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 |
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 | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments between IG and Plus500, both online brokers offer numerous opportunities for trading enthusiasts. IG boasts an impressive array of 19,537 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing Plus500's offering of 5,500. In terms of forex trading, IG provides access to 97 forex pairs, while Plus500 offers 65. Both brokers enable trading of forex as CFDs or spot contracts. Investors interested in exchange-traded securities will find that both IG and Plus500 offer the ability to buy shares on U.S. and international exchanges, including major companies like Apple and Vodafone.
IG excels when it comes to the variety of investment options by offering not just traditional financial instruments but also actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, a feature not available with Plus500. However, both brokers permit trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. In expert reviews, IG was awarded a perfect five-star rating for its range of investments, ranking fourth out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Plus500 received a respectable 4.5-star rating and ranked twenty-first. While neither IG nor Plus500 feature copy trading, the breadth of investment options makes IG the preferred choice for investors seeking a wide selection of tradeable assets.
| 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 | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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). | 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 IG and Plus500 for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice without risking real money. They also provide proprietary, in-house developed platforms, with IG offering a Windows-based desktop platform, whereas Plus500 does not. Both brokers feature web-based trading platforms for convenient access from any browser. For traders looking to use MetaTrader 4 (MT4), IG supports this popular platform, while Plus500 does not offer MT4 or MT5. Neither IG nor Plus500 provides copy trading or integrates with DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
IG leads with extensive customization options, supporting five columns for watch lists and 20 drawing tools for charting, while Plus500 offers 10 watch list columns and 36 drawing tools. However, IG allows trading directly from a stock chart, a feature Plus500 lacks. With its advanced features, IG's trading platform is rated 5 stars and is ranked second out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Trading Platforms and Tools. Plus500, with a 4.5-star rating and a ranking of 14th, remains a strong competitor but falls short of IG's robust offerings and ratings in this category.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both IG and Plus500 cater to iPhone and Android users, offering features such as price alerts for stocks and forex, and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple timeframes on charts. IG provides a seamless experience with watchlist symbol syncing, meaning changes made in the mobile app automatically update your online account and vice versa. Plus500 shares this syncing capability, ensuring you stay updated across platforms. While both brokers allow real-time quote watchlist creation, IG goes a step further by autosaving your chart drawings, something Plus500 lacks.
In terms of charting tools, Plus500 stands out with an impressive 115 technical studies compared to IG's 33, appealing to users seeking detailed analysis. However, IG's app garners a higher user satisfaction rating of 5 stars, as opposed to Plus500's 4.5 stars. Ranked by ForexBrokers.com, IG holds the top spot out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, showcasing its popularity and quality, while Plus500 is positioned at a respectable 14th. This makes IG a preferred choice for traders prioritizing a top-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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing IG and Plus500 for market research capabilities, both brokers provide consistent daily market commentary to maintain their clients' engagement with current events. However, IG takes an advantage with comprehensive forex news sourced from reputable agencies like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not offer this detailed coverage. Additionally, IG provides access to Autochartist tools for in-depth technical and fundamental analysis, whereas Plus500 supports Trading Central tools for similar research purposes. Both platforms equip traders with sentiment-based tools that provide insights into the balance of long or short positions across various instruments.
Further distinguishing IG from Plus500, IG offers supplementary market research through partnerships with TipRanks and Acuity Trading, enhancing decision-making with enriched trading signals and analytics. Both platforms include economic calendars, keeping traders informed about global economic events. Despite their offerings, IG’s research capabilities have earned it a 5-star rating and rank it second out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, indicating superior research support. In contrast, Plus500 achieves a 4-star rating and stands at 19th place in the same category, reflecting strong but comparatively lesser research resources.
| Feature |
IG
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When choosing a platform for learning about forex or CFDs, beginners might find themselves comparing IG and Plus500. Both platforms offer a comprehensive range of educational resources, including a minimum of ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. They also provide monthly online educational webinars and archives of previous sessions for on-demand learning. For new traders, there are specific beginner videos available, and experienced traders can benefit from advanced video content. However, an essential difference is that IG offers an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which Plus500 does not provide. This tool can be particularly useful for newcomers who need to familiarize themselves with trading terminology.
In terms of overall educational quality, IG receives high praise with a 5-star rating, while Plus500 is rated at 4.0 stars. IG's commitment to education is further emphasized by its ranking as the number one broker out of 63 for education by ForexBrokers.com. Plus500, while still a strong contender, is ranked 31st in the same category. These ratings reflect IG's dedication to providing accessible and thorough educational resources, helping traders at all levels enhance their knowledge and skills effectively.
| 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 | No |
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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When comparing online brokers IG and Plus500, IG stands out for allowing the purchase of actual cryptocurrency, whereas both platforms offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
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.
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 | 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 (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 | 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/Central Bank 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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). | 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No |
| 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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