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.
When comparing online trading platforms OANDA and Plus500, it's clear that both companies offer strong regulatory frameworks, but with some distinctions. Founded in 1996, OANDA is a well-established entity but is not publicly traded. It holds seven Tier-1 licenses and has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, signifying a high level of trust. On the other hand, Plus500 entered the market in 2008, is publicly traded, and possesses six Tier-1 licenses alongside three Tier-2 licenses, earning it an impressive Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating one of the highest levels of trust according to their standards.
Neither OANDA nor Plus500 operates as a bank, but both have built reputations as reliable brokers. OANDA's regulatory structure is limited to Tier-1 licenses, while Plus500 extends beyond Tier-1, incorporating a handful of Tier-2 licenses as well. This expanded regulatory coverage contributes to Plus500's slightly higher trust rating. While both brokers are generally viewed as safe and reputable options for trading, Plus500's status as a publicly listed company might give it added credibility in the eyes of some investors.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
OANDA and Plus500 both earn 4.0 stars for commissions and fees, yet Plus500 ranks higher (#24 of 63) than OANDA (#35 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. Both sit above the cheapest forex brokers on pricing, so the better value depends on your account type and trading volume.
OANDA’s average non-core spread on EUR/USD was 1.61 pips in July 2024. Its core pricing lowers the spread (for example, to about 0.4 pips) but adds a $5 per side commission per $100,000 traded (about 1 pip round trip), requiring a $10,000 minimum deposit; in the example, the all-in cost comes to roughly 1.4 pips—slightly below OANDA’s default pricing. OANDA also lets you trade in very small sizes (down to 1 unit), offers Elite Trader rebates in select regions ($5–$17 per million), and publishes trailing average spreads for transparency.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average, with EUR/USD spreads averaging 1.5 pips in April 2024. It does not discount fees for retail clients, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. In a straight comparison on EUR/USD, Plus500’s 1.5-pip average edges OANDA’s default 1.61 pips, but OANDA’s core pricing can be cheaper at about 1.4 pips if you qualify and meet the $10,000 deposit. For frequent traders seeking rebates, OANDA’s tiers (where available) compete with the Professional-only rebates at Plus500.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
OANDA and Plus500 both let you trade forex as a CFD or spot contract and both offer exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges (not CFDs). Plus500 lists more tradeable symbols overall (5,500 vs. OANDA’s 4,172), while OANDA slightly leads in forex pairs (69 vs. Plus500’s 65). Both brokers also provide cryptocurrency derivatives for trading.
Key differences come down to features. OANDA supports copy trading and lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, while Plus500 does not. In independent ratings for range of investments, ForexBrokers.com gives OANDA 4.0 stars and ranks it 28th out of 63 brokers, versus Plus500’s 4.5 stars and 22nd place. In short, Plus500 offers a larger lineup of instruments, whereas OANDA stands out if you want copy trading and access to real crypto alongside CFDs and exchange-traded shares.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 4172 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 69 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
OANDA and Plus500 both offer traders the option of simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, making them excellent choices for beginners looking to practice without financial risk. Each broker features a proprietary platform developed in-house, allowing for a tailored trading experience. OANDA supports a Windows-based desktop platform, whereas Plus500 does not offer this option. Both brokers provide web-based trading platforms accessible from any browser. Copy trading enthusiasts will find OANDA more appealing, as Plus500 does not support this feature. Additionally, advanced traders might lean towards OANDA for its compatibility with MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are unavailable with Plus500.
When it comes to charting capabilities, OANDA provides a richer set of 74 drawing tools compared to Plus500's 36, and also allows for direct trading from stock charts—a feature not available with Plus500. While Plus500 excels in offering ten customizable columns for watch lists, as opposed to OANDA’s six, both brokers score highly in overall toolset offerings. Despite both having a high rating for trading platforms and tools, with OANDA rated at four stars and Plus500 slightly higher at 4.5 stars, Plus500 ranks just above OANDA in ForexBrokers.com's list, coming in at #14 out of 63 brokers as opposed to OANDA's #15. This nuanced analysis allows traders to make an informed choice based on their specific needs and platform preferences.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of OANDA and Plus500, both applications are available for iPhone and Android users, making them easily accessible for a range of traders. They provide essential features like stock and forex price alerts to keep traders updated on market movements. However, Plus500 edges ahead with convenient watchlist symbol syncing, allowing watchlists to automatically update between the mobile app and online accounts. In terms of charting, Plus500 offers a more extensive selection with 115 technical studies compared to OANDA's 30. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames on charts, but OANDA has the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings, which Plus500 does not.
Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is a feature available on both apps, catering to traders looking to monitor specific assets. OANDA receives higher praise with a 5-star rating in mobile trading apps, ranking #7 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Plus500 trails slightly with a 4.5-star rating and a #14 rank. These insights reflect the subtle distinctions in user experience and functionality that set these two brokers apart in the competitive world of mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at OANDA and Plus500 shows clear differences. Both brokers publish daily market commentary, provide an economic calendar, and include a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Where they diverge is in third‑party research: OANDA streams forex news from top-tier sources and offers Autochartist for chart pattern and signal scanning, while Plus500 does not carry premium news or Autochartist but does include Trading Central analysis. Neither broker integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
For research quality and depth, OANDA takes the lead with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, thanks largely to its premium news coverage and toolset. Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks #19, making it a solid choice for traders who value Trading Central, while OANDA is better suited to those who want top-tier news and Autochartist alongside everyday market insights.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
OANDA and Plus500 both give beginners plenty of forex and CFD education. Each broker offers at least 10 learning pieces (articles, videos, and more), hosts monthly client webinars, and keeps a searchable archive of recorded webinars so you can learn on your schedule. Both also provide at least 10 beginner videos to help you start and 10 advanced videos for when you want to go deeper.
The main difference is that OANDA includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms to explain trading jargon, while Plus500 does not offer a comparable glossary. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 19th out of 63 brokers, whereas Plus500 earns 4.0 stars and ranks 31st. If you want a built-in dictionary and a higher education rating, OANDA has the edge; if you mainly want steady webinars and a sizable video library, both platforms will cover the basics for beginners.
| Feature |
OANDA
|
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 |
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 #12, 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 99 |
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OANDA allows investors to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Plus500 only provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives and does not offer the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency.
Both OANDA and Plus500 support Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transactions for depositing and withdrawing funds, but OANDA uniquely offers ACH and SEPA transfers, which are not available with Plus500.
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 | 93 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 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 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC 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 SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.69 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.69 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 74 | 36 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | OANDA | 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 | OANDA | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
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