Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of OANDA 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.
OANDA vs Plus500: OANDA was founded in 1996 and is not publicly traded, while Plus500 began in 2008 and is listed on a stock exchange; neither company is a bank. Both brokers hold seven Tier-1 licenses, viewed by ForexBrokers.com as highly trusted. Plus500 also holds four Tier-2 licenses, whereas OANDA holds none, giving Plus500 broader regulatory coverage.
According to ForexBrokers.com, Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. OANDA scores 92 (highly trusted), and Plus500 scores 99 (the top of the highly trusted range), signaling strong confidence in their regulatory standing and overall safety profile.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing commissions and fees, both OANDA and Plus500 land in the same general range, but neither is a low-cost leader. OANDA’s forex prices are usually on the higher side, with average EUR/USD spreads of 1.61 pips on its standard pricing in July 2024. Its core pricing can be cheaper on paper, but the added commission means the total cost is only slightly better than the default account. OANDA is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #30 out of 36 brokers.
Plus500 is also priced a bit above the industry average, and it does not offer retail trading discounts. For EUR/USD, Plus500’s average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is still higher than what top forex brokers often charge. It does offer rebates for eligible Professional clients, but most traders will not qualify. Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #24 out of 36 brokers.
In simple terms, Plus500 has a slightly better ranking and marginally tighter pricing in the examples provided, while OANDA offers more account flexibility, including very small trade sizes and a transparent spread history. If your main focus is keeping trading costs as low as possible, neither broker is the cheapest choice, but Plus500 has a small edge in this category based on the available data.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
OANDA and Plus500 both give traders access to forex as either CFDs or spot contracts, and each also lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges. OANDA offers 4,172 tradeable symbols and 69 forex pairs, while Plus500 lists 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs. In practice, that means Plus500 offers a wider overall selection, but OANDA has a slightly larger choice of currency pairs. Both brokers also offer cryptocurrency CFDs, and both support shares from major markets.
Where the two differ more clearly is in extra investment features. OANDA offers copy trading and lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while Plus500 does not offer either of those options. Despite these differences, both brokers are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. On ForexBrokers.com, OANDA ranks #20 out of 36 brokers in this category, while Plus500 ranks higher at #16.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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 OANDA and Plus500 for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and a web-based platform for trading from a browser. OANDA goes further with a Windows desktop download, copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer a desktop download, copy trading, MT4, MT5, or chart-based trading, which may matter for traders who want more platform choices and deeper tool support.
For trading platforms and tools ratings, Plus500 has a slight edge, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with OANDA’s 4 out of 5 stars and #16 ranking. In simple terms, Plus500 may appeal to traders who want a clean, easy platform, while OANDA is a stronger pick for those who want more ways to trade and more platform flexibility.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
OANDA and Plus500 both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on mobile charts. Where OANDA stands out is with chart drawings that auto-save in the app, which can make it easier to pick up where you left off. OANDA is also rated 5 stars for mobile trading apps and is ranked #7 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #14.
Plus500 has a clear edge for mobile watchlists and charting depth. Its watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account, so updates carry over across devices, and it offers 115 technical studies compared with OANDA’s 30. For traders who want more built-in chart tools and synced watchlists, Plus500 may be the better fit, while OANDA may appeal more to those who value saved chart drawings and a top mobile rating.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
OANDA and Plus500 both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows whether more users are buying or selling, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. Each also earns points for helping traders follow market conditions in a simple, useful way. That said, OANDA stands out for offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. Plus500 does not offer those news or Autochartist features, but it does include Trading Central research tools, which OANDA does not.
Overall, OANDA has the edge in market research. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16. Neither broker offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools, so the main difference comes down to OANDA’s stronger news coverage and Autochartist support versus Plus500’s Trading Central integration.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn before they trade, both OANDA and Plus500 provide a good range of forex and CFD education, including at least 10 learning pieces focused on these markets, monthly client webinars, and plenty of video content for both new and more experienced traders. Each broker also offers at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos, so either one gives new users a solid place to start building knowledge.
That said, OANDA has the edge on education overall. It earns a 5-star rating for Education and ranks #18 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #26. If you want the broker with the stronger learning experience for beginners, OANDA comes out ahead, although Plus500 still offers plenty of useful educational material.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that OANDA is better than Plus500. OANDA finished with an overall rank of #13, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
A trusted global brand, OANDA stands out for its reputation and quality market research. Its regulatory track record is strong, and its support for third-party features bolsters its overall offering.
| Feature |
OANDA
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Plus500
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| Trust Score | 92 | 99 |
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In the OANDA vs Plus500 comparison, OANDA lets you buy real, delivered cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 supports only cryptocurrency CFDs and does not offer the ability to purchase actual crypto.
OANDA vs Plus500: OANDA supports ACH/SEPA deposits and withdrawals while Plus500 does not; both brokers offer PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire options, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 92 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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). | 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 | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.68 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 92 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
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