ADS Securities and Plus500 square off in a regulator-focused comparison. The split centers on safety protections and global exchange access.
ADS Securities and Plus500 are closely matched overall. Plus500 provides negative balance protection, which ADS Securities does not.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose ADS Securities if…
Choose ADS Securities if you value phone support, research tools, and advanced charting.
Choose Plus500 if…
Choose Plus500 if you want 24/5 live chat, broader exchange access, and negative balance protection.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Plus500 wins for safety and regulation, with multiple regulators and a compensation scheme.
| Editorial score | 3.8/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $2,000 | $100▼ lower |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month (after 3 months) |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ADS Securities | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Fail | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Fail |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Fail |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Fail |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: ADS Securities rates 3.8/5 and Plus500 rates 3.6/5. ADS Securities 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.
ADS Securities lists tighter spreads from 0.5, compared with Plus500's 0.6. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Plus500 has $100, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes Plus500 more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ADS Securities 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.
Plus500 stands out for beginners: it has a lower entry point and provides negative balance protection, which caps losses at your deposited amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ADS Securities lists maximum leverage of 200:1, while Plus500 lists up to 20:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
ADS Securities supports MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. ADS Securities has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Neither ADS Securities nor Plus500 is listed as offering commission-free trading in our data. Compare each broker's commission schedule directly, as fees vary by account type and the markets you trade.
Plus500 scores higher on investor protection criteria, with compensation scheme coverage and segregated client funds. For stock investors, confirming compensation scheme coverage ensures your assets are protected up to a defined limit if the broker becomes insolvent.
ADS Securities is better for active traders due to institutional-grade execution and GCC equity access.
Plus500 wins for beginners with a simple, beginner-friendly WebTrader.
Plus500 wins for global access with broader exchange coverage.
Plus500 wins for low-cost trading with spread-only pricing and no commissions.
Equally matched.
| Deposit fee |
|---|
| Free |
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | No |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | No |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | No |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | FSRA FCA | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
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