In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs Trading 212, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let’s dive in.
Regulation
Plus500 (founded 2008) and Trading 212 (founded 2004) are well-known online brokers, but their trust ratings differ. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 holds a Trust Score of 99/99 (90–99 = highly trusted), while Trading 212 scores 82/99 (80–89 = trusted). Plus500 is publicly traded, adding transparency, whereas Trading 212 is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
Regulation also sets them apart. Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 4 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. Both are regulated and trusted, but Plus500 carries more Tier-1 approvals and the highest possible Trust Score.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded info | 2008 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) info | Yes | No |
| Bank info | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses info | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses info | 4 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses info | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses info | 2 | 0 |
Fees
Comparing commissions and fees, both Plus500 and Trading 212 make most of their money from the spread rather than charging a direct commission on CFD and forex trades. Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average overall, while Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading but typically has wider spreads. In recent data for the popular EUR/USD pair, Plus500 averaged 1.5 pips (April 2024), versus 2.7 pips at Trading 212 (April 2025), which is notably higher than the industry average. For the Commissions and Fees category, Plus500 is rated 4.0/5 stars and ranked 24th out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 is rated 4/5 stars and ranked 27th out of 63.
Plus500: Pricing runs a bit higher than the industry average and trails the best brokers for active traders. There are no discounts for retail clients, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates similar to an active trader program. EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024. Rating: 4.0/5 stars; Ranking: 24/63 for Commissions and Fees.
Trading 212 (CFD account): While promoted as zero-commission, you’ll pay the spread on CFD and forex trades. The broker has started publishing average spread data; for April 2025, the EUR/USD averaged 2.7 pips, which is much higher than the industry average and less competitive than top CFD and forex brokers. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: 27/63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit info | €50 info | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) – Standard account info | 1.3 info | 2.7 info |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD – Active info | 1.3 info | 2.7 info |
| Non-wire bank transfer info | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info | Yes | Yes |
Range of investments
Plus500 vs Trading 212 for range of investments: Trading 212 lists about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, while Plus500 offers around 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs. Both support forex trading and let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs; only Trading 212 also lets you buy actual crypto. Each platform offers access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets, so you can buy shares like Apple (AAPL) and Vodafone (VOD) directly. Neither broker offers copy trading.
For sheer variety, Trading 212 edges ahead with a 5-star Range of Investments rating and a #15 ranking out of 63 brokers, compared with Plus500’s 4.5-star rating and #17 ranking. Choose Trading 212 if you want the largest selection and the option to own crypto; pick Plus500 if 5,500+ symbols and CFD-based choices cover your needs.
| Feature | Visit Site | |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info | Yes info | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) info | 5500 info | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) info | 65 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) info | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading info | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info | Yes info | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker’s U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker’s U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Trading platforms and tools
Plus500 vs Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer a free demo account for paper trading, making it easy to practice before risking real money. Plus500 runs on an in-house proprietary platform, while Trading 212 does not. Each broker focuses on a web-based browser platform and does not provide a downloadable Windows desktop app. Neither supports copy trading, and neither integrates with MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
For charting and order entry, Trading 212 lets you place trades directly from a chart, whereas Plus500 does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s platform-and-tools ratings, Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 14th out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 19th. If you want an in-house platform and a higher tools rating, Plus500 stands out; if chart-based order placement in the browser matters more, Trading 212 may appeal.