Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
---|---|---|
Overall Rating | 4.5 | 4.3 |
Trust | 4.8 | 4.5 |
Fees | 4.8 | 4.1 |
Platforms and Tools | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Tradable Instruments | 4.5 | 4.7 |
Customer Support | 3.5 | 3.4 |
Research | 5.0 | 4.0 |
Deposit and Withdrawal | 3.7 | 5.0 |
Account Types and Terms | 3.8 | 5.0 |
Education | 5.0 | 3.3 |
Regulators & Max Leverage | 1:50 (CFTC), 1:30 (MNB), 1:30 (CBI), 1:45 (IIROC), 1:25 (JFSA), 1:20 (MAS), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:20 (SFC), 1:30 (FCA) | 1:30 (CySEC) |
Foundation Year | 1978 | 2009 |
Fees Test | Low | Medium |
Tradable Instruments | 8102 | 2047 |
Trading Platforms | Proprietary | Plus500 Web Platform, Mobile Platform |
Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
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Based on our assessment, Interactive Brokers is particularly well-suited for professional traders and portfolio managers who value diverse asset classes, account options, reliability, and competitive fees. On the other hand, Plus500 is more advantageous for novice traders who appreciate user-friendly trading platforms, commission-free trading, and beginner educational materials.
Interactive Brokers Best for Professional Accounts & Tradable Instruments |
Plus500 Best for User-Friendly Web Platform & Mobile App |
Publicly traded company on NASDAQ | Publicly traded company on LSE |
2+ million instruments, 8000+ CFD markets | Regulated by multiple top-tier agencies |
Multi-asset trading platforms | 2,800+ CFD markets |
Professional grade analysis tools | User-friendly web trading platform |
Extensive range of professional accounts | Feature-rich mobile app |
Direct Market Access (DMA) order execution | +Insights Analytics Tool |
Low trading fees | Advanced educational video content, including webinars |
Established in 1978 and headquartered in Connecticut, Interactive Brokers Group, is publicly listed on the NASDAQ Stock Exchange. Regulated by eight Tier-1 authorities, the broker provides access to over 2 million tradable instruments, including more than 8,000 CFDs. It offers competitive fees, diverse account options, and platforms and tools designed for professional traders.
Interactive Brokers caters to professional traders, portfolio managers, and investors seeking a broad spectrum of asset classes, trading and investment products, advanced trading platforms, and robust trading liquidity.
Interactive Brokers distinguishes itself as one of the few publicly listed brokers with global licensing. It offers an extensive range of assets and account types, institutional-grade trading platforms, and deep liquidity that ensures low spreads.
Established in 2008, Plus500 is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange and licensed by four Tier-1 regulators globally. The broker offers commission-free trading on over 2,800 tradable instruments through its user-friendly web trading platform and mobile app.
Plus500 is designed for novice traders seeking a straightforward trading experience. It provides an intuitive web trading platform and a comprehensive mobile app, both equipped with practical features. Educational resources, including videos, eBooks, and detailed webinars, are aimed primarily at beginner and intermediate traders.
Like Interactive Brokers, Plus500 is also a publicly listed broker with global licensing, positioning it as a strong competitor. It stands out for its straightforward approach to trading global markets, offering accessible products, an intuitive platform, and extensive educational resources.
Recommended in 6 best broker guides: |
Mobile App | Gold | UK | Commodities | Platforms in Europe | Energy |
Trust Rank | 4.8 | 4.5 |
Regulators & Max Leverage | 1:50 (CFTC), 1:30 (MNB), 1:30 (CBI), 1:45 (IIROC), 1:25 (JFSA), 1:20 (MAS), 1:30 (ASIC), 1:20 (SFC), 1:30 (FCA) | 1:30 (CySEC) |
Foundation Year | 1978 | 2009 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Has a Bank |
Interactive Brokers, headquartered in Connecticut, USA, is one of the most reputable brokers globally. It’s regulated by eight Tier-1 regulators, including the US SEC/CFTC, the UK’s FCA, and Canadian IIROC, among others. With a long-standing presence since 1978, a public listing on the NASDAQ (IBKR), and equity capital exceeding $15 billion, the broker’s reliability is well-established. Client funds are maintained in segregated accounts, separate from company operating funds, ensuring security. Additionally, Interactive Brokers provides negative balance protection, so clients cannot lose more than their initial investment.
Plus500 is another highly trusted broker, regulated by four Tier-1 authorities, including the UK’s FCA, Cyprus’ CySEC, and Australia’s ASIC. Established in 2008 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: PLUS), Plus500 has earned a solid reputation for reliability. The broker holds client funds in segregated accounts, offering an added layer of security. Plus500 also provides negative balance protection, ensuring clients are not at risk of losing more than their deposited funds. Tier-1 regulated entities deliver the highest level of investor protection, fund security, stability, and transparency.
If you want to learn more about brokers’ regulations, be sure to check out our article on the top regulated forex brokers.
Fees Rank | 4.8 | 4.1 |
Inactivity Fee |
Using the Interactive Brokers’ Individual Account, we found that the spread for trading EUR/USD CFDs averaged 0.25 pips (several times lower than the industry average), coupled with a commission of $2 per lot. This offering is highly competitive compared to the industry norm, where most brokers typically charge a commission of $3.50 per lot in addition to the spread fee. Furthermore, there are no minimum balance requirements or inactivity fees associated with this account.
From Plus500’s commission-free Standard CFD Account, we discovered that the spread for EUR/USD averaged 0.8 pips across the London and New York sessions, beating the industry average of 1.08 pips. Overall, we judged Plus500 fees to be average to competitive. Additionally, an inactivity fee of $10 per month applies for accounts that remain dormant for three months.
Platform Rank | 4.6 | 4.2 |
Trading Platforms | Proprietary | Plus500 Web Platform, Mobile Platform |
Mobile Apps | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
Interactive Brokers offers a wide selection of proprietary trading platforms. The IBKR Trader Workstation (TWS), IBKR Mobile app, and IBKR Client Portal, grant access to over 2 million tradable instruments, including over 8,000 CFDs. The IBKR Desktop, IBKR Impact, and IBKR Global Trader platforms specialize in stocks, options, and mutual funds. The flagship TWS platform targets advanced, professional traders, providing customizable layouts, market scanners, integrated economic news, and various order types. The IBKR Mobile app caters more to beginners, featuring an intuitive layout for easy navigation.
Plus500 offers a proprietary web trading platform and mobile trading app. Both are perfect for beginner traders and offer access to over 2,800 CFD markets. The web platform offers standard drawing tools, chart types, timeframes, and indicators, along with one-click trading and guaranteed stop-loss orders. The mobile platform includes the same features as the web platform and also offers the +Insights tool with market sentiment data.
In case you’re looking for brokers that offer third-party platforms, check out our guides on the best MT4 forex brokers, MT5 forex brokers, and cTrader forex brokers.
Tradable Instruments Rank | 4.5 | 4.7 |
# Tradable Instruments | 8102 | 2047 |
# Currency Pairs | 85 | 65 |
# Commodities | 4 | 22 |
# Crypto | 17 | |
# Stocks | 8000 | 1500 |
# Indices | 13 | 29 |
Interactive Brokers offers the largest financial product lineup in the industry, featuring over 2 million tradable instruments sourced from 200 countries, including more than 8,000 CFDs. This comprehensive list of markets caters to intermediate to advanced multi-asset traders and portfolio managers.
Plus500 offers over 2,800 leveraged financial CFD instruments covering global asset classes. This range of products is well-suited for beginner to intermediate traders. Advanced traders can also access CFD options contracts on various markets.
Customer Support Rank | 3.5 | 3.4 |
Availability | Available 24/5 | Available 24/7 |
Live Chat |
Interactive Brokers provides customer support via live chat, phone, and a contact form, available 24/6. The proficiency of customer support agents in handling basic to complex inquiries was satisfactory, but connecting with an agent sometimes involved lengthy wait times.
Plus500 offers customer support 24/7 through live chat and email, though there is no phone support. Connecting to the live chat was very quick, with almost immediate responses from knowledgeable customer support agents.
Research Rank | 5.0 | 4.0 |
News (Top-Tier Sources) | ||
Economic calendar | ||
Videos/Webinars | ||
Trading Central (Recognia) | ||
Autochartist |
Interactive Brokers provides professional market research through its Traders Insights page, with content also accessible on its proprietary platforms. This includes written articles and videos covering various markets and trading styles. Additionally, third-party content from Nasdaq, Investopedia, and Redwall Analytics enriches the platform, catering to the needs of fundamental traders and portfolio managers.
Plus500 offers high-quality market research from its website and trading platforms. The in-house analyst team offers articles covering news and market insights with a fundamental approach three to four times a week. The platform includes its +Insights tool, which offers data on what its other clients are buying and selling. There is also an in-built economic calendar. The tools cater to beginner and intermediate traders.
Deposit and Withdrawal Rank | 3.7 | 5.0 |
Deposit Options | ACH, Wire Transfer, Check | PayPal, Wire Transfer, Moneybookers, Skrill, Credit Card |
Withdrawal Options | ACH, Wire Transfer | Wire Transfer, Moneybookers, Skrill, Credit Card, PayPal |
Withdrawal Fee |
Interactive Brokers supports deposit and withdrawal transactions exclusively via bank wire transfers. The broker does not charge fees for these transactions, and requests are processed relatively quickly. However, some popular funding methods, such as credit cards, are unavailable.
Plus500 offers fee-free deposit and withdrawal options, including bank wire transfer, Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, PayPal, and Skrill. Bank wire deposits typically take 1 to 5 business days, while other payment methods are processed instantly. Withdrawals are completed within one business day. Additionally, Plus500’s policy, wherever possible, is to process withdrawal payments back to the same method used for the deposit.
Account Types and Terms | 3.8 | 5.0 |
# Base Currencies | 85 | 65 |
Islamic Account | ||
Demo Account | ||
Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
Interactive Brokers offers the industry’s widest variety of account types, serving individual traders, professional investors, fund managers, and family offices. These encompass Individual, Joint, Trust, Family Advisor, ISAs, SIPPs, Family Office, Small Business, Money Manager, Broker, and Proprietary Trading Group Accounts. The Individual Trader account, tailored for novice traders, does not require a minimum deposit and accepts funding in 19 different currencies.
Plus500 offers four account types: Standard, Professional, Islamic, and Demo. Most accounts cater to beginner traders with an easy account opening process and a minimum deposit of 100 units in 16 different currencies. The Professional account caters to advanced traders and offers higher leverage but does require passing a suitability test.
Education Rank | 5.0 | 3.3 |
Videos | ||
Webinars |
Interactive Brokers offers an extensive educational resource through its IBKR Campus. Catering to traders of all skill levels, its Traders Academy provides 65 finance courses comprising articles, videos, and quizzes covering a wide range of topics such as stocks, bonds, cryptocurrencies, platform tutorials, and fundamental analysis. Additionally, weekly educational podcasts and interactive live trading webinars provide valuable resources for traders and investors at every level of expertise.
Plus500 provides a variety of educational resources, including articles, videos, ebooks, an in-depth webinar series, and some YouTube videos. Topics include the basics of CFD trading, trading psychology, technical analysis, and trading strategies. The material is high quality and mainly caters to beginner and intermediate traders.
Since 2011, FX Empire has developed a detailed methodology for evaluating CFD brokers, involving over 250 variables across nine crucial categories. Our team of experts, with deep industry knowledge, conducts live testing and research by interacting with the brokers directly. We check regulations, open accounts, test spreads, account costs, platform functionality, instrument variety, customer support reliability, and the quality of research and educational content. This granular analysis helps us identify each broker’s strengths and weaknesses, keeping our comparisons current with market trends and ensuring our guides meet traders’ needs.
We strive to evaluate each broker objectively, considering how their offerings align with the diverse trading goals and preferences of our readers. Our focus is on providing a balanced overview of each broker’s strengths and weaknesses. This method ensures that our readers receive clear, insightful comparisons to aid in making well-informed trading decisions.
We employ a comprehensive rating system across nine key categories:
In each category, we conduct an in-depth analysis for both brokers, outlining features, advantages, and disadvantages and determining their suitability for different trader profiles. By blending insights from our extensive reviews with first-hand experiences and observations, we ensure each comparison is balanced, informative, and tailored to the trader’s unique needs. You can read more about our review process here.