Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs GBE brokers, 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.
Plus500, founded in 2008, stands as a prominent online broker with a Trust Score rating of 99, the highest level awarded by ForexBrokers.com, indicating it is highly trusted. As a publicly traded entity, Plus500 carries six Tier-1 licenses, underscoring its strong regulatory standing, and an additional three Tier-2 licenses further affirm its credibility in the financial sector. Unlike banks, Plus500 does not hold banking status but maintains its role as a leading financial service provider with extensive regulatory cover.
Comparatively, GBE Brokers, established in 2013, is a private entity with a Trust Score rating of 71, positioning it within the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. Although not publicly traded, GBE Brokers has obtained one Tier-1 license which signals a level of trust in its operations, although it holds no Tier-2 licenses. Like Plus500, it is not a bank but focuses on delivering brokerage services with a lesser degree of regulatory backing than its counterpart.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing Plus500 and GBE Brokers in terms of commissions and fees, both platforms have distinct characteristics. Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average, particularly with its spreads on the EUR/USD, which averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. This is slightly higher than what is common among leading forex brokers. While Plus500 does not provide discounts to retail clients, it offers cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. In comparison, GBE Brokers does not offer specific average spread data, making direct cost comparisons challenging.
In the competitive landscape of online brokers, Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars out of 5 for commissions and fees, standing at the 25th position out of 63 brokers ranked by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, GBE Brokers shares a similar 4-star rating out of 5, yet it is slightly less competitive, ranked at the 37th position in the same category. This reflects the slightly more attractive pricing structure of Plus500 compared to GBE Brokers.
For traders assessing these platforms, Plus500 may seem a better choice for those able to benefit from its professional client rebates, despite its higher-than-average spreads. Meanwhile, GBE Brokers, though less transparent with average spread data, still competes closely with Plus500 in terms of overall cost ratings. Prospective clients should consider their trading style and client status as key factors in determining which broker aligns with their needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing Plus500 and GBE brokers for their range of investments, both platforms stand out in different ways. Plus500 offers an impressive array of 5,500 tradeable symbols, which includes a wide range of CFDs, providing investors with considerable diversity. It also allows trading forex as CFDs or spot contracts, with 65 forex pairs to choose from. Notably, Plus500 goes beyond CFDs by offering exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving clients the opportunity to buy well-known stocks like Apple and Vodafone. However, it does not support copy trading or the buying of actual cryptocurrencies, though it does provide options for cryptocurrency derivatives.
GBE brokers, while not as extensive as Plus500, offers 500 tradeable symbols with a slightly broader selection in forex, featuring 71 pairs. Despite this, it does not provide access to exchange traded securities on major exchanges or the ability to own U.S. stocks or international shares. GBE brokers does stand out by offering copy trading, catering to investors looking to replicate others' strategies. Similar to Plus500, GBE brokers does not offer actual cryptocurrency ownership, but does support cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of overall ratings for the range of investments, Plus500 scores 4.5 stars, ranking #24 out of 63 brokers, whereas GBE brokers scores 3.5 stars, placing it at #44.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 |
| 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 Plus500 to GBE brokers, both platforms provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice trading in a risk-free environment. Plus500 stands out with its proprietary trading platform, offering simplicity and accessibility through its web-based system, although it lacks a desktop version for Windows. In contrast, GBE brokers leverage the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, known for their advanced features, alongside a Windows-based desktop platform. If you're interested in engaging in copy trading, GBE brokers offer this feature, whereas Plus500 does not. Despite lacking in certain areas, Plus500 receives a higher overall rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 14th out of 63 brokers, compared to GBE brokers' 4 stars and 57th rank.
Charting capabilities on Plus500 allow traders to utilize 22 drawing tools for analysis, while GBE brokers offer a slightly fewer 15. Though Plus500 does not support trading directly from a stock chart, GBE brokers provide this convenient feature, enhancing the user experience. In terms of organizing trading data, Plus500 offers more flexibility with 10 columns for watch lists, compared to the 7 available through GBE brokers. Overall, Plus500's platform is designed for straightforward, web-based trading, offering excellent tools and a highly ranked experience, while GBE brokers cater to those who prefer the rich feature sets of MetaTrader platforms and desktop accessibility.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 114 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For those exploring mobile trading apps, both Plus500 and GBE brokers offer convenient options for iPhone and Android users with their respective apps. Each platform supports essential features like stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and the ability to view various chart time frames. However, Plus500 stands out by offering 110 technical studies for charting, compared to GBE brokers' 30, making it a more comprehensive choice for technical analysis enthusiasts. Furthermore, Plus500 enables seamless symbol syncing between the mobile app and the web account, ensuring that any changes in your watchlist are automatically updated across devices.
Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but GBE brokers provide the added benefit of auto-saving chart drawings, a feature missing from Plus500's offerings. Evaluating user reviews, Plus500 receives a rating of 4.5 stars compared to GBE brokers' 4 stars for mobile trading apps. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is ranked 14th among 63 brokers for its mobile trading capability, considerably higher than GBE brokers, which is positioned at 57th. This suggests that Plus500 might be better suited for those seeking a more well-rounded and higher-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 |
| 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.
Both Plus500 and GBE brokers provide daily market commentary, helping traders stay informed with regular updates. However, neither of these brokers offers forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, nor do they provide research tools from companies like Autochartist or TipRanks. Plus500 does hold an edge by offering technical analysis tools from Trading Central, providing traders with insights that GBE brokers do not. Both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars, ensuring traders have access to key data and market events.
In terms of overall research capabilities, Plus500 is better regarded than GBE brokers, earning a 4.0-star rating and ranking 19th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE brokers receive a 3-star rating, securing the 62nd position in the same category. These ratings indicate that Plus500 offers a more comprehensive research experience for traders compared to GBE brokers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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 comparing the educational resources provided by Plus500 and GBE brokers for beginner traders, Plus500 stands out significantly. Plus500 offers a wide array of educational tools and resources tailored for beginners in forex and CFDs trading, including over ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these topics. Additionally, Plus500 hosts monthly online educational client webinars and maintains a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. These features make Plus500 a strong contender for beginners looking to immerse themselves in trading education. Furthermore, Plus500 offers a comprehensive selection of over ten beginner educational videos, alongside advanced content, providing valuable insights for traders of different experience levels. Despite not offering an investor dictionary, Plus500 achieves a commendable 4-star rating for education and ranks #31 out of 63 brokers in this category according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, GBE brokers provide limited educational resources for beginners. They do not meet the benchmark of offering at least ten educational pieces with a primary focus on forex or CFDs. Moreover, GBE brokers lack monthly educational webinars and a searchable archive of recorded webinars, potentially leaving beginners without live guidance or historical content to refer back to. They also offer fewer than ten beginner-specific educational videos and lack advanced video content for more experienced traders. Like Plus500, GBE brokers do not provide an investor dictionary either. Due to these limitations, GBE brokers receive a lower education rating of 3 stars and find themselves ranked #63 among 63 brokers for education resources, highlighting a substantial gap compared to the offerings of Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
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 GBE brokers. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #56.
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
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both Plus500 and GBE brokers do not allow the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, however, they do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Plus500 and GBE brokers, both support PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but only GBE brokers additionally offers ACH and 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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $500 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 110 | 30 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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