IG
Plus500
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Overview
IG was founded in 1974 and is headquartered in UK, while Plus500 was established in 2008 and is based in Israel. IG holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Plus500 is regulated by Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909) among others. IG serves 178,500+ clients worldwide; Plus500 has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at IG and $100 at Plus500.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) | Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909), Plus500CY Ltd authorized & regulated by CySEC (#250/14), Plus500AU Pty Ltd (ACN 153301681), ASIC in Australia AFSL #417727, FMA in New Zealand, FSP #486026 and Authorised Financial Services Provider in South Africa FSP #47546 |
| Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Country | UK | Israel |
| Clients | 178,500+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between IG and Plus500, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Plus500 has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $100 (vs $200 at IG). Neither broker charges withdrawal fees. Plus500 applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; IG does not. Overall, IG scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | No | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
IG offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Plus500 supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | MT4, Mac, Web Trader, L2 Dealer, Tablet & Mobile apps | Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how IG and Plus500 compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. Plus500 scores higher overall in education and research.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. IG accepts 3 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal), while Plus500 supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill). Plus500 uniquely supports Skrill among the two brokers. Plus500 scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill | No | Yes |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both IG and Plus500 offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. IG supports 5 languages and Plus500 supports 15, giving Plus500 broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | IG | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, French, German, Spanish, and Portuguese | English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian and Chinese |