This matchup weighs regulated ownership against CFD exposure, testing security, asset depth, and pricing clarity across Interactive Brokers and Plus500.
Interactive Brokers edges Plus500 on editorial score due to real crypto ownership and broader regulatory coverage.
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose Interactive Brokers if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you want phone support.
Choose Plus500 if…
Choose Interactive Brokers if you value advanced charting and 9 crypto assets. Plus500 should be chosen if you want 24/5 live chat support. Plus500 if you value 15 coins and an inactivity fee after 3 months.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Interactive Brokers wins for security with multi-jurisdictional regulation from SEC, FINRA, and FCA.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 3.7/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
| Spreads From | 0.2 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Taker Fee | 2.00% | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Interactive Brokers rates 4/5 and Plus500 rates 3.7/5. Interactive Brokers has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Interactive Brokers lists a lower spread from 0.2, compared with Plus500's 0.6. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both Interactive Brokers and Plus500 hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each exchange's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Interactive Brokers has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both exchanges provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers up to 1:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus Plus500's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Plus500 are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Crypto fees are typically quoted as maker/taker rates rather than fixed per-trade commissions; check each exchange's fee schedule for volume-based discounts.
Interactive Brokers supports Trader Workstation (TWS), Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. Interactive Brokers has exclusive access to Trader Workstation (TWS).
Interactive Brokers scores better on fee criteria (no deposit fee, no inactivity fee). Always check both exchanges' current fee schedules, as maker/taker rates and withdrawal fees vary and are subject to change.
Plus500 wins for low fees with no commissions and spread-based pricing.
Plus500 offers more coins (15) than Interactive Brokers (9).
Plus500 wins for beginners due to its clean, beginner-friendly platform.
Equally matched for DeFi and Web3 exposure since neither offers DeFi access.
| 0.4 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 3 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC JFSA IIROC DFSA CNB CMVM CNV AMF SEC MFSA SFC SEBI CBI CMF NFA FSC FINRA | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.7 / 5
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