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What Is the eToro Demo Account and How Does It Work?
The eToro demo account — also called the Virtual Portfolio — allows users to practice trading with $100,000 in simulated funds. It mirrors real market conditions across assets like stocks, crypto, ETFs, and more.
This feature is ideal for beginners learning how trading works and for experienced investors testing new strategies without financial risk.
Because it operates in real-time, users can analyze price charts, place mock trades, and refine risk management techniques in a controlled environment.
The demo account is available to all eToro users and requires no additional signup process.
How to Use eToro Demo Account: A Practical Guide
A demo account on eToro lets you practice trading with $100,000 in virtual funds, so you can refine your strategies without risking real money. Here’s how to make the most of it, step by step:
1. Open Your Paper Trading Account
Start by signing up for eToro, then switch to the demo account by toggling to “Virtual Portfolio” from your profile dropdown. This activates your $100,000 paper trading balance instantly.
Because it mirrors real-time market data, you can test strategies just like you would with a live account. Also, there’s no need to download anything — all features are available through the web and eToro mobile app.
This setup is perfect for beginners learning how markets move, but also valuable for seasoned traders testing new strategies risk-free.
2. Configure Your Starting Settings
After launching your virtual account, take a few minutes to personalize the experience. You can’t change the $100,000 balance, but you can focus on asset classes that matter to you — like crypto, stocks, or ETFs.
Explore the dashboard tools:
Watchlists to track different sectors
Charting tools to test indicators like RSI or MACD
Risk stats on popular investors if you’re copy trading
As a result, you can replicate your actual interests and portfolio strategies in a risk-free environment.
3. Build a Trading Plan Before You Trade
Don’t just jump in—structure your approach. Decide whether you’ll trade momentum setups, long-term stocks, or a sector rotation model.
A strong demo plan should include:
Entry and exit criteria (e.g., “Buy if RSI < 30 and upward crossover”)
Position size (e.g., max 5% per trade)
Stop-loss and take-profit rules
Evaluation timeline (e.g., review trades every Friday)
By sticking to a framework, you’ll simulate the real pressures of trading and improve faster because you’ll understand what works — and why.
4. Execute Your First Trades and Track Them Closely
After 10–15 trades, pause and reflect. Use the portfolio history to evaluate trade outcomes, win/loss ratios, and consistency across strategies.
Ask questions like:
Are my winners bigger than my losers?
Do I trade too often or during volatile hours?
Am I following my own rules?
Keep a trade journal or spreadsheet to spot recurring issues. For example, if you keep cutting winners too early, that’s a pattern worth fixing. Reviewing builds discipline — and discipline separates real traders from demo dabblers.
5. Adjust and Decide When to Go Live
If your strategy performs consistently well for a few weeks, consider refining it. Tweak stop-loss levels or experiment with better timing indicators, like pairing RSI with moving averages.
However, don’t rush to real money just because you see green trades. First, make sure your results are not based on luck or short-term volatility.
When you’re confident, switch to the real portfolio — but start small. Use the same rules that worked in your demo account to keep emotions under control. eToro allows fractional investing, so you can begin with as little as $10 per trade, mirroring your practice.
eToro Virtual Portfolio: Tips For Beginners
Using the eToro demo account is a smart way to learn how markets work — but only if you approach it with discipline.
Treat It Like Real Money: Avoid reckless trades just because it’s virtual cash. Simulate the same position sizes and decisions you’d make with real funds.
Test Strategies, Not Just Luck: Try swing trading, copy trading, or long-term investing — but track performance to see what actually works consistently.
Use Stop-Losses and Risk Rules: Apply stop-loss and take-profit levels to practice risk management. This helps prepare you emotionally and tactically for live trading.
Take Notes on Each Trade: Journaling why you entered or exited a trade can uncover patterns and bad habits to fix early.
Explore Platform Features: Test chart indicators, copy top traders, or simulate trades across assets like crypto, ETFs, and forex — without consequences.
This mindset helps turn a demo account into a real learning tool.
