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 | 1 |
When comparing Swissquote and Plus500 in terms of commissions and fees, it's clear that each broker has its own strengths and weaknesses. Swissquote, a renowned Swiss banking conglomerate, appeals to those who value the prestige of a Swiss account and are willing to accept higher trading costs as a result. With a star rating of 3.5 out of five, Swissquote ranks #52 out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. Its U.K. accounts offer the most competitive fees, featuring a commission-based Elite account with low spreads and a $5 charge per round-turn trade, while the Prime and Standard accounts come with higher spreads. The Luxembourg and Swiss entities have different account structures, each with varying minimums and spread requirements.
Conversely, Plus500 provides a more straightforward pricing structure but still falls slightly above the industry average in terms of fees. With a star rating of 4.0 and a rank of #25 out of 62 brokers, it edges out Swissquote in terms of cost-effectiveness, particularly for those who are classified as Professional clients who can qualify for cash rebates. For the EUR/USD currency pair, Plus500 offered average spreads of 1.5 pips in April 2024, indicating a higher cost margin when compared to other leading forex brokers like IG or Saxo.
In summary, Swissquote offers a distinctive banking allure at a premium, best suited for those who appreciate the Swiss banking heritage with diverse account options across its U.K., Luxembourg, and Swiss branches. Plus500, while slightly costlier than industry leaders for active traders, still provides a competitive edge with straightforward fees and added incentives for Professional clients. Whether you prioritize the prestige of banking with Swissquote or the competitive fee structure of Plus500, your choice will depend largely on your trading needs and expectations.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | €100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.5 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.5 |
| 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.
When comparing Swissquote and Plus500, both offer forex trading as CFDs with a slight edge going to Swissquote due to its 80 tradeable currency pairs compared to Plus500's 65. However, Plus500 stands out with a broader range of tradeable symbols, boasting an impressive total of 5,500 in contrast to Swissquote's 472. Both platforms provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients the opportunity to invest in well-known companies like Apple and Vodafone. However, Swissquote further distinguishes itself by offering copy trading, a feature not available with Plus500.
In terms of cryptocurrency offerings, Swissquote provides the ability to purchase both actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, whereas Plus500 is limited to derivatives. This broader offering contributes to Swissquote's 5-star rating for their range of investments, ranking it second out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Plus500 holds a high but slightly lower 4.5-star rating and ranks 24th in the same category. Overall, both platforms offer rich investment options, but Swissquote offers a bit more diversity, especially in forex pairs and cryptocurrency investments.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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.
When comparing Swissquote to Plus500 for trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide the essential feature of a simulated trading environment through free virtual demo accounts. Each also offers a proprietary trading platform developed in-house. Swissquote stands out by providing a Windows-based desktop download, while Plus500 relies solely on a web-based platform. Both brokers facilitate trading through internet browsers, but when it comes to copy trading, Swissquote has the edge as Plus500 does not support this feature. For users fond of MetaTrader, Swissquote offers both MT4 and MT5 platforms, unlike Plus500, which does not provide these options.
In terms of charting capabilities, Swissquote supplies 75 drawing tools, significantly more than the 22 offered by Plus500. Furthermore, you can trade directly from a stock chart with Swissquote, a feature not available with Plus500. Swissquote allows for the customization of watch lists with up to 11 fields, slightly edging out Plus500's provision of 10. Despite these differences, both services are rated 4.5 stars for trading platforms and tools. However, Swissquote ranks 12th out of 62 brokers in this category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 follows closely at 14th.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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) | 86 | 114 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 22 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and Plus500 have made mobile trading accessible with their offerings on iPhone and Android devices. Each app provides essential stock or forex price alerts, crucial for traders keeping a keen eye on market movements. Notably, Plus500 supports a feature whereby watchlists are synchronized across the mobile app and the online account, giving it an edge over Swissquote in terms of seamless user experience. Swissquote users might feel the lack of this feature a bit, especially when switching between platforms.
For those interested in technical analysis, Plus500 stands out by offering 110 technical studies compared to Swissquote's 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and explore multiple time frames on charts, enhancing the analytical depth available to traders. Swissquote's app does auto-save drawings, a convenience not available with Plus500. Both platforms allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, catering to active investors. In terms of ratings, both apps score an impressive 4.5 stars. However, Swissquote holds a slightly higher position, ranked 11th compared to Plus500's 14th place among ForexBrokers.com's 62 evaluated brokers.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | 110 |
| 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.
When comparing the research offerings of Swissquote and Plus500, both platforms provide daily market commentary and access to economic calendars that highlight current and upcoming global events, beneficial for tracking international markets. However, Swissquote stands out by offering forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which Plus500 does not. Furthermore, Swissquote provides access to Autochartist tools for technical analysis, an advantage for traders seeking in-depth market insights. In contrast, Plus500 includes tools from Trading Central and a sentiment-based trading feature that displays the ratio of long and short positions in various currency pairs, features that Swissquote does not have.
Despite these differences, both brokers score similarly in research ratings, with Swissquote and Plus500 each receiving 4 stars. When considering their standing among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote holds a higher position, ranked at number 16, while Plus500 follows at number 19. This disparity might reflect the varying tools and news content each broker provides, catering to different preferences for market analysis and decision making.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and Plus500 both supply beginner traders with a comprehensive array of educational materials, making it easier for newcomers to navigate the forex and CFD markets. Each platform offers over 10 educational resources such as articles, videos, and webinars that focus on these subjects, ensuring beginning traders have plenty of guidance. Both brokers conduct monthly webinars to keep clients informed and provide access to a searchable archive of previous sessions for ongoing learning. Additionally, Swissquote and Plus500 present at least 10 educational videos concentrating on entry-level trading topics, helping novices develop their skills.
While both Swissquote and Plus500 cater to traders with their advanced educational videos, Swissquote takes a slight edge with its investor dictionary comprising over 50 investing terms, a feature absent in Plus500's offerings. Despite both platforms receiving a solid education rating of 4 out of 5 stars, Swissquote is ranked higher at #21 compared to Plus500's #31 in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com. For those prioritizing a well-rounded educational experience, Swissquote might appeal a bit more to beginner investors seeking additional educational terms and definitions, while Plus500 maintains a competitive stance with its diverse learning resources.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
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 62 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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Swissquote provides the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, while Plus500 only offers cryptocurrency derivatives, lacking the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing online brokers Swissquote and Plus500 for funding flexibility, Swissquote supports a wider range of deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH and SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard, making it more versatile than Plus500, which also accepts PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH and SEPA transfer options.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 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 | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.5 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 1.5 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | €100 | |
| 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 114 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 22 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 110 | |
| 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 | Swissquote | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote | 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 | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill