Summary: Plus500 is one of the most popular trading platforms specializing in contracts for differences (CFDs) on numerous financial assets, like stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrency. The platform provides most of its services free of charge, deriving compensation from the buy/sell spread on narrow margins.
Recommended Multi-asset Broker for Online CFD Trading
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Reliable & Regulated by CySEC (#250/14) - Plus500 Ltd is a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange
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Wide range of instruments - CFDs on stocks, crypto, forex, commodities, ETFs, and more
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Low cost investing - No commissions and tight spreads.
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Transparent pricing on overnight funding, currency conversion fees, guaranteed stop orders, and inactivity fees.
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Advanced platform - Top notch analytical tools, real-time quotes, fast order execution, secure withdrawals
About Plus500
About
Established in 2008 in Israel, Plus500 has become a top-rated multi-asset CFD trading platform with operations in over 50 countries, including the UK, parts of the Commonwealth, the US, Israel, and Japan. As of October 2023, the platform has a market cap of over $1.1 billion and employs more than 500 persons.
Plus500 represents a user-friendly and streamlined trading platform that allows clients to engage in contract-for-difference (CFD) trading. By trading CFDs, traders speculate on the price movements of various financial instruments and assets and make a profit based on the accuracy of their predictions.
CFD trading platforms
As a reputable platform responsible for the safety of numerous accounts worldwide, Plus500 adheres to the regulative authorities of:
- The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA);
- The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC);
- The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC);
- Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Safety
Furthermore, other reasons why so many opt to use Plus500 include:
- Free demo accounts;
- Multi-asset CFDs on more than 2,000 financial instruments, including stocks, Forex, crypto, ETFs, commodities (e.g., gold), and more;
- Mobile trading;
- Convenient deposit options via PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, etc.;
- Free withdrawals.
Recommended Multi-asset Broker for Online CFD Trading
-
Reliable & Regulated by CySEC (#250/14) - Plus500 Ltd is a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange
-
Wide range of instruments - CFDs on stocks, crypto, forex, commodities, ETFs, and more
-
Low cost investing - No commissions and tight spreads.
-
Transparent pricing on overnight funding, currency conversion fees, guaranteed stop orders, and inactivity fees.
-
Advanced platform - Top notch analytical tools, real-time quotes, fast order execution, secure withdrawals
Plus500 0$ fee
Plus500 provides customers with 0$ fees for most of its features, which is more favorable than the average competing platform on the market.
For example, users can use the following services free of charge:
- Deposit withdrawals;
- Live share CFD prices;
- Real-time forex quotes;
- Opening/closing trades;
- Dynamic charts and graphs;
- Rolling your position.
The platform’s primary source of revenue comes from its Bid/Ask (or Buy/Sell) spreads, which are still among the narrowest in the industry. Several independent third-party market data providers indicate the prices from relevant exchanges, which then get adjusted (the spread is applied) to calculate the Plus500 price.
Additional fees
The platform is upfront and maintains a strict no-surprises policy for the few services they charge fees for. Depending on your trading activity, some of these will only apply to an account in extraordinary cases. These include:
Overnight funding
An overnight funding fee is added or deducted from your account if you hold a position after a particular time (the overnight funding time). The overnight funding time and the daily overnight funding percentage depend on the instrument and can be checked in the details section of each asset.
Currency conversion fee
Plus500 charges a currency conversion fee for all trades on instruments denominated in a currency that differs from the default currency of your account. The currency conversion fee is up to 0.7% of the open position’s unrealized net profit or loss.
Guaranteed Stop Order
This order type is unique as it helps you manage risks by guaranteeing the stop loss level at a specific rate, even if the market trades at a less favorable rate. However, a wider spread is applied if you use this order.
Inactivity fee
Plus500 will charge up to $10 monthly if you do not log in to your trading account for at least three months. This fee becomes a monthly charge from that moment onwards until you log back into the platform, when the counter will reset.
Payment processing fees
The platform covers most payment processing fees as part of its commitment to being upfront and straightforward and not having hidden fees.
However, in rare occurrences, you may have to pay fees when transferring funds to and from your account. These fees are determined and requested from the payment issuer or a bank, not by the platform. Third parties may incur these fees for:
- International cards: When foreign (non-local) acquirers process the transactions;
- Incoming/outgoing bank transfers: For transfers from your bank account to Plus500 and vice-versa;
- Forex conversions: For deposits denominated in a currency not supported by the chosen payment method.
CFDs and dividends on Plus500
Plus500 allows you to trade financial assets that pay dividends (like dividend stocks and ETFs). Dividends are a portion of corporate profits that get paid out to shareholders.
Since the platform allows trading CFDs on equities or ETFs, you do not actually own these instruments. However, if you maintain an open position on the ex-dividend date, an adjustment will be made to respect the dividend payment. For example, if you hold a buy position, you will receive a positive adjustment to your account as if you received the dividend, and vice-versa, if you hold a sell position with a negative adjustment.
Note
How to open a Plus500 account: Step-by-step
If you are eager to start trading CFDs through Plus500, we present you with a simple step-by-step guide that explains how to open an account on this trading platform:
- Step 1: Visit Plus500’s homepage and click the Start Trading Now button;
- Step 2: Provide a valid email and create a password to continue;
- Step 3: Proceed to verify your account. After the verification process, you will need to select a live trading account that matches your region. With the region selected, provide some basic personal information and answer some trading-related questions;
- Step 4: Finally, you will need to upload the required documentation, such as your ID, address verification, valid email address, and valid phone number.
Note
Plus500 fees pros and cons
Pros
- Low minimum deposit: Plus500 has a low minimum deposit of $100, which makes it accessible to beginners as well as seasoned traders;
- $0 fee on core features: Plus500 offers zero-commission CFDs on a wide range of financial instruments, including stocks, forex, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and more;
- Risk management tools: The platform provides risk management features like guaranteed stop orders to help you manage your trades at the cost of a slightly wider spread;
- Demo account: Plus500 offers a free demo account that allows you to practice trading with virtual funds before risking real money.
Cons
- Inactivity fee: There is an inactivity fee if you idle for a certain period, so consider this if you are not an active trader.
FAQs about Plus500 fees
Is Plus500 really free of charge?
Plus500 provides its core features free of charge and benefits only from the market spread difference between the buy and sell positions.
Are there any hidden fees with Plus500?
No, there are no hidden fees with Plus500 since the trading platform pursues a strict upfront information policy.
Does Plus500 cover payment processing fees?
Plus500 covers most payment processing fees. However, you are still subject to third-party fees that are unrelated to the trading platform itself.
Does Plus500 charge a currency conversion fee?
Yes, the platform will charge a fee for all trades on instruments denominated in a currency other than your account’s default currency.
Does Plus500 charge an overnight fee?
The overnight funding sum is added or deducted from your account when a position is left open after a designated cut-off time.
Recommended Multi-asset Broker for Online CFD Trading
-
Reliable & Regulated by CySEC (#250/14) - Plus500 Ltd is a FTSE 250 company listed on the London Stock Exchange
-
Wide range of instruments - CFDs on stocks, crypto, forex, commodities, ETFs, and more
-
Low cost investing - No commissions and tight spreads.
-
Transparent pricing on overnight funding, currency conversion fees, guaranteed stop orders, and inactivity fees.
-
Advanced platform - Top notch analytical tools, real-time quotes, fast order execution, secure withdrawals