OANDA vs Plus500 2026
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.
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 |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 4/5 stars for commissions and fees. By ForexBrokers.com’s rankings, OANDA is #30 of 63 while Plus500 is #24 of 63. In practice, both sit above the lowest-cost brokers: Plus500’s EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, and OANDA’s standard (non-core) pricing averaged 1.61 pips on EUR/USD in July 2024. If you qualify for OANDA’s Core pricing, the all-in cost on EUR/USD can drop to about 1.4 pips (0.4-pip spread plus ~1.0 pip in commission-equivalent), which edges under its default pricing.
OANDA isn’t a discount broker and its effective spreads can be high, but it offers automated execution across accounts and spreads that are comparable to FOREX.com and FxPro. Core pricing adds a per-side commission of $5 per $100,000 traded (about $10 per round turn) and requires a $10,000 minimum deposit. OANDA also stands out for very small trade sizes (down to 1 unit, or 0.001 micro lot) and an Elite Trader program in select regions with volume-based rebates of $5–$17 per million, plus potential TradingView subscription reimbursements. For transparency, OANDA publishes trailing average spreads, though it doesn’t provide a fixed-period average, which can make exact comparisons harder.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average and lags the best brokers for active trader pricing. It doesn’t offer retail discounts, though cash rebates may be available if you qualify as a Professional client. Bottom line: Plus500’s typical spread on EUR/USD (1.5 pips) is close to OANDA’s standard 1.61 pips, while OANDA’s Core pricing can be cheaper if you meet the deposit requirement. Ratings: OANDA 4/5 stars (ranked #30/63); Plus500 4/5 stars (ranked #24/63).
| Feature |
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| 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.
When comparing OANDA vs Plus500 for range of investments, Plus500 lists more total instruments (about 5,500) than OANDA (4,172). That said, OANDA offers slightly more forex pairs (69 vs 65). Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both allow buying real, exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets.
Key differences show up in crypto and social features: OANDA lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as crypto CFDs and supports copy trading, while Plus500 offers crypto only via CFDs and does not offer copy trading. For Range of Investments, Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #17 out of 63 brokers, while OANDA earns 4 stars and ranks #20. Choose Plus500 for the widest overall symbol list, or OANDA if you want more forex pairs, copy trading, or access to real crypto.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
OANDA and Plus500 both provide free demo accounts and their own in-house trading platforms, along with easy-to-use web platforms. A key difference is access: OANDA also offers a Windows desktop app and supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Plus500 does not provide a desktop download or MetaTrader support.
For tools, OANDA lets you place trades directly from charts and supports copy trading; Plus500 does not offer these features. According to ForexBrokers.com, OANDA earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both OANDA and Plus500 offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts to help you track markets on the go. A key difference is watchlist syncing: Plus500 syncs your watchlist between the mobile app and your online account, while OANDA does not.
For charting, Plus500 includes 115 technical studies compared with 30 on OANDA. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but only OANDA auto-saves your drawings. In independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com, OANDA’s mobile app earns 5 stars and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers, while Plus500’s app scores 4.5 stars and ranks 14th.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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 vs Plus500: Both brokers cover the basics for market research with daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming events. The key differences are in extras. OANDA streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters and includes Autochartist for technical ideas, while Plus500 does not. In contrast, Plus500 offers Trading Central tools, which OANDA lacks. Neither broker integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Independent ratings back up these distinctions. OANDA earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Plus500 holds a 4.0-star Research rating and ranks #17. If you want integrated premium news and Autochartist, OANDA is the stronger pick. If Trading Central is your priority, Plus500 edges ahead.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
Comparing OANDA vs Plus500 for beginner education: both brokers deliver a sizable library of forex and CFD learning materials, easily clearing the bar of at least 10 educational pieces. Each runs online client webinars at least once a month and offers plentiful videos for every stage—at least 10 aimed at beginners and at least 10 for more experienced traders. If you’re just getting started, either platform can help you learn the basics and grow your skills with structured, on-demand content and regular live sessions.
Where they differ is in overall quality scores. OANDA earns a 5-star education rating and ranks #18 out of 63 brokers in the Education category at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a 4.0-star rating and ranks #26. For learners who value the strongest educational track, OANDA has a slight edge, though Plus500 still provides a solid, beginner-friendly path to understanding forex and CFDs.
| Feature |
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|---|---|---|
| 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.
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| Trust Score | 93 | 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 | 93 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | OANDA | Plus500 | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
| 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 (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 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. 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 | 93 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | OANDA Review | Plus500 Review |