Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Capital.com 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.
When comparing online brokers Capital.com and Plus500, there are key differences in their regulatory standings and trust metrics. Founded in 2016, Capital.com remains privately owned and is not listed on any stock exchange. In terms of regulatory licenses, it holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, reflecting a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 87, which indicates a trusted status. Despite its relatively recent establishment, Capital.com offers a secure environment for trading but is not in the highest trust bracket.
On the other hand, Plus500, established in 2008, enjoys a more seasoned presence in the market and is publicly traded, adding an additional layer of transparency. It holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses, contributing to an impressive Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted category. Both brokers are not banks, but Plus500's extensive regulatory coverage and stock market listing enhance its reputation as a reliable choice for investors.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2016 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Capital.com and Plus500, traders will find that Capital.com offers competitive pricing that is marginally better than the industry average. With a universal account option available to retail traders and a professional account for qualified clients, Capital.com provides a flexible trading environment. Notably, Capital.com's average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 0.67 pips in April 2024, a figure that falls below the industry average, making it an appealing choice for cost-conscious forex traders. Rated 5 stars by ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com ranks third among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, underscoring its reputation for affordability.
Conversely, Plus500's pricing structure is slightly above the industry average, placing it behind leading brokers like IG and Saxo in terms of active trader pricing. While it does not offer discounts to retail clients, Plus500 does extend cash rebates to professional clients who qualify under its active trader program. In April 2024, Plus500's EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips, which is higher than the average market rate. Despite this, Plus500 maintains a solid rating of 4.0 stars for commissions and fees and holds the 23rd spot out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $10 | €50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.67 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.67 | 1.3 |
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments available, both Capital.com and Plus500 are top contenders with impressive offerings. Capital.com allows traders to explore a wide selection of 5,585 tradeable symbols, including an extensive array of 125 forex pairs. While it does not provide access to exchange traded securities on either U.S. or international exchanges, it does offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Plus500, on the other hand, presents a slightly smaller pool of 5,500 symbols, with 65 available forex pairs. However, it shines by providing access to exchange traded securities such as Apple shares from U.S. exchanges and Vodafone shares from international ones. Like Capital.com, Plus500 also supports trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
With both brokers avoiding the route of offering traditional copy trading or direct cryptocurrency purchases, investors need to choose based on other factors such as the types of markets they wish to access. Despite Capital.com's broader forex options, Plus500's reach into exchange traded securities gives it an edge for those interested in traditional stock trading. Both platforms are equally recognized for their investment range, each receiving a 4.5-star rating. However, Plus500 is ranked slightly higher at #21 by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Capital.com's #22 position, indicating a marginal preference in the industry.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5585 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 125 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both Capital.com and Plus500 have their own unique strengths. Capital.com, ranked #10 by ForexBrokers.com, offers a proprietary platform that can be accessed via Windows-based desktop download, giving users a more traditional trading experience. Unlike Plus500, which is ranked #14 and does not offer a Windows download, Capital.com supports the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform, a popular tool among traders for its advanced charting features. Both brokers offer web-based platforms for ease of access through any browser, and provide free demo accounts for simulated trading to help users get accustomed to their platforms without any financial risk.
Regarding charting tools, Capital.com takes the lead by offering 60 drawing tools, compared to Plus500's 36. This makes Capital.com a more versatile choice for those who rely heavily on technical analysis. Additionally, Capital.com offers 11 columns for watch lists, one more than Plus500, which could be beneficial for investors who want to monitor more metrics simultaneously. Both brokers have chosen not to offer copy trading options, as well as social trading integrations like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. While they both share a 4.5-star rating for their platforms and tools, these differences might tip the balance for traders who prioritize advanced technical features and flexibility.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 97 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 60 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Capital.com and Plus500, both brokers offer a seamless experience for iPhone and Android users. They provide essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to create a watchlist with real-time quotes. A significant difference lies in the syncing of watchlist symbols; Plus500 excels here by allowing changes made in the mobile app to sync with the user's online account, a feature that Capital.com lacks. Charting tools are a crucial part of trading, and while Capital.com provides 30 technical studies, Plus500 offers a more extensive option with 115 studies available. Both platforms allow users to draw trendlines and switch between different time frames, but only Capital.com auto-saves these chart drawings, adding convenience for on-the-go analysis.
Besides features, ratings and rankings shed light on user satisfaction. Both Capital.com and Plus500 receive a strong 4.5-star rating for their mobile trading apps. However, when it comes to rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com holds an edge, securing the 11th spot among 63 brokers, whereas Plus500 is ranked slightly lower at 14th. These rankings reflect subtle differences in user preference and app performance, providing valuable insight for traders choosing between the two.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research features of online brokers Capital.com and Plus500, both platforms offer daily market commentary and economic calendars to keep users informed about global news events. However, Capital.com distinguishes itself by providing forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature that is not available with Plus500. While both brokers have sentiment-based trading tools that show the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, each takes a different approach with their additional tools. Plus500 offers research tools from Trading Central, enhancing its technical analysis features, whereas Capital.com shines with market research from TipRanks, aiding fundamental analysis enthusiasts. Neither platform utilizes tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading.
In terms of research ratings, Capital.com scores slightly higher with 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared to Plus500’s 4.0 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com ranks 14th out of 63 brokers in the Research category, while Plus500 follows at the 19th position. This higher rating for Capital.com indicates a broader and more in-depth set of research resources, making it a potentially better choice for traders who prioritize comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources of Capital.com and Plus500, both online brokers provide a substantial amount of content for learning about forex and CFDs, each offering at least 10 educational pieces like articles and videos. However, a standout feature of Plus500 is its commitment to hosting online webinars for clients each month, which offers a unique opportunity for interactive learning. Capital.com, on the other hand, does not hold regular webinars but compensates with a searchable archive of past webinars, similar to what Plus500 provides.
For beginners, both platforms excel by offering over 10 video tutorials dedicated to those new to trading, as well as advanced content for seasoned traders. Still, Capital.com edges out with its investor dictionary, defining over 50 investing terms—a tool Plus500 lacks. This additional offering might explain why Capital.com has received a slightly higher education rating of 4.5 stars compared to Plus500's 4.0. According to ForexBrokers.com, Capital.com's educational services rank #8 among 63 brokers, while Plus500 is positioned at #31, indicating a significant difference in their educational impact for traders.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | 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 Capital.com is better than Plus500. Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
Capital.com stands out for its quality research, strong educational content, and innovative web platform. Capital.com holds fewer regulatory licenses and offers a narrower range of markets than some of the best brokers, but still significantly outperforms the industry average.
| Feature |
Capital.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 87 | 99 |
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Both Capital.com and Plus500 do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, instead, they offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Capital.com and Plus500 support depositing and withdrawing account funds through PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers as an option.
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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| Trust Score | 87 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Capital.com Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Capital.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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