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 | 1 |
FOREX.com and Plus500 offer different structures for commissions and fees, each with its own advantages depending on your trading needs. FOREX.com, recognized as one of the top market maker brokers, offers various account types and transparent execution statistics. The Standard account on FOREX.com comes with higher average spreads of 1.4 pips for the EUR/USD in the U.S. as of July 2023, aimed at traders preferring market-maker execution. However, for those who trade significant volumes, the newly introduced RAW Spread account offers lower spreads averaging 0.13 pips for EUR/USD with added commission, making it a competitive choice for active traders. With commission-based pricing and active trader rebates, the RAW Spread account can present cost savings for high-volume traders, especially those dealing over $2 billion monthly.
Conversely, Plus500’s pricing setup is positioned slightly above the industry average, particularly in active trader pricing, as seen in their EUR/USD spread averaging 1.5 pips during April 2024. While Plus500 doesn’t provide regular retail discounts, it does offer cash rebates to those who qualify as Professional clients, mimicking an active trader program. This contrasts with FOREX.com’s approach, which offers structured rebates and potentially lower effective costs for high-volume traders.
In terms of transparency and cost-effectiveness for various traders, FOREX.com is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked 13th by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category. Meanwhile, Plus500 has a rating of 4.0 stars out of 5 and ranks 25th in the same category among 62 brokers. This reflects a slight edge in cost and value perception favoring FOREX.com, making it a preferred choice for those seeking lower all-in trading costs and detailed execution statistics.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.5 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 FOREX.com and Plus500, both platforms boast an impressive total of 5,500 tradable symbols. For forex enthusiasts, FOREX.com provides a more extensive selection with 91 tradable forex pairs, surpassing Plus500's offering of 65 pairs. However, FOREX.com is limited to CFD trading, as it doesn't provide access to trade actual securities on U.S. or international exchanges. In contrast, Plus500 does allow clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, expanding investment options beyond CFDs.
Additionally, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Despite these similarities, FOREX.com is rated highly with 5 stars for its investment range, ranking 7th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Plus500 earns a close 4.5-star rating, positioned at 24th in the same category. While both platforms have their strengths, FOREX.com appears to cater more to forex traders, while Plus500 offers broader access to different asset types.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of FOREX.com and Plus500, both offer free virtual demo accounts, catering to newcomers eager to practice without financial risk. Each platform boasts a proprietary system, but FOREX.com extends its reach with both a Windows-based desktop application and web-based access, unlike Plus500, which solely provides a web-based platform. Importantly for seasoned traders, FOREX.com supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), providing a broader array of tools and features, while Plus500 does not offer these platforms. Additionally, traders can engage directly from a stock chart only with FOREX.com, further enhancing its trading experience.
Charting enthusiasts will notice FOREX.com's substantial advantage in customization, with 239 drawing tools compared to Plus500's 22. When it comes to creating watch lists, FOREX.com provides more flexibility with 20 columns available, whereas Plus500 only offers 10. This comprehensive suite of tools and flexibility has resulted in FOREX.com receiving a rating of 5 stars and securing the 7th position out of 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Plus500, while still highly rated at 4.5 stars, ranks 14th, signifying it as a solid choice but with a narrower array of features compared to FOREX.com.
| Feature |
FOREX.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) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 114 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 22 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
If you're considering mobile apps for trading, both FOREX.com and Plus500 offer comprehensive options for iPhone and Android users. Each app allows users to set stock and forex price alerts and sync watchlists with their online accounts, so you'll never miss a trade opportunity. While both apps support chart drawing tools, only FOREX.com's app saves these drawings automatically, making it slightly more convenient for maintaining your analyses.
Regarding technical features, Plus500 excels with 110 technical studies compared to FOREX.com's 88, offering more variety for chart analysis. However, FOREX.com has a higher overall rating of 5 stars compared to Plus500’s 4.5 stars for their mobile trading experience. Additionally, FOREX.com is ranked #3 from 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of Plus500, which holds the #14 spot. For those who prioritize a top-rated, seamless experience with additional tools, FOREX.com could be the more appealing choice.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 110 |
| 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 offerings of FOREX.com to Plus500, both brokers provide solid solutions for traders. They each offer daily market commentary and valuable sentiment-based trading tools to keep traders updated and informed. However, a key difference is that FOREX.com delivers forex news from premium sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which Plus500 lacks. This can be crucial for traders looking for reputable news sources to base their trading decisions on. Both brokers feature tools from Trading Central for technical analytics, and they also offer economic calendars that cover important global events. On the downside, neither platform offers research tools from Autochartist, Acuity Trading, or TipRanks.
In terms of research capabilities, FOREX.com is rated more favorably with a 4.5-star rating, while Plus500 trails slightly with a 4.0-star rating. Additionally, ForexBrokers.com ranks FOREX.com at #9 among 62 brokers, showing its strong position in research tools and services, compared to Plus500's standing at #19. These distinctions may influence traders who are particularly focused on comprehensive research support, making FOREX.com the more attractive choice for those prioritizing high-quality market insights.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both FOREX.com and Plus500 provide a comprehensive learning environment with more than 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs. This includes articles, videos, and archived webinars. Both platforms also host online educational webinars at least once a month, alongside maintaining a searchable archive of past webinars, making it easy for users to expand their learning at any time. Additionally, each broker offers at least 10 beginner videos that cover essential trading topics, ensuring new traders have a solid starting foundation.
However, there are a few distinctions to note between the two. FOREX.com not only meets the basic educational needs but also excels by offering an investor dictionary with over 50 important investing terms, a feature that Plus500 does not provide. In terms of advanced learning, both platforms deliver over 10 educational videos for experienced traders, supporting ongoing development as users grow more skilled. As a reflection of its strong educational offerings, FOREX.com is rated 4.5 stars, ranking 4th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a 4.0-star rating and is placed 31st, highlighting FOREX.com’s edge in educational support.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
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 62 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 |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Neither FOREX.com nor Plus500 provide the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but both platforms offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives instead.
When comparing online brokers, FOREX.com and Plus500 both provide PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but FOREX.com supports ACH and SEPA transfers while Plus500 includes Skrill as an additional 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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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
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| 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 | 1 |
| 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 | 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 | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 91 | 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. |
| Cost | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.4 | 1.5 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | 1.5 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | €100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | 114 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 22 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | 110 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com | 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 | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Plus500 Review |
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