Interactive Brokers vs Plus500 Forex Broker Comparison
A head-to-head comparison of Interactive Brokers and Plus500 across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Score 4.6 / 5
2 bonusesListed broker with global market access, lowest financing rates we benchmark, and the powerful TWS workstation.
VS
LSE-listed with zero commission, intuitive proprietary platform, and negative balance protection - though limited research and no MT4.
Our Verdict
Interactive Brokers winsClear Winner
Interactive Brokers comes out ahead with an editorial score of 4.6/5 compared to Plus500's 4/5.
Interactive Brokers
4.6/5
Plus500
4/5
Verdict by Trader Profile
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Best for low cost trading
Recommended
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.2 pips vs 0.6 pips for Plus500, reducing trading costs.
Best for safety & regulation
It's a tie
Both equally suited
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Best for active traders
Recommended
Interactive Brokers has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.2 pips.
Best for platform choice
Recommended
Interactive Brokers offers more exclusive platform options: Trader Workstation (TWS), a proprietary platform.
Best for beginners
Recommended
Interactive Brokers edges out Plus500 with a higher editorial score (4.6/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
Interactive Brokers vs Plus500: Side-by-Side Forex Broker Comparison
Score
= highlighted score shows which broker leads in that category| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
| Founded | 1978 | 2008 |
| Headquarters | Greenwich, United States | Haifa, Israel |
| Min deposit | No minimum | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.2 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $2/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 50:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | First withdrawal/month free | Free |
| Regulators | SEC FCA CMF ASIC JFSA SEBI AMF SFC FINRA DFSA CMVM NFA IIROC CNV FSC CBI CNB MFSA | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile Trader Workstation (TWS) | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Interactive Brokers | Visit Plus500 |
Interactive Brokers vs Plus500 Forex Broker Pros & Cons
Pros
Available to US residents
Lowest margin rates in industry
150+ global markets
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
LSE-listed providing strong institutional credibility
Zero commission on all trades
Intuitive proprietary platform with a clean mobile app
Negative balance protection across all accounts
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Steeper learning curve on TWS
No MT4 / MT5
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Cons
No MT4 or MT5 support
Limited research tools and market analysis
US residents not accepted
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
Interactive Brokers vs Plus500: Detailed Category Breakdown
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
4
Interactive Brokers
criteria wins
1
Plus500
criteria win
Highlighted rows show where the two brokers differ
| Criteria | Interactive Brokers | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Interactive Brokers vs Plus500: Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Interactive Brokers ranks higher with a score of 4.6/5 vs 4/5 for Plus500. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Interactive Brokers and Plus500 may each suit different trader profiles.
Interactive Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0.2 pips, compared to Plus500's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes Interactive Brokers more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Interactive Brokers and Plus500 hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: Interactive Brokers has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Interactive Brokers offers maximum leverage of 50:1, while Plus500 offers up to 30:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Interactive Brokers charges $2 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Interactive Brokers supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, Trader Workstation (TWS) and Plus500 offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; Interactive Brokers exclusively offers Trader Workstation (TWS).
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Score 4 / 5
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