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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of FOREX.com and Plus500, it's important to consider the distinct features each platform offers along with their pricing structures. FOREX.com, rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranked 13th out of 63 brokers, provides a variety of account options with transparent execution statistics. However, FOREX.com generally tends toward higher costs unless trading outside the U.S., where spreads on the EUR/USD averaged 0.74 pips in July 2023. The recently introduced RAW Spread account offers lower spreads of about 0.13 pips with commission-based pricing and volume-based rebates, appealing to high-volume traders with transaction turnovers exceeding $2 billion per month.
The Standard account at FOREX.com is less attractive for MetaTrader clients, with average spreads of 1.4 pips on the EUR/USD in the U.S. This account is ideal for traders willing to pay higher spreads for market-maker execution benefits. Meanwhile, the RAW account presents a competitive option with low spreads nearing zero before commission, alongside various rebate tiers based on trading volume. Traders could receive rebates ranging from $2 to $9 per million, depending on their tier, while base commission fees are $7 per Standard lot, potentially adding 0.7 pips to spreads.
Plus500, on the other hand, is rated 4.0 stars and ranked 25th by ForexBrokers.com for its commissions and fees. The broker's pricing is slightly above the industry average, especially for active traders when compared to leaders like IG or Saxo. While Plus500's EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024—higher than the norm—it doesn't offer retail client discounts. However, Professional clients might benefit from cash rebates similar to active trader programs. The higher spreads and absence of tiered discounts may not be the most appealing for traders seeking cost-efficient trading solutions.
| 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 FOREX.com to Plus500 in terms of available investments, both platforms offer a diverse selection with 5,500 tradable symbols each, including forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. However, FOREX.com boasts a slight edge with 80 tradable forex pairs, compared to Plus500's 65 pairs. While FOREX.com is highly rated, earning 5 stars for its range of investments, it doesn't provide exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international markets, limiting direct access to stocks like Apple or Vodafone.
On the other hand, Plus500, which earned a 4.5-star rating, allows clients to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, granting access to popular stocks. Although neither platform supports copy trading or the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, both offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com is ranked #7 out of 63 brokers for its range of investments, while Plus500 holds the #24 position, indicating a broader offering from FOREX.com in this category.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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 brokers offer strong features, but there are notable distinctions. FOREX.com provides a comprehensive experience with both simulated trading via a demo account and its proprietary platform. It stands out by offering a Windows-based desktop download platform, which Plus500 lacks. Additionally, FOREX.com gives traders access to MetaTrader 4 and 5, whereas Plus500 does not support these popular platforms. Another benefit of choosing FOREX.com is the vast array of 239 drawing tools available for charting, significantly more than the 36 offered by Plus500. One practical feature is that FOREX.com allows trading directly from a stock chart, a functionality unavailable with Plus500.
Both brokers excel in certain areas, but FOREX.com takes the lead, particularly when evaluated by ForexBrokers.com where it's ranked #7 out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, compared to Plus500's #14 ranking. Additionally, FOREX.com achieves a full 5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, outshining Plus500's still commendable 4.5-star rating. While both platforms do not support copy trading services like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, FOREX.com's range of technical features, including 20 columns for watch lists and the support of MetaTrader versions, position it as a frontrunner for traders seeking diverse and direct trading capabilities. Overall, while Plus500 offers a solid web-based trading platform and its proprietary tool, FOREX.com's broader offerings might cater better to traders who prioritize versatility and advanced charting tools.
| 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 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 20 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to trading on the go, both FOREX.com and Plus500 offer solid mobile app experiences for iPhone and Android users. Each app provides essential features such as price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and viewing multiple time frames on charts, which caters to a range of investor needs. A notable difference, however, lies in technical studies available; FOREX.com offers 88, while Plus500 provides 115, giving chart enthusiasts a slightly broader range of options in Plus500. Both brokers ensure that watchlist symbol syncing is seamless, easily syncing changes between the mobile app and clients' online accounts.
Despite the similarities, FOREX.com gains an edge with its 5-star rating and a #3 ranking for mobile trading apps compared to Plus500's 4.5 stars and #14 ranking according to ForexBrokers.com. One aspect contributing to this is auto-saving drawings on charts, a feature present in FOREX.com but missing in Plus500. For traders who prioritize seamless app features and higher recognition, FOREX.com may be preferable. Meanwhile, those valuing a wider selection of technical studies might lean towards Plus500.
| 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 | 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 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 | 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.
FOREX.com and Plus500 offer a range of educational resources perfect for beginners interested in forex or CFDs trading. Both online brokers provide a wide selection of educational materials, including more than 10 articles, videos, and archived webinars on forex and CFDs topics. New traders can also benefit from regular online webinars, which are hosted monthly by each platform. These webinars help users engage with live discussions and offer unique insights into the trading landscape. You'll find both platforms offer a searchable archive of past webinars, making it convenient to catch up on missed sessions at your own pace.
When it comes to video content, FOREX.com and Plus500 both offer a solid collection designed specifically for beginners, along with more advanced videos for seasoned traders. However, FOREX.com stands out with an additional feature—a comprehensive investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms to support your learning journey. In education ratings, FOREX.com scores higher with 4.5 stars compared to Plus500's 4.0 stars, which is reflective of their rank on ForexBrokers.com's list, with FOREX.com sitting at #4 and Plus500 at #31. This suggests that while both platforms offer valuable resources, FOREX.com provides a more enriched educational experience for traders at all levels.
| 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 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 |
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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 | 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 | 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) | 80 | 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 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 239 | 36 | |
| 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 | 115 | |
| 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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