Mobile appFintech & paymentsOriginal by eToro
What sets eToro apart is that it turns investing into a social experience. Users see one another's portfolios, read their posts and can automatically copy the trades of an investor they like. This gives beginners a learning path and gives experienced investors a reason to build a following; because content and trading meet in the same feed, users stay on the platform longer.
To build something similar you add a social network and a copy-trading engine on top of the investment infrastructure. You develop the mobile and web apps, profiles and a post feed, performance statistics, proportional order copying, risk scores, a virtual practice account and a moderation panel. Leveraged products and capital-markets trading require regulatory authorisation in most markets, so working with a licensed firm and displaying risk warnings clearly are mandatory.
How eToro works: the core user flow
How many apps and dashboards do you need?
Investor app
The mobile app for users who trade, follow the social feed and copy other investors.
Web platform
The desktop version with detailed charts, portfolio analysis and the social feed.
Moderation and compliance panel
A team screen for reviewing posts, misleading investment advice and risk disclosures.
Admin panel
An internal panel for managing the asset list, the popular-investor programme, fees and campaigns.
Critical features of a product like eToro
Copy-trading engine
Every trade of the copied investor is replicated within milliseconds, scaled to the amount the follower has allocated.
Social feed
Posts, comments and likes link to asset pages, so a user can buy a stock right where it is being discussed.
Performance and risk score
A transparent score based on returns, maximum drawdown and volatility makes the decision to copy easier.
Virtual practice account
Users can practise trading with a virtual balance without depositing real money.
Ready-made themed portfolios
Baskets built around themes such as technology or clean energy let users invest in one go.
Popular investor programme
Investors rewarded by follower count and consistency produce quality content for the platform.
What goes into the first version, what comes later
First version (MVP)
- Account opening, KYC and risk test
- Stock and ETF trading
- Profile pages and social feed
- Basic copy-trading feature
- Virtual practice account
Later releases
- Themed ready-made portfolios
- Popular investor reward programme
- Crypto and commodity products
- Advanced analytics and multi-language support
Modules and how the budget is calculated
The budget is calculated with 360 SOFT’s pricing model from the modules below, about 38 screens and the project’s complexity: roughly 211 person-days for the full scope and 136 person-days for the first version. Every module you drop lowers the budget directly.
| Module | Phase |
|---|---|
| Sign-up, login, social login | First version |
| User profile and settings | First version |
| Roles and permissions | First version |
| Admin dashboard | First version |
| Online payments (Stripe / PSP) | First version |
| Subscriptions and recurring billing | First version |
| Advanced search and filters | First version |
| Real-time messaging | First version |
| Push notifications | First version |
| Email / SMS notifications | First version |
| Ratings and reviews | First version |
| Reporting and analytics | Later release |
| GDPR and security hardening | First version |
| Multi-language | First version |
Hosting, SMS, map APIs, app store accounts and payment-provider fees are separate items. Maintenance and improvements (optional): €700 / month. We send a fixed written price within 24 hours after a free discovery call.
The hard parts
Consistency in copying
When thousands of followers copy at once, price slippage can occur; sequencing and proportional calculation must be designed carefully.
Investment-advice risk
User posts can turn into unlicensed investment advice; disclaimers and moderation are essential.
Licence scope
Leveraged products and capital-markets trading need regulatory authorisation, and country-specific product restrictions must be managed.
Business model
Revenue comes from the spread on trades, currency-conversion fees, withdrawal fees and overnight position costs. A premium membership with advanced analytics and priority support, and management fees on themed portfolios, can be added. Showing fees clearly before a trade is also a regulatory requirement. Payouts to popular investors should be planned into this revenue model as well.
Get a free quote for your project
Let us scope it together and send a fixed written quote within 24 hours. NDA on request; you own the source code.
Choosing a company to build an app like eToro
Most people searching “build an app like etoro” are really looking for a reliable app development company. When comparing quotes, check four things:
- Can you try similar products they have shipped, in the stores or live?
- Are the source code, design files, servers and store accounts transferred to you by contract?
- Do they show a working demo every two weeks, with written scope and acceptance criteria?
- Are maintenance, scaling and GDPR/security costs written into the quote?
Copyright and trademarks
A business model and features are generally not protected on their own, but the eToro name, logo, interface design, content and source code are. That is why we build a product with similar functionality but your own brand, design and code. This is not legal advice; we recommend a trademark search before launch.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to build an app like eToro?
If the investment infrastructure comes from a licensed partner, a first version with a social feed and basic copy trading can ship in a few months. Load testing of the copy engine and compliance processes are the items that stretch the schedule.
What permissions does a social investing platform need?
Capital-markets trading and leveraged products require a regulated, licensed firm. Whether copy trading counts as investment advice or portfolio management must also be assessed legally.
Are there copyright or trademark issues?
The social investing business model and features are generally free to use, but the name, logo, interface design, content and code cannot be copied. This information is general in nature and is not a substitute for legal advice.
What should I look for when choosing a company to build an app like eToro?
Look for a team with experience in both real-time financial systems and scaling social networks. Ask how they will design the moderation tools and risk warnings.
