Plus500 Review 2026

The heritage factor matters more than most traders realise. Since 2008, Plus500 has survived and thrived through multiple market crises — the 2008 financial crisis, 2015 Swiss franc shock, 2020 COVID volatility — demonstrating operational resilience. The IPO on AIM in 2013, followed by promotion to the Main Market in 2018, reflects growing institutional confidence. With 500+ employees and $700M+ in annual revenue, this is a substantial financial services operation.

Plus500 has deliberately chosen simplicity over complexity. Their platform is designed for traders who want minimal learning curve, essential features without overwhelming options, full mobile functionality (not a compromised "lite" version), and built-in risk management tools like guaranteed stops and negative balance protection. This is a deliberate strategic choice rather than a limitation.

The target audience is explicit: retail traders who want straightforward CFD access without professional complexity. Plus500 isn't trying to compete with MetaTrader or cTrader for advanced users — they're building the simplest, safest regulated platform for everyday trading.

For EUR/USD, the typical spread is 0.6 pips. On 1 standard lot (€100,000), this equals approximately $6 in cost. Spreads are variable and widen during volatile periods. Overnight financing charges apply to positions held past market close, calculated daily based on interest rate differentials. Triple swap applies on Wednesdays for weekend rollover. All charges are displayed clearly before opening positions.

The free withdrawals are a genuine advantage — competitors like eToro charge $5 per withdrawal, and the industry average is $25. Combined with free deposits on all methods, Plus500's non-trading costs are among the lowest available. The 0.5% currency conversion fee when trading in non-base currencies is standard for the industry.

The $10/month inactivity fee after 3 months of no login is worth noting but easily avoided — just log in once every 3 months, even without placing trades. The guaranteed stop loss feature carries an additional cost via a wider spread, but provides certainty that your stop executes at exactly your specified price during market gaps.

The WebTrader strengths include no download requirement, clean interface with essential information, one-click trading for quick execution, real-time quotes across all 2,800+ instruments, and easy stop loss and take profit setup. The limitations are equally clear: basic charting with limited indicators and drawing tools, no multi-screen capability, no custom indicators, and fewer chart timeframes than MT4/MT5.

The mobile app is Plus500's standout platform. Full feature parity with the web version means no trade-offs for mobile traders. Touch ID/Face ID provides secure, quick access. Push notifications for price alerts and margin warnings keep you informed. The app is consistently highly rated on both app stores, reflecting genuine mobile-first design rather than an afterthought.

The biggest limitation: no MetaTrader support. This means no Expert Advisors or automated strategies, no access to the MT4/MT5 indicator marketplace, no third-party analysis tools, and no community scripts or custom programming. If you need MetaTrader, Plus500 is not the right choice — consider AvaTrade, IC Markets, or Pepperstone instead. For its intended audience, the simplicity is a feature, not a bug.

What Plus500 does exceptionally well: trust and safety through FTSE 250 listing and multi-tier regulation, simplicity via a clean platform beginners can master quickly, mobile trading with one of the best apps in the industry, cost transparency with zero commissions and clear spread-based pricing, free withdrawals on every method, and guaranteed stops with negative balance protection.

Where Plus500 falls short: the platform is too basic for experienced traders who need advanced charting, no MetaTrader support is a dealbreaker for automated trading, virtually no educational resources for learning traders, limited market analysis and research tools, and the $10/month inactivity fee (though easily avoided by logging in quarterly).

Plus500 earns 4.0/5 overall — excellent for beginners and casual traders who value simplicity and safety above all else. The FTSE 250 public company transparency, multi-jurisdiction regulation, free withdrawals, and commission-free trading create genuine value for its target audience. Not suitable for professional or advanced traders needing sophisticated tools, MetaTrader, or automated strategies.