AMarkets and Plus500 square off in a stock CFDs comparison, contrasting offshore ECN execution with regulated share CFDs. The tension centers on regulation, exchange access, and investor protections.
Plus500 edges AMarkets on the editorial score (3.6 vs 3.2), with stronger trust & regulation (4.5 vs 2.9) and broader exchange access (18 vs 4).
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose AMarkets if…
Choose AMarkets if you want very high leverage up to 3000:1 and ECN pricing. You also get MT4/MT5 with copy trading and offshore SVG/FSA regulation.
Choose Plus500 if…
Choose Plus500 if you value top-tier regulation and broad stock access with a proprietary platform and compensation scheme.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Plus500 has stronger top-tier regulation and compensation scheme.
| Editorial score | 3.2/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | $6/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AMarkets | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Fail | 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 | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: AMarkets rates 3.2/5 and Plus500 rates 3.6/5. Plus500 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.
AMarkets lists tighter spreads from 0, 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.
Both AMarkets and Plus500 require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Plus500 holds top-tier regulation (FCA, MAS, ASIC), providing stronger investor protections. AMarkets may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, Plus500 provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
AMarkets lists maximum leverage of 3000:1, 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.
AMarkets charges $6 per trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Plus500 are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
AMarkets supports cTrader, MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. AMarkets has exclusive access to cTrader and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Plus500 has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Neither AMarkets 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.
AMarkets suits active traders with ECN pricing and high leverage.
Plus500 suits beginners with a simple, browser-based platform and clear pricing.
Plus500 provides access to 18 exchanges, broader global stock coverage.
Plus500 wins with spread-only pricing and no commissions.
Equally matched; neither offers real shares, fractional shares, or DRIP.
| 0.6 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | $10/month (after 3 months) |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerWebMoneyCrypto | 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 | SVGFSA | FCA MAS ASIC CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | cTrader MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.2 / 5
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