent Reserve: the differences
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | Independent ReserveReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | 0.02% to 0.5%Lower |
| Coins listed | 150Higher | 25 |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) | AUSTRAC |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 | AUD EFT free; AUD 1.50 PayID/NPP instant; USD 25 SWIFT; NZD 29; BTC 0.0001 |
| Maker fee | 1% | Not confirmed |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
Same on both: Fiat deposit methods (Card, Bank), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- eToro scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only eToro offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).
- Regulators: only Independent Reserve offers AUSTRAC.
- eToro is licensed in 1 more country.
- Taker fee is lower at Independent Reserve: 0.02% to 0.5% vs 1%.
- Coins listed is higher at eToro: 150 vs 25.
- Features: only eToro offers Multi currency, Crypto, Travel.
- Features: only Independent Reserve offers Custodial.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits travellers and crypto spenders who want a Visa debit card for everyday spending alongside investing. Monthly fee is €0 with currency conversion at 0% and ATM allowance of €2,500 to €12,000 plus cashback at 4% and support through help centre, chat and phone.
Independent Reserve
Independent Reserve suits Australian and New Zealand buyers who want a regulated custodial exchange with plain card and bank deposits. Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% are competitive with the site median of 0.2%, though the coin list is modest for traders who want broader markets.
Score breakdown
| Area | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Withdrawal fee is $5 alongside card spending costs. | 9.7Higher |
| Offer | 9.5HigherAccess to 150 crypto assets for trading and card funding. | 9.1Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% sit around the site median of 0.2%, but the list of 25 coins is small. |
| Trust | 9.9HigherOversight from Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) across regions. | 9.1 |
Licences and countries
| Country | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Not confirmed | AUSTRAC DCE-100461150-001 |
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | Not confirmed |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | Not confirmed |
The bill, worked out
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
eToro
20
1% of 2,000
Independent Reserve
0.4 to 10
0.02% to 0.5% of 2,000
Independent Reserve comes out 19.6 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 28, 2026.
Choosing between them
Pick eToro if offer, trust, and coins listed matter most.
Pick Independent Reserve if cost and taker fee matter most.
A third option
ActivTrades has taker fee at 0%, against 1% for eToro and 0.02% to 0.5% for Independent Reserve.
ActivTrades reviewSources behind this comparison
eToro
- etoro.com: 8 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 1 fact, checked September 28, 2026
Independent Reserve
- independentreserve.com: 11 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 1 of 297 | 12 of 297 |
| Crypto futures exchanges | 3 of 78 | 9 of 78 |
| Where to buy crypto | 1 of 177 | 7 of 177 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Multi currency, Crypto, Travel | Custodial |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Independent Reserve Pty. Ltd. (ABN 46 164 257 069) |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Australia |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2013 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Help centre, Community |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | Independent Reserve | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1%highest quarter | 0.02% to 0.5%lowest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 150above the median | 25lowest quarter | 76 |
| Maker fee | 1%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- Card upkeep with monthly fee at €0 and Visa acceptance for everyday spending.
- Currency conversion at 0% with balances across 4 for travel use.
- Cashback at 4% on debit spending with functions covering multi currency, crypto and travel.
Cons
- Trading taker fee is 1%, above the site median of 0.25% for frequent traders.
- Broker withdrawals carry a charge of $5, which adds cost for moving funds off the platform.
Independent Reserve
Pros
- Registered with AUSTRAC in Australia, so the exchange answers to a recognised anti-money laundering regulator.
- Publishes proof of reserves, which 79.4% of compared exchanges do.
- Card and bank transfers are both accepted through card and bank.
Cons
- The list of 25 coins is small next to the site median of 62.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Balances are custodial, so coins sit with the exchange rather than in a wallet the holder controls.
Who each suits
eToro
Who it suits
- Travellers choosing eToro over bunq for conversion at 0% rather than 0.5% to 3%.
- Cash users choosing eToro over Kraken for ATM allowance of €2,500 to €12,000 rather than €0.
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders focused on low dealing costs rather than card perks, who may prefer Kraken given eToro taker fee of 1%.
- Euro spenders wanting a different card fee mix, who may prefer Bit2Me given its conversion at 0.95%.
Independent Reserve
Who it suits
- Australian and New Zealand residents paying in by card or bank transfer
- Buyers of mainstream coins who want proof of reserves and a named regulator
- Traders who also want access to derivatives
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders chasing a long tail of altcoins, where the exchange is a broker for Australia and New Zealand rather than a global venue
- bitpanda, which lists from 650 coins for a much wider choice
- bunq, whose taker fees of 0.25% to 1.99% suit European bank customers
Country by country
| Country | eToro | Independent Reserve |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | No | Yes |
| New Zealand | No | Yes |
| Singapore | No | Yes |
Questions about each
eToro
Does the eToro card charge a monthly fee?+
The card account lists a monthly fee of €0, so there is no fixed upkeep for holding the card. Day to day spending, travel use and multi currency balances sit under that structure, while brokerage trading and withdrawals follow separate charges.
What is the currency conversion fee for card use?+
Card currency conversion is listed at 0%, which keeps cross border purchases and travel spending clear of added conversion charges. Balances across 4 help manage spending abroad, while brokerage activity remains subject to its own trading terms.
Independent Reserve
What does Independent Reserve charge in fees?+
Taker fees run 0.02% to 0.5%, which brackets the site median of 0.2% and sits inside the upper quartile of 0.55%. Withdrawals are also charged: AUD transfers are free, while instant AUD and crypto withdrawals carry a fee.
Is Independent Reserve regulated?+
It is registered with AUSTRAC in Australia under DCE-100461150-001, the country's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator. It also publishes proof of reserves, a step 79.4% of the compared exchanges report.