Two brokers, OANDA and Plus500, square off on regulation, pricing, and platforms, highlighting a tension between breadth of tools and instrument variety.
Both are regulated and keep client funds in segregated accounts. OANDA provides MT4/MT5 and advanced research, while Plus500 offers more instruments via its proprietary platform.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Plus500 offers tighter spreads from 0.60 pips vs 1.00 pips for OANDA, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.6/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Pros
Available to US residents (NFA-registered)
Best-in-class research and economic data
No minimum deposit
MT4, MT5 and proprietary platforms
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | OANDA | 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 | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
OANDA rates 4.6/5 versus 4/5 for Plus500. OANDA edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Plus500 starts from 0.6 pips, tighter than OANDA's 1 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
OANDA has no minimum deposit, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes OANDA more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both OANDA and Plus500 hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: OANDA has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
OANDA lists maximum leverage of 50:1, while Plus500 lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
OANDA supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. OANDA has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and TradingView and MetaTrader 4.
Equally matched between OANDA and Plus500 given strong regulation and funds protection.
OANDA wins for active traders with MT4/MT5 access and advanced research.
Plus500 is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.60 pips.
OANDA wins due to multiple platforms including MT4/MT5 and TradingView integration.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 1996 | 2008 |
|---|
| Headquarters | New York, United States | Haifa, Israel |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 1 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 50:1▲ higher | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 12 months) | $10/month (after 3 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free for ACH | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CBI CMF NFA | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile TradingView MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Spreads slightly wider than ECN-style brokers
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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