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 and IFC Markets are noteworthy online brokers, each with unique strengths and regulatory standings. Founded in 2008, Plus500 is publicly traded and holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses, which reflect the highest level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. This substantial regulatory backing contributes to its perfect Trust Score of 99. Despite not being a bank, Plus500 is distinguished by its transparency and reliability, making it a prominent choice for many traders.
In contrast, IFC Markets, established in 2006, is not publicly traded and holds no Tier-1 licenses, instead relying on one Tier-2 license deemed "trusted." With a Trust Score of 73, it is considered to have an average risk level. Despite these differences, IFC Markets still competes in the brokerage industry, particularly appealing to those who prioritize other trading features over high regulatory credentials.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Comparing costs at a glance: Plus500 earns 4.0 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #40 out of 63. Both brokers’ standard spreads sit above the industry average, but they differ in discounts and account options that can matter for active traders.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average and lags top-tier active trader pricing. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. There are no retail discounts, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates similar to an active trader program.
IFC Markets’ typical EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips versus an industry average of 1.08, so standard pricing is also on the high side. However, active traders can find better value via the ECN account, where the effective spread is about 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission is charged on both sides of a trade. IFC Markets also has no inactivity fees and offers active trader discounts, which can further lower overall trading costs for frequent traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 offers a wider range of investments than IFC Markets, with about 5,500 tradeable symbols versus IFC’s 630. Forex coverage is broader at Plus500 too (65 pairs vs. 49). Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot and both offer crypto exposure through derivatives, but neither lets you buy delivered cryptocurrency. For actual shares (not CFDs), Plus500 supports buying on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IFC Markets offers real shares only on international exchanges. If you want copy trading, IFC Markets includes it; Plus500 does not.
In independent tests focused on range of investments, Plus500 earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked 22nd out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. IFC Markets scored 3.5 stars and ranked 44th. Choose Plus500 if you value a larger instrument list and access to U.S. and global stocks; pick IFC Markets if copy trading is a priority and you’re comfortable with a smaller lineup.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Comparing Plus500 vs IFC Markets for trading platforms and tools: both brokers provide free demo (paper) accounts and proprietary platforms you can use in your browser. Platform range is where they diverge. Plus500 does not offer a Windows desktop download and does not support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). IFC Markets, on the other hand, offers a Windows desktop platform and supports both MT4 and MT5. Copy trading is available at IFC Markets but not at Plus500. Neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and interface features, Plus500 includes 36 drawing tools versus 15 at IFC Markets, while IFC Markets lets you place trades directly from charts (Plus500 does not). Watchlists are a bit deeper on Plus500 with 10 fields compared to 7 at IFC Markets. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #37. In short, choose Plus500 if you prefer a streamlined web platform with more drawing tools; pick IFC Markets if you want MT4/MT5, a Windows desktop platform, copy trading, and trading from charts.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary 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 | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and IFC Markets both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, synced watchlists that carry across devices and the web platform, and real-time quotes. You can draw trendlines and switch among intraday, daily, and weekly time frames in both apps, making it easy to track markets and manage watchlists on the go.
Charting tools are where they differ most: Plus500 includes 115 technical studies, while IFC Markets offers 30. IFC Markets does auto-save chart drawings; Plus500 does not. In independent assessments, Plus500 earns a 4.5-star mobile rating and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets is rated 4 stars and ranks #53. If you want more built-in indicators, Plus500 stands out; if auto-saving drawings matters most, IFC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 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.
Plus500 and IFC Markets both cover the basics of market research: each offers daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. Neither broker includes third‑party newswires like Bloomberg or Reuters, and both omit Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading integrations.
The key difference is that Plus500 adds Trading Central tools, while IFC Markets does not. That extra analysis helps explain Plus500’s higher research score (4.0/5, ranked 19th of 63) compared with IFC Markets (3.5/5, ranked 41st of 63). If you want built‑in expert analytics, Plus500 has the edge; if you only need commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, both brokers will do the job.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 it comes to educational resources, both Plus500 and IFC Markets offer a solid foundation for beginners interested in forex and CFDs. Plus500 provides an extensive range of educational materials, including a minimum of 10 resources focused on forex and CFDs, alongside monthly live client webinars and a searchable archive of recorded sessions. IFC Markets matches Plus500 with a similar offering of beginner and advanced educational videos but does not host monthly webinars nor provide access to a recorded archive. However, IFC Markets offers an investor dictionary with comprehensive definitions of more than 50 investment terms, something that Plus500 lacks.
In terms of overall educational quality, Plus500 receives a slightly higher rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, compared to IFC Markets' 3.5 stars. Interestingly, ForexBrokers.com ranks IFC Markets just ahead of Plus500, placing them at #30 and #31, respectively, out of 63 brokers. While both platforms deliver essential resources to kickstart a beginner's trading journey, Plus500 stands out with its live and recorded webinars, offering learners real-time and replayable educational experiences.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | 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 #14, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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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Both Plus500 and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Plus500 and IFC Markets allow deposits and withdrawals via Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, Plus500 distinguishes itself by also supporting PayPal and Skrill, options that IFC Markets does not offer, whereas neither broker supports ACH or 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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
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| 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 | 6 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC 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/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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. |
| Cost | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary 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 | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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