Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Trade Nation, 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 brokers Plus500 and Trade Nation, it's clear that Plus500 is the more established of the two, having been founded in 2008, six years before Trade Nation in 2014. Plus500 stands out as a publicly traded company, while Trade Nation is not listed on a stock exchange. Both brokers operate without banking services, maintaining their focus on financial trading. In terms of trust and security, Plus500 shines with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, while Trade Nation holds a respectable but lower score of 85.
Plus500 offers impressive regulatory oversight with six Tier-1 licenses, deemed highly trusted, and three Tier-2 licenses, which are considered trusted. On the other hand, Trade Nation holds two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and one trusted Tier-2 license. These licenses reflect each broker's commitment to providing secure trading environments, but Plus500 demonstrates a higher degree of regulatory assurance, aligning with its superior Trust Score.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Plus500 and Trade Nation, several key differences emerge. Plus500's pricing structure is slightly above the industry average, particularly for active trader pricing. While the broker does not offer discounts to retail clients, it does provide cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. During April 2024, spreads for the EUR/USD averaged 1.5 pips at Plus500. In terms of ratings, Plus500 scores 4.0 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees and ranks 25th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Trade Nation, on the other hand, is noted for its competitive fixed-spread pricing strategy across all tradeable symbols on its unique platform, as well as variable-spread pricing on its MetaTrader platform. The fixed spread for the EUR/USD pair is listed at 0.6 pips, though it briefly widens to as much as 1.4 pips during a daily rollover period, resulting in a true average spread closer to 1 pip. Trade Nation's impressive approach to pricing earns it a full 5-star rating for commissions and fees, placing it 7th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In terms of account offerings, Trade Nation provides three types primarily on its MetaTrader platform, including a commission-based Raw Spread account and a commission-free account, alongside its proprietary TN Trader account. Notably, the TN Trader account typically offers the most favorable spreads when considering all-in costs. While Plus500 maintains an above-average pricing structure, Trade Nation's consistent and competitive spread offerings make it a strong contender in the realm of online trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 shines in the investment offerings by providing a wide array of 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs available through CFD contracts. This extensive selection is complemented by access to both US and international exchange-traded securities, allowing clients the opportunity to directly invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone. On the cryptocurrency front, Plus500 offers a selection of cryptocurrency derivatives, although it doesn't facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. This robust combination of offerings has earned Plus500 a high rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments and ranks it 24th out of 62 brokers in this category.
Trade Nation caters to investors with a library of 1,000 tradeable symbols, featuring 46 forex pairs accessible via CFD contracts. While it doesn't offer direct access to exchange-traded securities on US or international exchanges, Trade Nation does support copy trading, enabling users to mimic the portfolios of successful traders. Like Plus500, Trade Nation provides the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but not physical cryptocurrencies. This varied yet somewhat limited range of options sees Trade Nation rated at 3.5 stars for its range of investments and placed at 38th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Plus500 and Trade Nation, both brokers offer some advantages tailored to different trading needs. Plus500 and Trade Nation provide free virtual demo accounts, making it easy for new and seasoned traders alike to practice their strategies risk-free. Each has its own in-house developed platform, offering unique features. Trade Nation offers a Windows-based desktop download option alongside its web-based platform, while Plus500 focuses solely on a web-based interface. Plus500's platform is noted for its user-friendliness, offering 22 drawing tools for charting, while Trade Nation, with 39 drawing tools, appeals to traders who might need more extensive technical analysis tools. However, Plus500 does shine with higher ratings, earning 4.5 stars for its trading platforms against Trade Nation's 4 stars. This reflects in its higher ranking of 14th compared to 44th for Trade Nation out of 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
For those interested in features like copy trading and platform integration, Trade Nation stands out by offering copy trading and MetaTrader 4, although neither broker supports advanced third-party platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. While Plus500 does not provide copy trading options, its straightforward design and efficient platform execution have awarded it a competitive edge. Trade Nation's flexibility and options, such as more watch list columns (14 compared to Plus500's 10), can cater to traders who prefer in-depth market monitoring. However, neither broker permits trading directly from stock charts, possibly leaving hands-on traders seeking this feature wanting more. Overall, Plus500 tends to cater to those valuing a streamlined experience and higher service recognition, and Trade Nation offers variety for traders who require a more conventional desktop setup and copying options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 14 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and Trade Nation, both platforms offer similar features, making them strong contenders for traders on the go. Both apps are available for iPhone and Android devices, providing users with the ability to receive stock and forex price alerts and sync watchlist symbols across devices. Users can enjoy the flexibility of viewing different time frames, from daily to intraday, and drawing trendlines on charts. However, only Trade Nation’s app automatically saves drawings on charts, which might be a deciding factor for traders who frequently use technical analysis.
For those looking at technical studies, Plus500 offers a slight edge with 110 studies compared to Trade Nation's 99. Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, ensuring traders stay updated no matter where they are. In terms of user ratings, Plus500 scores higher with a 4.5-star rating, compared to Trade Nation's 4 stars. Moreover, Plus500 is ranked 14th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for its mobile trading app, while Trade Nation stands at 45th. This suggests that while both apps offer solid functionality, Plus500 slightly outperforms Trade Nation in terms of features and user experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 99 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Plus500 and Trade Nation offer valuable resources to traders seeking to stay informed, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Plus500 provides daily market commentary and features an economic calendar to help users track global events. It also supports traders with sentiment-based tools that display the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Additionally, Plus500 incorporates Trading Central's Technical Analytics, enhancing its market research offerings. However, it does not include forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, and it lacks tools from companies like Autochartist and Acuity Trading.
Trade Nation also offers daily market commentary and focuses on delivering comprehensive forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. While it does not employ Trading Central's analytics, it compensates with research tools from Acuity Trading, like Signal Centre. However, unlike Plus500, Trade Nation does not offer an economic calendar. With a research rating of 4.0 stars, Plus500 ranks #19 among 62 brokers in this category, while Trade Nation, with a 3.5-star rating, stands at #42 according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Plus500 and Trade Nation both offer a solid foundation with a variety of materials focused on forex and CFDs. Both platforms provide at least ten educational pieces, including articles and videos, that are ideal for getting new traders started. Plus500 stands out by offering online webinars for clients every month, along with a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions. This can be particularly beneficial for those who enjoy learning through interactive and visual methods. Trade Nation, on the other hand, does not offer webinars but does provide extensive written resources, including an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, which is a helpful tool for understanding key concepts.
For visual learners, both Plus500 and Trade Nation provide a substantial collection of videos for beginners as well as advanced topics, which can be a valuable resource for traders looking to deepen their understanding. Plus500 is rated with 4.0 stars for its educational offerings, slightly higher than Trade Nation's 3.5-star rating. In the broader landscape of 62 brokers, Plus500 ranks #31 in the Education category as per ForexBrokers.com, placing it well ahead of Trade Nation's position at #41. Therefore, for beginners seeking a more interactive and varied educational experience, Plus500 might be the more attractive option, whereas Trade Nation could appeal to those who prefer structured, text-based learning aids.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Trade Nation. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Trade Nation finished with an overall rank of #34.
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
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Trade Nation
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Both Plus500 and Trade Nation do not allow users to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Plus500 and Trade Nation both support Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, while neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers; however, Plus500 uniquely supports PayPal, distinguishing it from Trade Nation, which does not offer this option.
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 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2014 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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). 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 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 0.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 14 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 99 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review | Trade Nation Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Trade Nation | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trade Nation Review |
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