Interactive Brokers
Plus500
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Overview
Interactive Brokers was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in United States, while Plus500 was established in 2008 and is based in Israel. Interactive Brokers holds licences including the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, while Plus500 is regulated by Plus500UK Ltd authorized & regulated by the FCA (#509909) among others. Interactive Brokers serves 1,000,000+ clients worldwide; Plus500 has 1,000,000+. The minimum deposit is $1 at Interactive Brokers and $100 at Plus500.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Regulation | the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Australian Securities and Investments Commission (AFSL: 453554) and is a participant of ASX, ASX 24 and Chi-X Australia. Is a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and Member - Canadian Investor Protection Fund. Is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA register entry number 208159. Is regulated by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). Is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI, reference number C423427). Is licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Hungary (Magyar Nemzeti Bank) under no. H-EN-III-623/2020. Is regulated by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission. Is a member of NSE, BSE, SEBI. Regn. No. SEBI Registration No. INZ000217730; NSDL: IN-DP-NSDL-301-2008. CIN-U67120MH2007FTC170004. Is regulated by Kanto Local Finance Bureau (Registration No.187). Is licensed and regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (Licence No. CMS100917). | 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 | 1977 | 2008 |
| Country | United States | Israel |
| Clients | 1,000,000+ | 1,000,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Interactive Brokers and Plus500, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Interactive Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1 (vs $100 at Plus500). Interactive Brokers charges withdrawal fees while Plus500 does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. Plus500 applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Interactive Brokers does not. Overall, Interactive Brokers scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $1 | $100 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | Yes | No |
Platforms
Interactive Brokers offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, a proprietary platform, 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. Interactive Brokers edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, NinjaTrader, 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 Interactive Brokers 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. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Interactive Brokers accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Plus500 supports 4 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, PayPal, Skrill). Plus500 uniquely supports PayPal and Skrill among the two brokers. Plus500 scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | 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 Interactive Brokers and Plus500 offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Interactive Brokers supports 2 languages and Plus500 supports 15, giving Plus500 broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, German, Dutch, Polish, Arabic, Hebrew, Danish, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Bulgarian and Chinese |