Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IUX, 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.
Plus500 and IUX differ significantly in their regulatory standings and trust scores, catering to varying levels of investor confidence. Established in 2008, Plus500 is publicly traded, reflecting a degree of transparency and accountability often reassuring to investors. It boasts an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, signaling a high level of trustworthiness. This is supported by its holding of six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, which illustrate strong regulatory oversight from top financial authorities.
In contrast, IUX, founded in 2016, is not publicly listed and does not function as a bank, much like Plus500. However, it holds a Trust Score of 69, indicating a higher risk level for investors. IUX currently has no Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com, and only one Tier-2 license. For individuals evaluating their online trading options, these factors could be essential when considering the robustness of security and regulation each broker offers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers Plus500 and IUX based on commissions and fees, Plus500 stands out with a solid 4.0-star rating but ranks 25th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Plus500's pricing edges slightly above the industry average, particularly for active traders. While they do not offer discounts to retail clients, their Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. During April 2024, Plus500 had average spreads of 1.5 pips for the EUR/USD, which is higher than the average rates across the industry.
Conversely, IUX offers a varied pricing model depending on the account type selected. Standard and Standard+ accounts are accessible with a $10 deposit, although Standard+ accounts come with promotional bonuses but wider spreads. For more active traders, IUX offers Raw and Pro accounts, each requiring a $500 deposit, but differing in their fee structures. Raw accounts provide the lowest spreads with a $6 commission per standard lot, while the Pro accounts eliminate commissions in favor of tighter spreads.
In terms of average spreads, IUX advertises 0.7 pips for its Pro account and 0.9 pips on its Standard account for the EUR/USD pair. The Raw account, when considering the commission in pip-equivalent terms, features an average spread close to 0.6 pips. IUX also earns a 4-star rating and holds the 49th rank in the Commissions and Fees category among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, while competitive, new users should consider the balance between spreads, commissions, and deposit requirements to find the most suitable option.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | 10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| 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 choosing between Plus500 and IUX for online investing, it's important to consider the breadth of available options. Plus500 stands out with an impressive range of 5,500 tradeable symbols, offering its clients a wide variety of investments to choose from. In contrast, IUX presents a selection of 152 symbols. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs, with Plus500 offering 65 forex pairs and IUX providing 34. For those interested in trading stocks on U.S. exchanges, Plus500 provides access to purchase actual shares like Apple, while IUX does not offer such opportunities. However, both platforms allow trading on international exchanges, which lets investors access markets abroad.
In terms of specialized trading features, neither Plus500 nor IUX includes copy trading options. If you are looking to invest in cryptocurrency, both brokers permit trading derivatives, though neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns a rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments, coming in at #24 out of 63 brokers. On the other hand, IUX is rated at 3.5 stars, ranking at #60. Therefore, Plus500 might be a better option for those seeking a broader spectrum of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 34 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Both Plus500 and IUX cater to users interested in simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, providing an opportunity to practice without any financial risk. While both brokers have developed their platforms in-house, there are notable differences in platform accessibility and features. Plus500 does not offer a Windows-based desktop download but provides a web-based trading platform, making it easy for traders to access their accounts on various devices. IUX, on the other hand, supports both a web-based platform and a Windows-based desktop download, offering more flexibility for those who prefer desktop applications.
In terms of trading tools, Plus500 offers 22 drawing tools for charting and up to 10 watch list columns, earning a solid rating of 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools. Despite IUX's broader selection of 89 drawing tools and 46 watch list columns, it lacks the capability to trade directly from a stock chart, which Plus500 also does not offer. IUX integrates MetaTrader 5 (MT5), enhancing its platform options, yet it falls short in overall ratings with 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is ranked at #14 for its trading tools, while IUX is positioned at #59, indicating that Plus500 is viewed more favorably in comparison.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 46 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and IUX, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring accessibility for users on major smartphone platforms. Plus500 distinguishes itself by providing stock and forex price alerts, which are absent in IUX's app. Additionally, Plus500 offers watchlist symbol syncing, allowing users to have a seamless experience between their mobile app and online account—something IUX does not support. In terms of technical tools, Plus500 leads with 110 technical studies available for charting, compared to IUX's 106. Plus500 also supports the drawing of trendlines on charts, which is not possible in the IUX app.
Both apps allow users to view different timeframes on charts, and offer watchlists with real-time quotes, catering to active traders who need quick data access. Where IUX has an edge is in auto-saving chart drawings, a feature not available with Plus500. Regarding user satisfaction, Plus500 receives a higher mobile trading app rating of 4.5 stars compared to IUX's 3.5 stars. ForexBrokers.com ranks Plus500 as the 14th out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps, a significant lead over IUX, which sits at rank 60. These factors highlight Plus500's strengths in providing a more comprehensive mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| 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 market research offerings, Plus500 stands out with daily market commentary, setting it apart from IUX, which does not offer this feature. Both platforms do not provide forex news from top-tier sources, nor do they include tools from Autochartist or research from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. However, Plus500 offers users enhanced tools by providing technical analysis from Trading Central and a sentiment-based trading tool, which allows investors to view the ratio of long or short positions across different financial instruments. In contrast, IUX lacks these tools, potentially limiting the depth of analysis available to traders.
Both Plus500 and IUX offer an economic calendar for tracking global news events, though Plus500 boasts a higher research rating of 4.0 stars out of 5, compared to IUX’s 3 stars. This higher rating is reflected in Plus500's stronger position, ranked #19 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas IUX is positioned at #59. For those seeking more comprehensive research tools and insights, Plus500 appears to deliver a more enriched trading experience for its users.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| 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 looking at the educational resources available for beginners, Plus500 clearly stands out compared to IUX. Plus500 offers a wealth of educational content, including over ten pieces focusing on forex and CFDs, along with monthly webinars for clients. Users can also access a searchable archive of past webinars, which adds significant value for those who prefer learning at their own pace. Beginners will find a robust library of more than ten educational videos specifically tailored for them, as well as resources for advanced traders. In contrast, while IUX does provide beginner videos, it falls short in offering comprehensive resources like forex and CFD articles or advanced educational content. Additionally, IUX does not conduct regular webinars or maintain an archive of past ones.
Both platforms do not provide an investor dictionary with a broad range of investing terms. However, Plus500 continues to have an edge by receiving a higher educational rating of 4.0 stars compared to IUX's 3 stars. In rankings, this is reflected by Plus500's #31 position out of 63 brokers in the education category, significantly ahead of IUX, which sits at #59. This comparison indicates that new traders looking for an in-depth and accessible educational experience might find Plus500 better suited to meet their needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | 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 IUX. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #63.
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
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 |
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While both Plus500 and IUX do not provide options to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, they each offer the capability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, making them suitable choices for investors interested in speculative trading without owning the digital assets directly.
While both Plus500 and IUX do not support ACH or SEPA transfers, Plus500 distinguishes itself by offering PayPal as a deposit and withdrawal option, unlike IUX, but both brokers accept Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for convenient account funding transactions.
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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IUX | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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. |
| Cost | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | 10 | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 46 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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