Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs VT Markets, 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.
Established in 2008, Plus500 is a well-known online broker that holds a stellar Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. Unlike a bank, Plus500 stands out with its presence on a stock exchange and boasts an impressive six Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses, underscoring its strong regulatory standing. These licenses reflect its high level of trustworthiness and commitment to security, offering clients reassurance when choosing to invest through their platform.
In contrast, VT Markets, founded in 2016, is not publicly traded and operates with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 70, indicating an average risk. VT Markets is not a bank and holds one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, highlighting a moderate level of regulatory oversight compared to Plus500. This comparative regulatory information is crucial for investors when deciding between the two brokers, as it directly impacts the perceived security and trust associated with each platform.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Plus500 and VT Markets, there are notable differences. Plus500's pricing structure tends to be slightly above the industry average, especially for traders seeking competitive rates. For the EUR/USD currency pair, Plus500's spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is considered higher than the norm. While there are no discounts for retail clients, qualifying as a Professional client might earn you cash rebates. This strategy positions Plus500 at 4.0 stars for commissions and fees, ranking it 25th out of 62 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com.
VT Markets offers a flexible approach with its Raw ECN and Standard STP account options. The Standard STP account operates with a commission-free model but imposes higher spreads compared to the Raw ECN account. For EUR/USD, VT Markets' Standard STP typically averages spreads of 1.2 pips, versus an effective spread of 0.83 pips for the Raw ECN account. This means VT Markets provides competitive pricing, especially with its Raw ECN account, which aligns well with industry standards. Consequently, VT Markets scores 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, positioning it at the 20th rank among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.8 |
| 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.
When it comes to the variety of available investments, Plus500 stands out with an impressive offering. Boasting 5,500 tradable symbols, this platform provides ample opportunities for investors. It supports forex trading as CFDs with 65 currency pairs, and uniquely offers access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing users to buy popular stocks like Apple and Vodafone. On the downside, Plus500 doesn't support copy trading or the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though it does facilitate trading in cryptocurrency derivatives. These factors contribute to its high rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments, placing it 24th out of 62 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's rankings.
VT Markets, while also offering forex trading as CFDs, provides a more limited selection. With 1,000 tradable symbols and 39 forex pairs, its range is narrower compared to Plus500. Although VT Markets allows investment in international exchange-traded securities like Vodafone, it does not extend this to U.S. exchanges, which might limit options for those looking to buy stocks such as Apple. On a positive note, VT Markets includes the option for copy trading, a feature absent in Plus500. Similar to Plus500, it offers cryptocurrency derivatives but not actual cryptocurrencies. These offerings earn VT Markets a 3.5-star rating for investment diversity, ranking 39th among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 39 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 of Plus500 and VT Markets, both brokers provide the option of simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, which is excellent for practice without financial risk. Plus500 shines with its proprietary web-based trading platform, offering a user-friendly interface, although it lacks support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as features such as copy trading. VT Markets, on the other hand, does not have a proprietary platform but supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing Windows-based desktop download options and copy trading, making it appealing to those who prefer these well-known trading environments.
In terms of charting capabilities, VT Markets surpasses Plus500 by offering 30 drawing tools compared to Plus500’s 22, and the advantage of trading directly from stock charts. However, Plus500 offers a more extensive watch list feature with 10 columns available, compared to VT Markets' seven. Despite some differences, Plus500 is rated slightly higher at 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, while VT Markets enjoys a solid 4-star rating. Plus500 holds a respectable 14th rank in this category according to ForexBrokers.com, while VT Markets is ranked 47th, reflecting the strengths and preferences in their trading solutions.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 15 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Plus500 and VT Markets provide strong options for traders using iPhones or Androids. You can receive stock and forex price alerts from either app, ensuring you stay up-to-date with market movements. Additionally, both offer real-time watchlists. However, Plus500 stands out because it syncs your watchlist symbols between its app and your online account, whereas VT Markets doesn’t support this feature. Plus500 also excels with a wider range of 110 technical studies available for chart analysis, compared to VT Markets offering only 30 technical studies, enhancing the trading experience for those who rely on in-depth technical analysis.
For users interested in charting features, both apps allow you to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames like daily, weekly, or intraday. However, neither app autosaves your chart drawings. User ratings reflect a preference for Plus500, which is rated at 4.5 stars, slightly above VT Markets' 4 stars. Rankings from ForexBrokers.com place Plus500 at a commendable 14th out of 62 brokers for mobile trading apps, significantly higher than VT Markets, which ranks at 44th. This suggests that Plus500 offers a more comprehensive and user-friendly mobile trading experience overall.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, both Plus500 and VT Markets provide daily market commentary, ensuring traders are kept informed with regular updates. However, VT Markets edges ahead with access to forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature absent in Plus500. Both brokers incorporate Trading Central tools, providing technical analysis resources, and offer sentiment-based trading tools showing the trader's position ratios. For traders who prioritize an economic calendar for tracking global news events, both platforms deliver this essential tool.
Despite their strengths, neither Plus500 nor VT Markets include market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading’s research tools. In terms of research capabilities, Plus500 is slightly more highly rated, receiving 4.0 stars and ranking 19th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. VT Markets follows with a rating of 3.5 stars and is positioned 36th in the same category. This suggests that while both brokers provide valuable research tools, Plus500 might offer a more comprehensive market research experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Plus500 and VT Markets offer a substantial foundation. They each provide over ten educational pieces, including articles and videos, focusing primarily on forex and CFDs. However, Plus500 goes a step further by presenting monthly client webinars that are accessible online, and the convenience of a searchable archive of these webinars. VT Markets, on the other hand, does not provide regular webinars or an archive of past sessions.
Plus500 also stands out by offering content tailored for both beginners and advanced traders, with a series of educational videos covering a variety of trading topics. While VT Markets supplies videos for beginners, it lacks advanced videos for experienced traders. As for additional learning tools, VT Markets excels with an investor dictionary containing over 50 investing terms, a feature not available with Plus500. In ratings, Plus500 is awarded 4.0 stars for education, holding a rank of #31 out of 62 brokers. VT Markets follows with a 3.5-star rating, standing at #55 in the same category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 VT Markets. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while VT Markets finished with an overall rank of #44.
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
|
VT Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both Plus500 and VT Markets do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies for delivery, but they both provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Plus500 and VT Markets provide options for depositing or withdrawing funds via Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, Plus500 uniquely offers PayPal support, whereas neither platform supports ACH or SEPA 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | VT Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 39 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $100 | |
| 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 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 15 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | VT Markets Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | VT Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | VT Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill