Comparison of Markets.com and Plus500
| Feature | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Instant |
| Regulation | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, NZ FMA, FSCA, SFSA, EFSA, MAS, CFTC, NFA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView | Plus500 |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK, CZK, PLN, HUF, TRY, SGD |
| Funding Methods | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity | $10 per month after 3 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Cyprus ICF | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✔ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✖ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✖ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Shares, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Markets.com Review | Plus500 Review |
About Markets.com
Markets.com is a multi-asset CFD and FX broker, operating since 2008 under CySEC, FSCA and SVGFSA oversight. A modest $100 deposit opens the door to 50-plus currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, crypto and more on MT4/MT5, TradingView and the proprietary app, all backed by segregated client funds, negative-balance protection and multilingual 24/5 support. The broker best suits active retail traders who want flexible leverage (up to 1:500 outside the EU), floating spreads from 0.7 pips, copy-trading tools and frequent bonus promotions, yet still value basic regulatory safeguards. Long-term buy-and-hold investors may find the CFD-only model and $10 monthly inactivity fee less appealing.
Pros
- Multi-regulated (SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA)
- Low $100 entry threshold, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- Choice of MT4/MT5 and TradingView
- 50+ FX pairs and broad multi-asset CFD selection
- Negative-balance protection for all retail clients
Cons
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Only one live trading account type available
About Plus500
Plus500 is a leading CFD broker known for its simple and intuitive trading platform. Founded in 2008 and regulated by top-tier authorities such as the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC (Australia), Plus500 provides a secure trading environment with access to a wide range of instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs. The broker is particularly praised for its user-friendly web and mobile platforms, which offer a streamlined trading experience without unnecessary complexity. While Plus500 excels in providing competitive spreads and no commission fees, it does not support third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5, which may deter traders who rely on advanced charting and automated trading tools. Additionally, educational resources are somewhat limited compared to competitors, making it less ideal for traders seeking in-depth learning materials. Despite these drawbacks, Plus500 remains a popular choice for traders who prioritize ease of use and access to diverse trading instruments.
Pros
- Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, CySEC, ASIC)
- Simple and intuitive proprietary trading platform
- Wide range of tradable instruments, including forex, stocks, and commodities
- Competitive spreads and no commission on trades
- User-friendly mobile app with real-time notifications
- Free and unlimited demo account for practice
Cons
- No support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5)
- Limited educational resources for beginner traders
- Inactivity fees for dormant accounts
- No phone-based customer support; only live chat and email
Markets.com & Plus500 Regulation
| Feature | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Markets International Ltd, Safecap Investments Limited, Markets (South Africa) Pty Limited | Plus500CY Ltd, Plus500UK Ltd, Plus500AU Pty Ltd, Plus500SEY Ltd, Plus500EE, Plus500SG Pte Ltd, Plus500US Ltd |
Countries | Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Cyprus, South Africa | Cyprus, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Seychelles, Estonia, Singapore, United States |
Regulators | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, NZ FMA, FSCA, SFSA, EFSA, MAS, CFTC, NFA |
Investor Protection | Cyprus ICF | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), Financialcommission.org |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | £85 000 / €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | CFD |
| Min Deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Instant |
| Min Spread | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:30 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 100% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 100% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, CHF, JPY, SEK, NOK, CZK, PLN, HUF, TRY, SGD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal, Skrill |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity | $10 per month after 3 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView | Plus500 |
Execution Speed | 82 ms | 0 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 54 | 65 |
Indices | 36 | 36 |
Stocks | 260 | 1550 |
Cryptocurrencies | 29 | 0 |
Bonds | 4 | 0 |
Metals | 8 | 5 |
Energies | 5 | 7 |
Soft Commodities | 6 | 10 |
ETFs | 68 | 96 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Bonuses
| Bonus | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | 20%, up to $10000 | — |
| Details | Learn More | — |
| No Deposit Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | $1020 | — |
| Details | Learn More | — |
Customer Support
| Contact | Markets.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@markets.com | support@plus500.com |
Phone | +27104470539 | — |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | — |
Instagram | ||
Twitter | ||
TikTok | TikTok | — |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Markets.com and Plus500, Plus500 comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.