Plus500

Name: Plus500 review
Item: Plus500
Rating: 4.6
Author: ValidBrokers

London-listed CFD broker with 2,800+ markets and a uniquely simple platform.

FCACySECASICFMAFSASISA

4.6/5

1,923 reviews

Founded

2008

Min. deposit

$100

Regulated by

FCA · CySEC

Platforms

PROPRIETARY

Plus500 homepage — www.plus500.com

Quick take · 30s

Founded 2008 in Haifa — publicly listed on LSE (PLUS) and FTSE 250 member
FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FMA New Zealand, FSAS Seychelles, ISA Israel
2,800+ CFD instruments across all major asset classes
Famously simple platform — no MT4, no clutter, designed for clarity

What we liked & What we didn't

What we liked

+FCA + CySEC + ASIC top-tier regulation across major jurisdictions
+Publicly listed on London Stock Exchange — full quarterly transparency
+Cleanest CFD platform in the industry — designed for clarity not complexity
+Negative balance protection across all retail accounts
+$100 minimum deposit accessible to most traders

What we didn't

−No MT4, MT5, or third-party platform support
−Spread-only pricing — no raw spread option for active traders
−Inactivity fee after 3 months of no trading

Overview

Plus500 is the broker that proved a deliberately simple platform could be a competitive advantage. Founded in 2008 in Haifa, the company is publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange (PLUS) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. The proprietary web and mobile platforms are stripped down to essentials — no MT4, no plugins, no complexity — which makes Plus500 polarizing: traders either love the simplicity or want more advanced tools.

Regulation & safety

Plus500 carries six tier-1 licenses: FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FMA (New Zealand), FSAS (Seychelles), and ISA (Israel). Publicly listed status means audited quarterly financials — a transparency level private brokers cannot offer. Negative balance protection applies across all retail accounts.

Account types

Single account type with $100 minimum deposit. Professional client status available for higher leverage and additional features after eligibility verification. No tier system, no premium upgrades — the offering is uniformly the same regardless of account size.

Fees & spreads

Spread-only pricing — no commissions on any instrument. EUR/USD spreads typically 0.6–0.8 pips during peak liquidity, wider during off-hours and news. Overnight financing charges apply standard rates. The 3-month inactivity fee is shorter than industry standard and worth budgeting around.

Trading platforms

The proprietary Plus500 web and mobile platforms are the only options — no MT4, MT5, or third-party clients. The interface is deliberately minimal: charts, instrument list, order entry, account, no clutter. New traders find this refreshing; experienced MT-based traders find it limiting.

Asset class coverage

2,800+ CFD instruments across forex (70+ pairs), indices (50+), commodities, shares (1,800+), ETFs, options, futures (in supported regions), and cryptocurrencies. All instruments are CFDs — no real stock ownership.

Customer support

24/7 email and live chat support. No phone support is offered — a deliberate company choice. Response times average under 5 minutes on chat during business hours.

Verdict

Plus500 is the broker for traders who want clean, regulated CFD access without the complexity of MetaTrader. The platform simplicity is the company's defining feature — embrace it or skip the broker entirely.

FCA-CySEC-ASIC regulation, publicly listed transparency, and FTSE 250 membership give Plus500 a credibility tier most CFD brokers can't match. For mainstream retail CFD trading, it's one of the safest options available.