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 and Plus500 are both prominent online brokerage firms that provide various trading services to investors around the world. Founded in 2002, XTB is a publicly traded company and is not a bank. Similarly, Plus500, which began operations in 2008, is also publicly traded and not a bank. Both companies are transparent and regulated, but there are differences in their regulatory standings and trust ratings. XTB holds two highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and two trusted Tier-2 licenses, earning a very high Trust Score of 96 on ForexBrokers.com.
Comparatively, Plus500 surpasses XTB with six highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and three trusted Tier-2 licenses, culminating in a near-perfect Trust Score of 99. Both brokers are subject to rigorous regulatory oversight, providing a secure environment for traders. While XTB offers a strong level of trust and reliability, Plus500 takes a slight edge by holding more licenses and scoring the highest possible trust rating. This makes Plus500 a compelling choice for those prioritizing regulatory assurance and trust in their online brokerage.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When considering XTB versus Plus500, XTB offers competitive fees through two account structures: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, although the latter is being phased out. With average spreads on the EUR/USD at 1 pip, XTB provides pricing that aligns with the industry's midpoint, despite not being the leader in this area. Notably, XTB operates an active trader program called the Lower Spread Group, where eligible traders can earn rebates ranging from 5% to 30% of the spread depending on their trading volume. XTB's structure is particularly advantageous for retail traders as the Standard account appears more cost-effective for smaller trades, and it boasts a high rating of 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, ranking 11th out of 62 brokers analyzed by ForexBrokers.com.
Plus500, on the other hand, features pricing that sits slightly above the industry average and does not extend specific discounts to retail traders. For the EUR/USD pair, Plus500 has an average spread of 1.5 pips, which surpasses the typical market rate. Professional traders under Plus500 can benefit from cash rebates, functioning similarly to an active trader program, although these discounts aren't available to all. Plus500's service is rated 4.0 stars for commissions and fees, placing it 25th out of the same 62 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com, indicating a higher cost level when compared to some counterparts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | 1.5 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 1.5 |
| 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 offered by XTB and Plus500, both online brokers provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, making them versatile choices for traders. XTB stands out with an impressive total of 7,184 tradable symbols, surpassing Plus500's 5,500 symbols. Forex enthusiasts will find XTB slightly more appealing with 71 available tradable pairs compared to Plus500's 65 pairs. Both platforms provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to invest globally, with options like Apple and Vodafone shares available. However, neither XTB nor Plus500 supports copy trading or the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, though they do offer cryptocurrency derivatives.
XTB earns a higher rating of 5 stars for its range of investments, while Plus500 garners a commendable 4.5 stars. This distinction is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XTB holds the 14th position and Plus500 is ranked at 24th among 62 brokers. Both platforms cater to varied investment needs, but XTB's broader range of symbols and forex pairs may provide traders with more opportunities to diversify their portfolios.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 |
| 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). | 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.
When it comes to comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by XTB and Plus500, both brokers provide a range of features designed to enhance your trading experience. Both XTB and Plus500 offer free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. They have developed their own proprietary platforms, ensuring you have tools tailored specifically for their services. If you're looking for a Windows-based desktop platform, XTB has you covered, while Plus500 opts for simplicity by only providing a web-based platform. Both brokers offer web access for trading, making it easy to manage your investments from any device. However, neither XTB nor Plus500 includes popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) in their offerings, nor do they support other trading aids like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. While both platforms lack copy trading functionality, XTB offers the added advantage of allowing trades directly from stock charts, a feature Plus500 does not provide.
In terms of charting tools, XTB slightly outshines Plus500 with 32 drawing tools compared to Plus500’s 22. However, when it comes to watchlists, Plus500 offers more customizable columns with 10 options, whereas XTB provides 8. Both platforms boast a consistent user rating of 4.5 stars for their trading tools and have been recognized favorably by ForexBrokers.com, with XTB ranked 9th and Plus500 14th out of 62 brokers. These rankings reflect the quality and functionality of the trading tools each broker offers, helping traders make informed decisions based on their personal preferences and trading styles.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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) | 39 | 114 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 22 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XTB and Plus500, both platforms offer comprehensive experiences with iPhone and Android accessibility. Traders can receive stock and forex price alerts on both apps, ensuring timely updates. While Plus500 provides the convenience of watchlist symbol syncing across mobile and online accounts, XTB lacks this feature. However, XTB stands out with auto-saving drawings on charts, which Plus500 does not offer.
Looking at charting capabilities, Plus500 impresses with 110 technical studies compared to XTB's 39. Both apps allow drawing trendlines and viewing different time frames, providing versatile analysis tools for traders. Real-time watchlist creation is available on both platforms, enhancing market monitoring. In terms of ratings, both apps have received 4.5 out of 5 stars, showcasing strong user satisfaction. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB is ranked #8, while Plus500 is at #14 among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 110 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing XTB and Plus500 for market research, both offer daily market commentary and provide sentiment-based trading tools for assessing the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. However, XTB distinguishes itself by providing forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, something Plus500 does not offer. While both brokers post economic calendars keeping users informed on global news events, Plus500 has a slight edge with its inclusion of tools from Trading Central, which XTB does not provide.
Despite these features, XTB generally receives higher marks for research, earning a 5-star rating compared to Plus500's 4-star evaluation. This difference in rating is reflected in their standings, with XTB ranking 7th out of 62 brokers in the Research category as per ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 ranks 19th. This indicates that while both platforms offer solid research tools, XTB may be more appealing for those prioritizing access to high-quality news sources and a higher overall research reputation.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | 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 comparing the educational offerings for beginners, both XTB and Plus500 provide a diverse array of resources in the realm of forex and CFDs. XTB shines with its broad selection of educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars, all tailored for those new to trading. Plus500 matches this variety, ensuring beginners have ample content to start learning. Both platforms host online webinars each month, and their extensive archives ensure that newcomers can revisit past sessions whenever needed. Whether you're just starting or seeking advanced insights, XTB and Plus500 offer a wide range of beginner and advanced educational videos, making them valuable resources for expanding your trading knowledge.
However, when diving deeper into the details, XTB seems to have a slight edge in education quality. It boasts a higher educational rating of five stars compared to Plus500's four-star ranking. Furthermore, in a competitive analysis by ForexBrokers.com out of 62 brokers, XTB is ranked 11th, whereas Plus500 stands at 31st. While neither broker provides an extensive investor dictionary, the difference in their ratings and rankings may tip the scales for beginners seeking a more highly regarded educational experience. Choosing between XTB and Plus500 largely depends on personal preferences, but both platforms offer solid supports to guide beginners through the complexities of trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 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 |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both XTB and Plus500 do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XTB and Plus500 offer convenient options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education 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 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 65 | |
| 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). | 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 | 1.00 | 1.5 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | 1.5 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €100 | |
| 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | 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 | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 114 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 22 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 110 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | XTB | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill