Plus500 and Skilling square off on regulation, pricing, and platform options, highlighting how each prioritizes different trader needs in a crowded market.
Plus500 and Skilling are closely matched overall; the clearest differentiator is Skilling's MT4/MT5 support.
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 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
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)
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 |
The scores are close: Plus500 rates 4/5 and Skilling rates 4.1/5. Skilling 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.
Plus500 starts from 0.6 pips, tighter than Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most 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. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Plus500 lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Skilling lists up to 500:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Plus500 has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader and MetaTrader 4.
Equally matched, as both hold strong regulatory oversight and segregated client funds.
Skilling, with MT4/MT5 support, no inactivity fee, and advanced charting.
Skilling is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Skilling wins for platform choice with Skilling Trader, cTrader, and MT4 support.
Plus500 is best for beginners with a simple, intuitive platform and pricing.
Plus500 wins for instrument variety with about 2000 markets.
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▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | $10/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | cTrader Skilling Trader MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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