In this matchup, AvaTrade and Plus500 compete for share CFD exposure across a broad stock universe. They differ in platform ecosystems and support features, shaping ease of use and access.
AvaTrade and Plus500 are closely matched overall. The clearest differentiator is exchange coverage, with Plus500 offering more exchanges than AvaTrade.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose AvaTrade if…
Choose AvaTrade if you want phone support and advanced charting with MT4/MT5 access. The broker also broadens workstreams with AvaTradeGO and DupliTrade copy trading, aiding strategic execution.
Choose Plus500 if…
Choose Plus500 if you prefer a beginner-friendly, proprietary WebTrader interface and broad stock coverage. You also benefit from transparent, spread-only pricing under strong regulatory oversight.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Equally matched; both are tightly regulated with compensation schemes.
| Editorial score | 3.8/ 5 | 3.6/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Spreads from | 0.9 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $50/month (after 3 months) | $10/month (after 3 months)▼ lower |
| Deposit fee |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | 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: AvaTrade rates 3.8/5 and Plus500 rates 3.6/5. AvaTrade 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 lists tighter spreads from 0.6, compared with AvaTrade's 0.9. For stock trading, also factor in any per-trade or per-share commissions — spreads and commissions together determine the true cost per trade.
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 require a minimum deposit of $100 to open a live trading account.
Both AvaTrade 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.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
AvaTrade lists maximum leverage of 20:1, 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.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Neither AvaTrade 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.
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
AvaTrade wins for active trading due to MT4/MT5 and advanced charting.
Plus500 is better for beginners with its simple WebTrader interface.
Plus500 provides broader global market access with 18 exchanges.
Equally matched; neither offers dividend reinvestment or fractional shares.
| Free |
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | 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 | FSCA ASIC MFSA CBI ADGM | FCA MAS ASIC CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | ZuluTrade 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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