Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB (founded 2002) and Plus500 (founded 2008) are online brokers that are publicly traded on stock exchanges and are not banks. These points, along with each firm’s licenses and third‑party ratings, help show how they’re overseen and how safe they may be to use.
Regulation and trust differ between the two: XTB holds 2 Tier‑1 and 2 Tier‑2 licenses and has a 96/99 ForexBrokers.com Trust Score. Plus500 holds 7 Tier‑1 and 4 Tier‑2 licenses and scores 99/99. On the ForexBrokers.com scale—90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 should not be trusted at all—both land in the highly trusted range, with Plus500 showing broader top‑tier licensing.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
XTB comes out ahead of Plus500 on commissions and fees overall. XTB is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #13 out of 36 for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. It offers a spread-only Standard account for most retail traders, while its commission-based Professional account is limited to eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in many regions. In Q4 2023, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip, which is around the industry average. For active traders, XTB also has a Lower Spread Group that can rebate part of the spread once trading volume targets are met.
Plus500 is a bit more expensive in this category and is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, with a ranking of #24 out of 36. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average. Unlike XTB, Plus500 does not offer pricing discounts to regular retail clients. It does, however, provide cash rebates for clients who qualify as Professional traders.
In simple terms, XTB is the better pick if lower trading costs matter most, especially for retail forex traders. Plus500 is still a well-known broker, but its spreads are generally less competitive, and its fee discounts are more limited. If you want the lower-cost option between the two, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and Plus500 both give traders access to forex as CFDs, plus the option to trade cryptocurrency CFDs rather than buy the coins outright. They also both let clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can invest in companies like Apple or Vodafone through either platform. Neither broker offers copy trading or direct, delivered crypto purchases.
Where XTB stands out is scale. It offers 10,900 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, compared with Plus500’s 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs. That wider product list helped XTB earn a 5-star rating for Range of Investments and a #14 rank out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 received 4.5 stars and ranked #16.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
XTB and Plus500 both give traders a simple way to get started, with free demo accounts, in-house platforms, and web-based trading tools. Both brokers also avoid MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and neither offers copy trading. Each one earns a strong 4.5 out of 5 stars for trading platforms and tools, so both are solid choices for everyday trading needs.
The main difference is that XTB offers a Windows desktop download platform, while Plus500 does not. XTB also lets users trade directly from a stock chart, which can make order entry quicker and easier, while Plus500 does not have this feature. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for trading platforms and tools, XTB places higher at #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with Plus500 at #14, giving XTB the edge for platform features and usability.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Plus500 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each includes stock or forex price alerts plus trendline drawing on charts. Both brokers are also rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so either one can be a solid choice if you want to trade on the go.
The main differences come down to charting and account syncing. Plus500 supports watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not. Plus500 also offers more technical studies in its mobile charts, with 115 compared with XTB’s 39, though XTB has the advantage of auto-saving chart drawings. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for mobile trading apps, XTB places higher at #8 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #14.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and Plus500 both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows whether positions are mostly long or short, and an economic calendar for tracking upcoming global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools. For overall research quality, XTB stands out a bit more, thanks to a five-star rating and a #9 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Plus500’s 4.5-star rating and #16 ranking.
One key difference is news coverage: XTB provides forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, Plus500 offers Trading Central research tools, such as Technical Analytics, which XTB does not. So, if you want stronger news coverage, XTB has the edge, while Plus500 may appeal more to traders looking for Trading Central insights.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and Plus500 both give beginners a good range of learning materials, including forex and CFD education, live educational webinars each month, and plenty of videos for both new and more experienced traders. That means each broker offers the basic tools a beginner might look for when trying to understand trading and build confidence before placing real trades.
Where XTB stands out is in the overall depth and quality of its education. It earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #26. In simple terms, both brokers provide helpful beginner resources, but XTB appears to offer a stronger learning experience overall.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Plus500. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
XTB vs Plus500: neither broker allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
For deposits and withdrawals, XTB and Plus500 both support PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, do not offer ACH or SEPA, and have unspecified availability for Visa or Mastercard.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill