Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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.
Swissquote and Plus500 are both highly regarded online brokers, each boasting a top-tier Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, indicating they are considered highly trusted options. Founded in 1996, Swissquote operates as a bank and is publicly traded, providing a solid foundation of stability and financial security. It holds five Tier-1 licenses, which are seen as highly trusted, and two Tier-2 licenses, recognized as trusted, which further reinforces its reputable regulatory standing.
On the other hand, Plus500, established in 2008, also garners a high level of trust. Plus500 is similarly publicly traded and holds six Tier-1 licenses, along with three Tier-2 licenses, showcasing its strong regulatory compliance though it is not classified as a bank. Both Swissquote and Plus500, with their excellent regulatory credentials, offer secure investment environments but differ in their institutional frameworks and years of experience in the industry.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
If costs are your priority, Plus500 edges out Swissquote in our commissions and fees comparison. Plus500 earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks #24 of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while Swissquote scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks #35 of 63. Both are a touch pricier than the very cheapest forex brokers, but Plus500 generally comes in ahead on typical pricing.
Swissquote’s fees vary by entity and account. U.K.-based accounts usually have lower costs and lighter minimums, though with a narrower product lineup. In the U.K., active traders who deposit at least $10,000 can use the Elite account with a $5 round-turn commission and lower spreads; the Professional account is similar. The Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, and the Prime account lists a 0.6-pip minimum (note: minimum, not average). In Luxembourg, the Standard ($1,000 min) can reach 1.5-pip minimums, the Premium is $5,000, and the Prime ($50,000) lists 0.8-pip minimums—broadly similar to the U.K. In Switzerland, the Standard ($1,000) starts at 1.7 pips, Premium ($10,000) at 1.4 pips, and Prime ($50,000) from 1.1 pips; high-volume traders can negotiate custom pricing.
Plus500’s spreads averaged 1.5 pips on EUR/USD in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. There are no retail discounts, but Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. In practice, Plus500’s typical spread can be comparable to many non-Elite Swissquote accounts; however, Swissquote U.K.’s Elite plan can deliver lower effective costs if you trade actively and meet the $10,000 deposit. For most everyday traders comparing commissions and fees alone, Plus500 holds the advantage.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 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.
Swissquote vs Plus500: both support forex trading and cover key markets, but their ranges differ. Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols, far more than Swissquote’s 472. If currencies are your focus, Swissquote offers 80 forex pairs versus 65 at Plus500. Both brokers also let you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can own real shares like Apple or Vodafone.
Feature-wise, Swissquote includes copy trading, while Plus500 does not. For crypto, Swissquote lets you buy actual coins as well as trade crypto CFDs; Plus500 offers crypto CFDs only. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #17.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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.
Swissquote vs Plus500: both brokers offer a free demo account and their own proprietary platforms, along with convenient web-based trading. Swissquote also provides a downloadable Windows desktop platform, while Plus500 is web-only. According to ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4.5 stars for trading platforms and tools; among 63 brokers reviewed, Swissquote ranks #12 and Plus500 ranks #14.
For platform features, Swissquote pulls ahead with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) support, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer MT4/MT5, copy trading, or trading from charts. If you want a wider toolkit and desktop flexibility, Swissquote is the stronger pick. If you prefer a simple, browser-based setup, Plus500 can be a straightforward choice.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote and Plus500 both deliver iPhone and Android mobile trading apps that cover the essentials: price alerts, trendline drawing, and clean, on-the-go access to markets. Each app earns a 4.5/5 rating for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2024 rankings out of 63 brokers, Swissquote sits at #12 while Plus500 is close behind at #14, making both solid picks for traders who value mobile performance.
For charting, Plus500 offers more technical studies (115) than Swissquote (30), which may appeal to indicator-heavy traders. Swissquote counters with auto-saving for chart drawings, while Plus500 does not auto-save. Watchlists are another key difference: Plus500 syncs watchlist symbols between the app and your online account, whereas Swissquote does not. In short, choose Swissquote if saved chart work matters most, or Plus500 if you want deeper indicator choices and synced watchlists.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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.
Comparing Swissquote and Plus500 for market research, both brokers deliver daily market commentary and an economic calendar to track key events. Swissquote adds premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and includes Autochartist for pattern scanning and trade ideas. Plus500, by contrast, does not stream those newsroom feeds, but it does provide Trading Central tools and a handy sentiment gauge that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Neither broker integrates TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both earn 4.0 stars for research. Swissquote ranks #15 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #17. In short: choose Swissquote if you want built-in premium news and Autochartist; choose Plus500 if Trading Central and trader sentiment are higher on your wish list.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and Plus500 both deliver beginner-friendly education for forex and CFD trading. Each broker provides at least 10 educational pieces focused on forex/CFDs, and both run ongoing client webinars (at least monthly). New traders will find plenty of starter content thanks to 10+ beginner videos at each broker, while those ready to go deeper can explore 10+ advanced videos as well. This mix of videos and webinars helps beginners build confidence and progress at a steady pace.
In independent evaluations, both brokers earn strong marks for education: Swissquote is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. If education is a key factor for you, both are solid picks, with Swissquote holding a slight edge in overall ranking.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 Swissquote is better than Plus500. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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In the Swissquote vs Plus500 comparison, Swissquote lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 offers only cryptocurrency CFDs (not the actual coins).
In the Swissquote vs Plus500 comparison for deposits and withdrawals, Swissquote supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA.
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 | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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 | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | N/A | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | €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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
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