Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Vantage, 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 Vantage are both prominent online brokers, yet they differ in some critical aspects. Founded in 2008, Plus500 has established itself as a highly trusted broker, with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99. It is publicly traded, reflecting transparency and market confidence. Plus500 does not operate as a bank but maintains solid regulatory standings with six Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses, signifying its strong compliance with top financial authorities worldwide.
In comparison, Vantage, established in 2009, also enjoys a solid reputation in the industry with a Trust Score of 90. However, it is not publicly traded and holds fewer Tier-1 licenses, numbering two, and one Tier-2 license. While it does not function as a bank either, Vantage's regulatory coverage shows it is trusted by key financial entities, making it a reliable choice for online trading. Both brokers offer secure and regulated platforms, each with distinct characteristics catering to various trading preferences.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
Plus500 and Vantage are two notable online brokers, each with their unique pricing structures for commissions and fees. Plus500's cost framework is generally above the industry average, particularly for active trader pricing. Retail clients do not get discounts, although Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. For the month of April 2024, the EUR/USD spread at Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips, which is higher than the typical industry standard. Plus500 earns a 4.0-star rating and ranks 25th out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees according to ForexBrokers.com.
Vantage, on the other hand, offers various account types that influence trading costs. These include the spread-only Standard STP account and the commission-based RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts. The Standard account lists typical spreads of 1.30 pips for the EUR/USD in March 2023. The RAW ECN account features smaller spreads averaging 0.15 pips, but adds a commission of $3 per side. The PRO ECN account is Vantage's most competitive, with a lower commission of $2 per side, though it comes with specific entry requirements. Vantage provides an edge with its active trader program, which offers rebates but is limited to the Standard account. With a 4.5-star rating, Vantage holds the 18th spot in ForexBrokers.com's rankings for commissions and fees.
In summary, while both brokers have distinctive offerings, Plus500's pricing is less favorable for retail clients compared to Vantage's varied account options. Vantage outshines Plus500 slightly in terms of cost competitiveness, particularly for its RAW and PRO ECN accounts, and has a broader-ranging program for active traders. Those choosing between the two based solely on commissions and fees might find Vantage's offerings more appealing, given its higher rating and better ranking.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.75 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments between Plus500 and Vantage, Plus500 offers a broader selection, which may appeal to a wider range of investors. Plus500 provides access to 5,500 tradeable symbols, including 65 forex pairs, and allows trading of exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange. While Plus500 does not support copy trading, it does offer cryptocurrency derivatives, which could be enticing to those interested in speculative cryptocurrency investments without owning the actual assets.
On the other hand, Vantage features a more limited offering with a total of 1,000 tradeable symbols and 57 forex pairs. Unlike Plus500, Vantage does not allow clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international stock exchanges, limiting users to CFDs for their stock investments. However, Vantage offers copy trading, enabling traders to mimic the moves of experienced investors, which might benefit newcomers. Both brokerages offer CFD trading for forex and cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of ratings, Plus500 excels with a 4.5-star rating in investment range, ranking 24th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Vantage's 3.5-star rating and 50th rank.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 |
| 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 choosing between online brokers Plus500 and Vantage for trading platforms and tools, both offer proprietary platforms and free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Plus500 provides a convenient web-based platform accessible from anywhere, while Vantage caters more to traditional PC users with a Windows-based download option. While Plus500 lacks copy trading features, Vantage excels with several third-party tools like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as social trading via ZuluTrade and DupliTrade.
For chart analysis, Plus500 supports 22 drawing tools, compared to Vantage's 15, although Vantage allows direct trading from stock charts—a feature not available with Plus500. Plus500 enables broader customization with 10 columns for watch lists, compared to Vantage’s 7. Rated at 4.5 stars by ForexBrokers.com and ranked 14th out of 62 brokers, Plus500 slightly outperforms Vantage, which holds a 4-star rating and a 15th place ranking in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. Whether you favor a more extensive range of internal features or compatibility with widespread tools will guide your preference between the two.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| 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.
Both Plus500 and Vantage offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing users access to stock and forex markets on the go. Plus500 and Vantage ensure users receive timely stock or forex price alerts and offer the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts within their apps. However, Plus500 stands out with 110 technical studies for charting, compared to Vantage's 30, and it excels in watchlist syncing, enabling seamless updates between mobile app and online accounts. On the other hand, Vantage supports auto-saving of chart drawings, a feature Plus500 lacks.
When it comes to user satisfaction, Plus500 edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating for its mobile trading app, compared to Vantage's 4 stars. Plus500 is ranked 14th out of 62 brokers for mobile trading, reflecting its comprehensive feature set and user-friendly interface. Meanwhile, Vantage holds the 26th spot. Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but if syncing watchlists and a wider array of technical studies are important to you, Plus500 might be a better choice. If automatic saving of chart updates is a priority, Vantage may be more suitable.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Vantage, both brokers provide daily market commentary and share a sentiment-based trading tool, giving traders insights into long or short positions. Plus500 and Vantage each feature analytical tools powered by Trading Central and also offer an economic calendar that highlights global news and events, helping traders stay informed. However, a key distinction lies in the availability of high-quality forex news; Vantage stands out with news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas Plus500 does not have this feature.
Regarding additional analysis tools, neither broker partners with Autochartist, TipRanks, nor Acuity Trading, limiting their offerings in these areas. Despite these similarities and differences, Plus500 and Vantage share the same research rating with four out of five stars, reflecting a solid level of service overall. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks slightly higher at #19 compared to Vantage's #24 among 62 brokers assessed in the research category, suggesting that Plus500 might offer a slightly more favorable research experience overall.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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, both Plus500 and Vantage provide a solid foundation for beginners interested in trading forex or CFDs. Each platform offers a variety of learning materials, including more than ten educational pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars. Both Plus500 and Vantage schedule regular monthly webinars and maintain an archive of previous sessions, making it easy for users to revisit valuable content. Additionally, each platform caters to both beginners and experienced traders with a collection of over ten specific educational videos dedicated to each group.
While both brokers provide comprehensive educational support, Vantage edges ahead in offering an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a feature absent from Plus500's offerings. In terms of ratings, both brokers score 4 out of 5 stars for their educational services. However, Vantage ranks slightly higher, positioned at number 27 out of 62 brokers in the Education category according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Plus500's rank at number 31. These insights can help budding traders choose a platform that best meets their educational needs.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Vantage. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26.
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
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 |
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Both Plus500 and Vantage provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
Both Plus500 and Vantage provide various methods for depositing and withdrawing funds, such as PayPal, Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard, as well as bank wire transfers, but neither offers ACH or SEPA transfers as options.
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 | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Vantage | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 57 | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | 0.75 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Vantage Review |
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