Comparison of eToro vs Valr [ 2025 ]

The crypto exchanges compared by their commissions, cryptos, security and much more. Here is the eToro vs Valr comparison!

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

eToro

Investing risks losing your money

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

Valr

Investing risks losing your money

Main points

Fees

Fee:

Earns

Yes

Customer service

4/5

-0,01%/0,10%

Fees

Earns

4/5

Customer service

Recommended for

Beginners

Yes

Trading

Passive income

Yes

Buy and hold

Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

Passive income

Yes

Buy and hold

Comparison of fees

Rating

3.7 – Competitive fees with additional benefits for social trading.

4.0 – Competitive fees with strong local support in South Africa.

Level

Fee:

-0,01%/0,10%

Brief explanation

eToro’s commission structure primarily revolves around spread-based pricing, which can be relatively higher than some of its competitors, making it less ideal for traders who engage in frequent small trades. This means that the cost of a transaction is built into the buy and sell price of each trade, leading to no explicit commission fees but a varying spread cost depending on the asset being traded. Additionally, eToro charges a withdrawal fee and an inactivity fee if an account is not used for a certain period. These fees are somewhat offset by the absence of management or ticketing fees, which makes it attractive for users who trade less frequently but with higher volumes. Understanding these nuances is crucial for traders to manage trading costs effectively on eToro.

VALR’s commission structure is designed to be competitive and attractive to both novice and experienced traders. The exchange employs a tiered fee system where the trading fees decrease as the user’s monthly trading volume increases. This incentivizes higher trading volumes while maintaining affordability for smaller traders. Fees for typical trades start relatively low, with further reductions possible depending on the trade volume and currency pairs being traded. Additionally, VALR occasionally runs promotions that temporarily reduce fees or offer rebates, enhancing the trading experience.

eToro

Year Founded: eToro was established in 2007, demonstrating a long-standing presence in the financial markets. This longevity in the industry underscores its experience and resilience, adapting to various economic cycles and regulatory environments over the years.
Number of Users: With over 20 million registered users globally, eToro has a substantial user base that reflects its widespread acceptance and trust among investors. A large community not only signifies a trusted platform but also enhances the social trading experience by providing more insights and strategies to follow.
Security Methods: eToro employs advanced security protocols to protect user data and funds. These include SSL encryption, secure login methods, and adherence to strict regulatory guidelines, ensuring a high level of security that meets global standards.
Possible Regulation: eToro is regulated by several respected bodies, including the Cyprus Securities Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This regulation is critical for ensuring fair trading practices and protecting the interests of investors.
Reputation and Reviews: eToro enjoys a positive reputation in the industry, supported by generally favorable reviews from users. Its innovative platform and commitment to user satisfaction have been widely acknowledged in numerous reviews and testimonials, which praise its user-friendly interface and social trading features.

Read eToro review

Valr

Strong Security Measures: VALR employs robust security protocols including cold storage of assets, two-factor authentication, and secure encryption technologies to ensure user funds are protected against unauthorized access.
Compliance with Local Regulations: As a South African exchange, VALR adheres to local financial regulations and guidelines, which bolsters its credibility and reliability as a trustworthy platform in the eyes of both users and regulators.
High Trading Volume and Liquidity: VALR supports a high trading volume and offers substantial liquidity, making it easier for users to enter and exit positions, which is especially beneficial for traders looking to execute large volume trades.
Reputation and Reviews: Since its launch, VALR has built a solid reputation within the cryptocurrency community. Positive user reviews often highlight its user-friendly interface, range of supported cryptocurrencies, and responsive customer support.
Year Founded: Established in 2018, VALR has rapidly grown to become one of the leading exchanges in South Africa, demonstrating strong market resilience and continuous adaptation to user needs and technological advancements.

Comparison sponsored by the best exchange

eToro

eToro Special Offer*

Earn up to 4.90% APY on uninvested cash with eToro USA.

Account Minimum

Get started with just $50.

And 1% fee on all cryptocurrency trades.

Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Product selection

Native token

Earns

Yes

NFT marketplace

Cripto/debit card

Full name

eToro Group Ltd.

VALR Pty Ltd.

Regulation

Regulated in Chipre, el Reino Unido y Australia

Regulated in Sudáfrica

Year founded

2007

2019

Founder

Yoni Assia

Farzam Ehsani

Payment methods

Transfers

Yes

Mastercard

Yes

Wire transfer

Yes

Card

Yes

Comparative table

eToro	FEATURES	Valr
eToro offers a low minimum trade amount, making it accessible for beginners yet slightly higher than some competitors.	Minimum Trade	VALR allows relatively low minimum trades, making it accessible for beginners to start trading without requiring large initial investments.
Fees are higher due to spread pricing; beneficial for less frequent, larger trades.	Trading and Transaction Fees	One of VALR’s strongest features is its competitive fee structure, which ranks among the lowest in the industry, benefiting all types of traders.
Offers a moderate range of popular cryptocurrencies but lacks some of the lesser-known altcoins.	Number of Cryptocurrencies	The exchange offers a wide selection of cryptocurrencies, providing ample opportunities for diversification.
A decent variety of trading pairs available, though not as extensive as larger exchanges.	Crypto-to-Crypto Trading Pairs	VALR supports a broad range of trading pairs, allowing users to trade directly between various cryptocurrencies without needing to convert to fiat.
eToro provides clear information on fees and features but could improve in showing all terms upfront.	Website Transparency	While VALR generally provides clear information, some users might find details regarding certain policies and operational procedures could be better highlighted.
eToro does not provide an exchange card for in-store purchases and associated benefits based on the available data.	Credit/Debit Card	The VALR card integrates seamlessly with the exchange, providing convenient access to funds and attractive rewards, enhancing the overall utility of the platform for everyday transactions.
Provides a secure digital wallet app but less control compared to dedicated wallet services.	Storage Offering	VALR offers secure storage options including cold storage, ensuring high security for stored digital assets.
Offers staking for some cryptocurrencies with rewards, but the options and rates are limited.	Staking and Rewards	The platform provides competitive staking options and rewards, making it attractive for users looking to earn passive income.
Both mobile and desktop platforms are user-friendly and highly functional.	Mobile App and Desktop	VALR offers both mobile and desktop platforms that are user-friendly and feature-rich, facilitating trading on-the-go as well as from a desktop setup.
Good customer support with multiple channels available, though response times can vary.	Customer Service	While available, customer service response times can be slow, which might frustrate users, especially those needing urgent support.
Easy deposit and withdrawal processes, but some users may find the withdrawal fee structure cumbersome.	Deposit and Withdraw	Deposits and withdrawals are facilitated smoothly, but improvements can be made in terms of speed and the variety of supported currencies and methods.

Key features

Analysis tools

Social trading, advanced charting tools

Basic charting tools

Mobile APP

Security

High 4,9/5

High 4,6/5

Additional features

Social trading, copy trading, eToro Club rewards

Staking, fiat on/off ramps, VALR Earn, institutional services

Anonymity

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

30+ (focus on popular assets)

50+

User-friendliness

eToro features a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for beginners. The platform focuses on social trading, allowing users to follow and copy trades from experienced traders.

VALR offers a user-friendly platform that is easy to navigate, making it suitable for beginners. The interface is designed to facilitate a smooth trading experience with all necessary features easily accessible.

Value for money

Delivers reasonable value for money with competitive fees and a focus on social trading, making it an attractive option for new traders.

Offers good value for money with competitive fees and strong local support in South Africa, making it a good choice for regional users.

Countries of operation

United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia

South Africa

Best for

Suitable for new traders interested in social trading and following the strategies of successful traders, with competitive fees.

Suitable for South African investors looking for a reliable platform with competitive fees and strong local support.

Base currencies available

USD, BTC

ZAR, BTC

Account

Trading

eToro is known for its social trading features, allowing users to follow and copy trades from experienced traders. It offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies but has higher fees compared to some exchanges.

VALR is a popular exchange in South Africa, offering a user-friendly platform and easy fiat integration. It supports a good range of cryptocurrencies and competitive fees but lacks some advanced trading tools.

Deposit and withdrawal

eToro offers multiple deposit options, including bank transfers, debit cards, and e-wallets. Withdrawals are processed within a day, but fees are higher compared to some exchanges .

VALR is popular in South Africa, offering easy fiat and cryptocurrency deposit methods. Withdrawals are processed efficiently, with competitive fees.

Account opening process

eToro offers a seamless and fully digital account opening process. Users need to provide personal information, verify their identity, and typically get their account approved within a day. It’s user-friendly and efficient.

VALR provides a seamless and fully digital account registration process. Users need to submit personal details and verify their identity. The process is quick and usually takes less than a day to complete.

KYC required?

Yes

Customer Service

eToro offers extensive customer support via email, live chat, and phone. The support team is responsive and available 24/7, ensuring users get timely assistance.

VALR provides customer support via email and live chat. The support team is responsive and helpful, but the lack of 24/7 support may be a limitation for some users.

Security

eToro offers comprehensive security measures, including 2FA, encryption, and cold storage. It is regulated by multiple financial authorities, ensuring high security for investors.

VALR employs robust security features, including 2FA and cold storage. However, it is not regulated by major financial authorities, which might be a concern for some investors.

Which of these exchanges is for you?

Alejandro Borja

At Threenvest, we understand the importance of choosing the right cryptocurrency exchange for your trading and investment needs. eToro, with its distinctive blend of social trading features and a user-friendly platform, presents a compelling option for those new to cryptocurrency trading as well as seasoned traders seeking a more community-oriented trading environment. The platform stands out for its wide array of cryptocurrencies, including popular choices like Bitcoin and Ethereum, as well as its innovative social trading tools that allow users to learn from peers and mimic successful traders’ strategies. These features make eToro particularly attractive to users who value a collaborative approach to trading. However, it’s important to weigh eToro’s offerings against its limitations. Compared to other exchanges, eToro’s fee structure, primarily based on spreads, may be higher, particularly for less popular cryptocurrencies or during volatile market conditions. Additionally, while eToro offers a robust platform that caters well to beginners and intermediate users, advanced traders might find the technical tools insufficient for complex strategies. At Threenvest, we recommend eToro for users who prioritize ease of use, educational resources, and social trading capabilities. For those requiring advanced trading capabilities and lower fee structures, exploring other platforms might be advisable. Ultimately, aligning your specific trading style and needs with the features offered by eToro will determine if this platform is the right choice for you.

Xavier Tarrasó

As an expert reviewer on our website, I highly recommend VALR for anyone entering the cryptocurrency market in South Africa. The platform’s wide array of cryptocurrencies paired with some of the most competitive fees in the market makes it a top choice. However, if you’re trading from outside of South Africa or require swift customer support, you might want to consider these aspects before deciding.

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How do we review crypto exchanges?

At Threenvest, we conduct a thorough review process to evaluate and rank the world’s leading crypto exchanges. Our goal is to offer an unbiased assessment, providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions on which ones best suit your needs. We strictly adhere to the guidelines of our editorial policy.

We collect data directly from exchanges through detailed questionnaires and conduct first-hand testing and observations during crypto exchange demonstrations. Questionnaire responses, combined with demonstrations and hands-on research from our experts, feed into our proprietary evaluation process that scores each provider’s performance on more than 15 factors. The end result produces star ratings ranging from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).

For more details on the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

Risk Disclaimer

Investing in cryptocurrencies is very risky, you should only invest the money you are willing to lose. Also you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Neither Threenvest, nor the author, are recommending you to invest with this article.