Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Plus500, 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.
FXCM vs Plus500: FXCM was founded in 1999, and Plus500 in 2008. Both are publicly traded companies, and neither is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trust Scores of 90–99 mean highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted. FXCM scores 95 (highly trusted), while Plus500 scores 99 (highly trusted, at the top of the range).
On regulation, FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses; Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 and 4 Tier-2. Tier-1 regulators are considered the strictest by ForexBrokers.com, so both brokers provide strong oversight, with Plus500 covering more top-tier jurisdictions by count. In short, both are well-regulated choices, with Plus500 edging ahead on licensing breadth and FXCM remaining a highly trusted alternative.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
FXCM has slightly higher-than-average commissions and fees for forex trading, but it can be more competitive for active traders. On its commission-based accounts, the EUR/USD spread averaged 0.28 pips in May 2024 before commissions, which works out to an effective spread of about 0.74 pips after costs are added. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program in some regions, with rebates ranging from $5 to $25 per million traded for clients who meet higher monthly volume targets. FXCM is rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks No. 17 out of 36 brokers.
Plus500 is also priced a bit above the industry average, but it does not offer retail discounts like a standard active trader program. For EUR/USD, its average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than what many top forex brokers charge. Cash rebates may be available only to clients who qualify as Professional clients. Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars for commissions and fees and ranks No. 24 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, FXCM comes out ahead of Plus500 on pricing, especially for traders who can qualify for volume-based rebates. While both brokers are more expensive than the cheapest options in the market, FXCM offers lower average spreads and better cost savings for high-volume trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and Plus500 both let traders access forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs rather than actual crypto ownership. Where they differ most is in product range. FXCM lists 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, while Plus500 offers a much wider selection with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs. Plus500 also stands out for offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. FXCM does not offer these exchange-traded stocks.
FXCM does have copy trading, which Plus500 does not. In terms of overall range of investments, both brokers receive 4.5 out of 5 stars, but ForexBrokers.com ranks Plus500 higher at 16th out of 36 brokers, compared with FXCM at 21st. For traders who want more market choice and access to real shares, Plus500 has the edge, while FXCM may appeal more to those looking for copy trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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). | 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. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FXCM and Plus500 both give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and web-based trading access, so each broker supports easy online trading for beginners and active users alike. FXCM, however, stands out for platform choice and trading tools: it also offers a Windows desktop download, copy trading, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 keeps things simpler, with no desktop download, no copy trading, and no MT4 or MT5 support. For traders who want more platform flexibility and chart-based trading features, FXCM has the edge.
That difference shows in expert ratings as well. FXCM is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14. If you are comparing online brokers mainly on trading platforms and tools, FXCM is the stronger pick for advanced platform options, while Plus500 may appeal to traders who prefer a simpler, browser-based setup.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Plus500 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each broker is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both are well regarded for trading on the go. FXCM stands out for automatically saving chart drawings in its app, which can be helpful if you switch between devices or return to a chart later.
When it comes to chart tools, Plus500 has the edge with 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 59 at FXCM. That said, FXCM is ranked #16 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 ranks slightly higher at #14. Overall, both brokers offer solid mobile trading experiences, but Plus500 may appeal more to traders who want more chart indicators, while FXCM may be better for those who value saved chart work.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and Plus500 both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positioning, an economic calendar, and access to Trading Central research. They also each earn 4.5 out of 5 stars for research, which puts them among the stronger choices for market analysis. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.
Where FXCM stands out is in its news and extra research coverage. FXCM offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus market research from TipRanks, while Plus500 does not offer either of those. That helps explain FXCM’s higher Research ranking from ForexBrokers.com, where it places #11 out of 36 brokers, compared with Plus500 at #16.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Plus500 both give beginners plenty of learning support, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. In other words, new traders can find a mix of articles, videos, and live sessions at either platform to help them get started and build skills over time.
Where they differ is in overall standing. FXCM is ranked #13 out of 36 brokers for Education by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is ranked #26. Even so, both brokers receive the same Education score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, so beginners may find either one useful, with FXCM holding a stronger edge in the category overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than Plus500. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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Plus500
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 99 |
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FXCM and Plus500 do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both online brokers provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs.
FXCM vs Plus500: For deposits and withdrawals, FXCM supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Plus500 does not support ACH/SEPA but does support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; card options (Visa/Mastercard) were not specified.
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 | FXCM | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Plus500 | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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). | 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. |
| Cost | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Plus500 Review |
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