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 and Plus500 are both prominent online brokerage firms that provide various trading services to investors around the world. Founded in 2002, XTB is a publicly traded company and is not a bank. Similarly, Plus500, which began operations in 2008, is also publicly traded and not a bank. Both companies are transparent and regulated, but there are differences in their regulatory standings and trust ratings. XTB holds two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and two trusted Tier-2 licenses, earning a very high Trust Score of 96 on ForexBrokers.com.
Comparatively, Plus500 surpasses XTB with six highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and three trusted Tier-2 licenses, culminating in a near-perfect Trust Score of 99. Both brokers are subject to rigorous regulatory oversight, providing a secure environment for traders. While XTB offers a strong level of trust and reliability, Plus500 takes a slight edge by holding more licenses and scoring the highest possible trust rating. This makes Plus500 a compelling choice for those prioritizing regulatory assurance and trust in their online brokerage.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, XTB offers a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account that’s limited to elective professional clients in the U.K. and EU—and that Pro option is being phased out and no longer promoted in most regions. Using Q4 2023 data, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.0 pip. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account tends to be cheaper; at higher volumes, pricing between Standard and Pro is similar. XTB also runs an active trader rebate program (Lower Spread Group) that returns 5%–30% of the spread once you trade 20–1,000 lots per month. Minimum deposit starts at 250 in your base currency. XTB is rated 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Plus500’s pricing sits slightly above the industry average and lags leading brokers for active trader pricing. There are no retail discounts; only Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. In April 2024, the average EUR/USD spread at Plus500 was 1.5 pips, which is higher than the industry average. Plus500 is rated 4.0/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line: XTB typically delivers lower effective costs than Plus500 for many retail traders—especially at smaller sizes or if you qualify for XTB’s volume-based rebates—while Plus500 may appeal if you want straightforward pricing but can accept wider spreads unless you’re classified as a Professional client.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
Comparing XTB vs Plus500 for range of investments, XTB offers about 10,900 tradeable symbols versus roughly 5,500 at Plus500. XTB also lists 71 forex pairs compared with 65 at Plus500. Both brokers provide forex trading and let you invest in exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets (think Apple and Vodafone). Each supports cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows buying actual crypto. Copy trading isn’t available at either broker.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and is ranked 14th out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks 17th. If sheer variety matters most, XTB has the edge; if you’re fine with a wide but smaller lineup, Plus500 still spans many popular markets.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 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) | No | 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 provide free demo (paper) trading and use proprietary, in-house platforms. If you prefer a downloadable Windows desktop platform, choose XTB; Plus500 doesn’t offer one. Both brokers provide web-based platforms you can access in your browser. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and neither offers copy trading.
XTB also supports trading directly from charts, while Plus500 does not. For trading platforms and tools, each broker earns 4.5 out of 5 stars, but XTB ranks higher overall—9th out of 63 brokers versus Plus500 at 14th—according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Plus500 both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts and lets you draw trendlines on charts. A key difference is watchlists: Plus500 syncs watchlist symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not.
For charting, Plus500 provides 115 technical indicators compared with XTB’s 39. XTB, however, auto-saves your chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. Both apps earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for its mobile app, while Plus500 ranks #14. Choose Plus500 if you value more indicators and synced watchlists, or XTB if auto-saving drawings matters more—either way, both are highly rated.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Plus500 both cover the basics of market research: each offers daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows the long/short split across instruments. Key differences stand out, though. XTB delivers forex news from top-tier providers like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. On the flip side, Plus500 includes Trading Central analysis, which XTB lacks. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
For overall quality, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.0 stars and ranks #17. In short: choose XTB if premium integrated news matters most; pick Plus500 if you want Trading Central insights built into your platform.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | 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.
Comparing XTB vs Plus500 for beginner education, both brokers make it easy to get started. Each hosts online client webinars at least once a month and offers at least 10 beginner-friendly videos that explain trading basics. As you progress, both also provide at least 10 advanced videos to help you build skills in areas like forex and CFDs. This mix of on-demand videos and recurring webinars supports steady, self-paced learning.
When it comes to quality, XTB has the edge. It earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds 4.0 stars and ranks #26. If education is your priority, XTB is the stronger choice; Plus500 still delivers helpful webinars and a sizable video library for new traders.
| 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 #14.
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’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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Plus500
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
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XTB vs Plus500: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
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 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 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) | No | 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) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 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 | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 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) | Yes | 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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