Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Trading 212, 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, established in 2008, and Trading 212, founded in 2004, are two prominent online brokers catering to diverse investment needs. Plus500, a publicly traded company, holds a reputable standing in the industry with a top-notch Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This score reflects its solid regulatory framework, highlighted by six highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and three trusted Tier-2 licenses. In contrast, Trading 212, though not publicly traded, offers a moderate option with a Trust Score of 79, which indicates an average risk level according to ForexBrokers.com. It possesses two Tier-1 licenses but lacks any Tier-2 licenses.
Both brokers are not banks, which means they focus solely on providing trading services. The higher number and quality of regulatory licenses held by Plus500 suggest a comprehensive adherence to international financial rules. Conversely, Trading 212, with fewer licenses, may appeal to those comfortable with a moderate risk level. While both brokers offer online trading platforms, their differing regulatory standings and risk assessments make them better suited to different types of investors.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When evaluating commissions and fees, Plus500's pricing is slightly above the industry average and does not compete with the best forex brokers for active trader pricing. This online broker does not provide discounts for retail clients, although it offers cash rebates for those who qualify as Professional clients. In April 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD currency pair at Plus500 was 1.5 pips, which is notably higher than the industry average. In terms of commissions and fees, Plus500 receives a solid 4.0-star rating and is ranked at #25 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Trading 212, on the other hand, provides two account options: the Invest account for shares and the CFD account for CFDs. This discussion is focused on the CFD account, which requires a minimum deposit of 10 euros. Although Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, users are still subject to spreads when trading CFDs and forex. The broker has started to publish its average spread data, promoting transparency. For January 2024, the average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 1.9 pips, which unfortunately surpasses the industry average, placing Trading 212 at a disadvantage compared to leading CFD and forex brokers. Trading 212 also holds a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking #43 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When examining the range of investment options offered by Plus500 and Trading 212, both platforms allow trading in forex as CFDs, enabling access to a variety of markets. Plus500 provides a notable 5,500 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 exceeds this with 8,025 symbols. In terms of forex pairs, Trading 212 offers more options with 146 compared to Plus500's 65. Both brokers facilitate access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets, allowing clients to invest in popular stocks such as Apple and Vodafone. However, neither platform supports the direct purchase of cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on cryptocurrency derivatives.
Despite lacking copy trading features, both brokers provide a solid range of investment opportunities. Trading 212 stands out with a perfect 5-star rating for its investment range, ranking #15 among 62 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. Plus500, while still highly regarded with a 4.5-star rating, ranks #24 in the same category. This comparison highlights Trading 212's slightly broader offering, making it an attractive choice for those seeking a wide selection of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 comparing online brokers Plus500 and Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools, both offer a user-friendly experience with proprietary platforms developed in-house. Each provides a web-based trading interface, but neither offers a downloadable Windows desktop version. For beginners or those looking to test strategies, both brokers provide a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to simulate market conditions. Unlike some trading platforms, neither Plus500 nor Trading 212 supports third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, nor do they offer copy trading features such as DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
In terms of charting tools, Plus500 seems to have an edge with 22 drawing tools compared to Trading 212's 20, but Trading 212 allows users to trade directly from stock charts, a feature Plus500 lacks. Plus500 also provides more configurable options in watch lists with 10 columns, whereas Trading 212 offers 5. When assessed by ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns a slightly higher rating of 4.5 stars compared to Trading 212's 4 stars and ranks 14th in trading platforms and tools among 62 brokers, versus Trading 212's rank of 21st. Overall, traders may find Plus500 a bit more appealing in terms of technical capabilities, while Trading 212’s chart-trading feature offers a unique advantage for more dynamic trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Plus500 and Trading 212, both platforms cater proficiently to users of iPhone and Android devices. Plus500 excels with a total of 110 technical studies available for charting, slightly surpassing Trading 212, which offers 104. Moreover, both apps provide essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to sync watchlists across devices. They also enable users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on their charts, enhancing the trading experience. However, a standout feature of Trading 212 is its auto-save functionality for drawings on charts, which Plus500 does not offer. Despite this, Plus500 receives a slightly higher mobile trading app rating of 4.5 stars compared to Trading 212's 4 stars.
Both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, a handy tool for active traders. In terms of market rankings, Plus500 achieves a higher position, placing 14th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while Trading 212 is ranked 17th. These small differences can influence the experiences users might have, depending on personal preferences and needs. Consider these aspects when choosing between Plus500 and Trading 212 for mobile trading, keeping in mind the importance of app features and user ratings in shaping an optimal trading journey.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 104 |
| 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 Plus500 and Trading 212 for market research offerings, there are some clear distinctions to note. Plus500 provides daily market commentary, which is something Trading 212 does not offer. However, Trading 212 shines by delivering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which Plus500 lacks. Both platforms are aligned when it comes to technical analysis tools from Autochartist as neither broker offers these resources. But Plus500 takes the lead with analytical tools from Trading Central, which Trading 212 does not have. A sentiment-based trading tool is present on both platforms, offering insights into the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments.
Both Plus500 and Trading 212 include an economic calendar to keep traders informed on global news events affecting various economies. Despite some similarities, Plus500 stands out in overall market research quality with a 4.0-star rating compared to Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks 19th out of 62 brokers for research, whereas Trading 212 holds the 46th spot, further highlighting Plus500's superior research capabilities. Neither broker provides tools from Acuity Trading or market research from TipRanks, making them balanced on that front.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Plus500 and Trading 212 cater to beginners eager to learn about forex and CFDs trading by offering an array of educational resources. Beginners can find more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focusing on forex or CFDs, with both platforms delivering on this front. They both also hold monthly webinars to engage clients further, and these sessions are accessible afterward through a searchable archive. Whether you are just starting or looking to sharpen your trading skills with advanced topics, both Plus500 and Trading 212 offer plenty of videos tailored to different experience levels.
However, Trading 212 offers an added feature: an investor dictionary containing over 50 investment terms, which Plus500 does not provide. This could be especially useful for those who wish to quickly familiarize themselves with investment jargon. In terms of general education quality, Plus500 scores slightly higher with a 4.0-star rating compared to Trading 212’s 3.5 stars. Notably, Plus500 ranks 31st for education among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds a higher position at 20th, indicating diverse strengths in their educational offerings.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 Trading 212. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 |
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Both Plus500 and Trading 212 do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers Plus500 and Trading 212, Plus500 supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for transactions but lacks ACH or SEPA transfers, whereas Trading 212 offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support Skrill.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 104 | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Trading 212 Review |
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