A head-to-head comparison of Plus500 and Windsor Brokers 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.
One of the longest-operating CySEC-regulated brokers, offering standard and ECN accounts on MT4 and MT5 - a solid EU retail offering backed by a track record few Cyprus-based competitors can match.
Plus500 and Windsor Brokers are extremely closely matched with scores of 4/5 and 4/5. 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.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0 pips vs 0.6 pips for Plus500, reducing trading costs.
Plus500 has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
Windsor Brokers has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0 pips.
Plus500 offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4/5 and the same minimum deposit requirement, making them equally suited for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.7 / 5 | 3.8 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.0 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2008 | 1988 |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Israel | Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | $8/lot |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | FSCA CySEC |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Plus500 | Visit Windsor Brokers |
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
35+ years of continuous operation - one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
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
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
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
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5 - no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Plus500 | Windsor Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Plus500 and Windsor Brokers share the same editorial score of 4/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads starting from 0 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.
Both Plus500 and Windsor Brokers require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Plus500 holds top-tier regulation (FCA, ASIC, MAS), providing stronger investor protections. Windsor Brokers may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Always verify regulatory status with the broker directly before depositing funds.
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 Windsor Brokers 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.
Windsor Brokers charges $8 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile and Windsor Brokers offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; Plus500 exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile; Windsor Brokers exclusively offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
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Score 4 / 5
Score 4 / 5
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