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Plus500 vs IFC Markets 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025
  Fact Checked

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.

Plus500
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: €50 info
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500 info
IFC Markets
4/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $1
  • Trust Score: 73
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 630

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.

Regulation

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 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Year Founded info 2008 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5

Fees

When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 is slightly more expensive than the industry average and not as competitive as the best low-cost forex brokers for active traders. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is above the market average. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts, but qualifying Professional clients may receive cash rebates. For commissions and fees, Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and ranks #24 out of 36 brokers.

IFC Markets also comes in a bit above the industry average on spreads, with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.44 pips versus the industry average of 1.08. That said, its new ECN account can work out better for active traders, with effective spreads around 1.1 pips after the 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade. IFC Markets also stands out for having no inactivity fee and offering active trader discounts. For commissions and fees, IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #32 out of 36 brokers.

Overall, Plus500 has a slight edge in this category based on its higher ranking, while IFC Markets may appeal more to active traders who can benefit from its ECN pricing and discount options. Both brokers are priced a little above average, so the better choice depends on how often you trade and whether you qualify for special pricing.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info €50 info $1
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.3 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.3 info 1.1 info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing Plus500 vs IFC Markets for range of investments, Plus500 offers a much wider selection overall. Plus500 provides about 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs. However, neither broker allows you to buy actual cryptocurrency.

There are also some clear differences in share dealing and extra features. Plus500 lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets does not offer U.S.-listed shares but does provide access to international exchange-traded securities. IFC Markets also supports copy trading, which Plus500 does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 for Range of Investments and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, compared with IFC Markets at 3.5 out of 5 and #31.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Plus500 and IFC Markets both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and each offers a proprietary platform plus a web-based trading option. That said, IFC Markets gives traders more platform choice overall, with a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. Plus500 keeps things simpler, but it does not offer a desktop app, MT4, MT5, or copy trading.

When it comes to trading tools, neither broker has the charting and watchlist details listed here, so the clearest differences are in platform access and extra features. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 scores higher for Trading Platforms and Tools at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. For traders who want more built-in platform choices and social-style features, IFC Markets has the edge; for a cleaner, more streamlined setup, Plus500 may be the easier fit.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Plus500 and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. This means traders can follow markets and manage watchlists from their phone with either broker, while keeping app activity linked to their online account. Both platforms cover the basics well for mobile trading, making them usable choices for traders who want to stay connected on the go.

Where Plus500 stands out is in charting and overall app ratings. Its mobile app includes 115 technical studies, compared with 30 at IFC Markets, giving traders more tools for analyzing price moves on the go. Plus500 is also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #34. One advantage for IFC Markets is that it auto-saves chart drawings, while Plus500 does not.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 115 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When it comes to market research, Plus500 and IFC Markets both give traders the basics they need, including daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking key news events. Neither broker provides forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg or Reuters, and neither offers research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.

The main difference is that Plus500 includes Trading Central tools, such as Technical Analytics, while IFC Markets does not. That extra layer of chart-based insight helps Plus500 stand out, which is reflected in its stronger research score of 4.5 out of 5 and a higher ForexBrokers.com ranking of #16 out of 36, compared with IFC Markets’ 3.5-star rating and #30 ranking.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing Plus500 and IFC Markets for beginner education, both brokers give new traders a fair amount of learning material, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos on trading topics. Both also offer forex or CFDs education, so beginners can find lessons focused on the markets they are most likely to trade. Plus500 stands out more for ongoing learning support because it offers online educational webinars at least once a month, while IFC Markets does not.

In overall education ratings, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars, while IFC Markets comes in at 3.5 stars. That said, their ForexBrokers.com rankings are close, with IFC Markets placed #25 out of 36 brokers and Plus500 at #26. For beginners who want more frequent live teaching sessions, Plus500 has the edge, but both brokers provide a decent range of video-based learning content.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Webinars info Yes info No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 #14, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #33.

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 logoPlus500
IFC Markets logoIFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Plus500 or IFC Markets?

Plus500 vs IFC Markets: neither online broker allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.

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Overall Rating Plus500 IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review
Broker Screenshots Plus500 IFC Markets
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Plus500 mobile app charts. Plus500 trading platform EURUSD Plus500 web platform market news analysis articles. Plus500 webinars with Corellian Academy YouTube video playlist
Regulation Plus500 IFC Markets
Trust Score info 99 73
Year Founded info 2008 2006
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 7 1
Tier-2 Licenses info 4 0
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 5
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Plus500 IFC Markets
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Plus500 IFC Markets
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) info Yes info
India (SEBI Authorised) info Yes
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Plus500 IFC Markets
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 630
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 49
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes No
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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) - Standard account info 1.3 info 1.44 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.3 info 1.1 info
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Order execution: Agency info No Yes
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding Plus500 IFC Markets
Minimum Deposit info €50 info $1
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms Plus500 IFC Markets
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools Plus500 IFC Markets
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Plus500 IFC Markets
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 115 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No Yes
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Plus500 IFC Markets
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No No
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes No
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Plus500 IFC Markets
Webinars info Yes info No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Plus500 IFC Markets
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes info Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review Plus500 Review
Overall Plus500 IFC Markets
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 73
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review
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