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IG vs Plus500 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

IG
5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: £250.00
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 19537
Plus500
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: €100
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500 info

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.

Regulation

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 logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Year Founded info 1974 2008
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes Yes
Bank info Yes No
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 6
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 3
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1

Fees

When considering commissions and fees, IG stands out as a preferred choice for active traders thanks to its competitive pricing and flexible execution methods. Offering both a Contracts for Difference (CFD) account and a Direct Market Access (DMA) account, IG caters to various trading preferences. In July 2023, the CFD account exhibited average spreads of 0.98 pips globally and 1.18 pips for the EUR/USD pair in the US. For those classified as professional traders, IG provides an attractive active-trader rebate program, offering up to a 20% discount on spreads for high-volume trades. Additionally, the DMA account on IG offers average spreads of 0.62 on the EUR/USD in July 2023, with commissions depending on the trading volume. IG is rated 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com in the Commissions and Fees category.

In comparison, Plus500's pricing is generally above the industry average, lacking the appeal of IG's active trader pricing. Though it provides cash rebates for professional clients, Plus500 does not offer discounts to retail traders. For April 2024, Plus500's spreads averaged 1.5 pips on the EUR/USD, which is higher than what competitive brokers like IG offer. As a result of these factors, Plus500 receives a 4-star rating and ranks #25 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 €100
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.98 info 1.5 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.5 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing IG and Plus500 in terms of their range of investments, both platforms offer forex trading through CFDs, providing robust options for currency trading enthusiasts. IG boasts an impressive 19,537 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing Plus500's 5,500 symbols. For those focusing on forex pairs, IG leads the way again with 97 pairs compared to Plus500's 65. Both platforms allow investors to access exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, meaning you can buy shares of companies like Apple and Vodafone through either platform. However, neither IG nor Plus500 provides the feature for copy trading, nor do they allow the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies; both offer options in cryptocurrency derivatives only.

In terms of their overall investment range, IG earns a stellar rating of 5 stars, placing it 4th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 receives a slightly lower rating of 4.5 stars and ranks 24th. While both platforms have their strengths, IG's extensive range of tradeable symbols and forex pairs gives it a clear advantage for those seeking a diverse selection of trading opportunities.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes info
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 5500 info
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 65
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes Yes info
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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of IG and Plus500, both brokers provide users with virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms tailored to meet diverse trading needs. IG stands out by offering a Windows-based desktop download for those who prefer a traditional setup, while Plus500 opts for a solely web-based interface, accessible via any browser. Although both brokers provide a web-based trading experience, Plus500 lacks integration with MetaTrader 4 (MT4), a feature available with IG that appeals to many traders for its advanced capabilities.

In terms of charting tools, Plus500 slightly edges out IG with 22 drawing tools compared to IG's 20, though IG compensates by allowing users to trade directly from its stock charts. Additionally, Plus500 offers more customization for watch lists, with 10 fields compared to IG's 5, catering to traders who need to track multiple data points. However, in terms of overall platform quality and user satisfaction, IG maintains a higher rating of 5 stars, ranking second among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a rank of 14 with a close 4.5-star rating.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 114
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 22
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 10
View More

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

When considering mobile trading apps from two popular online brokers, IG and Plus500, both offer comprehensive tools for iPhone and Android users. Each platform provides features such as stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Traders can also view multiple time frames within the apps, ensuring they have access to detailed market analysis whenever they need it. However, a key difference lies in the technical studies available within the apps; IG offers 33 studies while Plus500 offers a more expansive 110 studies, catering to traders who require a broader range of analytical tools.

Another distinct difference between the two apps is the handling of chart drawings. While IG’s app automatically saves any drawings made on charts, Plus500’s app does not offer this convenience, possibly leading traders to prefer IG for maintaining their technical analysis persistently. Furthermore, both apps allow users to set up watchlists with real-time quotes, enhancing their trading readiness and decision-making capabilities. In terms of overall mobile app ratings and rankings, IG stands out with a 5-star rating and a first-place ranking from ForexBrokers.com, whereas Plus500 is rated with 4.5 stars and holds the 14th position. These insights can guide traders in selecting the mobile trading platform that best meets their needs.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 110
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

When comparing IG and Plus500 for market research, both platforms provide daily market commentary, ensuring investors have up-to-date information. However, IG stands out with forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature not available with Plus500. IG also offers advanced tools from Autochartist and sentiment-based trading insights, giving traders a comprehensive view of market trends. In contrast, Plus500 provides tools from Trading Central but lacks some of the sophisticated offerings found on IG, such as Autochartist and TipRanks research.

Additionally, IG supports its traders with a range of tools from Acuity Trading and an economic calendar, features mirrored by Plus500 albeit with slightly fewer resources. These extensive offerings contribute to IG's superior research rating of 5 stars, and a second-place ranking in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com. Plus500, while still commendable, receives a 4-star rating and ranks 19th. These distinctions highlight IG's commitment to providing a richer research experience for its users.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info Yes No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When it comes to educational resources for beginners looking to delve into online trading, both IG and Plus500 offer a wealth of material to help new traders get started. Each platform provides a variety of educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. This means that regardless of which broker you choose, there is no shortage of informative content available. Additionally, both IG and Plus500 host online educational webinars at least once a month and provide access to a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. This makes catching up or revisiting key concepts straightforward for users who want to deepen their understanding.

IG stands out slightly more for its comprehensive educational offerings. Not only does IG provide a wide array of beginner and advanced educational videos, but it also includes an investor dictionary featuring over 50 investing terms, a resource Plus500 does not offer. Perhaps this contributes to IG's higher rating of 5 stars for education and its position as the top-ranked broker in this category according to ForexBrokers.com. While Plus500 also has quality resources and hosts webinars regularly, it earns a 4.0-star rating and is ranked 31st out of 62 brokers surveyed. For those who regard educational resources as a decisive factor in selecting a broker, IG might make a more compelling choice due to these additional offerings.

Feature IG logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes info
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes info
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 62 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 logoIG
Plus500 logoPlus500
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with IG or Plus500?

Both IG and Plus500 do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

When comparing online brokers IG and Plus500, IG supports ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, unlike Plus500, and both brokers offer PayPal and Visa or Mastercard options, although Plus500 also provides Skrill, which IG does not, while both platforms facilitate transactions via bank wires.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating IG Plus500
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review Plus500 Review
Broker Screenshots IG Plus500
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation IG Plus500
Trust Score info 99 99
Year Founded info 1974 2008
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes Yes
Bank info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 8 6
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 3
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 1 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) IG Plus500
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes Yes
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info Yes No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
USA (CFTC Authorized) info Yes No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes Yes
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) IG Plus500
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info No Yes
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info Yes Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments IG Plus500
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes info
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 19537 5500 info
Forex Pairs (Total) info 97 65
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info Yes Yes info
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 info 0.98 info 1.5 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.82 info 1.5 info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes No
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding IG Plus500
Minimum Deposit info £250.00 €100
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info No Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms IG Plus500
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes No
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info No No
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes No
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No No
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info No No
Trading Tools IG Plus500
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlists - Total Fields info 5 10
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 33 114
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 20 22
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading IG Plus500
Android App info Yes info Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 33 110
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research IG Plus500
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes No
Autochartist info Yes No
Trading Central (Recognia) info No Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education IG Plus500
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Client Webinars info Yes Yes info
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes Yes info
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs IG Plus500
GBP/USD info Yes Yes info
USD/JPY info Yes Yes info
EUR/USD info Yes Yes info
USD/CHF info Yes Yes info
USD/CAD info Yes Yes info
NZD/USD info Yes Yes info
AUD/USD info Yes Yes info
Review IG Review Plus500 Review
Overall IG Plus500
Overall Rating info 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Range of Investments 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Platform & Tools 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Research 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Education 5/5 Stars 4.0/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 99
Winner check_circle
Review IG Review Plus500 Review
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