Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB (founded 2002) and Plus500 (founded 2008) are online brokers that are publicly traded on stock exchanges and are not banks. These points, along with each firm’s licenses and third‑party ratings, help show how they’re overseen and how safe they may be to use.
Regulation and trust differ between the two: XTB holds 2 Tier‑1 and 2 Tier‑2 licenses and has a 96/99 ForexBrokers.com Trust Score. Plus500 holds 7 Tier‑1 and 4 Tier‑2 licenses and scores 99/99. On the ForexBrokers.com scale—90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 should not be trusted at all—both land in the highly trusted range, with Plus500 showing broader top‑tier licensing.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB and Plus500 both keep trading costs fairly straightforward, but XTB comes out ahead on value overall. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. It offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is limited to eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in many regions. In Q4 2023, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip, which is around the industry average. For most retail forex traders, the Standard account is usually the better fit, especially for smaller trades.
Plus500 is a little more expensive by comparison. It scores 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #25 out of 36 brokers in the same category. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Plus500 does not offer discounts for regular retail clients, although professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. That makes it less appealing for active traders who want lower ongoing costs.
In short, XTB is generally the better pick if keeping commissions and fees down is a priority. It offers more ways to manage costs through account choice and an active trader rebate program, while Plus500 tends to be pricier and offers fewer fee discounts for most everyday traders.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and Plus500 both give traders access to forex as CFDs, as well as shares listed on U.S. and international exchanges. They also both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, so users can trade price moves without owning the underlying coin. Neither broker supports copy trading, so this feature is not available with either platform.
When it comes to the wider range of investments, XTB has the edge. It offers 10,521 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with Plus500’s 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs. XTB also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while Plus500 only offers crypto CFDs. Reflecting this broader choice, XTB is rated 5 stars for range of investments and ranked #15 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #16.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
XTB and Plus500 both offer a free demo account, a web-based trading platform, and their own in-house platform, so each broker gives traders a simple way to start without downloading software. Neither broker supports a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, or copy trading. Both are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, showing they are closely matched on the basics.
The main difference is that XTB lets users trade directly from a stock chart, while Plus500 does not. XTB also places higher in ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools rankings, coming in at #9 out of 36 brokers compared with Plus500 at #14. For traders who want a browser-based platform with chart trading, XTB has a slight edge, while Plus500 remains a solid choice for straightforward online trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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) | 92 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Plus500 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with useful tools like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both apps are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading, so each one delivers a strong overall experience for trading on the go.
The main differences come down to charting and rankings. Plus500 offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 115 compared with XTB’s 104, while XTB has an edge for convenience because it automatically saves chart drawings in the app, and Plus500 does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s mobile trading apps category, XTB ranks higher at #8 out of 36 brokers, compared with Plus500 at #14.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Plus500 both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Neither broker offers forex news from major wire services like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and neither includes research from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The main difference is that Plus500 includes Trading Central research tools, while XTB does not.
Overall, XTB comes out ahead for market research. It holds a 5-star Research rating and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Plus500’s 4.5-star rating and #16 ranking. For traders who want more research support, XTB has the edge, even though Plus500 still covers the basics well.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and Plus500 both give beginners a strong starting point with plenty of forex and CFD learning material. Each broker offers at least 10 education pieces focused on forex or CFDs, monthly online webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos, plus advanced videos for traders who want to go further. That means either platform can help new traders learn the basics and build confidence with regular lessons and video content.
That said, XTB has the edge in education overall. It earns a full 5-star Education rating and is ranked #11 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and sits at #27. For beginners comparing the two, XTB appears to offer the slightly stronger learning experience, though Plus500 still provides plenty of useful resources.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Plus500. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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XTB stands out over Plus500 for cryptocurrency investors because it lets you buy actual, delivered crypto as well as cryptocurrency CFDs, while Plus500 only offers cryptocurrency CFDs and does not support buying the real asset.
For deposits and withdrawals, XTB and Plus500 both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, do not offer ACH or SEPA, and have unspecified availability for Visa or Mastercard.
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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | XTB | 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10521 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.06 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 92 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 104 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | XTB | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
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