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 | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 sits slightly above the industry average, especially for active traders, while GBE Brokers appears competitive but offers less pricing transparency. Plus500 does not discount for retail clients, though it does provide cash rebates if you qualify as a Professional client. GBE Brokers does not publish average spread data, making direct cost comparisons harder.
For context, Plus500’s EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Because GBE Brokers does not provide comparable average spread figures, traders may find it easier to gauge real-world costs at Plus500, even if those costs may be a bit higher for many trading styles.
Ratings and rankings: Plus500 earns 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. GBE Brokers earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #38 out of 63.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 vs GBE brokers: which offers the wider range of investments? Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradable instruments, far more than GBE brokers’ roughly 500. Both offer forex trading (CFDs/spot), with GBE brokers edging out Plus500 on currency pairs (71 vs 65). For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs.
If you want to buy real stocks, Plus500 supports exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, while GBE brokers does not. GBE brokers does offer copy trading, which Plus500 lacks. Based on range of investments, Plus500 is rated 4.5/5 stars and ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, while GBE brokers is rated 3.5/5 stars and ranks #45. In short: choose Plus500 for more markets and access to real shares; pick GBE brokers if copy trading and a few extra FX pairs matter most.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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.
Comparing Plus500 vs GBE Brokers for trading platforms and tools: Both offer free demo accounts and web-based platforms. Plus500 provides a proprietary in-house platform and focuses on a streamlined browser and mobile experience; it does not offer a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4 or 5, copy trading, or trading directly from charts. GBE Brokers does not have a proprietary platform, but it supports a Windows desktop download, a web platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, copy trading, and trading from charts.
For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 4.5/5 (ranked #14 of 63) and GBE Brokers 4/5 (ranked #58). Choose Plus500 if you want an easy in-house platform without MetaTrader. Pick GBE Brokers if you need MT4/MT5, a Windows desktop option, copy trading, and chart-trade execution. Both include charting and watchlists; check each platform to see the available indicators and watchlist fields.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and GBE brokers offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports forex and stock price alerts. The key difference in day-to-day use is watchlists: Plus500 syncs your watchlist across mobile and web so changes carry over automatically, while GBE brokers does not. If you frequently switch between devices, this syncing can save time and help keep your picks organized.
For charting, Plus500 offers 115 technical indicators compared with GBE brokers’ 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but only GBE brokers auto-saves your chart drawings; Plus500 does not. In third‑party reviews, Plus500 earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers holds 4 stars and ranks #58. Traders who value deeper indicator choices and synced watchlists may prefer Plus500, whereas those who want drawings to auto-save might lean toward GBE brokers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at online brokers Plus500 and GBE brokers: both deliver daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short mix among traders. Neither streams forex news from premium sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither integrates Autochartist. The key difference is Plus500’s access to Trading Central analytics, which GBE brokers does not offer. This likely contributes to their standings at ForexBrokers.com: Plus500 earns 4.0/5 for research (ranked 19th of 63 brokers), while GBE brokers scores 3.0/5 (ranked 63rd of 63).
As for third‑party research partners, Plus500 does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading, and GBE brokers has no stated support for these in the information provided. If you want built-in technical analysis and a higher-rated research suite, Plus500 stands out. If your needs are basic—commentary, calendar, and sentiment—GBE brokers covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing forex and CFD education, Plus500 clearly offers more to get you started. It provides at least 10 beginner trading videos, hosts educational client webinars at least once per month, and also includes 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. By contrast, GBE brokers does not run monthly educational webinars and does not have 10 or more beginner videos, nor a comparable set of advanced videos—making it harder for newcomers to find a guided learning path.
Independent ratings back this up: Plus500 earns 4.0 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks 31st out of 63 brokers, while GBE brokers is rated 3 stars and ranks 64th. If you value a steady stream of beginner-friendly videos and regular live sessions, Plus500 is the stronger choice; if you don’t need many videos or webinars, GBE brokers may still meet basic needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | 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 #57.
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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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Online brokers Plus500 and GBE Brokers do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal options, Plus500 does not support ACH/SEPA but does offer PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers (Visa/Mastercard not specified), while GBE brokers supports ACH/SEPA but its availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire transfers is not specified.
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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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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 | 2 | 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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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