Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IFC 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.
Plus500 (founded 2008) and IFC Markets (founded 2006) are online brokers with different safety profiles. Plus500 is publicly traded, while IFC Markets is not, and neither company is a bank. On the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, Plus500 earns 99 (rated highly trusted at 90–99), whereas IFC Markets scores 73 (rated average risk at 70–79).
Regulation is another key difference. Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as highly trusted and trusted, respectively. IFC Markets holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. This broader regulatory footprint helps explain Plus500’s higher trust rating compared with IFC Markets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 and IFC Markets both land slightly above the industry average, but Plus500 comes out ahead overall. Plus500 charges no retail-client discounts, though professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than average, but it still earned a 4.0-star rating and ranked #26 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
IFC Markets is also a bit pricier than the industry norm on its standard account, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 versus the industry average of 1.08. That said, active traders may find better pricing with its ECN account, where effective spreads can drop to about 1.1 pips after commission. The broker also stands out for not charging inactivity fees and for offering active trader discounts. IFC Markets holds a 4-star rating and ranks #34 out of 36 in the commissions and fees category.
In simple terms, Plus500 is the stronger pick if you want the better overall fee profile, while IFC Markets may be worth a look for traders who can use its ECN pricing or take advantage of active trader discounts.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Plus500 and IFC Markets on range of investments, Plus500 offers the wider choice overall. It lists 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto. Plus500 also stands out for providing exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets offers international exchange-traded shares only.
There are a few other differences worth noting. IFC Markets supports copy trading, which Plus500 does not, so it may appeal to traders who want to follow others. Still, Plus500 has the stronger overall score for investment variety, with a 4.5 out of 5 rating for Range of Investments and a ForexBrokers.com rank of #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 stars and #33.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Plus500 and IFC Markets both give traders a free demo account and a web-based platform, and each broker also offers its own in-house trading platform. In this category, Plus500 is best known for keeping things simple and browser-based, while IFC Markets gives users more platform choice, including a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. IFC Markets also supports copy trading and lets traders place orders directly from a chart, features that Plus500 does not offer.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36. In short, Plus500 is a strong pick for easy-to-use web trading, while IFC Markets may suit traders who want more platform options and extra tools for charting and copying other traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Plus500 and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That means traders can stay connected to their accounts and manage ideas from a phone or tablet with either broker. In these basic areas, the two apps are quite similar.
The bigger difference is in charting and overall app quality. Plus500 offers 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving traders more tools for chart analysis. Plus500 is also rated higher for mobile trading apps, with 4.5 out of 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #14 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #37. One advantage for IFC Markets is that its app auto saves drawings on charts, while Plus500 does not.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Plus500 and IFC Markets both cover the basics well. Each offers daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar to help traders track key global events. Neither broker provides forex news from major wire services like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither includes research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
The main difference is that Plus500 gives traders access to Trading Central’s technical analysis tools, while IFC Markets does not. That extra feature, along with Plus500’s stronger research rating of 4.5 stars and its #16 ranking out of 36 brokers, puts it ahead of IFC Markets, which is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #33 for research.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing Plus500 and IFC Markets for beginner education, Plus500 comes out ahead in a few key areas. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so each gives new and experienced traders a range of learning content. However, Plus500 also offers forex or CFDs education with at least 10 pieces focused on those topics, while IFC Markets does not meet that same mark. Plus500 also holds online educational client webinars at least once a month, which can be especially helpful for beginners who want guided learning in real time.
In overall education quality, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, compared with 3.5 out of 5 stars for IFC Markets. That said, IFC Markets is slightly higher in ForexBrokers.com’s education ranking, placing #26 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #27. Even so, for beginners looking for more forex and CFD learning materials plus regular webinars, Plus500 offers the stronger educational setup.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #36.
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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Plus500 vs IFC Markets: neither online broker allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Plus500 vs IFC Markets: both brokers do not support ACH/SEPA but do support bank wire transfers; Plus500 uniquely offers PayPal and Skrill while IFC Markets does not, and information on Visa/Mastercard availability was not provided.
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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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. |
| Cost | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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