How to Buy Your First Stock on eToro

Welcome! 👋

If you're brand new to eToro and want to buy your very first stock (we’ll use Amazon as an example), you're in the right place.

By the end of this guide, you’ll know exactly how to find, buy, and even sell your first stock—all without the overwhelm.

Let’s jump in! 🚀

Watch the YouTube video here

Step 1: Log in and Get Comfortable with Your Dashboard

When you log in to eToro, you’ll land on your dashboard. Here’s what you’ll see:

• Your cash balance

• Available funds

• Any open positions or profit/loss data
  

👉 All good? Cool. Now let's go stock hunting.

Step 2: Use the Search Bar to Find a Stock

At the top of the screen, you'll find the search bar.Type “Amazon” and you’ll probably see two results:

• Amazon (AMZN)

• Amazon EXT
  

🚀 Quick tip 🚀

“EXT” stands for Extended Hours—meaning you can buy/sell outside of the normal U.S. market hours (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. EST).

Unless you’re experienced, just stick with the regular Amazon option.

Step 3: Explore the Stock Dashboard

Click Amazon, and boom—you’re on its main stock page.

Here’s what you’ll see:

• Performance chart

• News & events

• Price alerts

• Stats
  

Now let’s move on to making your first investment.

Step 4: Click “Invest” and Set Up Your Order

In the top-right corner, click the big blue “Invest” button. A new window pops up. Here’s where the magic happens.

Step 5: Buy or Short (Spoiler: Just Buy)

You’ll see two tabs:

• Buy – you're betting the stock will go up ✅

• Short – you're betting the stock will go down ❌

Stick with Buy. You're investing in Amazon because you believe in its long-term potential, right? Cool. Keep going.

⚠️ Warning ⚠️ If you're a beginner, ignore the "Short" option. It’s risky business.

Step 6: Choose How Much You Want to Invest

By default, it might show $2,500—but don’t panic.

Just change it to the amount you want. For example:$100

This means you’re buying $100 worth of Amazon stock, not a full share.

Step 7: Set Your Stop Loss & Take Profit (Optional, but Smart)

Let’s break this down:

• Stop Loss: This limits your downside. Example: Set it to -10, and if Amazon drops $10, your position closes automatically.

• Take Profit: This locks in gains.Example: Set it to 20, and if your $100 investment becomes $120, it cashes out for you.
  

Want extra protection? Turn on Trailing Stop Loss. It follows the price upward—smart for bullish runs.

Step 8: Leverage—Just Say No (for Now)

You’ll see a leverage setting like X1, X2, X5...

Stick with X1. Leverage multiplies both your potential gains and your losses. Until you're more experienced, keep it simple.

Step 9: Choose Order Type — Market vs Limit

• Market Order: Buys instantly at the current price

• Limit Order: Buys when the stock hits a price you set
  

Example: Amazon is $203.94 now, but you want it at $200. Use a Limit Order and type in $200. It’ll wait to execute until the price hits your target.

Step 10: Review Currency & Costs

You’ll see your estimated cost and what currency you’re using.Tip: I always use USD—and eToro lets you convert easily.

Also check for any fees:

• Regular stocks = no fees ✅

• CFDs, gold, or crypto = might include overnight or spread fees❗
  

Step 11: Click “Buy” — You’re Done!

Hit the Buy button and you’re officially in the game. 🥳

After a few seconds, your position will appear on the Amazon page.

Step 12: Track or Close Your Position

To view or manage your investment:

• Click “View Portfolio”

• Or go to “Portfolio” on the left sidebar
  

Here, you can:

• See performance

• Close positions

• Manage multiple entries (note: “Close All” closes all Amazon trades, not just one!)
  

✔️ Quick Recap ✔️

Use the search bar Stick with “Buy,” not “Short” Avoid leverage (X1 only) Optional: Use Stop Loss & Take Profit Choose Market or Limit order Always review costs before buying Click “Buy” — done!

Can you buy fractional shares on eToro?

Yes! eToro lets you buy fractional shares, meaning you can invest as little as $10 in big-name stocks like Amazon, even if a full share costs hundreds or thousands. You’re buying a piece of the company, not the whole pie.

What’s the difference between Market and Limit orders on eToro?

• Market Order: Buys the stock instantly at the current price.

• Limit Order: Buys the stock only when it reaches your target price.
  

Tip: Use Market orders if you want in now. Use Limit orders if you’re waiting for a better price.

Do I need to use leverage when buying stocks on eToro?

Nope. In fact, beginners should always stick to X1 leverage, which means you’re buying the real stock (not trading CFDs). Leverage is riskier and best left for more advanced traders.

What happens after I buy a stock on eToro?

Once you hit “Buy”, your position will show up in your Portfolio. From there, you can:

• Track performance

• Set Stop Loss or Take Profit

• Add to the position

• Or close it whenever you want
  

You’re now a shareholder—congrats! 🎉