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 considering the choice between IG and Plus500 for online trading, understanding their regulatory standings can be crucial. IG, founded in 1974, is both a well-established bank and a publicly traded company. It boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, reflecting a high level of trust. IG is supported by 8 Tier-1 licenses, indicating its operations are highly trusted, alongside 2 Tier-2 licenses. These credentials highlight IG's firm grounding in secure and dependable trading practices.
Plus500, established in 2008, also matches IG with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, demonstrating substantial trustworthiness. It, too, is a publicly traded entity, although it is not a bank. Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 licenses, which are indicative of high trust, as well as 3 Tier-2 licenses. Both IG and Plus500 offer strong protections for traders, but IG's additional Tier-1 licenses may provide an extra layer of confidence for cautious investors.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IG stands out with its scalable execution methods, catering to both standard account holders and active traders. While not a discount broker, IG provides attractive pricing for active traders via its Forex Direct accounts and manages large orders efficiently. For CFD accounts, IG's spreads generally hover around the industry average, with July 2023 figures showing an average spread of 0.98 pips globally. For professional traders, IG presents a three-tier active-trader rebate program, offering up to a 20% rebate for significant trading volumes. Additionally, the DMA, or Forex Direct account, provides competitive spreads, with an average of 0.62 pips for EUR/USD in July 2023. This account demands a minimum deposit of £1,000 and offers reduced commissions for high volume traders. IG is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks 8th out of 63 brokers in this category.
In contrast, Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average and doesn’t quite reach the same level of competitiveness for active traders as brokers like IG or Saxo. While Plus500 does not offer discounts to retail clients, it provides cash rebates for clients who qualify as professionals. The spreads for the EUR/USD pair averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Though Plus500 provides some benefits to professional clients, it generally lacks the competitive pricing structure that IG boasts. Plus500 receives a 4.0-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked 23rd out of 63 brokers in the same category.
Overall, if you are an active trader seeking cost-effective trading, IG is likely the better choice due to its direct market access accounts and rebate offerings. Meanwhile, Plus500 may appeal to those who fit the professional client criteria, but its spreads are generally less favorable. Thus, considering both the fees and execution methods, IG emerges as a more attractive option in this comparison.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | €50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.98 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing IG and Plus500 in terms of available investments, both brokers provide extensive options, but there are noticeable differences. IG offers a vast array of choices with 19,537 tradeable symbols, including 97 forex pairs. These offerings cater to a wide range of trading preferences, whether you are interested in forex, exchange-traded securities, or cryptocurrencies. IG supports the trading of actual cryptocurrencies and derivatives, enhancing flexibility for diverse trading strategies. Clients have access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling the purchase of major companies like Apple and Vodafone.
Plus500, while slightly more limited in scope compared to IG, still provides a commendable selection with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs. Plus500 allows trading in CFDs and cryptocurrency derivatives, but does not offer actual cryptocurrency purchases. Like IG, Plus500 facilitates trading of exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets. Despite these solid offerings, IG outshines Plus500 in range and diversity, reflected in IG's five-star rating and a 4th place ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared to Plus500's 4.5-star rating and 21st spot.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | |
| 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). | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms of IG and Plus500, both brokers provide a free virtual demo account, which is great for beginners looking to practice without financial risk. Each has developed its own proprietary platform, ensuring a distinct trading experience tailored to their users' needs. IG offers a downloadable Windows-based trading platform in addition to a web-based browser platform, whereas Plus500 provides a user-friendly web-based platform but lacks a downloadable version. IG further distinguishes itself with support for the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform, a choice often favored by traders for its advanced capabilities, while Plus500 does not offer this option.
In terms of charting, Plus500 excels by providing 36 drawing tools compared to IG's 20, allowing for more detailed technical analysis. However, IG offers the functionality to execute trades directly from a stock chart, adding a layer of convenience not specified for Plus500. Watch list customization is another differentiator, with Plus500 offering up to 10 columns for fields, doubling IG's offering. Both brokers receive high marks for their trading platforms and tools, with IG rated at 5 stars and Plus500 at 4.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where IG stands out at #2 among 63 brokers, while Plus500 holds the 14th position.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | ||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ||
| DupliTrade | ||
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both IG and Plus500 provide versatile mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for traders on the go. They both offer essential tools like stock and forex price alerts, and the convenience of watchlist syncing between mobile apps and online accounts. Users of both platforms can create watchlists with real-time quotes, which are crucial for keeping up with market changes. However, when it comes to technical charting, Plus500 stands out by offering 115 technical studies compared to IG's 33. Despite this difference, both apps allow drawing trendlines and viewing charts in multiple timeframes, such as daily or weekly, but only IG saves these drawings automatically.
Both IG and Plus500 are highly rated for their mobile trading apps, though IG slightly outshines Plus500 with a perfect rating of 5 stars and a prestigious #1 ranking by ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers. Plus500, with a commendable 4.5-star rating, holds the 14th position in the same ranking. For traders who value detailed chart analysis, Plus500’s extensive charting options may be compelling. However, IG's top rating and automatic saving feature can be especially beneficial for traders seeking a seamless and highly-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and Plus500, both online brokers offer daily market commentary and provide economic calendars to keep traders updated on global news events. However, IG stands out by providing forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which may not be available with Plus500. Additionally, IG utilizes advanced research tools from companies such as Autochartist and Acuity Trading, while Plus500 integrates tools from Trading Central instead. This diverse array of resources contributes to IG's #2 ranking for research with ForexBrokers.com, earning an impressive 5-star rating, compared to Plus500's #19 ranking with a 4-star rating.
Both IG and Plus500 provide sentiment-based trading tools, which may appeal to traders interested in gauging market behavior through the ratio of long to short positions. Yet, when it comes to additional insights, IG offers market research from TipRanks, offering further depth to its research capabilities. These distinctions in market research offerings highlight why IG garners a higher rank and satisfaction among traders seeking comprehensive market analysis resources. While Plus500 provides a solid research foundation, IG's expansive range of tools and trusted news sources offer a convincing edge for those prioritizing comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by IG and Plus500, both online brokers provide a variety of learning materials for beginners. They each present more than 10 educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and webinars, focusing primarily on forex or CFDs. Both platforms host at least one online educational client webinar monthly, accompanied by a searchable archive of past recorded webinars, making it easy for users to access them at their convenience. Furthermore, both IG and Plus500 offer more than 10 beginner-oriented educational videos, providing foundational trading insights for new investors, as well as advanced videos for more experienced traders.
Despite these similarities, the key difference lies in IG's additional feature—an investor dictionary with over 50 investing term definitions. This resource enhances the learning experience by offering clear explanations of complex trading jargon. As a result, IG has earned an educational rating of 5 stars and ranks first among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Plus500, while also offering a solid range of educational tools, receives a 4.0-star rating and ranks 31st in the same category. This differentiation makes IG stand out as a superior choice for those seeking comprehensive educational support.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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
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Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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IG allows its users to purchase actual cryptocurrencies as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Plus500 provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives but does not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers IG and Plus500, both offer a variety of funding options: IG supports ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Plus500 offers PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support 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 | IG | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | ||
| 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) | |||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Yes | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | |||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | ||
| 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). | 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 | 0.98 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | ||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | ||
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | ||
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | |||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | ||
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | |||
| cTrader | |||
| DupliTrade | |||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 36 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | ||
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 33 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | ||
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | ||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | ||
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | IG | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
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