Trading 212 vs Plus500 Comparison – 2024

Top Reasons to Choose Trading 212 or Plus500

I have sampled the top reasons why I believe Trading 212 is the better option for share CFD trading, while Plus500 excels in platform usability. These reasons are detailed in the table below:

Trading 212: Snapshot

Trading 212 is an industry veteran and a trusted partner to thousands of traders worldwide. The broker was founded in 2004 and is headquartered in the United Kingdom. It is tightly regulated, with a massive offering of more than 7000 instruments across different markets. I assessed its trading fees to be below the industry average, particularly for share CFDs.

Trading 212: Who is it For?

I concluded that Trading 212 is an excellent choice for stock traders. The broker offers over 7000 share CFDs and ETFs across global markets at very competitive prices. Its spreads generally fall below the industry average, and share assets can also be traded commission-free. Trading 212 also offers an excellent platform that can be used to carry out sophisticated technical analysis.

What Makes Trading 212 Stand Out?

Trading 212 was the first derivatives broker in Europe to introduce commission-free trading, making it a true pioneer in stock trading. Additionally, Trading 212’s massive share CFDs offering grants stock traders access to European, Asian, and US markets. This allows them to exploit a wide spectrum of trading opportunities.

Plus500: Snapshot

Plus500 was founded in 2008 in Israel. The derivatives broker pretty much set the bar for what a well-balanced broker should look like. It holds several Tier-1 regulations across multiple jurisdictions and is considered one of the safest brokers in the trading industry. Plus500 offers competitive fees and diverse account options. The broker has invested heavily in the development of its proprietary platform, which is noted for its intuitive design and professional-grade charting capabilities.

Plus500: Who is it For?

Plus500 caters to the needs of various traders, from day and swing traders to those with differing levels of experience* and strategy preferences. But in my estimation, ‘chart artists’ stand to benefit the most from Plus500’s diverse services. The broker has developed an excellent proprietary platform with fluid charting capabilities that are well-suited for executing comprehensive technical analysis.

What Makes Plus500 Stand Out?

Plus500 has 500+ reasons to appreciate its service, but to me, the standout feature is undoubtedly its versatile platform. The WebTrader impresses with a selection of over 150 analytical tools and chart configurations, suitable for various trading styles. The platform’s charts are advanced and fluid, allowing for comprehensive insights into price action behavior.

Trust

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Trust and Regulation Comparison

Trading 212 is regulated by three Tier-1 authorities under ESMA: CySEC in Cyprus, FCA in the UK, and the FSC of Bulgaria. It adheres to stringent safety standards, including providing negative balance protection and the segregation of client funds.

Plus500 is authorized by CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), MAS (Singapore), ASIC (Australia), and the FSA (Estonia). All of these regulators are Tier-1. Plus500 also has one offshore license – by the FSA (Seychelles). The broker adheres to all essential safety requirements, such as ensuring a negative balance protection. It also strives to deliver optimal price quotes under prevailing market conditions.

If you want to learn more about brokers’ regulations, be sure to check out our article on the top regulated forex brokers.

Fees

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Spreads, Fees and Commissions Comparison

Trading 212’s CFD trading account features commission-free trading and floating spreads from 0.4 pips. Its spreads vary from one asset class to another but generally fall below the industry average. For share CFDs specifically, the spreads I recorded were quite low. However, Trading 212 also charges relatively high swaps and a 0.5% FX conversion fee.

Plus500 offers commission-free trading and typically tight spreads, with some exceptions. Its swaps are low to average, making it an excellent choice for longer-term trading. Plus500 does not charge fees for deposits or withdrawals, but there is a $10 inactivity fee charged after three months of dormancy.

Platforms and Tools

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Trading Platforms Comparison

Trading 212 has also developed its own platform with an intuitive design and professional-grade charting capabilities. Its charts are wide and informative, allowing for the examination of price action behavior from multiple angles. Technical analysis is enabled by the inclusion of over 80 analytical tools. Trading 212’s platform does not support copy trading or automated trading, though.

Plus500’s WebTrader features 140 technical indicators and drawing tools, which can be used to gauge market sentiment. Additionally, the broker has implemented a sophisticated Market Sentiment tool, informing traders of potential contrarian trading opportunities. The standout feature of the WebTrader is its versatile charts. Price action is represented clearly and in great detail, providing chart artists with a penetrating outlook on currently unfolding trading opportunities.

Tradable Instruments

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Instruments Selection Comparison

Trading 212 shines in the Instruments category by offering over 7,000 tradable instruments, the majority of which are share CFDs and ETFs. The former are considered higher-yield/risk assets, whereas the latter are lower-risk securities. Additionally, the broker provides the option to invest in real stocks.

Plus500 provides access to approximately 2,800 tradable instruments, all structured as CFDs and available for trading at spot prices. I appreciated the balance between higher-yield/risk assets, such as share CFDs and indices, and lower-risk securities like ETFs. This diversity is crucial as it allows traders to hedge their overall market exposure.

Customer Support

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Customer Support Comparison

Trading 212 offers 24/7 customer support exclusively via email. Live chat and phone support are not available. Response times may vary from several hours to several business days, but the replies are generally highly informative. Trading 212 has also developed a strong community section on its website, where traders can post questions and usually receive answers from other community members fairly quickly.

Plus500 provides fast and reliable customer support, available 24/7. This is particularly important on weekends when most traders tend to do their market research and may require assistance. While Plus500 typically responds quickly and the support team is quite knowledgeable, they can only be reached through live chat. Phone support is currently not available.

Research

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Research Tools Comparison

The scope of Trading 212’s research content is rather limited. The broker no longer publishes technical or fundamental analyses, nor does it incorporate third-party research tools. However, it does offer an intuitive Economic Calendar and a Market Sentiment tool.

Plus500 provides rich and diverse research content available in various formats— including written articles, tools integrated directly into the platform, and video breakdowns. The materials cover a wide spectrum of topics and inform traders of viable trading opportunities. I particularly liked that Plus500’s research content is both sophisticated and accessible, making it clear for novice traders yet substantial enough to serve highly experienced professionals.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Deposit and Withdrawal Methods Comparison

Trading 212 allows for fee-free deposits and withdrawals, with processing times that generally align with industry standards. The broker supports about a dozen payment methods, including wire transfers, credit or debit cards, and various e-wallets.

Plus500 also provides fee-free deposits and withdrawals, available through credit/debit cards, bank wire, PayPal, and Skrill. Although the range of options is somewhat narrower than the industry average, it includes the most popular methods. Processing times are typically fast, except for bank wires, which may take up to 5 business days.

Account Types and Terms

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Account Types Comparison

Trading 212 offers two types of accounts: one Investing account and one CFD Trading account, which is better suited for high-frequency trading. The minimum deposit requirement for Trading 212 is 10 units of the account’s base currency. The broker does not provide Islamic accounts for swap-free trading.

Plus500’s retail account is a sort of one-size-fits-all type of account. It caters to traders with different experience levels and trading styles. This account combines commission-free trading, generally low spreads, and below-average swaps, making it suitable for both short-term day trading and longer-term swing trading. With a minimum deposit requirement of only $100, this account type is quite accessible. Plus500 also offers a professional account type.

Education

Trading 212 vs Plus500 Educational Content Comparison

Trading 212 has published more than 160 educational videos on its YouTube channel, mainly focusing on trading psychology – such as how to apply tight risk management, and how not to let your emotions affect your trading decisions. I believe these topics are essential for consistent trading success. Trading 212 has also published written articles on key investing topics.

Plus500 offers a detailed educational ebook titled ‘Trading With Plus500’, which introduces traders to essential concepts and the basics of trading. It pays significant attention to the ABCs of technical analysis and price action examination. The broker also hosts periodic webinars that are insightful and focus on more complex topics, such as trading psychology and risk management.

Our Methodology

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:

• Trust
• Fees
• Platforms and Tools
• Tradable Instruments
• Customer Support
• Research
• Deposits and Withdrawals
• Account Types and Terms
• Education

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.

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