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 vs Plus500: both are publicly traded online brokers with top trust ratings. Per ForexBrokers.com, 90–99 is considered “highly trusted”—and both Swissquote and Plus500 earn 99/99. Swissquote, founded in 1996, is also a bank; Plus500, founded in 2008, is not.
On regulation, Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 and 4 Tier-2 licenses, while Swissquote holds 5 Tier-1 and 2 Tier-2 licenses—tiers ForexBrokers.com views as highly trusted and trusted, respectively. Both operate under multiple leading regulators, so choosing between them may come down to platform features, markets, and fees rather than trust.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| 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.
Comparing range of investments, Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable instruments versus 472 at Swissquote, so market coverage is much broader with Plus500. Forex fans may prefer Swissquote, which offers 80 currency pairs compared with 65 at Plus500. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot and give access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international markets (not just CFDs), so you can buy companies like Apple and Vodafone where available.
Crypto and social features set them apart. Swissquote lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as crypto CFDs, and it supports copy trading. Plus500 offers crypto only via CFDs and does not have copy trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote is rated 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 for Range of Investments, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #16. Choose Plus500 if you want the biggest list of CFD markets; pick Swissquote if you want more forex pairs, real crypto, and copy trading.
| 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.
Swissquote vs Plus500 for market research: both brokers publish daily market commentary and provide an economic calendar. Swissquote adds premium forex news from top-tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones) and offers Autochartist tools for pattern and signal ideas. Plus500 does not include those news feeds or Autochartist, but it does provide Trading Central analysis and a sentiment tool that shows the share of long vs. short positions. Neither broker features TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Both earn 4.5 stars for research on ForexBrokers.com, with Swissquote ranked #15 of 63 brokers and Plus500 close behind at #16. Pick Swissquote if you want integrated premium news and Autochartist scanning; choose Plus500 if Trading Central insights and a built-in sentiment gauge fit your style, alongside daily commentary and a clear calendar of upcoming events.
| 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.
Choosing a broker for learning? Both Swissquote and Plus500 make it easy for beginners to get started. Each runs client webinars at least once a month and offers big video libraries with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so you can build skills step by step. Their materials cover key trading topics, including forex and CFDs, through videos and live sessions that help you learn at your own pace.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education. Swissquote ranks #19 out of 63 brokers for Education, while Plus500 ranks #26. That slight edge may make Swissquote the better pick if you want a more comprehensive learning path, though Plus500 remains a strong choice for straightforward video lessons and frequent webinars.
| 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 | 4 | |
| 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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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