Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Eightcap, 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.
Plus500 and Eightcap are two online brokers offering trading services to global customers, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory standing. Founded in 2008 and 2009 respectively, both companies are not banks. Plus500 is a publicly traded company, giving it additional visibility and scrutiny on the stock exchange, whereas Eightcap remains privately held. In terms of regulation, Plus500 stands out with six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, contributing to its top-tier Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted.
Eightcap holds three Tier-1 licenses but no Tier-2 licenses, resulting in a Trust Score of 85, which still categorizes it as a trusted option, though not at the same level as Plus500. For investors prioritizing regulatory oversight and credibility, Plus500 offers a more fortified position through its extensive regulatory compliance and public trade status. Meanwhile, Eightcap, with a solid yet slightly lower trust rating, may appeal to those seeking an unlisted broker that still maintains a steady level of trust.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Plus500 and Eightcap, small differences emerge in their offerings. Plus500 has been rated 4.0 stars for its fees, ranking #23 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. The broker's pricing is slightly above the industry average, and while it does not offer discounts to retail clients, it provides cash rebates to those who qualify as Professional clients. For instance, during April 2024, the EUR/USD spreads at Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips, which is higher than the industry standard.
Eightcap, on the other hand, offers two account types that vary depending on the licensing entity, such as those in Australia, the Bahamas, the U.K., and Cyprus. These accounts include a commission-based Raw account and a spread-only Standard account. For the Raw account, Eightcap lists a competitive average spread of 0.06 pips, but after adding a commission of $3.50 per trade, the combined cost is about 0.76 pips, slightly below the industry average of 0.8 pips. While Eightcap's costs position it as slightly pricier than the most cost-effective forex brokers, it still manages to hold a solid rating of 4 stars, ranking #26 out of 63 brokers in the same category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | 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 the range of investments offered by Plus500 and Eightcap, Plus500 stands out with an impressive array of options for traders. Plus500 provides access to over 5,500 tradeable symbols, significantly more than Eightcap's 800. This extensive selection includes 65 tradeable forex pairs compared to Eightcap's 56. Moreover, Plus500 offers the unique advantage of allowing clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges and international markets, while Eightcap lacks this feature. Both brokers, however, offer forex trading as CFDs and the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither allows for buying actual cryptocurrencies.
For those interested in copy trading, Eightcap emerges as the go-to choice, a feature not offered by Plus500. Nevertheless, Plus500's overall range of investments receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars, and it ranks #21 out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap ranks #40. Overall, Plus500 appears to be a more versatile platform for those seeking a broader variety of investment opportunities, particularly in exchange-traded securities and CFDs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 800 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Both Plus500 and Eightcap offer free virtual demo accounts, providing a valuable way for new traders to practice without risk. Plus500 shines with its proprietary platform, giving users a unique experience tailored by the company, though it lacks a Windows-based desktop platform, unlike Eightcap. Both brokers ensure accessibility through web-based platforms. Eightcap's compatibility with popular platforms MetaTrader 4 and 5 enriches its offerings, especially for traders seeking these well-known tools, along with the option for copy trading. In contrast, Plus500 does not support these platforms or copy trading, which might limit choices for some users.
When it comes to charting, Plus500 offers an impressive 36 drawing tools compared to Eightcap's 15. However, Eightcap has the edge with the ability to trade directly from stock charts and a larger array of charting indicators. For organizing watch lists, Plus500 leads with more columns available for customization. Although Plus500 is rated slightly higher for trading platforms and tools, with 4.5 stars and a ranking of 14 out of 63 brokers, Eightcap holds its ground with a solid rating of 4 stars and 38th place ranking, reflecting a comprehensive offering that appeals to traders with varied preferences.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and Eightcap, both platforms provide solid features for the modern trader. They each offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, and support essential features like price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. However, Plus500 stands out with its extensive charting capabilities, offering 115 technical studies compared to Eightcap's 30. Although both platforms enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, Eightcap has the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, a feature not available with Plus500.
From a ratings standpoint, Plus500's mobile trading app earns an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, placing it at the 14th spot among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Eightcap, on the other hand, receives a rating of 4 stars and is ranked 38th by the same source. Despite some differences in charting features and ratings, both apps deliver a satisfactory trading experience, meeting the essential needs of traders across the board.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Plus500 and Eightcap, both brokers provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed. However, when it comes to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, neither broker offers this feature. Plus500 stands out with its integration of Trading Central's technical analytics tools, which are absent in Eightcap's lineup. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge market sentiment through the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments.
Neither Plus500 nor Eightcap provide market research tools from companies like Autochartist or Acuity Trading. They both, however, offer an economic calendar that outlines key global news events. In terms of research ratings, Plus500 edges slightly ahead with a 4.0-star rating compared to Eightcap’s 3.5 stars. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks Plus500 at #19 out of 63 brokers in the research category, whereas Eightcap is ranked #39, highlighting Plus500’s stronger emphasis on research tools and resources.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Plus500 and Eightcap offer a substantial amount of materials to help newcomers get started with forex and CFD trading. Each platform provides a variety of articles, videos, and archived webinars that cover these topics extensively. Plus500 stands out by offering monthly online educational webinars, a feature Eightcap does not provide. Both brokers offer a searchable archive of past webinars, giving users the opportunity to revisit important content at their convenience.
For beginners seeking video content, both platforms excel with at least 10 educational videos tailored specifically for novice traders. However, Plus500 extends its offering by also providing advanced educational videos for more experienced users, a feature not matched by Eightcap. On the flip side, Eightcap offers an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which Plus500 lacks. In terms of educational ratings, Plus500 scores higher with 4.0 stars compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers in the Education category, while Eightcap holds the #40 spot.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Eightcap. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Both Plus500 and Eightcap provide investors with the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform offers the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies.
Both Plus500 and Eightcap do not support ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, but they do allow transactions via PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, offering a versatile range of funding options for their users.
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 | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 800 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
| Cost | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $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 | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Eightcap Review |
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