Interactive Brokers vs Plus500 2025
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Plus500, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers, founded in 1977, and Plus500, established in 2008, both enjoy top-tier credibility in the online brokerage world. They each have a perfect 99 Trust Score rating on ForexBrokers.com, indicating they are highly reliable. Both firms are publicly traded, offering transparency and investor oversight. Although neither is a bank, they are distinguished by their regulatory approvals: Interactive Brokers holds nine Tier-1 licenses while Plus500 has six, reflecting their strong compliance with top financial regulatory bodies worldwide.
On the Tier-2 license front, Plus500 takes a slight lead with three approvals compared to Interactive Brokers' two. These licenses further underscore the general trustworthiness and security for users trading with these brokers. Whether you choose Interactive Brokers or Plus500, both options provide extensive regulatory backing, granting consumers peace of mind when trading online.
Feature |
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Year Founded | 1977 | 2008 |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
Bank | No | No |
Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 6 |
Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Interactive Brokers earns 5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 scores 4.0/5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63. The difference shows up most clearly in forex trading costs: Interactive Brokers typically delivers lower all-in pricing on major pairs, whereas Plus500โs costs tend to be higher for everyday and active traders.
Interactive Brokers does not publish average forex spreads, but Q3 2024 data shows its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.19 pips, or about 0.59 pips all-in after commission. Its commission starts at 0.00002 of the U.S. dollar trade value per side (minimum $2 per order), which works out to roughly 0.40 pips in commission on a $100,000 EUR/USD round trip, plus the prevailing spread. Smaller trade sizes feel the minimum more, while very high-volume traders can reduce the minimum to $1.50 per order above $1 billion in monthly volume and to $1 at $5 billion. IBKR charges a commission instead of marking up spreads and aggregates quotes from multiple interbank dealers.
Plus500 generally prices above the industry average and does not discount for retail clients. In April 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 1.5 pips, which is higher than Interactive Brokersโ effective all-in cost on the same pair. Plus500 offers cash rebates only to Professional clients, so most traders wonโt see lower fees as their volume grows. In short: Interactive Brokers (5/5 stars, #2/63) is the stronger pick on pure trading costs, while Plus500 (4.0/5 stars, #24/63) is simpler but typically pricier on spreads.
Feature |
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | โฌ50 |
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers offers a wider range of markets than Plus500. Both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, but Interactive Brokers lists about 8,500 tradeable symbols and around 90 forex pairs, compared with Plus500โs roughly 5,500 symbols and 65 pairs. Neither platform offers copy trading.
For shares, both brokers let you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. Crypto access differs: Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as crypto derivatives, while Plus500 offers only crypto derivatives, not the coins themselves. Reflecting this breadth, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments by ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #22.
Feature |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 5500 |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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.
Interactive Brokers vs Plus500: both brokers offer a free paper trading (demo) account, in-house platforms, and web-based trading. If you prefer a downloadable Windows desktop platform, Interactive Brokers provides one, while Plus500 does not. Neither broker supports copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), or ZuluTrade. You can place trades directly from charts with Interactive Brokers, but not with Plus500.
For platform tools, Interactive Brokers delivers far more watchlist fields (659 vs 10 for Plus500), making it easier to sort and filter your ideas. In ForexBrokers.comโs Trading Platforms and Tools category, Interactive Brokers earns 5 stars and ranks 3rd out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks 14th. If you want advanced controls and deep data, Interactive Brokers is the stronger choice; if you prefer a simple, browser-only setup, Plus500 is a straightforward pick.
Feature |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 115 |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and Plus500 both offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, catering to both stock and forex traders. With features like price alerts and watchlist syncing, both apps ensure that updates made on mobile devices are reflected in the user's online account. They also allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on stock and forex charts. However, neither app saves chart drawings automatically, so users must manually save their work before closing the app.
When it comes to charting tools, Plus500 edges ahead by offering 115 technical studies compared to Interactive Brokers' 97. Yet, Interactive Brokers shines in mobile trading app ratings, receiving a perfect 5-star score and ranking 4th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Plus500 follows closely with a 4.5-star rating and a 14th place ranking. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, making them excellent picks for traders seeking mobile flexibility.
Feature |
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Android App | Yes | Yes |
Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 115 |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings, Interactive Brokers and Plus500 both provide daily market commentary to keep investors informed. However, Interactive Brokers has a distinct advantage by delivering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which Plus500 does not. Both brokers offer technical analysis tools from Trading Central and sentiment-based trading tools that display the ratio of long to short positions, providing valuable insights for traders. While Interactive Brokers also provides additional market research from companies like TipRanks and Acuity Trading's Signal Centre, Plus500 does not include these features in its offerings.
In terms of research tools, both brokers feature an economic calendar to help traders stay ahead of global news events. However, the quality and depth of market research place Interactive Brokers ahead of Plus500, as reflected in their ratings. With a research score of 5 out of 5 stars and a remarkable #3 ranking out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers excels in delivering comprehensive research services. In contrast, Plus500 holds a 4-star rating and is ranked #19, indicating a solid but less extensive offering compared to Interactive Brokers.
Feature |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
Autochartist | No | No |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
TipRanks | Yes | No |
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources offered by Interactive Brokers and Plus500 for beginners, both online brokers provide substantial content on forex and CFDs. Each platform offers over ten educational pieces that cater to those interested in currency trading topics. Whether you are learning through articles, videos, or archived webinars, both brokers provide the resources needed to enhance your understanding. They also hold regular online webinars, offering at least one session per month and maintain a searchable archive of past webinars to facilitate continuous learning. This ensures that both beginners and experienced traders have access to valuable educational content at their convenience.
Interactive Brokers stands out with its comprehensive educational offerings, providing over ten beginner-friendly videos and an equal number of advanced videos for more experienced traders. Additionally, Interactive Brokers offers an investor dictionary featuring definitions of over 50 investing terms, a resource not present with Plus500. As a testament to its superior educational resources, Interactive Brokers is rated 5 stars and ranked #3 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Plus500, though highly competent, is rated 4.0 stars and ranked #31, which reflects a slightly less comprehensive offering for those seeking to deepen their financial knowledge.
Feature |
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|
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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 Interactive Brokers is better than Plus500. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
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Overall Rating |
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Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Interactive Brokers and Plus500 differ in their cryptocurrency offerings, with Interactive Brokers allowing users to purchase both actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Plus500 only provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives.
Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers for depositing or withdrawing funds but does not offer PayPal, Skrill, or card payments, whereas Plus500 provides flexible options including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, yet lacks ACH and SEPA transfer support.
Please note:
We review each brokerโs overall global offering โ a โYesโ 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 5Overall Rating | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Plus500 Review |
Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
Regulation | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
Year Founded | 1977 | 2008 | |
Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
Bank | No | No | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 6 | |
Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | Yes | |
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
Investments | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 5500 | |
Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.3 | |
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 | |
Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
Funding | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Minimum Deposit | $0 | โฌ50 | |
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
cTrader | No | No | |
DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
ZuluTrade | No | No |
Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 10 | |
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 115 | |
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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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 | 97 | 115 | |
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Research | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
Autochartist | No | No | |
Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
TipRanks | Yes | No | |
Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Education | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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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 | Interactive Brokers Review | Plus500 Review |
Overall | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
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Overall Rating |
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Commissions & Fees |
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Range of Investments |
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Platforms & Tools |
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Mobile Trading |
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Research |
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Education |
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Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
Winner | check_circle | ||
Review | Interactive Brokers Review | Plus500 Review |