Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs iFOREX, 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, and iFOREX, established in 1996, are both well-known online brokers. While neither is a bank, Plus500 stands out as a publicly traded company, unlike iFOREX. In terms of regulatory standing, Plus500 holds an impressive number of six Tier-1 licenses, known for their high level of trust, and three Tier-2 licenses. This has culminated in an exceptional Trust Score of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, categorizing Plus500 as a highly trusted broker.
In comparison, iFOREX holds one Tier-1 license without any Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75. This positions iFOREX within the average risk range according to the same ratings. For traders seeking a broker with a robust regulatory framework and higher trust score, Plus500 appears to be the more attractive choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1996 |
| 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 |
Plus500 earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks 24th out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees, according to ForexBrokers.com. Its pricing is slightly above the industry average and trails the best active-trader pricing (see IG or Saxo). For EUR/USD, Plus500’s average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. There are no retail discounts, but qualified Professional clients may receive cash rebates.
iFOREX provides less transparency on costs—average spread data is not available—so side‑by‑side comparison is limited. It holds a 3/5 star rating and ranks 62nd out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees. In short, Plus500 rates higher for overall pricing than iFOREX, though active retail traders looking for the sharpest costs may still consider low‑cost leaders such as IG or Saxo.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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.
Comparing the range of investments, Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols versus roughly 750 at iFOREX. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs, but iFOREX offers more currency pairs (88) than Plus500 (65). Each lets you trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports buying actual crypto, and neither offers copy trading.
Plus500 also stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy real shares (for example, Apple or Vodafone), while iFOREX does not offer real, exchange-listed stocks. For Range of Investments, Plus500 is rated 4.5/5 and ranks 22nd out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas iFOREX is rated 3.5/5 and ranks 42nd. Choose Plus500 for a broader product lineup and access to real stocks; choose iFOREX if your top priority is a larger set of forex pairs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 750 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 88 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
Plus500 and iFOREX both run their own proprietary, web-based trading platforms and do not offer a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Neither supports copy trading or third‑party services like ZuluTrade or DupliTrade. A key difference is practice trading: Plus500 provides a free demo (paper) account, while iFOREX does not.
For charting and tools, Plus500 lists 36 drawing tools versus 25 at iFOREX, while the exact number of technical indicators for each isn’t specified. iFOREX lets you place orders directly from charts; Plus500 does not. Watchlists are slightly deeper at Plus500 with 10 fields, compared with 9 at iFOREX. Overall, Plus500 earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools on ForexBrokers.com, whereas iFOREX scores 4/5 stars and ranks 55th.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 57 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 25 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and iFOREX both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earned 4.5 stars and ranked #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while iFOREX earned 4 stars and ranked #56. That gap reflects how each app serves traders on the go.
Plus500 packs in price alerts, watchlist syncing with your online account, real-time quote watchlists, 115 technical studies for charts, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames (daily, weekly, intraday). iFOREX does not provide price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, multiple time frames, or real-time quote watchlists in its app, and its count of technical studies isn’t available. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings. If you want deeper charting and helpful alerts on mobile, Plus500 stands out; if you need a simpler experience, iFOREX may suffice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and iFOREX both cover the essentials for market research: each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar, Trading Central tools for analysis, and sentiment data showing the share of long and short positions. Neither broker streams forex news from top-tier wires like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither integrates Autochartist.
When it comes to third‑party research add‑ons, Plus500 does not include TipRanks or Acuity Trading; iFOREX does not indicate TipRanks or Acuity Trading integrations. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s scores, Plus500 earns 4.0 stars for Research and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers, while iFOREX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #49. In short, Plus500 has a stronger overall research score, while iFOREX offers similar core tools if you don’t need premium news feeds or extra plug‑ins.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Plus500 offers a more comprehensive range of materials compared to iFOREX. Plus500 provides over 10 educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, whereas iFOREX falls short in this area. Additionally, Plus500 shines with its monthly online webinars and a well-organized archive of past webinars, which are not available through iFOREX. Both brokers present at least 10 beginner trading videos, but Plus500 surpasses with advanced educational videos tailored for seasoned traders, a feature that iFOREX does not offer. Neither broker includes an investor dictionary with 50 or more terms.
With a 4.0-star rating, Plus500 ranks significantly higher than iFOREX's 3.5 stars in the education category, as per ForexBrokers.com. This distinction highlights Plus500's commitment to trader education, placing it at #31 out of 63 brokers, whereas iFOREX is ranked at #53. For beginners seeking extensive resources and a structured learning path, Plus500 stands out as a stronger choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 iFOREX. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52.
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
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Both Plus500 and iFOREX provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither platform allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Both Plus500 and iFOREX provide the ability to deposit or withdraw account funds using popular methods such as PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, although neither platform offers 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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1996 | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 750 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 88 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 57 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 25 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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