Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs FP Markets, 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 2008, Plus500 stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a top ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99. Listed on a stock exchange, Plus500 holds an impressive collection of regulatory approvals with six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting the highest level of trust, as well as three Tier-2 licenses. Despite not being a bank, Plus500's robust regulation and transparency offer an appealing option for investors seeking reliability and security in their trading activities.
FP Markets, established in 2005, offers a trustworthy option with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 89, placing it in the trusted category. Though not publicly traded, FP Markets maintains two Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, highlighting its commitment to regulatory standards. This well-established broker caters to traders looking for a reliable platform without the backing of a stock exchange listing. Both brokers are non-banking entities and provide distinct levels of trust and regulatory compliance for traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2005 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
When comparing Plus500 and FP Markets in terms of commissions and fees, there are notable differences in cost-effectiveness and pricing strategies. Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average and does not cater specifically to the needs of active traders with discounts for retail clients. However, they do offer cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. The EUR/USD spread at Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than many competitors. Plus500 received a 4-star rating for their commissions and fees and is ranked 23rd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
FP Markets stands out with its highly competitive pricing, especially through its commission-based ECN account offering on MetaTrader and cTrader platforms. The broker boasts a 5-star rating for commissions and fees, earning Best in Class honors in the 2024 Annual Awards. Offering Direct Market Access (DMA) for its share CFD on Iress, FP Markets provides comprehensive pricing and execution processes with full depth of book. Though the Iress ViewPoint account requires a high balance and is less affordable, the FP Markets Raw ECN account features very competitive spreads, averaging 0.1 pips with an all-in cost of 0.8 pips. This positions FP Markets as a cost-competitive choice, especially for professional or active traders.
FP Markets also offers varying account options with different minimum deposit requirements, particularly for its Iress platform suite in Australia. While its Standard ECN account is more cost-effective for traders seeking lower spreads, more affordable options exist via the Iress Investor account, albeit with some platform limitations. Overall, FP Markets ranks 6th out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com, making it a strong competitor against Plus500 for traders focused on minimizing costs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 AUD |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| 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 exploring the range of investments offered by online brokers, Plus500 and FP Markets both stand out with their distinct offerings. Plus500 boasts a considerable portfolio, featuring 5,500 tradeable symbols that include 65 forex pairs. This platform also provides unique access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing users to invest in major companies like Apple and Vodafone. However, Plus500 does not support copy trading or direct cryptocurrency purchases, sticking instead to cryptocurrency derivatives. With a 4.5-star rating for its range of investments, Plus500 ranks at number 21 out of 63 brokers in this category, according to ForexBrokers.com.
FP Markets, on the flip side, offers a more extensive selection with 10,000 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, giving investors a broader spectrum for trading. Although it does not provide access to physical exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, FP Markets excels in offering copy trading capabilities. Like Plus500, FP Markets supports trading in cryptocurrency derivatives but does not facilitate direct cryptocurrency purchases. Also rated 4.5 stars for its range of investments, FP Markets holds a slight edge over Plus500 in rankings, positioned at number 18 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 71 |
| 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.
When comparing trading platforms and tools, Plus500 and FP Markets offer unique features tailored to different user preferences. Both brokers provide a free virtual demo account, allowing newcomers to familiarize themselves with trading without financial risk. Plus500 impresses with its proprietary web-based platform and a vast array of 36 drawing tools for charting, but it lacks desktop and MetaTrader support. Meanwhile, FP Markets offers a comprehensive trading experience including a proprietary platform, Windows desktop platform, and MetaTrader 4 and 5. Additionally, FP Markets excels in copy trading and enables traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, setting it apart from Plus500.
In terms of usability, Plus500 stands out with 10 customizable columns for watch lists, compared to FP Markets’ 7 columns. Both platforms are equipped with web-based trading options, but FP Markets scores a point by supporting the popular MetaTrader platforms and offering copy trading features, useful for traders interested in these functionalities. While Plus500 earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, compared to FP Markets’ 4 stars, it is ranked 14th by ForexBrokers.com, ahead of FP Markets which sits at the 23rd position. This highlights Plus500's user-friendly approach and flexibility, while FP Markets appeals to those seeking advanced trading options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 17 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and FP Markets offer convenient trading solutions for iPhone and Android users, making their mobile apps accessible for a range of devices. They both allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts to keep track of market changes. However, Plus500 sets itself apart with watchlist symbol syncing, which ensures that any modifications made to watchlists are updated across both the mobile app and the online account. While FP Markets keeps things straightforward with MetaTrader's default technical studies, Plus500 users can explore a more extensive selection with 115 technical studies available for charting. Both platforms enable users to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts, but FP Markets offers the added benefit of auto-saving chart drawings, a feature Plus500 does not currently provide.
When it comes to creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both brokers excel, but Plus500 has a slight edge in overall user satisfaction. It holds a 4.5-star rating compared to FP Markets' 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is ranked 14th out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, while FP Markets is positioned at 18th. Overall, both apps offer reliable experiences, yet Plus500 provides a few extra features that could be important for traders looking for versatility and syncing capabilities across multiple platforms.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | MetaTrader (Default) |
| 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 FP Markets, both platforms provide daily market commentary, helping traders stay informed with timely insights. However, FP Markets has the upper hand with forex news sourced from top-tier agencies such as Bloomberg and Reuters, which Plus500 does not offer. On the technical analysis front, both brokers provide tools from Trading Central, but FP Markets extends its advantage by including resources from Autochartist, giving traders a broader range of analytical tools. Additionally, both brokers feature sentiment-based trading tools and comprehensive economic calendars to aid trading decisions.
Despite these similarities and differences, both Plus500 and FP Markets receive a solid rating of 4.0 stars for research from ForexBrokers.com. Nonetheless, Plus500 edges ahead in rankings, standing at 19th place while FP Markets is ranked 25th out of 63 brokers. Although neither broker includes research tools from Acuity Trading or market research from TipRanks, their strong offerings in other areas make them competitive choices for traders seeking market insights.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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.
Both Plus500 and FP Markets are excellent choices for beginners who are looking to dive into the world of online trading. Each broker provides a minimum of 10 educational pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars. For those interested in real-time learning, both platforms hold online educational webinars each month, and also maintain accessible archives of these sessions for later viewing. When it comes to video content, both Plus500 and FP Markets offer a wide range of tutorials, with more than 10 videos catering specifically to beginner traders. Advanced traders aren't left out either, as each broker also offers over 10 videos tailored for more experienced investors.
Where these two brokers start to differ is in the additional educational materials they offer. FP Markets provides an investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, appealing to those who prefer to familiarize themselves with industry jargon. However, despite this added resource, both platforms earn a similar rating of 4 stars for their educational offerings. In terms of overall rankings by ForexBrokers.com, FP Markets edges out Plus500, being ranked at #23 compared to Plus500's #31 out of 63 brokers. Whether you're new to trading or looking to deepen your understanding, both Plus500 and FP Markets deliver substantial educational content to support your trading journey.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 FP Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19.
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
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 |
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Both Plus500 and FP Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, focusing instead on providing options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Plus500 and FP Markets provide versatile deposit and withdrawal options, supporting PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, although neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | FP Markets Review |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2005 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 71 | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 AUD | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 17 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | MetaTrader (Default) | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | FP Markets Review |
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