Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs ACY Securities, 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.
Plus500 and ACY Securities are both notable players in the online brokerage industry, but they differ significantly in their regulatory standing and trust ratings. Founded in 2008, Plus500 stands out with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, thanks to its robust regulatory framework, which includes six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses. This publicly traded broker is not a bank, but its high level of regulation and trust makes it a secure choice for traders.
On the other hand, ACY Securities, which was founded in 2011, has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 75, categorizing it as average risk. Unlike Plus500, ACY Securities is a privately held company and holds just one Tier-1 license, with no Tier-2 licenses. Although it is not classified as a bank, its regulatory standing is more modest compared to Plus500, which may be a consideration for those prioritizing trust and security in a broker.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing Plus500 and ACY Securities on commissions and fees, Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average. The broker, rated 4.0 stars, holds the 25th spot among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. Plus500's EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Although there are no discounts for retail clients, Plus500 offers cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients.
On the other hand, ACY Securities offers a variety of account options to cater to different traders. This broker, rated 4.5 stars, is ranked 21st by ForexBrokers.com regarding commissions and fees. The Standard account, which is commission-free, has spreads averaging 1.2 pips on the EUR/USD, requiring a $50 deposit. However, the ProZero and Bespoke accounts, requiring higher deposits, offer lower spreads, reaching as low as 0.25 pips. For Australian residents, ProZero account commissions drop to $3 per round turn, bringing effective spreads to 0.55 pips, competitive with industry leaders.
ACY Securities provides a comprehensive range of cost-effective options, particularly favorable for high-volume traders. They offer various account tiers that can further reduce trading costs by 0.5 pips per lot for those trading over 50 standard lots monthly. This flexibility contributes to their slightly higher rating and ranking compared to Plus500, making ACY Securities an appealing choice for those seeking lower trading costs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| 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 ACY Securities both offer forex trading through CFDs, with Plus500 providing access to 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, while ACY Securities offers 2,200 symbols with 66 forex pairs. One key difference is that Plus500 allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, respectively. In contrast, ACY Securities does not offer these types of investments. For cryptocurrency enthusiasts, both brokers provide the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither offers the purchase of the actual digital currencies.
When it comes to additional trading options, ACY Securities stands out by offering copy trading, a feature not available with Plus500. In terms of ratings, Plus500 receives a slightly higher score of 4.5 stars compared to ACY Securities' 4 stars for their range of investments. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks 24th among 62 brokers, while ACY Securities is ranked 30th in the range of investments category, reflecting their respective offerings and features. This comparison can help investors choose based on available assets and trading tools that best suit their individual needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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.
Plus500 and ACY Securities both provide virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to familiarize themselves with their platforms without financial risk. While Plus500 supports their exclusive, browser-based platform, ACY Securities offers a more diverse range of options, including their in-house platform and MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are well-regarded in the trading community. Plus500’s platform is known for its simplicity and ease of use, although it lacks certain features like desktop download access and direct chart trading that ACY Securities provides. Additionally, ACY Securities supports copy trading, a feature absent in Plus500.
In terms of tools for analysis, Plus500 delivers a variety of 22 drawing tools compared to ACY Securities' offering of 15. However, when it comes to creating watchlists, Plus500 provides more customization with 10 fields, whereas ACY Securities offers 7. Despite ACY's broader platform selection, Plus500 scores slightly higher for trading platforms and tools, with a rating of 4.5 stars and a commendable position at #14 out of 62 brokers, compared to ACY's 4-star rating and #41 ranking. This makes Plus500 appealing for users who value user-friendly web platforms and robust charting features, while ACY Securities caters to those seeking a wider range of trading systems and direct market engagement.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps from Plus500 and ACY Securities, both brokers offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, allowing traders to remain connected on the go. Each app provides the ability to set price alerts for stocks or forex, making it easy to stay updated with market shifts. Where Plus500 stands out is in its watchlist syncing feature, which keeps watchlists in sync with changes made online. Although ACY Securities lacks this feature, it compensates by allowing drawings on charts to be auto-saved, while Plus500 does not offer this capability.
Charting within the mobile app differs notably between the two, with Plus500 providing a wider range of technical studies—110 compared to ACY Securities' 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames, ensuring versatile chart analysis. Real-time quotes for watchlists are available in both apps, keeping traders informed. Ratings from users also show a preference for Plus500, which garners a 4.5-star rating versus ACY Securities' 4-star. Finally, in the ForexBrokers.com rankings for mobile trading apps, Plus500 is positioned at 14th out of 62 brokers, whereas ACY Securities ranks at 40th, highlighting a notable difference in overall user satisfaction.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of Plus500 and ACY Securities, both platforms provide daily market commentary to help traders stay informed. However, neither broker supplies forex news from renowned sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. For technical analysis enthusiasts, Plus500 has an edge with its tools from Trading Central, which aren't available with ACY Securities. On the sentiment analysis front, Plus500 offers a tool to gauge long or short positions across currency pairs, a feature not found with ACY Securities. Furthermore, both brokers include an economic calendar to track global news events, ensuring traders remain updated on important economic happenings.
In terms of overall research ratings from ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 is assessed at 4.0 stars, ranking 19th out of 62 brokers, while ACY Securities is close behind with a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 44th. Both brokers do not offer additional research tools from companies like Autochartist or Acuity Trading and are absent of market insights from TipRanks. Despite these similarities, Plus500's advanced analytics options lend it a slight advantage in providing a more comprehensive research experience for traders looking to dive deeper into market conditions.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Plus500 and ACY Securities offer a solid foundation with a variety of instructional materials available. Each broker provides a collection of at least 10 education-focused pieces including articles, videos, and archived webinars that primarily focus on forex and CFDs. Both platforms also ensure ongoing learning through monthly online client webinars with access to a searchable archive of these recorded sessions. They cater to newcomers with a suite of beginner videos covering essential trading topics. However, Plus500 goes further by providing an additional range of advanced videos for more experienced traders, a feature that ACY Securities does not offer.
Neither broker includes an investor dictionary with definitions of at least 50 investing terms, a gap for those seeking detailed terminological support. In terms of educational quality, Plus500 slightly edges out with a rating of 4.0 stars compared to ACY Securities' 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Plus500 is positioned at #31 out of 62 brokers, while ACY Securities lands at #43. Overall, Plus500’s comprehensive offering and higher ratings make it a more appealing choice for beginners keen on expanding their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
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 ACY Securities. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
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
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Both Plus500 and ACY Securities do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on providing options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, but not ACH or SEPA transfers, ACY Securities provides ACH, SEPA, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, though it does not support PayPal.
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 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $50 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | ACY Securities Review |
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