Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Swissquote, 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.
Plus500 and Swissquote are both highly trusted online brokers by ForexBrokers.com, with each earning a Trust Score of 99 out of 99. Plus500 was founded in 2008, is publicly traded, and is not a bank, while Swissquote was founded earlier, in 1996, is also publicly traded, and operates as a bank. For most traders, that means both firms meet strong standards for oversight and public transparency.
When it comes to regulation, Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while Swissquote holds 5 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Since Tier-1 licenses are viewed as highly trusted and Tier-2 licenses are also considered trusted, both brokers show strong regulatory standing. In simple terms, Plus500 has a slightly larger number of licenses, but Swissquote remains a strong choice too.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
In ForexBrokers.com’s commissions and fees category, Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranked No. 25 out of 36 brokers. Its pricing is a little above the industry average, and it does not offer standard retail discounts. The main exception is a cash rebate program for traders who qualify as Professional clients. On EUR/USD, Plus500’s average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average.
Swissquote is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranked No. 36 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its costs are generally higher than those of the cheapest forex brokers, in part because of the appeal of banking with a Swiss financial group. Pricing varies by entity, with Swissquote’s U.K. accounts usually offering the best value. For example, the U.K. Elite account charges $5 per round-turn trade with lower spreads, while other accounts can start from about 1.3 pips on EUR/USD or higher, depending on the account type and location.
Overall, Plus500 comes out ahead of Swissquote on trading costs, especially for most retail traders who want a simpler fee setup. Swissquote may still appeal to clients who value its banking background and account choices, but its commissions and spreads are usually less competitive than Plus500’s. If low fees are the priority, Plus500 is the stronger pick between the two.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 and Swissquote both give traders access to forex as a CFD or spot contract, plus exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges. Plus500 stands out for the sheer number of markets available, with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while Swissquote offers 472 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs. In plain terms, Plus500 gives you a much wider selection overall, but Swissquote offers a slightly larger forex lineup.
There are also some key differences in extra features. Swissquote supports copy trading and lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while Plus500 does not offer either of those options. Both brokers do offer cryptocurrency CFDs, so you can trade crypto price movements with either platform. Based on ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 for range of investments and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers, while Swissquote scores a perfect 5 out of 5 and ranks #2, making Swissquote the stronger choice overall for investment variety.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 80 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
Plus500 and Swissquote both give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and a web-based platform, so each offers a simple way to practice and trade online. They are also equally rated at 4.5 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, showing that both brokers are strong choices in this area. On ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks #14 out of 36 brokers for trading platforms and tools, while Swissquote comes in slightly higher at #12.
The main differences are in desktop and advanced features. Swissquote offers a Windows desktop platform, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to trade directly from a chart, while Plus500 does not. In short, Plus500 is better suited to traders who want a straightforward web platform, while Swissquote may appeal more to those looking for more platform choice and extra trading tools.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 86 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Swissquote both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with stock and forex price alerts, so either broker gives you a solid way to trade from your phone. Both apps also let you draw trendlines on charts, and each is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, Swissquote places slightly higher at #12, while Plus500 comes in at #14.
The biggest difference is in charting and watchlist tools. Plus500 offers watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the mobile app and online account stay matched, while Swissquote does not. Plus500 also gives mobile users 115 technical studies compared with Swissquote’s 30. On the other hand, Swissquote auto-saves chart drawings in its app, which Plus500 does not. For traders who want more chart tools and synced watchlists, Plus500 has the edge; for those who value auto-saved drawings and a slightly higher ranking, Swissquote stands out.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and Swissquote both do well for market research, and each offers daily market commentary and an economic calendar to help traders track major news events and upcoming data releases. They are also rated equally for research at 4.5 out of 5 stars, showing that both platforms give users useful tools for staying informed. In ForexBrokers.com’s research rankings, Swissquote edges ahead slightly at #15 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 is close behind at #16.
The main differences come from the extra research tools each broker includes. Swissquote stands out for offering forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist for chart-based analysis and trading ideas. Plus500, on the other hand, does not provide top-tier forex news or Autochartist, but it does include Trading Central tools and a sentiment indicator that shows the balance of long and short positions across markets. In short, Swissquote is better for news-driven research, while Plus500 is stronger for trader sentiment and Trading Central insights.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to education for beginners, both Plus500 and Swissquote offer a solid mix of learning tools. Each broker provides forex and CFDs education with at least 10 educational pieces, plus monthly client webinars and at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos. Both are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education, so new traders can expect a well-rounded set of materials from either platform.
The main difference is in third-party ranking: Swissquote places higher for Education, coming in at #19 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #27 out of 36. For beginners who want more support and a slightly stronger educational standing, Swissquote has the edge, though Plus500 still offers plenty of helpful content for learning the basics and building trading knowledge over time.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500 is better than Swissquote. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #12.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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When comparing Plus500 vs Swissquote for cryptocurrency trading, Swissquote stands out by offering actual delivered crypto purchases, while both online brokers let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than the underlying asset.
When comparing Plus500 vs Swissquote for deposit and withdrawal options, Swissquote supports ACH and SEPA transfers while Plus500 does not, but both online brokers offer PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers.
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 | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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). |
| Cost | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 86 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Swissquote | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Swissquote Review |
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