Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs IronFX, 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.
When comparing online brokers Plus500 and IronFX, several key differences in their regulatory standings and trust ratings come to light. Plus500, founded in 2008, is a public company, while IronFX, established in 2010, remains privately held. This distinction emphasizes Plus500's transparency and accountability to shareholders. Plus500 boasts a perfect Trust Score of 99, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, signifying a highly trusted status. This broker holds six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, enhancing its credibility in the trading community. In comparison, IronFX has a Trust Score of 83, categorized as trusted, with three Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses, suggesting a more conservative regulatory footprint.
While neither Plus500 nor IronFX operates as a bank, Plus500's range of licenses and public trading status offer clients a strong sense of security and trust. In contrast, IronFX's lesser number of licenses and private standing might appeal to traders with different preferences. Understanding these regulatory distinctions can guide potential users in choosing the broker that best fits their needs and expectations when navigating the online trading landscape.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of Plus500 and IronFX, both brokers offer pricing that is somewhat higher than the industry average. Plus500's costs, while decent, are not as competitive as top forex brokers like IG or Saxo, particularly for active traders. This broker does not provide retail client discounts, but there are cash rebates available for those who qualify as Professional clients. For the popular EUR/USD pair, Plus500's spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which exceeds the typical industry rates. Plus500 earns a 4.0-star rating for commissions and fees and ranks 25th out of 62 brokers in this category by ForexBrokers.com.
IronFX also exhibits a need for improvement in pricing, as its spreads tend to be above the industry norm. For their Standard variable spread account, the typical spread is listed at 1.8 pips, although spreads can vary by account type and no specific date range is provided. Notably, their zero fixed-spread account offers spreads starting at zero but imposes a $18 per lot commission, with spreads widening to 3 pips overnight. Like Plus500, IronFX also secures a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, but it holds a lower rank, coming in at 47th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| 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 IronFX both offer forex trading as CFDs, but they differ significantly in their range of investments. Plus500 provides access to an impressive 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs. In contrast, IronFX presents users with 340 tradeable symbols and a slightly higher offering of 83 forex pairs. A key differentiator is Plus500's capability to offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to directly invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone. IronFX, however, does not grant access to such exchange-traded securities.
When it comes to additional features, Plus500 focuses on offering a diverse array of CFDs, including cryptocurrency derivatives, but doesn't support copy trading. IronFX, on the other hand, compensates for its narrower symbol range by providing a copy trading option, which may appeal to users looking to mimic the success of experienced traders. In terms of ratings, Plus500 earns 4.5 stars for its range of investments, securing the 24th rank among 62 brokers, whereas IronFX holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 51st. These differences underline Plus500's broader selection and higher ranking in investment diversity.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 |
| 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, Plus500 and IronFX cater to different user preferences with varying features and offerings. Plus500 impresses with its proprietary platform, which is developed in-house, ensuring a unique and streamlined experience. However, it lacks a desktop download option, focusing instead on a comprehensive web-based solution. Traders benefit from a virtual demo account to practice without risks, 22 drawing tools for charting, and 10 customizable columns for watch lists, contributing to its notable 4.5-star rating. Plus500 ranks a respectable 14th among 62 reviewed brokers in the category of Trading Platforms and Tools.
In comparison, IronFX offers a more traditional approach by providing access to popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and a Windows-based desktop download. This broker includes the bonus feature of copy trading, appealing to those who wish to follow successful strategies of other traders. While IronFX supports web-based trading and a demo account, it falls behind with only 15 drawing tools and 7 watch list columns. Despite these offerings, it garners a 3.5-star rating and ranks 60th in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, reflecting a more conservative approach compared to Plus500.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| 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 of Plus500 and IronFX, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, providing a seamless trading experience on the go. They both feature stock and forex price alerts, ensuring traders are always in tune with market movements. Plus500, however, stands out with the ability to sync watchlist symbols between its mobile app and online account, a feature absent in IronFX. In terms of technical charting tools, Plus500 offers a more extensive selection with 110 technical studies, compared to IronFX's 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view various time frames on charts, though only IronFX's app auto-saves these drawings.
Plus500 and IronFX both enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. When it comes to user ratings, Plus500 leads with an impressive 4.5 out of 5 stars, whereas IronFX trails with 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings; Plus500 ranks 14th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category on ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX comes in at 61st. Overall, Plus500 seems to offer a more comprehensive and user-friendly mobile trading experience compared to IronFX, especially for those seeking advanced technical analysis tools and account synchronization features.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both Plus500 and IronFX provide traders with daily market commentary, ensuring that clients have access to regular insights into market trends. However, when it comes to sourcing forex news from top-tier agencies like Bloomberg or Reuters, IronFX takes the lead by offering these resources, whereas Plus500 does not. Both platforms provide tools from Trading Central, allowing users to access technical analytics, but neither offers tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading. Importantly, Plus500 differentiates itself by offering a sentiment-based trading tool that indicates the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, a feature not present at IronFX.
For traders looking to plan their trades around global economic events, both platforms offer an economic calendar with updates on international financial happenings. In terms of research accolades, Plus500 performs slightly better, with a 4.0-star rating compared to IronFX's 4 stars in the research category. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a higher rank at 19 out of 62 brokers, while IronFX stands at 28. This suggests that, for market research, Plus500 might offer a slight edge over IronFX.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources available for beginners at Plus500 and IronFX, both brokers offer a comprehensive range of materials aimed at novice traders, including more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs. Plus500 stands out with its regular online educational webinars, held at least once a month, providing interactive learning opportunities. It also maintains a searchable archive of past webinars, giving traders the flexibility to learn at their own pace. In contrast, IronFX does not offer regular webinars, though it does provide an archive of recorded sessions. Both brokers provide a strong selection of beginner education videos, ensuring newcomers have access to a range of learning options.
Plus500 provides additional value with a series of videos catering to more advanced traders, a feature IronFX lacks. However, when it comes to offering an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, IronFX takes the lead. In terms of overall educational quality, Plus500 is rated slightly higher at 4.0 stars compared to IronFX's 4 stars, with Plus500 ranked 31st among 62 brokers in the Education category by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX ranks 44th. This makes Plus500 a slightly better choice for those looking for a comprehensive educational experience that grows with their trading journey.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
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 IronFX. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 |
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Both Plus500 and IronFX do not provide the option to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
In comparing online brokers Plus500 and IronFX, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers; however, Plus500 enables PayPal transactions while IronFX does not, both platforms allow Skrill and major credit card (Visa/Mastercard) transactions, as well as bank wire options for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 83 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | Plus500 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review |
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