Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.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.
Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is a well-reputed online broker that is publicly traded but not a bank. It excels in regulatory strength with an impressive total of seven highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and one trusted Tier-2 license. This strong regulatory backing is reflected in its perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trust and security for its users.
Plus500, established in 2008, is also a publicly traded online broker, like FOREX.com, and is not a bank. While holding slightly fewer Tier-1 licenses with six, Plus500 compensates with three Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a balanced regulatory presence. Matching FOREX.com's impeccable Trust Score, Plus500 also holds a 99 rating, affirming its reliability and secure trading environment. Both brokers stand out in the industry for their strong trust scores and regulatory standards.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
FOREX.com charges vary by account type. In the U.S., the Standard account averages 1.4 pips on EUR/USD (July 2023), while outside the U.S. the same pair averaged 0.74 pips. The RAW account targets lower spreads (about 0.13 pips on EUR/USD in Feb 2024) and adds a commission of $7 per standard lot ($3.50 per side), which equates to roughly 0.7 pips on top of the spread; active traders can earn volume rebates of $2–$9 per million. For many U.S. traders who don’t exceed about $50 million in monthly volume, the all‑in cost of the RAW and Standard setups can end up similar. Rating: 4.5/5 stars; Ranking: #14 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average and doesn’t include retail discounts; cash rebates are available only if you qualify as a Professional client. EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. Rating: 4.0/5 stars; Ranking: #24 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
Head to head, Plus500’s typical 1.5‑pip EUR/USD spread is higher than FOREX.com’s U.S. Standard spread (1.4 pips) and much higher than FOREX.com’s non‑U.S. Standard average (0.74 pips). If you’re able to use FOREX.com’s RAW account, the combination of near‑zero spreads plus commission—and potential rebates for high volume—can produce a lower effective cost than Plus500, especially for active traders.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FOREX.com vs Plus500: both brokers offer a wide menu of 5,500 tradeable symbols and support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. FOREX.com provides a larger selection of currencies with 80 forex pairs, compared with 65 at Plus500. Neither broker supports copy trading or buying actual cryptocurrency, but both let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs.
The standout difference is access to real shares: Plus500 lets you buy exchange‑traded securities on U.S. and international markets, while FOREX.com does not. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com at 5 stars (ranked #7 of 63) and Plus500 at 4.5 stars (ranked #22). In short, choose FOREX.com if you want more forex pairs; choose Plus500 if you want the option to buy real stocks alongside CFDs.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Comparing FOREX.com vs Plus500 for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and their own in-house platforms. FOREX.com provides a full Windows desktop platform in addition to a web-based platform, while Plus500 is web-only with no Windows download. If you like placing orders straight from charts, FOREX.com supports trade-from-chart; Plus500 does not. Neither broker offers copy trading.
Platform breadth is a key difference. FOREX.com supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), which is helpful if you want Expert Advisors, custom indicators, or a familiar third-party workflow. Plus500 does not support MT4 or MT5. For Trading Platforms and Tools, FOREX.com is rated 5 stars and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and Plus500 both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists across devices, and drawing tools like trendlines. For charting depth, Plus500 offers more built-in technical studies (115) compared with FOREX.com (88), which may appeal to traders who rely on a wide range of indicators.
FOREX.com stands out for convenience by auto-saving chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. In independent reviews from ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with Plus500’s 4.5 stars and #14 ranking. If you value top-tier ratings and saved annotations, FOREX.com is compelling; if you want a larger set of indicators, Plus500 edges ahead.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing FOREX.com and Plus500 for market research, both platforms deliver daily market commentary and provide sentiment-based trading tools to assist traders in making informed decisions. However, FOREX.com sets itself apart by offering forex news from prestigious sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, providing users with top-tier information that Plus500 lacks. Both brokers feature resources from Trading Central, ensuring that technical analysis needs are well-catered to. Each also provides an economic calendar to keep traders updated on global news events affecting markets.
Despite some similarities, FOREX.com edges ahead in research quality and depth, reflected in its higher research rating of 4.5 stars compared to Plus500's 4.0 stars. Ranked 9th out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com for its research capabilities, FOREX.com demonstrates its commitment to enriching traders with comprehensive insights, while Plus500, although a strong contender, trails slightly at 19th place. Though neither platform offers tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading, FOREX.com's superior news coverage and higher rating make it a favorable choice for traders seeking extensive market research.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both FOREX.com and Plus500 deliver beginner-friendly education for forex and CFD trading, easily clearing the “10+ learning pieces” bar with articles and videos. Each broker also runs client webinars at least once a month. For newcomers, both platforms offer depth: there are 10+ beginner videos to build basics and 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to tackle more complex topics.
In independent evaluations, FOREX.com earns a higher score for education (4.5/5 stars) and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for this category on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds 4.0/5 stars and ranks #31. If you want the stronger overall learning experience, FOREX.com has the edge; if you simply need clear, accessible materials to get started, Plus500 still provides a solid path for beginners.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FOREX.com is better than Plus500. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
When comparing online brokers FOREX.com and Plus500, neither supports purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Plus500 does not offer ACH/SEPA but does support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability for both brokers is not specified.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | 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) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill