Strong points
Plus500 is one of the most prominent brokers that provides various financial assets for trading. In this Plus500 review, we explore all there is to know about it. Read on in this exchange review.
Plus500 is a CFD broker designed to allow an experienced trader to trade the markets with competitive spreads.
Founded in 2008 in Israel, Plus500 is one of the best online brokers specializing in trading CFD instruments on a wide range of underlying financial products and enjoys many positive reviews online.
Regarding Plus500, we noted in this analysis that the platform offers competitive spreads. We also highlight the excellent customer service provided by the Plus500 team and an application with an attractive design and intuitive use.
If you are an experienced trader, Plus500 will be a good alternative among the many other brokers on the market, thanks to its good catalog of CFD products, easy opening of a demo account, and interesting technical and fundamental analysis tools provided directly by the broker.
The information on this site is not intended for residents of France, Belgium, and Canada.
The following is a list of the fees that Plus500 charges:
Following our analysis and comparison, Plus500’s costs (overnight deposit, currency conversion fees, guaranteed stop order, and inactivity fees) are competitive.
Plus500
Plus500
The level of fees and spreads that a trader incurs when trading at Plus500 is competitive.
One of the fees that the broker charges the client is the spread, which is the difference between the buying and selling prices of a particular asset listed on Plus500.
The table below highlights the current level of fees and spreads charged for trading with Plus500 on a range of example CFD instruments, compared to several leading brokers:
We also saw other types of costs at Plus500, factors that investors should keep in mind and which we cover below to enable an assessment that is as accurate as possible.
Maintaining an active Plus500 trading account represents a cost to the broker, against which the broker expects to obtain a higher return from the individual trader’s trading. Therefore, if you do not log in to your Plus500 account – via the browser or mobile app – for more than three months, you will be charged €10.
During the course of carrying out this analysis, we were able to verify that Plus500 does not charge fees for deposits and withdrawals of money. However, suppose the transfer transaction between your Plus500 trading account and your account involves a conversion between currencies. In that case, the exchange rate applied by the broker will be slightly less advantageous than the market rate.
As we have found, maintaining an open position in the markets for more than one-day results in Plus500 charging fees to your trading account. The amount of this fee varies for each instrument and is generally calculated using the following formula:
Trade Size * Position Open Rate * Value per Point * Overnight Funding %
In any case, you can find out the amount investors will pay Plus500 for these fees by clicking the “Details” button next to the screen dedicated to the instrument searched.
A real money trading account and a demo account.
Our research has shown that Plus500 offers, unlike its main competitors in the growing financial brokerage market, two types of trading accounts (one with real money and one in demo mode). This can be an advantage over other brokers if you are still deciding which type of account to choose; this broker provides an account that aims to cater to a wide range of clients.
With this account type suitable for experienced traders, Plus500 gives you access to a wide range of CFD instruments that can be bought and sold short, with the option to use leverage.
The broker’s online account also allows you to refine your trading strategies thanks to a demo mode, that is, the use of simulated money that Plus500 makes available to you free of charge and unlimitedly.
Once you have completed the proper registration steps, switching from a demo account to a real money account takes no more than one click. The two accounts remain perfectly separate, offering the trader evident management of their money.
As we have verified for this review, opening a real money trading account at Plus500 will require a few extra steps compared to creating a demo account, as described above.
Plus500
Plus500
Once you have entered your biodata on Plus500 and provided certain documents – with the privacy protections of the European GDPR – you can access a working trading account and start trading online conveniently.
The following paragraphs describe all the steps to register and activate your account on the Plus500 platform to dispel any doubts you may have about trading financial markets online with this broker.
To open a virtual money demo account, which will allow you to perform investment strategy simulations with accurate market data on Plus500, follow the steps below:
| Stage | Instructions |
| Step 1 | Go to the Plus500 website and click on the “Free Demo Trial” button |
| Step 2 | Register by entering your email address and password |
| Step 3 | Start trading with Play Money and test all your trading strategies on Plus500. In no case can you lose real money in this section; the depletion of virtual funds will lead to the allocation of new simulated funds. |
This session will review the steps to open a real money account with Plus500. First, please note that all merchants must upload an ID and residency verification document. Additionally, you will need to read various papers and complete a questionnaire.
With Plus500, deposit and withdrawal transactions in the same currency are free.
| Payment methods | Available to deposit and withdraw | Minimum and maximum amounts |
| Credit card | Both | Minimum deposit: €100Minimum withdrawal: €100 |
| Debit card | Both | Minimum deposit: €100Minimum withdrawal: €100 |
| PayPal | Both | Minimum deposit: €100Minimum withdrawal: €100 |
| Skrill | Both | Minimum deposit: €100Minimum withdrawal: €50 |
| Bank transfer | Both | Minimum deposit: €500Minimum withdrawal: €50 |
Plus500 allows its customers to use various methods of depositing money, from using a debit or credit card to virtual wallets, PayPal, and Skrill, remembering the classic bank transfer method.
We want to remind you, in this case, that there is a difference in the actual availability time of the deposited funds depending on the instrument you are going to use, as summarized below:
| Payment methods | Cost with the same currency | Cost with different currency | Deadline |
| Credit card | €0 | Variable, depending on currency | Immediate |
| Debit card | €0 | Variable, depending on currency | Immediate |
| PayPal | €0 | Variable, depending on currency | Immediate |
| Skrill | €0 | Variable, depending on currency | Immediate |
| Bank transfer | €0 | Variable, depending on currency | Immediate |
You can request a withdrawal from this broker for an amount up to the available balance in your account. Based on our verification, we can confirm that Plus500 will return the funds to the same payment instrument you used for withdrawal.
Plus500 reserves the right to require you to provide any appropriate documentation to verify the accuracy of the method of receipt of withdrawn funds.
A proprietary trading platform designed to make life easier for every trader.
| Type of trading platform | Available |
| Proprietary platform (WebTrader) | Yes |
| MT4 | No |
| Mobile app | Yes |
Plus500 offers a trading platform that allows users to trade on different markets thanks to their design and the possibility of integrating technical and fundamental analysis tools in a single tool.
Plus500 provides, through its website, an online application (available in 32 different languages, including French) that helps manage your portfolio.
This application, WebTrader Plus500, is accessed by entering your credentials (email address and password, per the registration described above).
The first thing we notice about Plus500’s WebTrader trading platform is that it provides the trader with a quick and accurate overview of their investment’s performance, with the ability to see a real-time update of the overall value of your portfolio on the first access screen.
The user cannot modify the position of the different menus and windows in any way, so you will have to settle for the design provided by default by this trading platform, which is nevertheless very pleasant.
As we have seen, you can effortlessly search for security in Plus500’s extensive catalog of CFD products, with the ability to view customizable charts – in terms of layout and time horizon – showing the price of the asset CFD selected.
Let us then consider an essential element to include in online reviews on the subject, namely the fact that Plus500 offers its users the possibility of adding a wide range of technical analysis indicators to the charts mentioned above, with the ability also to incorporate drawings (such as helpful support and resistance lines, or notes and highlighting of particular price trends and patterns) to make appropriate considerations when trading.
Plus500
Plus500
To place a market order with Plus500, simply click on the “Buy” or “Sell” button, specify the execution price and enter the amount you want to buy or sell, then change all settings to be taken into account in the execution of the order, such as:
1. The use of leverage, which varies depending on the product:
Cryptocurrencies: up to 1:2
Clues: up to 1:20
Forex: up to 1:30
Raw materials: up to 1:20
Actions: up to 1:5
Options: up to 1:5
ETFs: up to 1:5
2. Introduction of a stop loss: To limit losses on a particular position, you can set the price below which you want the broker to automatically sell the securities in your portfolio for you (in the case of short sale positions, the operation of the stop loss will, of course, be identical to that which has just been described).
Be sure to introduce an appropriate stop loss and pay attention to the risk of an investment just because you have included this clause in the order. If the market price suddenly gaps down or up, at a price beyond your stop level, it is possible your position will be closed at the next available price which can be a different price than the one you have set.
3. Insertion of a trailing stop loss: This function protects the trader’s balance by allowing a position to remain open if the price moves in a favorable direction, closing the trade as soon as the price reverses its direction of movement—a specified number of pips.
Since you may want to find the time to monitor the markets sparingly, the Plus500 platform allows you to set price alerts.
Through the channel you specify (push notifications, email, or SMS), you will receive a message from Plus500 if an asset of your choice reaches a certain price threshold or exceeds a specific percentage change from the previous trading day.
The above applies to the broker’s mobile applications (available for iOS and Android operating systems) built by Plus500 IT experts. Reviews on different online stores highlight customer satisfaction with this channel, and after reviewing the application, we can confirm that it is suitable for trading.
As a distinctive feature of the mobile platform compared to the website, we can mention the functionality of receiving price alerts directly as push notifications to your mobile device.
In summary, if you are used to traveling often and need to have your investments constantly in your “pocket,” this mobile application is an excellent alternative for trading with Plus500.
A wide choice of CFDs with competitive spreads on many different markets, where Plus500 acts as a market maker.
| Instruments | Number of instruments available | Instruments available | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|
| Actions | 1.800 | Most traded stocks belonging to the following markets: Italy, United States, Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, Hungary, Australia, Singapore, South Africa, Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Norway, Greece, Poland, Hong Kong, Portugal and Ireland. |  Low |
| Forex | 70 | Various combinations of EUR, USD, GBP, AUD, NZD, CAD, CHF, JPY, SGD, DKK, HUF, NOK, SEK, CZK, MXN, PLN, TRY, ZAR, THB, HKD, HRK, KRW, RON, RUB. | Low |
| ETF | 95 | Vanguard Real Estate, Global X Lithium & Battery Tech, SPDR Dow Jones REIT, and many other ETFs. | Low |
| Stock indices | 27 | Main European, American, and Asian stock market indices, differentiated by sector. | Low |
| Raw materials | 22 | Gold, silver, oil, natural gas, and other commodities are among the most traded in the world. | Low |
| Cryptocurrencies | 11 | Bitcoin, Ethereum-Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Stellar, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, NEO, EOS, IOTA, and crypto index. | Low |
| Options | 472 | Call and put options with the most prevalent underlying stocks listed on the Wall Street Stock Exchange and a range of stock and commodity indices. | Low |
Plus500 is an online broker specializing in trading over 2000 CFD products (on which it acts as a market maker). CFDs are derivative financial instruments whose price is linked to that of another financial product, called “underlying.” They allow you to trade different asset classes online, making your portfolio more stable by diversifying your investments.
All the abovementioned instruments can be traded with the broker through leverage. To determine the amount of leverage allowed for each instrument, click the “Details” button next to the selected asset on the broker’s platform.
It is in the interest of the broker and its clients to avoid the possibility of significant losses on highly leveraged positions. This is why, for example, it is possible to trade online with a leverage of up to 1:20 on commodities, while on listed stocks, you are not allowed to exceed 1:5.
The broker allows you to combine fundamental analysis tools with the statistical study of technical indicators.
| Search tools available | Our opinion |
| Economic calendar | Excellent functionality allows the trader to monitor major macroeconomic and financial events, with the ability to filter events based on their portfolio. |
| Technical analysis tools on charts | Technical analysis tools offer the user a wide choice, in addition to the possibility of inserting statistical indicators or directly drawing lines and shapes on the selected chart. |
Plus500 is an excellent broker that can take care of your research and analysis needs to select only the best investments for your online financial portfolio.
Harnessing the power of technical analysis and charting tools will allow you to quickly identify trends, resistance thresholds, support levels, and overbought and oversold areas, allowing you to optimize your trading strategy in the online market.
Another essential resource the broker offers you is the “Economic Calendar” function. In this section, you will find a series of macroeconomic and financial meetings likely to have a strong influence on the market (or, to use the Anglo-Saxon terminology often also borrowed in France by sector experts, “market-mover events.”)
We were able to verify, by carrying out online reviews, that the broker is not limited to giving information on the main macroeconomic events; the proposed calendar also indicates the dates of publication of quarterly data of the different companies listed on the stock exchange on which a trader can trade online through the broker itself.
Given the breadth of the economic calendar offered, the broker allows you to filter the events most interesting to you based, for example, on your portfolio and favorite securities. This great feature allows you to focus exclusively on the most exciting events, eliminating the risk of distracting your attention.
Additionally, we noticed that the broker recently launched a dedicated feature for real-time sentiment assessment. This accurate indicator allows you to know, as a percentage, the number of traders who buy and sell a given security.
In this case, the intuition is this: a stock for which the market expects a future rise will see more buyers. On the other hand, assets under downward pressure will see more sell orders placed in the market than buy orders.
Plus500
Plus500
The broker implements active customer service provided by professionals in the sector who will guide you toward the solution best suited to your needs.
| Search tools available | Available | Our opinion |
|---|---|---|
| Chat | Yes | The chat service is excellent for simple, generic questions and is accessible via the appropriate contact page with a response time of just a few minutes. |
| Yes | The service is valued in the same way as that offered via chat, with the exact response times. | |
| Yes | For more specific and complex questions, the email channel (accessible via the dedicated page) is preferable. | |
| Telephone | No |
Plus500 offers its customers an excellent support service: available every day at any time, managed by a team of professional consultants, and highly functional and competent.
Although the customer service agents demonstrate excellent availability and professionalism, we have noted that the broker does not offer the possibility of receiving telephone assistance.
All support requests must, therefore, be sent in written form, taking care to only use the chat and WhatsApp channels for more rapid and urgent questions and to reserve the email channel for specific and less priorities.
A series of training videos accompanied by an e-book capable of giving you the basic information necessary for trading.
| Training material | Our opinion |
|---|---|
| Video guides | The educational videos are well-produced and provide initial primary education on CFD trading. |
| Ebook | Although this study method is less direct than the video option, the e-book remains a valid method for the first level of training necessary for operating in the financial markets with CFD products. |
Plus500 offers its users educational videos illustrating the trading profession’s fundamental basics. In this case, these are thematic videos divided into chapters in which critical information is discussed, which can be very useful.
It is essential to understand that, generally, the average investor needs to gain extensive knowledge or experience in trading derivatives, such as CFDs. For this reason, the company has focused heavily on training, combining the mentioned helpful video series with an exclusive e-book on the subject.
The table is complemented by a constantly updated economic and financial information portal and the section above of the economic calendar, which allows traders to put their knowledge into practice to interpret what is happening in the markets at any time.
Plus500 is an internationally recognized broker with several offices in Europe.
| Seat | Country | Regulator | License number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plus500CY | Cyprus (with authority over the entire European Union) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | 250/14 |
| Plus500UK | United Kingdom | Financial Conduct Authority | FRN 509909 |
| Plus500AU Pty | Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa | FMA (New Zealand), FSCA (South Africa), ASIC (Australia) | AFSL #417727 (ASIC), No. 486026 (FMA), #47546 (FSCA) |
| Plus500SEY Ltd | Seychelles | Seychelles Financial Services Authority | SD039 |
| Plus500SG Pte Ltd | Singapore | Monetary Authority of Singapore | CMS100648-1 |
Regarding security, the Israeli broker and market maker has found it advantageous, for commercial reasons, to have the support of several offices, which, being located on different continents, are subject to other regulatory bodies. This factor strengthens the regulatory profile of the company, creating a level of protection for customers.
An important consideration, again in terms of security, is that we have ensured that Plus500 does not use customer funds to manage its financial operations.
In other words, the funds you deposit into your trading account are segregated from the company’s cash and only used for your market investment needs. This is a regulatory requirement that provides important liquidity protection.
Plus500CY is a member of the Investor Compensation Fund for clients of investment companies regulated in the Republic of Cyprus.
If this protection seems insufficient, remember that many traders worldwide need protection for trading funds.
The fact that the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is, therefore, subject to all the enhanced transparency rules imposed on companies of this type constitutes an additional guarantee for the broker.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has also required all European financial brokers to include in their commercial offering a means of protecting their clients if a trading account is about to register a negative balance.
This is because many operations, such as short selling, leveraged trading, and trading in specific derivative instruments, can lead a trader to lose more money than they have deposited into their account.
Even before ESMA published these guidelines, the broker introduced a mechanism that immediately closes any open position of a trader if the market value of their portfolio falls before zero.
An excellent user experience that accompanies the user throughout their investment experience.
In light of our analysis, Plus500 offers an excellent trading experience to the user. Its international dimension, protection by multiple regulatory bodies, and the broker’s listing on the London Stock Exchange give the market maker confidence.
It is fair to point out that this broker is only suitable for experienced traders. Those who do not have an adequate profile of experience and knowledge of the financial sector will have the opportunity to open a demo trading account to learn the secrets of trading without taking risks.
The broker’s proprietary platform allows you to place market orders in just a few clicks and adding a good level of technical and fundamental analysis to your portfolio. Graphical simplicity is complemented by excellent customer service, ready to support the trader seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Finally, it is essential to mention the operating costs and spreads level: Plus500 is in a better position than the market average of other brokers.
CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of rapid loss of capital due to leverage. 80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You need to make sure that you understand how CFDs work and that you can afford to take the likely risk of losing your money.
Plus500
Plus500
