Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IronFX, 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 Plus500 and IronFX, several key differences in their regulatory standings and trust ratings come to light. Plus500, founded in 2008, is a public company, while IronFX, established in 2010, remains privately held. This distinction emphasizes Plus500's transparency and accountability to shareholders. Plus500 boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, signifying a highly trusted status. This broker holds six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, enhancing its credibility in the trading community. In comparison, IronFX has a Trust Score of 83, categorized as trusted, with three Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, suggesting a more conservative regulatory footprint.
While neither Plus500 nor IronFX operates as a bank, Plus500's range of licenses and public trading status offer clients a strong sense of security and trust. In contrast, IronFX's lesser number of licenses and private standing might appeal to traders with different preferences. Understanding these regulatory distinctions can guide potential users in choosing the broker that best fits their needs and expectations when navigating the online trading landscape.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Plus500 and IronFX both land slightly above the industry average for forex commissions and fees, but Plus500 tends to come out a bit cheaper on typical spreads and ranks higher overall. Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips on EUR/USD in April 2024, while IronFX lists a typical 1.8 pips on its Standard variable account. IronFX also offers a zero fixed-spread account that starts from 0 pips, but it carries a $18 per lot commission and spreads widen to 3 pips overnight.
Plus500’s pricing is a touch pricey compared with the very best active-trader offers (think IG or Saxo). It doesn’t provide retail discounts, though cash rebates may be available if you qualify as a Professional client. Rating for Commissions & Fees: 4.0 stars; ranking: #24 out of 63 brokers.
IronFX has room to improve on pricing, with spreads that appear higher than average and details that vary across account types. Its Standard variable account lists a typical 1.8 pips (no date range provided), while the zero fixed-spread account begins at 0 pips plus a $18 per lot commission, with spreads widened to 3 pips overnight. Rating for Commissions & Fees: 4 stars; ranking: #47 out of 63 brokers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing Plus500 vs IronFX on range of investments: both provide forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and support crypto via CFDs (neither offers actual delivered crypto). Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols, far more than IronFX’s roughly 340, though IronFX offers more forex pairs (83 vs 65). If you want the widest overall menu of markets, Plus500 has the edge; if your focus is currency pairs variety, IronFX has a slight advantage.
For stocks, Plus500 lets clients buy exchange‑traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while IronFX does not offer real share dealing. IronFX does include copy trading, whereas Plus500 does not. Reflecting this mix, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 4.5/5 stars and ranks it #22 of 63 for Range of Investments, while IronFX earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #52.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Plus500 vs IronFX: If you want a streamlined, in-house web platform, Plus500 delivers its own proprietary platform in the browser, but it does not offer a Windows desktop download. IronFX goes the other direction with a Windows desktop platform and a web platform, but no proprietary system of its own. Both brokers provide free demo (paper) accounts for practice. IronFX supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), while Plus500 does not, and neither broker supports MT5.
Feature-wise, IronFX includes copy trading and lets you place trades directly from charts; Plus500 lacks both of those options. Specific counts for charting indicators and watch list fields aren’t provided for either broker. In independent testing of trading platforms and tools, Plus500 scores higher at 4.5/5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers, while IronFX holds 3.5/5 stars and ranks #62. If you value MT4, chart trading, and copy trading, IronFX stands out. If you prefer a clean, browser-based proprietary platform with a strong overall tools rating, Plus500 is the better fit.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the Plus500 mobile app to the IronFX mobile app, both are available on iPhone and Android and both support price alerts. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked 14th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while IronFX earned 3.5 stars and ranked 63rd out of 63.
Feature-wise, Plus500 offers watchlist syncing across mobile and web, which IronFX lacks. For charting, Plus500 provides 115 technical studies versus 30 on IronFX, and both apps let you draw trendlines. However, IronFX auto-saves chart drawings, whereas Plus500 does not. If you want more indicators and synced watchlists, Plus500 is the stronger pick; if auto-saving drawings is a priority, IronFX may suit you better.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing Plus500 vs IronFX for market research: both brokers deliver daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, and an economic calendar. IronFX stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, which Plus500 lacks. Plus500 includes a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs short positions, while IronFX does not. Neither broker includes Autochartist. Plus500 does not provide research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading; for IronFX, TipRanks and Acuity Trading availability was not specified in the information provided.
For ratings, Plus500 scores 4.0 stars for Research and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX earns 4 stars and ranks #29. Choose IronFX if you value premium news feeds, and consider Plus500 if a built-in sentiment gauge is important to your trading decisions.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Plus500 vs IronFX for beginners: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner video lessons that explain core forex and CFD trading topics in plain language. Plus500 goes further with monthly client webinars and a wide set of advanced video tutorials, which can help you progress beyond the basics. IronFX does not run monthly webinars and does not meet the 10-video mark for advanced topics, so its learning path is more focused on entry-level content.
In independent reviews of education, Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks 31st out of 63 brokers, while IronFX scores 4 stars and ranks 44th. If you want live learning and room to grow with advanced materials, Plus500 offers more ways to build skills. If you only need beginner-friendly videos to get started, IronFX covers the essentials.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than IronFX. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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Plus500 vs IronFX: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In the Plus500 vs IronFX comparison of payment methods, Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals but not ACH or SEPA, while IronFX also does not support ACH or SEPA and its support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
| Cost | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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