Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs Plus500, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrade and Plus500 are both well-established online brokers, founded in 2006 and 2008, respectively. While both companies offer trading services, they differ in their business structure, as Plus500 is a publicly traded company, whereas AvaTrade is privately held. Both brokers are not banks, ensuring that their focus remains entirely on providing trading services. AvaTrade holds four highly trusted Tier-1 licenses while Plus500 surpasses it with six, reflecting a higher level of regulatory approval. Both brokers maintain equal footing with three trusted Tier-2 licenses each.
In terms of trustworthiness, ForexBrokers.com provides AvaTrade with a Trust Score of 94 out of 99, signifying a highly trusted broker status. Plus500, however, achieves a near-perfect Trust Score of 99, denoting an exceptional level of trust. These scores indicate that both brokers are highly reliable; however, Plus500 edges out AvaTrade concerning overall credibility and regulatory recognition in the financial market.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, AvaTrade and Plus500 present different advantages and considerations for traders. AvaTrade's spreads are just below the industry average, coming in at 0.9 pips as of June 2024. This positions AvaTrade as a slightly more costly option compared to entry-level accounts from competitors like CMC Markets and Tickmill. For professional traders, AvaTrade offers attractive rates of 0.6 pips on their Professional account, which aligns closely with FP Markets, making it a competitive choice for experienced traders.
In contrast, Plus500's pricing tends to exceed the industry average, especially in comparison to leading brokers like IG and Saxo for active traders. The average spread for the EUR/USD pair stood at 1.5 pips in April 2024, placing it on the higher end relative to industry norms. Although Plus500 does not offer upfront discounts for retail clients, professional clients can benefit from cash rebates, which act similarly to active trader programs.
In terms of ratings and rankings, AvaTrade receives 4.5 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees and holds the 12th position among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Plus500 is rated slightly lower at 4.0 stars and is ranked 25th in the same category. These ratings reflect AvaTrade's relative strength in offering competitive pricing options for both general and professional traders, whereas Plus500 may cater more to those who qualify for its professional rebates.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.5 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.5 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing AvaTrade and Plus500, both platforms provide opportunities for forex trading through contracts for difference (CFDs) or spot contracts. AvaTrade offers a solid selection of 1,260 tradeable symbols, including 53 forex pairs. While impressive, Plus500 surpasses this offering with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs. Additionally, only Plus500 provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to directly buy shares like Apple and Vodafone, whereas AvaTrade focuses on CFDs and does not offer direct access to these markets.
In terms of additional features, AvaTrade distinguishes itself with a copy trading option, enabling users to replicate the trades of experienced investors, a feature not available on Plus500. For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, both platforms facilitate trading cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither offers direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. In the evaluation of Range of Investments, AvaTrade secures a four-star rating and ranks #32 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating and a ranking of #24, catering to a broader spectrum of trading options.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing AvaTrade and Plus500 in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a broad range of options tailored to diverse trading needs. AvaTrade boasts a great selection with its proprietary platform, Windows-based desktop download, and web-based platform. It also supports the widely-used MetaTrader 4 and 5, along with copy trading functionalities through DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. AvaTrade further enhances the trading experience with a total of 13 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart, making it a comprehensive choice for traders seeking flexibility and additional functionalities in their trading tools.
Plus500, while diverse, focuses on simplicity with its proprietary web-based trading platform, forgoing a dedicated desktop application. It does not support MetaTrader platforms or copy trading options such as DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. However, Plus500 shines in its charting tools, offering 36 drawing tools which cater to traders who value detailed chart customization. Additionally, Plus500 provides a more extensive watch list feature with 10 columns for fields. Both brokers impress users by offering free virtual demo accounts for simulated trading experiences. According to ForexBrokers.com, both AvaTrade and Plus500 receive a commendable 4.5-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, with AvaTrade ranking slightly higher at #13 compared to Plus500's #14 out of 63 brokers.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 provide highly rated mobile apps available for iPhone and Android users, ensuring traders stay connected on the go. A key feature shared by both apps is the price alert system for stock and forex, allowing users to stay informed about market changes. Each platform also supports the creation of watchlists that sync across devices, making it convenient for users to track their favorite assets wherever they are. Furthermore, both apps enable traders to plot trendlines and switch between multiple time frames, from intraday to weekly views, on their charts. You can expect real-time quotes to enhance your market tracking experience as well.
When it comes to charting tools, Plus500 stands out with 115 technical studies compared to AvaTrade's 73, providing more options for chart analysis. However, it's worth noting that neither app automatically saves chart drawings. In terms of ratings, both mobile apps receive outstanding scores of 4.5 out of 5 stars, demonstrating user satisfaction. On the ForexBrokers.com rankings for mobile trading apps, AvaTrade is positioned at #13, slightly ahead of Plus500, which is ranked #14, indicating that both apps are trusted choices by industry standards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing AvaTrade and Plus500 in terms of market research offerings, Plus500 provides daily market commentary, which can be a valuable resource for traders looking for timely insights. However, AvaTrade stands out by offering forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, making it a strong choice for those seeking reliable financial news. Both platforms offer technical analysis tools from Trading Central, and they each provide sentiment-based trading tools, displaying the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments.
Despite these similarities in technical analysis and sentiment tools, differences emerge in their overall rankings for research capabilities. AvaTrade ranks 34th while Plus500 holds the 19th position according to ForexBrokers.com. Both brokers receive a commendable four-star rating for their research offerings, highlighting their competitiveness in providing resources that cater to traders' needs. Additionally, both AvaTrade and Plus500 offer an economic calendar to track global economic events, enhancing their appeal to informed traders. Yet, neither broker provides tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, indicating some limitations in their research toolkits.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
AvaTrade and Plus500 both provide educational resources aimed at helping beginners learn about forex and CFDs. Both brokers offer a wealth of educational content, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring that learners have over ten pieces of material to explore. Additionally, both of them keep their clients engaged with monthly online webinars, which are also archived for easy access later. Beginners can benefit from more than ten introductory videos from each platform, helping them understand the basics of trading, while advanced educational videos are also available for those looking to delve deeper.
AvaTrade has a slight edge with an investor dictionary that covers over 50 terms, offering a valuable feature not present with Plus500. While both brokers boast solid ratings for their educational offerings, with a four-star rating each, when it comes to ranking by ForexBrokers.com, AvaTrade takes a leading position at number two out of 63 brokers. Plus500, although providing competitive educational resources, is positioned further down at rank 31. This comparison highlights AvaTrade's comprehensive approach to educating its users while demonstrating that both platforms cater effectively to newcomers in the trading world.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than Plus500. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 99 |
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Both AvaTrade and Plus500 do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 do not support ACH or SEPA transfers for account funding or withdrawals, but they both offer a variety of payment methods including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, providing flexible options for traders.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 94 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.5 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 1.5 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | Yes | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 13 | 36 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | Plus500 Review |
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