Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs FXCM, 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 has established itself as a highly trusted online broker, achieving a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This score is a reflection of its strong regulatory foundation, boasting 6 Tier-1 licenses which indicate high trust and 3 Tier-2 licenses that label it as a trusted entity. Despite not being a bank, Plus500 maintains a significant presence in the industry and is publicly traded, adding to its transparency and reliability for investors.
FXCM, founded earlier in 1999, is also a trusted name in the world of online trading. It holds a commendable Trust Score of 95 according to ForexBrokers.com, supported by 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Like Plus500, FXCM is publicly traded, offering investor confidence through transparency. Although FXCM isn't tied to banking operations, its long-standing presence and solid regulatory adherence have earned it a respected status among brokers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
Plus500 and FXCM both earn 4.0/5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, Plus500 places #24 of 63, while FXCM ranks #25 of 63. Both sit near the middle of the pack on pricing, with key differences in spreads, discounts, and how active traders may reduce costs.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average. For the EUR/USD, its average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than typical. Plus500 doesn’t offer retail discounts, but eligible Professional clients can qualify for cash rebates similar to an active-trader program.
FXCM’s pricing also trends a bit higher than average. In May 2024, EUR/USD spreads on its Standard account averaged 0.78 pips in the EU, U.K., and Australia, and 1.38 pips via its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. FXCM’s commission-based accounts showed low core spreads near 0.28 pips (excluding commissions); once you factor in commissions, the effective spread is closer to about 0.74 pips. FXCM offers a five-tier Active Trader Rebate Program (not available in the U.K. or EU) with monthly volume thresholds starting around $10 million and rebates from $5 to $25 per million traded. As with many brokers, spreads can widen during rollover or fast markets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | Starts from $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 and FXCM both support forex trading either as CFDs or spot, but their product ranges differ a lot. Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols, compared with roughly 440 at FXCM. Forex traders also get more choice at Plus500 with 65 currency pairs versus 46 at FXCM. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, though both offer crypto derivatives. If copy trading matters, FXCM includes it, while Plus500 does not.
For stocks, Plus500 stands out by letting clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). FXCM does not offer exchange-traded shares. Reflecting these differences, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, while FXCM scores 3.5 stars and ranks #48.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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.
Plus500 vs FXCM: both brokers offer free paper trading with a virtual demo account and each has its own in-house trading platform. You can trade in a web browser with either broker, but only FXCM adds a Windows desktop platform. Platform extras tilt toward FXCM: it supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), copy trading, and placing trades directly from charts, while Plus500 does not offer MT4, copy trading, or chart trading. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For Trading Platforms and Tools, Plus500 earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 of 63 on ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM scores 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #6 of 63.
If you want a clean, browser-based experience with an easy demo to practice on, Plus500 is a strong fit. If you need a fuller toolkit—desktop software, MT4 compatibility, copy trading, and chart-based order entry—FXCM is the better pick.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing the mobile trading apps from Plus500 and FXCM, both offer iPhone and Android versions with price alerts, real-time watchlists, and watchlist syncing between the app and your online account. That means changes you make on one device show up everywhere, which is handy for staying on top of the market.
For charting, Plus500 provides 115 technical studies, while FXCM includes 59. Both apps let you draw trendlines; however, FXCM automatically saves your drawings and Plus500 does not. Each app holds a 4.5-star mobile rating, with ForexBrokers.com ranking Plus500 at #14 and FXCM at #16 out of 63 brokers. Choose Plus500 if you want a larger set of indicators, or pick FXCM if auto-saving chart annotations is more important to your workflow.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research capabilities, both Plus500 and FXCM provide daily market commentary to keep traders informed. However, FXCM offers forex news from notable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas Plus500 lacks this feature. While neither broker offers analysis tools from Autochartist, both do provide tools from Trading Central, which can help traders with technical insights. Plus500 and FXCM also feature sentiment-based trading tools that display long or short positions across different instruments.
Looking at their unique offerings, FXCM steps ahead by providing market research from TipRanks, a service absent in Plus500's offerings. Both brokers ensure users have access to an economic calendar featuring global news events. In overall research rankings, Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and sits at #19 according to ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM earns 4.5 stars with an impressive #11 ranking among 63 brokers, making FXCM a slightly more comprehensive choice for market research enthusiasts.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing Plus500 vs FXCM education, both brokers check key boxes: each provides at least 10 beginner-friendly trading videos, at least 10 advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up, and live client webinars at least once a month. Details weren’t provided on whether either broker meets the broader “10+ total forex/CFD pieces across formats” benchmark, and it’s also not specified if they host a searchable archive of past webinars or offer a large investor dictionary (50+ terms).
On third-party scores, FXCM has the edge with a 4.5/5 Education rating and a #14 ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.0/5 and ranks #31. If you mainly want regular webinars and a sizable library of video lessons, both are suitable; if rankings and overall education quality sway your choice, FXCM stands out. Before you decide, check each site for access to past webinar recordings and any trading glossary to support your learning path.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500 is better than FXCM. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15.
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
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FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 |
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Both Plus500 and FXCM do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In our Plus500 vs FXCM comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FXCM supports ACH/SEPA while Plus500 does not; both brokers accept PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | 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 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | FXCM Review |
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