Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Plus500, 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.
When comparing online brokers IG and Plus500, it's clear that both are strong contenders with significant trustworthiness. Founded in 1974, IG is an older player in the game, while Plus500 made its mark starting in 2008. Both companies are publicly traded, but only IG holds the distinction of being a bank. Each broker shines with a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting their high reliability.
IG stands out with its accumulation of 8 Tier-1 licenses, indicating strong regulatory backing. Plus500 is not far behind, with 6 Tier-1 licenses under its belt. Additionally, IG carries 2 Tier-2 licenses compared to Plus500's 3, portraying both brokers as trusted institutions, though with slightly different regulatory landscapes. Both IG and Plus500 exhibit impressive regulatory standings, making them trusted choices for traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IG generally comes out cheaper for frequent or high‑volume traders, while Plus500 tends to sit slightly above the industry average. IG earns 5 stars for Commissions and Fees and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #24 out of 63. IG offers multiple pricing paths (including direct market access) that can drive down all‑in trading costs, whereas Plus500’s pricing relies on spreads with fewer discounts for retail clients.
IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023, with an all‑in cost around 0.82 pips once commission is included. Its tiered commission ranges from about $60 per million at the base level to $10 per million per side for very high volume, with July 2023 data pointing to an all‑in result around 0.82 pips. On IG’s CFD account, typical EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main trading session and 0.98 pips across the whole day in July 2023 (IG US averaged 1.18 pips). Qualified professional clients can also get 10%–20% spread rebates based on monthly volume, which can push effective costs lower (the example given lands near 0.60 pips).
Plus500’s spreads were higher in our snapshot, with EUR/USD averaging 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is above the industry average and generally higher than IG’s comparable pricing. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts; cash rebates are available only if you qualify as a Professional client. This pricing profile explains its 4.0‑star rating and #24 ranking for Commissions and Fees, compared with IG’s 5‑star rating and #7 ranking.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG vs Plus500: For range of investments, IG offers 19,537 tradeable symbols while Plus500 lists 5,500. Both support forex trading (CFD/spot). IG provides 97 tradeable forex pairs compared with 65 at Plus500. Each broker also lets you buy exchange-traded securities (not CFDs) on U.S. markets, such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), and on international exchanges, such as Vodafone (VOD-GB, London Stock Exchange).
For crypto access, IG offers both actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and crypto CFDs, whereas Plus500 offers crypto CFDs only. Neither broker supports copy trading. In independent assessments of the Range of Investments category, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #17.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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.
IG and Plus500 both provide free demo accounts and easy-to-use proprietary platforms you can access in your browser. IG goes further with a downloadable Windows desktop platform and full MetaTrader support (MT4 and MT5), while Plus500 does not offer a desktop app or MetaTrader. Neither broker supports copy trading. If you like placing orders straight from a chart, IG has that feature; Plus500 does not.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. Choose IG if you want a desktop platform, MetaTrader, and the ability to trade from charts. Choose Plus500 if you prefer a streamlined web platform. Both let you practice risk‑free with a demo account before funding.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Plus500 both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlists that sync with your online account, so changes carry over across devices. You can draw trendlines on charts in both apps, making it easier to track support and resistance on the go.
For charting tools, Plus500 includes more built-in technical studies (115) than IG (33), but IG auto-saves your chart drawings while Plus500 does not. In independent ratings, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #14. In short, Plus500 packs in more indicators, whereas IG stands out for overall mobile experience and saving tools—choose based on which matters more to you.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG vs Plus500: both brokers cover the basics for market research. You’ll get daily market commentary, an economic calendar for upcoming events, and sentiment tools that show the long/short split across markets. Where they differ is news coverage: IG offers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not include these feeds.
IG also adds more third‑party research tools, including Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Plus500 integrates Trading Central but lacks Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity. In independent ratings, IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Plus500 scores 4.0 stars and ranks #17.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
IG vs Plus500 for beginner education: both brokers deliver dedicated forex and CFD learning with at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. Each runs client webinars at least once a month and offers more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos, so new traders can progress from basics to more complex topics at their own pace.
Where they differ is quality and recognition. IG holds a 5-star education rating and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #26. If you want top-rated, classroom-style learning with strong depth, IG is the better pick. If you prefer a simpler path with regular webinars and clear video lessons, Plus500 still makes learning forex and CFDs straightforward.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 IG is better than Plus500. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
IG vs Plus500: IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency in addition to trading cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 does not offer delivered crypto but does provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Compared with Plus500, IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while Plus500 offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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 | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill