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Plus500 Review 2023

Written By

Rebecca Holden

Written By

Rebecca Holden

Rebecca is a freelance investment writer and broker analyst. She has evaluated dozens of brokers and trading platforms. Rebecca formerly worked in e-commerce where she helped grow the online presence of some of the UK's largest brands.

» Rebecca Holden Profile Page

Edited By

Jemma Grist

Edited By

Jemma Grist

Jemma is a freelance writer and editor, focussed on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.

» Jemma Grist Profile Page

Fact Checked By

James Barra

Fact Checked By

James Barra

James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. He has worked as a management consultant, where he delivered large-scale operational transformational programmes at some of Europe's biggest banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.

» James Barra Profile Page

Updated

Oct 20, 2023

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Our Rating

4.1 / 5

Plus500 is #22 in our CFD broker rankings.

Customer Reviews (1)

Plus500 offers one of the best trading platforms for beginners. With a modern design and dynamic charting, we found it great for trading CFDs on popular financial markets. The $100 minimum deposit and unlimited demo account also make Plus500 accessible for aspiring investors.

- Rebecca Holden, Reviewer

82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Plus500 is a leading brokerage, listed on the London Stock Exchange with 25+ million registered traders. The firm specializes in CFD trading on its intuitive, in-house platform and mobile app. Spreads are low and there are no deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also has a high trust score with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC.

✓
Trusted

✓
Demo Account

✓
Beginner Friendly

✓
Award Winning

Minimum Deposit $100

Trading Platforms WebTrader, App

Instruments CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Futures, Options, Crypto

Bonus Offer -

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, CZK

Payment Options PayPal, Wire Transfer, Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill
and 4 more

All Plus500 Details

Compare Plus500

Forex Trading

Plus500 offers forex trading via CFDs with tight, floating spreads and an excellent suite of 60+ currency pairs. We got spreads of 0.6 pips on the EUR/USD during testing - lower than many alternatives.

Stock Trading

Plus500 provides hundreds of shares across UK, US and European markets via Plus500 Invest. We particularly rate the access to ESG opportunities and the emerging cannabis sector, which are not available at many alternatives.

CFD Trading

Plus500 offers commission-free CFDs on a huge range of markets, including currencies, stocks, indices and commodities. Traders can go long or short on popular assets with flexible leverage and no hidden charges. The WebTrader platform has been specifically designed for trading CFDs.

Crypto Trading

Investors can trade on rising and falling prices with CFDs on popular cryptos like Bitcoin. Plus500 also stands out for its crypto indices, which offer diversification opportunities by tracking a basket of leading digital currencies. Availability subject to regulation.

Awards

• Best Overall Broker 2021 - DayTrading.com
• Best Overall Broker 2020 - DayTrading.com
• Best Overall Broker 2019 - DayTrading.com

✓ Pros

• Zero commissions and tight spreads on over 2,000 instruments across forex, shares, indices, commodities, cryptos and ETFs
• Premium service for professional traders with fee rebates, external webinars, expert analysis and a dedicated client manager
• ESG investing opportunities through a range of equities and indices, including the Global Warming Reduction Index
• Unique +Insights feature offering real-time trading analysis to uncover trends and market sentiment
• We enjoy using the web platform with its smooth user experience and feature-rich trading tools
• Excellent reputation with 25+ million clients worldwide and licensed in multiple jurisdictions
• Reliable 24/7 customer support via email, telephone, live chat and WhatsApp
• Excellent risk management tools including guaranteed stop loss orders

✗ Cons

• No access to the MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 platforms
• Average withdrawal speeds that can take up to 7 days
• No social trading functions for hands-off investors
• $10 monthly inactivity fee after 3 months
• Algo trading is not supported
• Scalping is not permitted

In this review of Plus500, we share our take on the broker’s trading conditions, including accounts, fees, platforms, education and customer support. Our team analyze, compare and rate Plus500 in all key areas to help you decide whether to sign up and start trading.

Assets & Markets

We appreciate the wide range of CFDs available, with access to stocks, indices, forex, commodities, and more. The breadth of stocks you can invest in is particularly strong, with exposure to major economies and industries, while active forex traders will be well served by the dozens of popular currency pairs.

Plus500 also stands out for its call and put options plus futures, which offer an alternative way to speculate on popular financial markets with leverage and a range of expiry dates.

You can trade:

• Forex – 60+ major, minor, and exotic currency pairs including GBP/USD, EUR/USD, and EUR/NZD
• Indices – 30+ country, ESG and sector index funds including USA 30, Europe 50, France 40, FTSE 100, Japan 225, NASDAQ 100, IBEX 35, Metaverse Giants and NFT Giants
• Commodities – 24 agricultural, energy, and precious metal products including copper, natural gas, oil, and wheat
• Shares – 1800+ stocks from companies such as LVMH, Amazon, Apple, Tesla, Rolls-Royce, and Lloyds Banking Group
• Options – 200+ popular instruments available as options contracts including EUR/USD, natural gas, Deutsche Bank, and the Europe 50 index
• ETFs – 90+ exchange-traded funds such as iShares Silver, Commodity Index Fund, and the PowerShares QQQ Trust ETF
• Cryptocurrency – 15 crypto coins such as Bitcoin, Ripple, Litecoin, and Ethereum, plus the Crypto 10 index

Note that access to trading instruments may vary depending on your location.

Account Types

Unlike many competitors, Plus500 offers one standard account. Traders can access all investment products, platforms and tools with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lots and an accessible starting deposit of $100.

The choice of account currencies is a bonus, including USD, EUR, GBP, and AUD, allowing traders to deposit, trade and withdraw in a convenient currency.

A swap-free account is also available at some of the broker’s entities, while high-volume traders can open a professional account if they satisfy two of the criteria below:

• Hold a financial portfolio worth at least €500,000
• Opened 10 positions per quarter over the last four quarters
• Have at least one year of professional working experience in the finance sector

The pro account offers higher leverage, the best order execution and cash rebates. It is also one of the few professional trading accounts we have seen to offer negative balance protection.

How To Open An Account

I found the registration process at Plus500 clear, although fairly long – it took me the best part of half an hour to sign up.

1. Add your email address, choose a password and select ‘Create Account’
2. Click the ‘Get Started’ ribbon in the client portal to add your details
3. Input your address and proceed to the next page
4. Complete the multiple-choice financial assessment
5. Answer the questions listed in the ‘Assessment of Appropriateness’
6. Provide your employment status and investment objectives
7. Review and agree to the terms and conditions
8. Deposit funds to start trading

Payment Methods

Plus500 scores well when it comes to deposits and withdrawals. The broker accepts multiple fee-free and secure payment options, including wire transfers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets like PayPal or Skrill.

We found that e-wallets offer the fastest processing times, with funds normally available immediately. In contrast, wire transfers can take up to 5 working days, so avoid this if you want to get started quickly.

Looking at the negatives, withdrawal times at Plus500 are slower than some alternatives. PayPal and Skrill can take between 3 and 7 working days, respectively. On a lighter note, there is no withdrawal limit.

How To Deposit Funds

I can fund my Plus500 account in five steps:

1. Sign in to the client area and select ‘Funds’ from the side menu
2. Click on the ‘Deposit’ icon
3. Choose a payment method from the list of options
4. Complete the required fields including the deposit value
5. Confirm the transfer

Note that you have to verify your account before you can make a deposit.

Trading Fees

Plus500 has low trading fees. The broker offers commission-free trading with floating spreads that vary depending on market conditions.

During our tests, we got 0.6 on the EUR/USD, 0.7 on the S&P 500, 1.2 on the UK 100, and 0.32 on gold. And while not the lowest spreads we have seen, they compare well to many CFD brokers.

Non-Trading Fees

We appreciate that Plus500 does not charge for deposits and withdrawals.

The only costs to consider are swap fees for overnight positions and conversion charges up to 0.7% if you trade in a currency other than your base currency.

Casual traders should also be aware that there is a $10 inactivity fee after three months of zero trading. This is fairly common at established brokers, so we don’t view this as a significant drawback.

Trading Platform

A key benefit of trading with Plus500 for me is the user-friendly platform. You can access the platform through your browser and it offers a stable interface with a clean look and feel. The order screen is particularly easy to navigate and new positions can be opened in a few clicks.

The Plus500 platform also provides a good selection of analysis features, from 13 chart types, 10 timeframes and 20 drawing tools to 100+ technical indicators including Bollinger Bands, Moving Average, and RSI.

In addition, I find the email and SMS alerts useful – they notify you of price changes and market sentiment data even when you are offline.

Ultimately, the web platform is a great option for beginners looking to trade directly from charts on a visually appealing, web-accessible terminal.

On the downside, serious traders may be disappointed to learn that popular solutions like MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader are not supported. We don’t recommend Plus500 if you want access to these platforms.

It also trails alternatives when it comes to automated trading. It does not support the building, testing and deployment of algo trading strategies.

How To Place A Trade

I find the process of trading on the Plus500 platform simple, taking a few steps, each clearly defined:

1. Use the menu to search for the instrument you want to trade
2. Click the ‘Buy’ or ‘Sell’ icons to open the new order screen
3. Use the toggles to increase/decrease the trade value
4. Use the sliders to include any take-profit or stop-loss orders
5. Select ‘Advanced’ to use additional protection
6. Review order details and select ‘Buy’ or ‘Sell’ to confirm the order

Mobile App

The Plus500 app offers almost the same functionality as the desktop solution. You can trade the full suite of instruments, view charts, and manage your account on mobile and tablet devices. We didn’t encounter any issues during our review and enjoyed the modern design.

The app is available for download to iOS and Android devices from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Regulation & Licenses

Plus500 is a legitimate, trustworthy broker regulated by several reputable financial bodies. Plus500 Ltd is also listed on the London Stock Exchange, which adds to its credibility and is a promising sign that the company is financially stable.

The brokerage is authorized through several subsidiaries:

• Plus500UK Ltd – regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 509909)
• Plus500AE Ltd – regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (F005651)
• Plus500CY Ltd – regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (Licence No. 250/14)
• Plus500SEY Ltd – regulated by the Seychelles Financial Services Authority (Licence No. SD039)
• Plus500EE AS – regulated by the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (Licence No. 4.1-1/18)
• Plus500SG Pte Ltd – regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (License No. CMS100648)
• Plus500AU Pty Ltd – regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ACN 153 301 681, AFSL # 417727), the FMA in New Zealand (License No. 486026), and the FSCA in South Africa (License No. #47546)

Other reassuring signs for us are the use of segregated client accounts and negative balance protection. In addition, retail traders in some jurisdictions will be protected by compensation schemes in the case of business insolvency.

Leverage

Leverage trading is available at Plus500 in line with local regulatory restrictions. For example, EU investors can trade forex with 1:30 leverage and stocks with 1:5 leverage. Investors who qualify for a professional account can access leverage up to 1:300.

Importantly, we recommend that beginners approach leveraged trading with caution – it can amplify both profits and losses. Make the most of stop-loss orders to protect your capital.

Demo Account

Plus500 offers a free demo account. I particularly rate that there are no time restrictions on the paper trading account, so you can continue using it even after you register for a live account.

Given that the broker offers an in-house platform, I recommend starting with the demo mode to learn the different features and tools available.

How To Open A Demo Account

The process to sign up for a Plus500 demo account is much reduced compared to a full account. There is no lengthy registration process and you can reset your account balance at any time.

In the client portal, simply use the ‘Real Money’ and ‘Demo Mode’ toggles at the bottom of the menu on the left.

Bonuses & Promotions

Plus500 regularly offers trading promotions, though availability varies between jurisdictions due to regulatory restrictions.

When we used Plus500, we were offered a 20% welcome bonus on our first deposit over $1000. This free trading credit is useful for practising trading strategies. My only criticism is that the bonus expires after just 90 days. Also, if you deposit less than $100, you may lose access to the bonus.

Plus500 also offers fee rebates, which are a great perk for active traders. All users are automatically enrolled when they make an initial deposit with rebates credited to your account each week as a cash bonus. Simply head to the client portal, select ‘Funds Management’ and then ‘Rebates’.

Another worthwhile service for high-volume traders is the Premium solution. This is invite-only and comes with several perks, including a dedicated account manager, access to exclusive webinars, expert market analysis, and priority customer support.

Additional Tools

Plus500 falls short when it comes to additional tools, so we have marked it down compared to alternatives like Pepperstone and CMC Markets.

The services I find useful are the financial calendar and the ESG scoring partnership with FactSet. This covers a number of major stocks and will be helpful for socially conscious investors.

The other solution worth mentioning is +Insights. This is fairly unique and offers real-time analysis. I find it straightforward to filter by trends to reveal market sentiment, alongside broader category searches based on regions, markets and time horizons. The ‘Most/Least Profit-Making Positions’ category is especially useful.

You can access +Insights through the web platform or the mobile application. On your computer, simply hover over the line icon in the sidebar menu.

Education

Plus500 scores well in the education department. There are some useful learning materials, especially for beginners, including e-books, video tutorials, and trading articles. We found the videos to be the best resource with helpful visual aids that are quicker to grasp than the written content.

Our only minor complaint is that the breadth and depth of the education available don’t rival leading alternatives like eToro and AvaTrade.

Customer Support

Plus500 has an accessible customer support team, available 24/7 via live chat, WhatsApp and email.

There is no telephone contact number which may frustrate some traders, but the chat support is excellent based on our experience – agents are helpful and we received responses within two minutes each time we tested the support.

Alternatively, there is plenty of information in the broker’s FAQ portal, including how to use the trading software, how to withdraw money, user manuals, the withdrawal policy, and how to close/delete an account.

Plus500 is also active on social media accounts including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

Trading Restrictions

While using Plus500, we were disappointed to find several restrictions. You cannot use scalping or algo trading strategies, which means the broker isn’t the best fit for some active day traders.

Company Background

Plus500 is a global broker, serving 25+ million traders through seven subsidiaries. It has executed 300+ million trades since it went operational with an estimated trading volume of $800+ billion.

The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. The firm has its headquarters in London, UK as well as office locations in Limassol, Cyprus and Sydney, Australia to name a few.

Plus500 also has several sponsorship deals with big brands, including Atletico Madrid. This helps add to its credibility and reputation.

Trading Hours

Plus500 follows standard market opening hours. Forex, for example, can be traded 24 hours a day, Monday to Friday.

The broker publishes opening times via the ‘Details’ tab in the main screen of the platform. You can also find market sentiment data alongside upcoming events that may impact the price of global markets.

Should You Trade With Plus500?

Plus500 is a good all-round broker. With 2000+ CFDs, an reliable trading platform and high-quality analytics through +Insights, the broker stands out from many alternatives that we have assessed.

Its long track record, reassuring regulatory status and account safeguards, also strengthen its rating.

FAQ

Is Plus500 Legit Or A Scam?

Plus500 is a legitimate broker. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, has over a decade in the only trading industry, a string of awards and authorization from respected regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC.

Is Plus500 A Good Broker?

Plus500 is a very good broker based on our review. It offers one of the most user-friendly trading platforms we have tested, transparent fees and excellent market analytics through the +Insights service. The $100 minimum deposit and free demo account also make reduce barriers to sign up and get started.

Does Plus500 Offer A Reliable Mobile App?

Plus500 offers a proprietary mobile app, available for free download to iOS and Android devices. The application is stable with a clean interface, interactive charting and straightforward account management.

Is Plus500 Suitable For Beginners?

Plus500 is suitable for beginners. The broker offers a sleek and reliable web platform, alongside an unlimited-time demo account with a low minimum deposit. Basic training and education with blog-style forums, guides and trading tips are also available. The integrated YouTube tutorials are particularly good, helping new traders get the most out of the platform.

Is Plus500 Good For Day Trading?

Plus500 has pros and cons for day traders. On the positive side, it is a trustworthy brand with strong safeguards, no hidden fees and rebates for high-volume traders. Looking at the negatives, other brokers offer tighter spreads, faster execution speeds and more powerful trading software. It is also worth noting that scalping and algo trading aren’t permitted.

Is Plus500 A Market Maker?

Plus500 is a market maker, acting as the counterparty to positions opened by its users. As a result, commissions are included in spreads and execution is usually reliable.

Accepted Countries

Based on local restrictions, Plus500 is not available for citizens of – to mention a few – Belgium, Iran, Canada, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Cote D’Ivoire, Cameroon, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Egypt, Pakistan, France, Cayman Islands, Philippines. Check with the Customer Support if you are allowed to trade on their platform.

Payment Methods

• PayPal
• Skrill
• Visa
• Wire Transfer
• Mastercard
• Credit Card
• Debit Card
• Trustly
• Apple Pay

Top 3 Alternatives to Plus500

Compare Plus500 with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

1. IG Group – IG is an award-winning broker that has an excellent reputation globally. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across a comprehensive suite of markets. IG is also multi-regulated, provides a great trading app and has 50 years experience.
   Go to IG Group
2. Just2Trade – Just2Trade is a reliable multi-regulated broker registered with FINRA, NFA and CySEC. The company has 155,000 clients from 130 countries and stands out for its huge suite of instruments and additional features, including a social network, robo advisors and a funded trader programme.
   Go to Just2Trade
3. Scope Markets – Scope Markets offers day trading and investing in multiple spot and CFD instruments. The group of brokers is regulated in several locations, including Belize, Kenya and South Africa. Users get competitive trading conditions, a range of payment methods, strong support and can get started in a few straightforward steps.
   Go to Scope Markets

Plus500 Comparison Table

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by Plus500 and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

Plus500 vs Other Brokers

Compare Plus500 with any other broker by selecting the other broker below.

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4. Plus500 vs CMC Markets
5. Plus500 vs Capital.com
6. Plus500 vs Pepperstone

	Visit	Plus500 is a leading brokerage, listed on the London Stock Exchange with 25+ million registered traders. The firm specializes in CFD trading on its intuitive, in-house platform and mobile app. Spreads are low and there are no deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also has a high trust score with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Plus500 is a leading brokerage, listed on the London Stock Exchange with 25+ million registered traders. The firm specializes in CFD trading on its intuitive, in-house platform and mobile app. Spreads are low and there are no deposit or withdrawal fees. Plus500 also has a high trust score with licenses from reputable regulators, including the FCA, ASIC and CySEC. 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.