Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Xtrade, 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 online brokers, particularly focusing on regulatory aspects, both Plus500 and Xtrade present distinct profiles. Plus500, established in 2008 and publicly traded, stands out with a remarkable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99. This score signifies it as a highly trusted choice. The broker boasts six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, highlighting its strong regulatory framework and commitment to providing a secure trading environment. Plus500 is not a bank, but its credentials offer reassurance for those seeking a reliable platform.
On the other hand, Xtrade, founded in 2003, is privately held and holds a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 74, categorizing it as average risk. Xtrade possesses one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, indicating it meets standard regulatory requirements but may not have the same level of oversight as Plus500. Similar to Plus500, Xtrade is not a bank. While Xtrade offers a safe experience with compliance to necessary regulations, traders focused on trust and transparency might find Plus500's higher licensing and trust score appealing.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2003 |
| 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 | 1 |
When evaluating commission and fee structures, Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average and lags behind top forex brokers for active trader pricing. While Plus500 does not offer discounts to retail clients, it provides cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. For EUR/USD, the average spread at Plus500 was 1.5 pips in April 2024. With a commission and fees rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars, Plus500 ranks #25 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, Xtrade doesn't provide average spread data, making it more challenging to assess its fee competitiveness directly. With a modest rating of 2.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, Xtrade holds the 62nd position out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, underlining its relatively weaker standing in this regard.
Overall, Plus500 emerges as the stronger option for traders focused on commission and fees, offering more transparent pricing details and better ratings in the sector than Xtrade, which tends to lag behind considerably in both rating and ranking.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A |
| 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.
Plus500 and Xtrade both provide forex trading through CFDs, offering traders versatility in managing their investments. Plus500 boasts an impressive portfolio with 5,500 tradeable symbols, surpassing Xtrade's selection of 482. In the forex domain, Plus500 again leads with 65 forex pairs available for trading compared to Xtrade's 56 pairs. Where Plus500 stands out significantly is in offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to invest directly in companies like Apple and Vodafone. Xtrade, on the other hand, does not provide this option, focusing instead on CFDs rather than direct stock purchases.
Neither platform features copy trading or the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, though both allow trading of cryptocurrency derivatives. When it comes to their range of investments, Plus500 receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars, and ranks #24 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com's evaluation. This is in contrast to Xtrade's 3.5-star rating and #49 rank. While both platforms have strengths in offering a variety of investment opportunities, Plus500 clearly delivers a wider spectrum of options for traders looking to diversify their portfolios.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Plus500 and Xtrade, several key differences emerge. Both brokers provide a proprietary platform and support web-based trading with readily accessible demo accounts for practice. However, neither offers Windows-based desktop platforms, copy trading options, or support for popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5, DupliTrade, or ZuluTrade. In terms of charting tools, Plus500 offers an impressive 22 drawing tools, but Xtrade goes above and beyond with 100 drawing tools. Plus500, however, lacks the feature to execute trades directly from stock charts, a function available at Xtrade.
Overall, Plus500 scores highly in user ratings and industry rankings, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, and securing the 14th spot among 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Xtrade, despite its extensive drawing tools, garners a modest rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 58th out of the same peer group. While Plus500 offers 10 fields for watch lists compared to Xtrade’s nine, Plus500’s rating and ranking serve as a testament to its superior user experience and more refined trading tools compared to Xtrade.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 114 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and Xtrade, both offer apps for iPhone and Android users, but Plus500 provides a more feature-rich experience for traders. Plus500 stands out with its ability to offer stock and forex price alerts, feature watchlist symbol syncing, and provide 110 technical studies for charting on its app. In contrast, Xtrade does not offer price alerts or watchlist sync capabilities, and its technical studies for charting are unspecified. Additionally, Plus500 allows users to draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames, enhancing the analytical capabilities for traders, while Xtrade lacks these features.
Plus500 also excels in offering real-time quotes for created watchlists, a feature not available with Xtrade. Even though neither app auto-saves drawings on charts, Plus500 receives a higher user rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 for its mobile trading app compared to Xtrade's 4-star rating. In terms of industry ranking by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds the 14th spot out of 62 brokers, while Xtrade is placed at 53rd. These differences highlight Plus500 as the more comprehensive choice for traders seeking an advanced mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and Xtrade both provide daily market commentary and include an economic calendar that highlights significant global events, keeping their users informed of crucial market shifts. Where they differ notably is in their access to forex news and analytical resources. While Xtrade sources forex news from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, Plus500 lacks this feature. Conversely, Plus500 offers advanced market analysis with Trading Central tools and sentiment-based trading tools to gauge market direction, advantages that Xtrade does not provide.
The differences in features are reflected in the brokers' respective research ratings, with Plus500 scoring 4.0 stars compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. Additionally, Plus500 is ranked significantly higher by ForexBrokers.com, holding the #19 spot compared to Xtrade's #52 position. These rankings highlight Plus500's edge in providing a broader suite of market analysis tools, potentially making it a more comprehensive choice for traders focused on in-depth research.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners between Plus500 and Xtrade, Plus500 seems to offer a more comprehensive suite of learning materials. Both brokers provide more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, but Plus500 goes the extra mile by hosting monthly online webinars that provide real-time insights and learning opportunities. Plus500 also archives these webinars, allowing users to revisit them at their convenience, unlike Xtrade, which does not offer this feature.
For beginners eager to get a solid start, Plus500 offers at least 10 videos aimed at those new to trading, along with advanced educational videos for more experienced traders—all resources Xtrade falls short on providing in similar quantity. While Plus500 lacks an investor dictionary, a resource Xtrade provides, Plus500's higher rating of 4.0 stars for education reflects its superior educational offerings compared to Xtrade's 3.5-star rating. This quality is further supported by Plus500's higher ranking of #31 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, as opposed to Xtrade's rank of #46.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Xtrade. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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Both Plus500 and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both Plus500 and Xtrade offer Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing funds, only Plus500 provides the flexibility of using PayPal, as neither broker 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $250 | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Xtrade Review |
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