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 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Plus500 and iFOREX, Plus500 stands out with a rating of 4.0 stars out of 5, while iFOREX has a 3-star rating. Plus500's pricing tends to be slightly higher than the industry average, with its notable aspect being an average spread of 1.5 pips for the EUR/USD pair in April 2024. Although Plus500 doesn't offer discounts to retail clients, it does provide cash rebates to those who qualify as Professional clients. This positions Plus500 at rank #25 out of 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, iFOREX does not have average spread data available, which can make it challenging for potential traders to gauge their cost commitments. Their lower rating of 3 stars is a reflection of the uncertainty and potentially higher costs when compared to other brokers with more transparent fee structures. Without detailed spread data, traders may find it harder to predict their expenses with iFOREX, which is ranked as #61 out of 63 brokers in the same category by ForexBrokers.com.
Both brokers have varied attractiveness to traders based on their commission structures and fee transparency. Plus500 provides a more comprehensive picture with data available on spreads and a higher position in industry rankings. iFOREX, however, might require traders to conduct further research or direct inquiries to understand their pricing model better. Anyone considering these platforms should carefully weigh these factors in alignment with their trading needs and expectations.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 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.
When comparing Plus500 and iFOREX for their range of available investments, there are several key differences. Both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs, allowing traders to explore currency markets. Plus500 stands out by providing 5,500 tradeable symbols, far surpassing iFOREX's 750. While Plus500 offers 65 forex pairs, iFOREX provides a slightly higher count at 88 pairs. Additionally, Plus500 offers the opportunity to invest in exchange-traded securities from both U.S. and international exchanges, such as buying shares of Apple or Vodafone. In contrast, iFOREX lacks this option. Neither platform offers the feature of copy trading, nor do they allow clients to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both do provide options for cryptocurrency derivatives.
According to a rating by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 achieves an impressive 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking it at #24 out of 63 brokers. Meanwhile, iFOREX receives a 3.5-star rating, placing it at #41. These ratings reflect the broader array of investment options that Plus500 offers compared to iFOREX, making it a more versatile choice for traders who seek diverse opportunities across multiple markets and instruments. Overall, Plus500’s broader selection and ability to trade securities on various exchanges provide a significant advantage for investors looking for a comprehensive trading experience.
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Plus500 and iFOREX, both brokers offer proprietary, web-based platforms that provide a streamlined experience for online traders. Plus500 stands out by offering a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice without financial risk, while iFOREX does not provide this option. Neither platform supports MetaTrader 4 or 5, nor do they incorporate popular features like copy trading, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade integration. However, when it comes to charting tools, Plus500 provides a more extensive selection with 36 drawing tools compared to iFOREX’s 25, although iFOREX allows trades to be executed directly from stock charts, unlike Plus500.
In terms of watch list customization, Plus500 offers 10 different fields for users to tailor their experience, slightly edging out iFOREX, which provides 9 fields. User ratings reflect these differences in offerings, as Plus500 receives a strong 4.5-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, while iFOREX has a respectable 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com rankings, Plus500 holds a higher position, ranked 14th out of 63 brokers, showcasing its acclaimed platform features and tools, whereas iFOREX is positioned 54th, indicating room for growth in this area.
| 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.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and iFOREX, both platforms are available on iPhone and Android, ensuring accessibility for most users. However, Plus500 stands out by offering features like stock and forex price alerts, which iFOREX does not provide. Moreover, Plus500 enables users to synchronize their watchlists across their mobile app and online account, a feature that iFOREX lacks. With 115 technical studies available for charting on Plus500's app, traders can thoroughly analyze their markets, unlike with iFOREX, which does not provide this feature.
Plus500 also allows traders to draw trend lines and view charts across multiple time frames, enhancing the ability to perform detailed technical analysis, whereas iFOREX does not support these functionalities. Despite neither app auto-saving chart drawings, Plus500 maintains a user-friendly advantage by allowing the creation of real-time quote watchlists. Rated 4.5 stars, Plus500 ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, ahead of iFOREX's 4-star rating and #55 rank. Overall, Plus500 offers a more comprehensive mobile trading experience, catering effectively to the needs of both novice and experienced traders.
| 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.
Both Plus500 and iFOREX provide traders with daily market commentary to keep them informed of the latest financial trends. However, neither platform offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters. When it comes to research tools, both brokerages supply users with insights from Trading Central. Unique to each is a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the ratio of long or short positions across different trading instruments. Despite similarities, these brokers differ in their overall research offerings and quality.
For traders seeking advanced market insights, Plus500 holds a slight edge over iFOREX. Plus500 is equipped with an economic calendar to help users track global economic events, a feature shared with iFOREX. Still, Plus500's research capabilities earn it a rating of 4.0 stars from ForexBrokers.com—higher than iFOREX's 3.5-star rating. In a list of 63 brokers, Plus500 ranks #19 in the Research category, while iFOREX comes in at #48. This distinction suggests that Plus500 may provide a more comprehensive research experience for those prioritizing in-depth market analysis.
| 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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | 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 | |
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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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| 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 | 1.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 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 | €100 | $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 | 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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