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.
Plus500 (founded 2008) and Trading 212 (founded 2004) are well-known online brokers, but their trust ratings differ. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (90–99 = highly trusted), while Trading 212 scores 82/99 (80–89 = trusted). Plus500 is publicly traded, adding transparency, whereas Trading 212 is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
Regulation also sets them apart. Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 4 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. Both are regulated and trusted, but Plus500 carries more Tier-1 approvals and the highest possible Trust Score.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
Comparing commissions and fees, both Plus500 and Trading 212 make most of their money from the spread rather than charging a direct commission on CFD and forex trades. Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average overall, while Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading but typically has wider spreads. In recent data for the popular EUR/USD pair, Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips (April 2024), versus 2.7 pips at Trading 212 (April 2025), which is notably higher than the industry average. For the Commissions and Fees category, Plus500 is rated 4.0/5 stars and ranked 24th out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 is rated 4/5 stars and ranked 27th out of 63.
Plus500: Pricing runs a bit higher than the industry average and trails the best brokers for active traders. There are no discounts for retail clients, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates similar to an active trader program. EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. Rating: 4.0/5 stars; Ranking: 24/63 for Commissions and Fees.
Trading 212 (CFD account): While promoted as zero-commission, you’ll pay the spread on CFD and forex trades. The broker has started publishing average spread data; for 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. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: 27/63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Plus500 vs Trading 212: Both platforms support forex trading (CFDs or spot), offer access to U.S. and international exchange‑traded shares (so you can buy companies like Apple and Vodafone outright), and provide cryptocurrency CFDs. The big difference is market breadth. Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols with 65 forex pairs, while Trading 212 offers roughly 13,000 symbols and 180 forex pairs, giving active traders a wider selection.
For crypto ownership, Trading 212 also lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies, whereas Plus500 does not. Neither platform offers copy trading. On range alone, Trading 212 earns 5 stars and ranks 15th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks 16th. If sheer choice is your priority, Trading 212 edges ahead, while Plus500 still delivers a broad lineup with extensive CFD coverage.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 vs Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer a free demo account for paper trading, making it easy to practice before risking real money. Plus500 runs on an in-house proprietary platform, while Trading 212 does not. Each broker focuses on a web-based browser platform and does not provide a downloadable Windows desktop app. Neither supports copy trading, and neither integrates with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
For charting and order entry, Trading 212 lets you place trades directly from a chart, whereas Plus500 does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s platform-and-tools ratings, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 19th. If you want an in-house platform and a higher tools rating, Plus500 stands out; if chart-based order placement in the browser matters more, Trading 212 may appeal.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 102 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts and lets you sync watchlists across mobile and the web, so changes carry over. You can also draw trendlines on charts in both apps.
For charting tools, Plus500 includes 115 technical studies, while Trading 212 offers 104. Trading 212 auto-saves your chart drawings; Plus500 does not. In our ratings, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 4 stars and ranks 17th. Choose Plus500 if you want more built-in studies, or Trading 212 if auto-saving drawings matters more to you.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 vs Trading 212 for market research: Plus500 delivers daily market commentary and includes Trading Central analysis tools, while Trading 212 skips daily commentary and does not offer Trading Central. Trading 212 stands out for forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones; Plus500 does not include those feeds. Both brokers provide an economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, and neither offers tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Overall, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars for Research and ranks 16th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, ahead of Trading 212’s 3.5-star score and 32nd-place ranking. Choose Plus500 if you want daily insights and Trading Central signals; pick Trading 212 if premium news coverage is your priority, while both platforms cover the basics with calendars and crowd sentiment.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Plus500 vs Trading 212 for beginner education, both brokers deliver at least 10 beginner trading videos and also offer 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. A key difference is live learning: Plus500 runs monthly educational webinars, while Trading 212 does not. If you prefer real-time sessions and the chance to learn step by step, Plus500 has the edge. If you mainly watch on-demand videos, both cover the basics and beyond. For forex and CFD education specifically, each platform offers sizable video content, but only Plus500 adds ongoing live webinars.
Independent ratings paint a mixed picture. Plus500’s education earns 4.5 out of 5 stars, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5. Yet ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 higher overall for Education (#20 of 63) compared with Plus500 (#26 of 63). Bottom line: choose Plus500 if live webinars and a higher star rating matter most; consider Trading 212 if a higher category ranking is your priority.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 Trading 212. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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In the Plus500 vs Trading 212 comparison for cryptocurrency, Trading 212 lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 does not support buying delivered crypto and only offers cryptocurrency CFDs.
In the Plus500 vs Trading 212 comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA while Plus500 does not; Plus500 supports PayPal and Skrill while Trading 212 does not; both brokers support bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | 82 | |
| 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 | 82 | |
| 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 | 4 | 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 (FSA 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 CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 102 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trading 212 Review |
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