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 |
When examining commissions and fees, Plus500 and IronFX present distinct offerings, each with their own strengths and challenges. Plus500's pricing is slightly higher than the industry average and falls short compared to the top forex brokers for active traders. While there are no discounts for retail clients, Professional clients can benefit from cash rebates akin to an active trader program. For EUR/USD trades, Plus500's spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which exceeds the industry norm. In terms of ratings, Plus500 garners 4.0 stars for commissions and fees, ranking them #25 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
IronFX, on the other hand, shows potential for improvement as their spreads are also higher than the industry average. The Standard variable spread account typically offers spreads of around 1.8 pips, though it's important to note that these can vary across different account types. For their zero fixed-spread account, IronFX offers spreads starting at zero, accompanied by an $18 per lot commission, and spreads can widen to 3 pips overnight. Both traders and reviewers have noted room for enhancement, with IronFX receiving 4 stars for commissions and fees and ranking #46 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of available investments, Plus500 stands out with a broader offering compared to IronFX. Plus500 provides access to 5,500 tradeable symbols, significantly outpacing IronFX, which offers 340. Both platforms allow forex trading through CFDs, but Plus500 supports 65 forex pairs, whereas IronFX offers a slightly higher selection with 83 pairs. Additionally, Plus500 caters to clients interested in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature IronFX lacks. While neither broker allows clients to buy actual cryptocurrencies, both offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
In terms of special features, IronFX offers copy trading for clients keen on mimicking the trades of seasoned investors, which Plus500 does not. However, Plus500 still achieves a higher rating for its range of investments, earning 4.5 stars compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. This advantage is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Plus500 is positioned at #20, considerably ahead of IronFX, which is ranked #51. Overall, Plus500 provides a more versatile investment range, appealing to investors looking for diverse opportunities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Plus500 and IronFX, there are several key differences to note. Both platforms provide a free virtual demo account for simulated trading, making it easy for beginners to get started. Plus500 impresses with a proprietary platform developed in-house, while IronFX relies on external platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Traders looking for a Windows-based desktop application would favor IronFX, as Plus500 only offers web-based access. Both brokers allow for browser-based trading, but IronFX edges ahead with its copy trading feature which Plus500 lacks.
In terms of charting functionalities, Plus500 offers more drawing tools with 36 options compared to IronFX's 15, though both platforms have undisclosed numbers of technical indicators. IronFX provides the added advantage of trading directly from stock charts, a feature absent in Plus500. For those monitoring different investments, Plus500 offers more customization with 10 columns for watch lists, while IronFX has 7. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 scores higher in trading platforms and tools with a rating of 4.5 stars and is ranked 14th out of 63 brokers. In contrast, IronFX receives a rating of 3.5 stars and is ranked 61st.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When choosing an online trading platform for mobile use, it's important to understand the offerings of apps like Plus500 and IronFX. Both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, ensuring traders can stay connected on the go. Each platform allows users to receive stock or forex price alerts and offers watchlists with real-time quotes. However, a significant distinction lies in watchlist symbol syncing; Plus500 provides this feature, allowing seamless integration between the mobile app and online account, while IronFX does not. Plus500 also stands out with its selection of 115 technical studies available for charting, compared to IronFX's 30. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing charts in multiple time frames, although Plus500 does not auto-save chart drawings, whereas IronFX does.
For those prioritizing app performance and rankings, Plus500 seems to have an edge. It boasts a 4.5-star rating for its mobile app, significantly higher than IronFX’s 3.5 stars. Additionally, Plus500 is ranked #14 out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX comes in at a much lower #62. This ranking reflects a more enhanced user experience and feature set on Plus500’s platform, making it a strong contender for traders looking for a comprehensive mobile trading solution.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Plus500 and IronFX, both brokers provide daily market commentary to assist traders in making informed decisions. However, IronFX takes the lead in this aspect by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature not available with Plus500. Both platforms leverage Trading Central's technical analytics tools to support traders but do not provide tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading, nor do they collaborate with TipRanks for market research.
Plus500 distinguishes itself by offering a sentiment-based trading tool, which gives an overview of the market mood across various instruments, a feature not found with IronFX. Both brokers provide an economic calendar to help traders track significant global events. Despite similar offerings, Plus500 ranks higher at number 19 out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, compared to IronFX's rank of 28. Both have a solid research rating of 4.0 stars, but Plus500's distinct features give it an edge in overall market research support.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Plus500 and IronFX provide a solid foundation. Plus500 stands out by offering a comprehensive selection of educational materials, including online webinars held at least once a month, which IronFX doesn't provide. Each platform boasts over 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, ensuring traders have access to articles, videos, and archived webinars. Furthermore, both brokers feature a searchable archive of past webinars and at least 10 beginner-friendly videos that cover essential trading topics.
For traders looking for advanced educational content, Plus500 is a step ahead, offering more than 10 specialized videos for experienced traders, while IronFX does not cater to this group. However, IronFX distinguished itself with an extensive investor dictionary containing definitions of more than 50 investing terms, a tool missing in Plus500's resources. Ranked by ForexBrokers.com as #31 for their educational offerings, Plus500 is slightly ahead of IronFX, which stands at #44. Both brokers share an educational rating of 4 out of 5 stars, reflecting their commitment to equipping traders with the necessary tools to succeed in the trading world.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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Both Plus500 and IronFX do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers Plus500 and IronFX, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers; however, Plus500 enables PayPal transactions while IronFX does not, both platforms allow Skrill and major credit card (Visa/Mastercard) transactions, as well as bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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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| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). 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 | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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