Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Trading 212, 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 Plus500 and Trading 212, both online brokers offer unique features that cater to different types of investors. Founded in 2008, Plus500 is a publicly traded company, whereas Trading 212, established in 2004, remains privately held. Neither broker operates as a bank. In terms of regulatory oversight, Plus500 boasts 6 top-tier licenses, which are highly trusted, and 3 second-tier licenses. Trading 212 holds 3 top-tier licenses with no second-tier licenses.
The trust factor is essential when choosing an online broker, and here Plus500 takes a leading position with a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99, making it a highly trusted choice according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Trading 212 holds a Trust Score of 80, indicating a trusted status but with room for improvement. This comparison highlights Plus500's strong regulatory backing and investor confidence, while Trading 212 offers a solid, albeit less comprehensive, level of trust and regulation.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
If you’re comparing Plus500 vs Trading 212 on commissions and fees, both brokers mainly charge via the spread rather than a separate commission for CFD and forex trades. Plus500 earns a 4.0-star rating and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds 4 stars and ranks #50 out of 63. Overall, Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average but is generally sharper than Trading 212’s CFD pricing.
Plus500: In April 2024, the average EUR/USD spread was 1.5 pips—above the industry average and behind the best active-trader pricing from leaders like IG or Saxo. Retail clients don’t receive discounts, but qualified Professional clients can get cash rebates that mimic an active-trader program. There’s no extra commission on CFD forex trades; your primary cost is the spread.
Trading 212: The broker advertises zero-commission trading, but you still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. Trading 212 now publishes average spreads; in April 2025, the EUR/USD averaged 2.7 pips, which is much higher than the industry average and less competitive than top CFD and forex brokers. Trading 212 offers two accounts (Invest for shares with a 1-euro minimum, and CFD with a 10-euro minimum); this comparison focuses on the CFD account, where spreads drive most costs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 offers a wider range of investments than Plus500, with 7,868 tradeable symbols versus 5,500, and 146 forex pairs versus 65. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both let you buy exchange-traded shares (not CFDs) on U.S. markets like NASDAQ and on international exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange. You can get crypto exposure via derivatives on either platform, but neither sells actual coins, and neither offers copy trading. For Range of Investments, ForexBrokers.com rates Trading 212 at 5 stars (ranked 16 of 63) and Plus500 at 4.5 stars (ranked 22 of 63).
If your priority is the largest selection—especially in currency pairs—Trading 212 has the edge. If you mainly want share dealing across U.S. and global markets alongside CFD/spot forex and crypto derivatives, both cover the essentials, including the ability to buy stocks like Apple (AAPL) or Vodafone (VOD-GB) directly on their exchanges.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
Plus500 and Trading 212 are both popular choices for traders seeking comprehensive online trading platforms. Each broker offers a proprietary platform accessible via web browsers, making it easy for users to trade without needing a desktop download. Both platforms include a virtual demo account, allowing new users to practice trading strategies without financial risk. Plus500 has an edge when it comes to technical capabilities, providing more drawing tools for chart analysis with a total of 36, compared to 20 offered by Trading 212. However, Trading 212 allows users to trade directly from stock charts—a feature not available on Plus500. In terms of watch list customization, Plus500 provides more options with 10 columns (fields) compared to Trading 212's 5.
Neither Plus500 nor Trading 212 supports popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, nor do they offer services like copy trading or third-party tools such as DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. When comparing their overall ratings, Plus500 ranks slightly higher with 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, placing it 14th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 has a 4-star rating, positioned at 20th. This comparison highlights the subtle differences between the two brokers, offering a clear picture of their respective strengths and added features that might appeal to different types of traders.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and Trading 212 offer impressive mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Users can enjoy essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes on both platforms. In terms of technical charting capabilities, Plus500 offers an impressive 115 technical studies compared to Trading 212's 104. Both apps allow for drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, but a notable distinction is that Trading 212's app automatically saves chart drawings, while Plus500's does not.
In terms of user ratings, Plus500 shines with a 4.5-star rating, slightly higher than Trading 212's 4-star rating for mobile trading apps. Plus500 ranks 14th out of 63 brokers as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while Trading 212 ranks 17th. Overall, both apps provide a comprehensive trading experience, but Plus500's higher user rating and broader range of technical studies may appeal to traders interested in more in-depth chart analysis.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 104 |
| 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.
Comparing market research at Plus500 vs Trading 212, Plus500 comes out ahead with a 4.0-star research rating (ranked 19th out of 63 by ForexBrokers.com) versus Trading 212’s 3.5 stars (45th out of 63). Plus500 provides daily market commentary and integrates Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights, while Trading 212 does not offer daily commentary and lacks Trading Central. Trading 212, however, delivers forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which Plus500 does not. Both brokers offer an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. Neither broker includes tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
In short, Plus500 is better for traders who want daily in-house analysis and Trading Central research built into the platform, while Trading 212 suits those who prioritize headline-driven forex news from major outlets. With similar core tools like sentiment data and an economic calendar, the choice comes down to whether you value daily commentary and Trading Central (Plus500) or premium news coverage (Trading 212).
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| 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 | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing Plus500 and Trading 212, both brokers offer plenty of forex and CFD education, including at least 10 learning pieces and 10+ video lessons for both beginners and advanced topics. Each also provides a searchable archive of recorded webinars. The key difference is live events: Plus500 runs educational client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not schedule monthly live sessions. On scores, Plus500 holds a 4.0-star education rating versus Trading 212’s 3.5 stars.
If you like quick definitions while you learn, Trading 212 includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, which Plus500 lacks. In ForexBrokers.com’s Education rankings, Trading 212 places higher (#21 of 63) than Plus500 (#31 of 63). In short, beginners who want regular live webinars may prefer Plus500, while learners who value an on-demand library with a built-in glossary might lean toward Trading 212—either way, both platforms deliver ample beginner-friendly videos to get started.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Trading 212. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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Both Plus500 and Trading 212 do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Plus500 and Trading 212, Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for transactions but lacks ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas Trading 212 offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support Skrill.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 115 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trading 212 Review |
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