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.
IG (founded 1974) and Plus500 (founded 2008) are both publicly traded online brokers. IG is a bank, while Plus500 is not. On regulation, IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses; Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 and 4 Tier-2 licenses, signaling strong oversight across major markets.
Both IG and Plus500 have a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99/99, which falls in the 90-99 highly trusted range (80-89 trusted, 70-79 average risk, 60-69 high risk, below 59 not trusted). Choose IG if you want the longest operating history and the most Tier-1 licenses, or Plus500 if you value a mix that includes more Tier-2 coverage.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, IG comes out ahead of Plus500 for most traders. IG is not a discount broker, but it offers several pricing options that can work well for active traders, including its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates for eligible professionals. Its EUR/USD spreads on the main Forex Direct account averaged 0.62 pips in July 2023, which worked out to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. IG’s CFD pricing was also competitive, with average spreads of 0.69 pips during main trading hours in July 2023.
Plus500, by comparison, has pricing that sits slightly above the industry average and does not offer retail trading discounts. It does provide cash rebates for clients who qualify as Professional traders, but for most retail users there are fewer ways to lower costs. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is noticeably higher than IG’s typical pricing.
Based on ForexBrokers.com’s commissions and fees category, IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and ranked #24 out of 36 brokers. For traders focused on lower trading costs and better pricing for higher volume, IG is the stronger choice.
| 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.
When it comes to range of investments, IG has the edge over Plus500. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer access to U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, such as shares listed on Nasdaq or the London Stock Exchange. Plus500 also gives traders a wide selection, but IG stands out with a much larger total of tradeable symbols, offering 19,537 compared with Plus500’s 5,500, along with more forex pairs at 97 versus 65.
IG also goes further for crypto investors, since it lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 only offers crypto CFDs. This broader product list helps explain why IG earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, compared with Plus500’s 4.5 stars and #16 ranking. Neither broker offers copy trading, so the main difference is how many markets and asset types each platform makes available.
| 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 give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and a web-based trading platform, making either broker easy to try and use online. Both do not offer copy trading, so if you want to follow other traders automatically, neither broker stands out in this area. For charting and platform access, IG has the edge because it also offers a Windows desktop download, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart, while Plus500 does not.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. In simple terms, Plus500 covers the basics well, especially for web and demo trading, but IG offers more platform choices and stronger tools for active traders who want more ways to trade and analyze the markets.
| 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 make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing so your mobile watchlists stay matched with your online account. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts, which is useful for basic technical analysis. Where IG stands out is in chart drawing convenience, since it auto-saves your chart drawings in the mobile app, while Plus500 does not.
When it comes to charting depth, Plus500 offers 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 33 for IG, giving active chart users more tools to work with. Even so, IG has the edge in overall mobile trading app quality, earning a 5-star rating and the #1 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #14. For traders who want the best-rated mobile experience, IG is the stronger pick overall, while Plus500 may appeal to those who value a wider range of chart studies.
| 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.
When it comes to market research, IG has the edge over Plus500. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. However, IG goes further by offering forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus research tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading. Plus500, by comparison, includes Trading Central tools but does not offer the same range of outside news and research services.
This stronger research lineup is reflected in the ratings and rankings. IG is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a 4.5-star Research rating and ranks #16. For traders who want more market news, research ideas, and analysis tools in one place, IG is the more complete choice.
| 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.
When it comes to beginner-friendly learning materials, both IG and Plus500 give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex and CFD education, regular online webinars, and at least 10 videos for beginners as well as 10 videos for more experienced traders. That means either platform can help new users build knowledge step by step, whether they want to learn the basics of trading or move on to more advanced topics.
Still, IG comes out ahead overall for education. ForexBrokers.com gives IG a 5-star rating for Education and ranks it #7 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #26. So although both brokers support beginners well, IG appears to offer a stronger learning experience for traders who want more educational depth and guidance.
| 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
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Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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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.
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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 | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Plus500 Review |
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