Two popular brokers face off on price models, platform design, and market access. The tension centers on cost structure versus international reach and safety features.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose if…
Choose Plus500 if you value live 24/5 live chat and access to 18 exchanges. You also gain negative balance protection and multilingual support.
| Editorial score | 3.6/ 5 | 3.8/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $100 | N/A |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | None |
| Deposit fee | Free |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Plus500 | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Fail |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Pass |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Pass |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Fail | Fail |
The scores are close: Plus500 rates 3.6/5 and Robinhood rates 3.8/5. Robinhood 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. Current spread data is not available for Robinhood. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Plus500 requires $100. Minimum deposit information is not currently available for Robinhood.
Both Plus500 and Robinhood 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, 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.
Plus500 lists maximum leverage of 20:1, while Robinhood lists up to 1:4. 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 Robinhood supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Robinhood offers commission-free stock trading while Plus500 does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
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.
Choose Robinhood if…
Choose Robinhood if you want commission-free trades, fractional shares, and extended hours trading.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Robinhood wins for low-cost trading due to commission-free trades.
Plus500 leads safety and regulation with broader regulators and compensation scheme.
Robinhood wins for long-term investing with fractional shares and dividend reinvestment.
Robinhood wins for active traders with extended hours and zero commissions.
Robinhood wins for beginners with a clean, beginner-friendly mobile interface.
Plus500 wins for global access due to broad exchange coverage.
| Free |
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay | Bank TransferACHDebit Card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCardPayPalSkrill | Bank TransferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | Yes |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | Yes |
|---|
| Regulators | MAS CMA CySEC FCA ASIC | SEC FINRA |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Plus500 and Robinhood are closely matched, with Robinhood's commission-free model contrasting Plus500's spread-only pricing. That cost-model gap is the clearest differentiator shaping long-term trading costs.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
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