A head-to-head comparison of Plus500 and Skilling across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
LSE-listed with zero commission, intuitive proprietary platform, and negative balance protection - though limited research and no MT4.
Modern Swedish-founded broker with CySEC and FCA regulation, a visually polished proprietary platform, and cTrader for advanced traders - well-positioned for EU retail clients seeking a contemporary alternative to legacy MetaTrader brokers.
Plus500 and Skilling are extremely closely matched with scores of 4/5 and 4.1/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Plus500 offers tighter spreads from 0.6 pips vs 0.7 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Both brokers offer equivalent trading costs across spreads, commissions, and account types.
Skilling offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader, a proprietary platform.
Skilling edges out Plus500 with a higher editorial score (4.1/5 vs 4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.1 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel | Valletta, Malta |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 cTrader Skilling Trader |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Plus500 | Visit Skilling |
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
Pros
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform - excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker - less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Plus500 | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, Skilling ranks higher with a score of 4.1/5 vs 4/5 for Plus500. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Plus500 and Skilling may each suit different trader profiles.
Plus500 offers tighter spreads starting from 0.6 pips, compared to Skilling's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Both Plus500 and Skilling require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both Plus500 and Skilling 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: both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Plus500 offers maximum leverage of 30:1, while Skilling offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile and Skilling offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader; Plus500 exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; Skilling exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, cTrader, Skilling Trader.
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