Regulated and trusted. Tested via live trading.
8,093 people chose this broker
Not available in United States; see best alternatives
Why choose Plus500
If you’re a CFD trader who prioritizes a smooth and comfortable trading experience, Plus500 is a great choice. The platforms are super easy to use on both mobile and desktop, I just love them. Unlike most CFD brokers, Plus500 also offers real stocks; ideal if you’re also looking into long-term investments while satisfying your trading habit. Penny-pinchers should look elsewhere, though; forex trading fees at Plus500 are so-so, while CFD trading fees lean toward the higher end.
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
The fees in the table below were collected on Dec 7, 2023 between 2 pm and 4 pm CET.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ Well-designed platform ❖ Great account opening ❖ Quick and helpful customer support | ❖ Inactivity fee charged ❖ High conversion fee |
Plus500 at a glance
| 🗺 Country of regulation | UK, Cyprus, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, Israel, Seychelles, Estonia, United Arab Emirates, Japan |
|---|---|
| 🛡️ Negative balance protection | Yes |
| 💰 Apple CFD fee | $23.1 |
| 💰 S&P 500 CFD spread | 0.7 |
| 💰 Inactivity fee charged | Yes |
| 💰 Withdrawal fee | $0 |
| 💰 Minimum deposit | $100 |
| 💵 Available base currencies | USD, GBP, EUR, CHF, AUD, JPY, PLN, CZK, CAD, HUF, TRY, SEK, NOK, SGD |
| 💵 Conversion fee of deposits in non-base currency | 0.7% mark-up |
| 💳 Deposit with bank card | Available |
| 👛 With electronic wallet | Available |
| 🕖 Time to open an account | 1 day |
| 🎮 Demo account provided | Yes |
| 🛍️ Products offered | Futures, CFD |
Fees
Score: 3.7/5
Plus500 charges no withdrawal fee and has average forex and high stock CFD fees. There is an inactivity fee, but it's charged only if you don't log in to the platform.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ No withdrawal fee ❖ Inactivity fee applies only if you don't log in to the platform | ❖ Average forex CFD fees ❖ High stock CFD fees |
We compared Plus500‘s fees with two similar brokers we selected, eToro and Capital.com. These competitors were selected based on objective factors like products offered, client profile, fee structure, etc. See a more detailed comparison of Plus500 alternatives.
Average FX fees
All fees are built into the spread, so there is no separate commission charged. For example, the EUR/USD spread is 0.8.
| Broker | EURUSD spread | FX commission per lot |
|---|---|---|
| Plus500 | 0.8 | No commission is charged |
| eToro | 1.0 | No commission is charged |
| Capital.com | 0.6 | No commission is charged |
Again, there is no commission, and everything is included in the spreads.
Average index CFD fees
All index CFD fees are built into the spread. The spread for S&P 500 index CFDs is 0.7.
| Broker | S&P 500 CFD spread |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | 0.7 |
| eToro | 0.8 |
| Capital.com | 0.8 |
High stock CFD fees
All stock CFD fees are built into the spread. The spread for Apple stock CFDs is 1.4.
| Broker | Apple CFD |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | $7.3 |
| eToro | $2.0 |
| Capital.com | $0.6 |
Average inactivity fee, low withdrawal fee
Plus500 charges no withdrawal, account or deposit fees.
On the other hand, there is an inactivity fee of $10 per quarter after 3 months of inactivity. However, you can get around having to pay the inactivity fee if you simply log in to the platform. At some other brokers, you have to trade in order to not be charged an inactivity fee, logging in is not enough.
| Broker | Inactivity fee | Withdrawal fee |
|---|---|---|
| Plus500 | $0 | |
| eToro | $5 | |
| Capital.com | $0 |
Plus500 will charge a currency conversion fee of up to 0.7% for all trades on instruments denominated in a currency different from the currency of your account.
Other commissions and fees
Low futures fees: US index futures fees are as follows – $0.49 per micro contract.
| Broker | US stock | UK stock |
|---|---|---|
| Plus500 | – | – |
| eToro | $0.0 | $0.0 |
| Capital.com | – | – |
Safety
Plus500 is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is regulated by more than one top-tier financial authority. On the negative side, it does not have a banking license.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ Listed on stock exchange ❖ Financial information is publicly available | ❖ Does not hold a banking license |
Is Plus500 regulated?
Yes, it is regulated by several financial authorities:
- the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
- the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
- the Financial Markets Authority (FMA) of New Zealand
- the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa
- the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)
- the Israel Securities Authority (ISA)
- the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) and
- the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA).
Is Plus500 safe?
To be certain that a brokerage is safe, we highly advise that you check two facts:
- how you are protected if something goes wrong
- the background of the broker.
How you are protected
Plus500 operates several subsidiaries; which one will serve you depends on your residency. The investor protection amount you get depends on the country of the entity you are signing up with.
For example, if you are from the UK, your account will be with Plus500UK Ltd and you will get £85,000 in investor protection. Plus500UK Ltd is regulated by the FCA, the UK's financial authority.
| Client country | Investor protection amount | Regulator | Legal entity |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEA countries (EU, Switzerland, Norway) | €20,000 | Authorized and regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (#250/14) | Plus500CY Ltd |
| UK | £85,000 | Authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (#509909) | Plus500UK Ltd |
| Australia, New Zealand and South Africa | No protection | Licensed by the ASIC (AFSL #417727), Financial Markets Authority (FSP #486026), and FSCA (FSP #47546) | Plus500AU Pty Ltd |
| Singapore | No protection | Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (#CMS100648-1) and the IE Singapore (#PLUS/CBL/2018) | Plus500SG Pte Ltd |
| Israel | No protection | Licensed by Israel Securities Authority (#515233914) | Plus500IL Ltd |
| United Arab Emirates | No protection | Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) | Plus500AE Ltd |
| All other clients | No protection | Authorized and regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (#SD039) | Plus500SEY Ltd |
Plus500 provides negative balance protection for CFD trading. This means that if the balance on your account should go into negative territory, you will be protected.
Background
Plus500 is based in Israel and was founded in 2008.The longer track record a broker has, the more proof we have that it has successfully survived previous financial crises.
Plus500 is listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, which is a big plus for reliability as Plus500 releases financial statements regularly and transparently. Other aspects, such as ownership and regulatory compliance are also all transparent. For a detailed description of Plus500 as a company, read our in-depth article.
A financially strong parent company is a plus since it can provide the online broker with additional capital if needed. As of December 2021, the biggest owners of the company were mostly large investment banks and asset management companies, including Morgan Stanley. The biggest owner, Odey Asset Management, had a 9.42% stake.
Being listed on a stock exchange, publishing financial statements and being regulated by a top-tier authority like the FCA are all great signs for Plus500's reliability.
Deposit and withdrawal
Score: 5/5
Plus500‘s deposit and withdrawal services are great. You have many options and the processes are simple and free of charge.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ Credit/Debit card available ❖ Free withdrawal ❖ No deposit fee | None |
Account base currencies
At Plus500, you can choose from the following 14 base currencies:
| USD | GBP | EUR | CHF |
| AUD | JPY | PLN | CZK |
| CAD | HUF | TRY | SEK |
| NOK | SGD |
At Plus500, there are several currencies available, even minor ones, but it is not transparent how many and which ones. The account currencies above are available for sure.
The default account currency is set based on your country of residency. You need to contact support if you wish to change your base currency.
Plus500 offers a great base currency selection when compared to its closest competitors.
| Broker | Number of base currencies |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | 14 |
| eToro | 1 |
| Capital.com | 4 |
Why does this matter? For two reasons. If you fund your trading account in the same currency as your bank account or you trade assets in the same currency as your trading account base currency, you won't have to pay a conversion fee.
A convenient way to save on currency conversion fees is by opening a multi-currency bank account at a digital bank. These usually offer bank accounts in several currencies with great currency exchange rates, as well as free or cheap international bank transfers. Opening an account only takes a few minutes on your phone.
Deposit fees and options
Plus500 charges no deposit fees.
There are a lot of depositing options at Plus500, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, or electronic wallets.
| Broker | Bank transfer |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | |
| eToro | |
| Capital.com |
A bank transfer can take several business days, while payment with a credit/debit card is instant. You can only deposit money from accounts that are in your name.
There are a lot of deposit options at Plus500, including electronic wallets such as PayPal, Skrill.
Which e-wallet options are available depends on your region; not all options are available in every country.
Plus500 review – Deposit and withdrawal – Deposit
Plus500 withdrawal fees and options
Plus500 withdrawal is free of charge. There is however a minimum withdrawal amount, which is $50 for PayPal/Skrill and $100 for bank transfers and credit/debit cards.
The same withdrawal methods are available as for deposits.
| Broker | Bank transfer |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | |
| eToro | |
| Capital.com |
You can only withdraw money to accounts in your name.
How long does it take to withdraw money from Plus500? We tested the debit card transfer withdrawal and it took more than 3 business days.
How do you withdraw money from Plus500?
- Log in to your account.
- Click the ‘Menu' icon in the top left corner.
- Click ‘Withdraw'.
- Enter the amount you'd like to withdraw.
- Initiate the transaction by clicking ‘Open a Withdrawal'.
Plus500 review – Deposit and withdrawal – Withdrawal
Account opening
Score: 5/5
Plus500 account opening is seamless, fast and fully digital. You can open your trading account within a day.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ Fast ❖ Fully digital ❖ Low minimum deposit | None |
Can you open an account?
No, you can't open an account at Plus500 if you live in the United States!
the United States
VISIT BROKER
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Plus500 accepts customers from many countries all around the world. Plus500's futures trading service is available to US clients too.
What is the minimum deposit at Plus500?
The required Plus500 minimum deposit is $100.
This minimum deposit is for debit/credit cards and electronic wallets. If you transfer funds via bank transfer, the minimum deposit is $500.
Account types
Plus500 only offers oneaccount type for most clients, which is often referred to as a Retail account.
You can apply for a Professional account only if you meet two of the following three criteria:
- Sufficient trading activity in the last 12 months
- Financial instrument portfolio over €500,000
- Relevant experience in the financial services sector
How to open your account
If you want an efficient and digital account opening process, Plus500 is the provider for you.
After the online registration, you have to verify your identity and provide proof of residency. You can upload a copy of your ID or passport to verify your identity, and a bank statement or utility bill to verify your residency. Alternatively, you can use a driving license or a residence permit for ID verification, or a toll taxes letter, salary slip or address card to verify your residency.
Plus500 review – Account opening
Mobile app
Score: 5/5
The Plus500 mobile platform is well-designed and user-friendly.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ User-friendly ❖ Two-step (safer) login ❖ Good search function | None |
The Plus500 mobile platform is very similar to the web platform. It has the same functionalities and is also user-friendly: same order types, same options for notifications. This is a great addition for investors trading CFDs, as they can be notified of sudden price changes in time.
You can download the trading app for iOS, Android and Windows. You can also use your smartwatch, but we stuck to a conventional smartphone and tested the mobile iOS app. It was great.
The mobile trading platform is available in several languages.
| Arabic | Bulgarian | Chinese | Croatian | Czech |
| Danish | Dutch | English | Estonian | Finnish |
| French | German | Greek | Hebrew | Hungarian |
| Icelandic | Italian | Latvian | Lithuanian | Malay |
| Maltese | Polish | Portuguese | Romanian | Russian |
| Slovakian | Slovenian | Spanish | Swedish | Traditional Chinese |
| Turkish |
Look and feel
The Plus500 mobile platform is well-designed and user-friendly.
Plus500 review – Mobile trading platform
Login and security
Plus500 provides a safer, two-step login for its mobile platform.
You can log in using biometric authentication, which is a convenient feature.
Search functions
The search functions are good.
Plus500 review – Mobile trading platform – Search
Placing orders
You can use the following order types on the mobile trading platform:
- Market
- Limit
- Stop
- Trailing stop
- Guaranteed stop
There is a single order time limit you can use: Good 'till Canceled (GTC).
Plus500 review – Mobile trading platform – Order panel
Alerts and notifications
You can set alerts and notifications on the Plus500 mobile platform.
VISIT BROKER
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Desktop platform
Score: 4.5/5
The Plus500 web trading platform is quite user-friendly and also looks great. On the negative side, it cannot be customized.
| ✅ Pro | ❌ Cons |
| ❖ User-friendly ❖ Clear fee report ❖ Two-step (safer) login | ❖ Limited customizability for workspace |
VISIT BROKER
82% of retail CFD accounts lose money
Product selection
Score: 3.2/5
At Plus500 you can trade mainly CFDs (CFD forex, stock index, stock, ETF, commodity and crypto). Popular asset classes, like ETFs or options are not available. Futures trading is only available for US citizens on the Plus500 Futures platform.
Plus500 is a CFD broker. To learn more about CFDs read our CFD trading tips. If you are interested in real stock trading visit our Plus500 Invest review.
Plus500 offers a good selection of CFDs.
| Broker | Currency pairs (#) |
|---|---|
| Plus500 | 66 |
| eToro | 52 |
| Capital.com | 125 |
Disclaimer: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 82% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
You can also trade options on a few stock CFDs and stock index CFDs. There are thematic indexes as well that you can trade, e.g. Cannabis index.
Leverage
You cannot change leverage levels, which is a drawback. Changing the leverage is a very useful feature when you want to lower the risk of your trade. Be careful with CFD trading, as the preset leverage levels are high and investor or CFD accounts can easily lose money when trading CFDs.
All in all – be careful, as there's a high risk of losing money here.
FAQ
We recommend Plus500 for experienced traders looking for an easy-to-use platform and a great user experience.
Below you can find links to all aspects of Plus500 in this comprehensive collection.
Lower fees, lower costs?
We detailed this in our Plus500 fees article.
How to open your Plus500 account?
Look no further than our evaluation of the Plus500 account opening.
How to buy/sell silver on Plus500?
Research in the silver on Plus500 guide
I want to trade options, are they available at Plus500?
We explored the topic in Can you trade options on Plus500?
How do you withdraw money from Plus500?
We tested it and collected the options and costs in How to withdraw money on Plus500.
Further reading: