Plus500 Review 2026
Good regulated broker. Not great for beginners.
Plus500 has been around since 2008, it is publicly listed, and the FCA registration checks out. The platform works. The problem is there is no MetaTrader, no copy trading, and the educational material is thin. If you know what you are doing it is a solid choice. If you are just starting out, look elsewhere first.
The basics
Plus500 was founded in 2008 in Haifa, Israel by six people who built the whole platform in-house. They listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2013 under the ticker PLUS. That listing matters because it means full public financial disclosure. Quarterly reports, audited accounts, the lot. Most brokers cannot say the same.
They offer CFDs on over 2,000 instruments. Forex, stocks, indices, commodities, ETFs, crypto. No real stock ownership. Everything is a contract for difference.
Regulation — the numbers that matter
| FCA (UK) | 509909 — Plus500UK Ltd, Authorised |
| CySEC (Cyprus) | 250/14 — Plus500CY Ltd |
| ASIC (Australia) | 417727 — Plus500AU Pty Ltd |
| MAS (Singapore) | CMS100648 — Plus500SG Pte Ltd |
| FSA (Seychelles) | SD039 — Plus500SEY Ltd |
| LSE Listed | PLUS — since 2013 |
You can verify the FCA number yourself at register.fca.org.uk. Takes 30 seconds. It comes back authorised with a full permissions list. That is the first thing to check with any broker.
Account and fees
| Minimum deposit | $100 |
| Commission | None. Spread only. |
| EUR/USD spread | From 0.6 pips (widens in volatile sessions) |
| Overnight fee | Yes. Charged daily on positions held past market close. |
| Withdrawal fee | None (Plus500 does not charge deposit or withdrawal fees) |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month after 3 months without logging in |
| Leverage retail EU/UK | 1:30 forex, 1:20 major indices, 1:2 crypto |
| Demo account | Yes. $50,000 virtual, no time limit. |
The overnight fee is the one that catches people. It accumulates fast on leveraged positions held for days or weeks. Plus500 publishes the rate on each instrument page before you open a trade. Check it before you hold anything overnight.
The platform
Plus500 built its own platform. There is no MetaTrader. If you need MT4 or MT5 for automated strategies or custom indicators, this is not the broker for you.
For everyone else: the WebTrader is fast, the mobile app is well-built (consistently rated 4.5+ on iOS and Android), and the order types cover what most retail traders need. Price alerts, guaranteed stop orders, and a built-in economic calendar are all there.
What it does not have: custom indicators, strategy automation, third-party integrations, or copy trading. It is a clean platform for manual trading and not much more.
Pros and Cons
What works
- FCA and CySEC regulated
- Publicly listed on London Stock Exchange
- Over 2,000 instruments
- No withdrawal fees
- Negative balance protection
- Demo account with no time limit
- Mobile app is genuinely good
What does not work
- No MetaTrader at all
- No copy or social trading
- Poor educational resources
- Inactivity fee kicks in at 3 months
- Spreads widen in volatile sessions
- Customer service is chat and email only
Who it suits
Intermediate traders who trade manually, want solid regulation, and do not need automated tools. Traders in the UK, Australia, and Singapore who want a locally regulated entity. Anyone who values the transparency that comes with a stock market listed company.
It does not suit beginners who need hand-holding, algorithmic traders, or anyone who needs real stock ownership rather than CFDs.
The verdict
Plus500 is a legitimate, well-regulated broker. 17 years of operation, a public listing, and five regulatory licences back that up. The platform is not the most capable on the market but it is reliable and the regulation is genuine. Rating: 4.1 out of 5.
CFD Trading in the United Kingdom
In the UK, CFD brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. FCA rules cap leverage for retail clients at 1:30 on major forex pairs, 1:20 on major indices and gold, 1:10 on commodities other than gold, 1:5 on individual equities, and 1:2 on crypto. Brokers must also provide negative balance protection, clear risk warnings stating the percentage of retail accounts that lose money, and segregated client funds. Plus500 meets all of these requirements under its FCA licence 509909.
Plus500's History and LSE Listing
Plus500 launched in 2008 out of Haifa, Israel, built entirely in-house by a team of six. It was one of the early CFD platforms designed for the web rather than desktop software. In 2013 it listed on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market. In June 2018 it transferred to the LSE Main Market under the ticker PLUS, upgrading to a full premium listing. The Main Market requires annual audited accounts, quarterly trading updates, and adherence to the UK Listing Rules and UK Corporate Governance Code — a significantly higher bar than AIM or privately held brokers face.
How to Verify a Broker's FCA Registration
Go to register.fca.org.uk and search for "Plus500" or enter the reference number 509909 directly. The register will show the firm name, its authorisation status, the date it became authorised, and the specific permissions it holds. Authorised firms are permitted to conduct regulated activities. Appointed representatives or unregulated entities will appear differently. This check takes under a minute and applies to any FCA-regulated broker you want to verify.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plus500 regulated?
Yes. Plus500 holds FCA licence 509909 in the UK, CySEC 250/14 in Cyprus for EU clients, ASIC 417727 in Australia, MAS CMS100648 in Singapore, and FSA SD039 in Seychelles for other regions. It is also listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker PLUS, which means public financial disclosure every quarter.
What is the minimum deposit for Plus500?
The minimum deposit is $100 on most accounts. There is no tiered account structure. All retail clients start with the same platform and instrument access regardless of deposit size.
Does Plus500 have MetaTrader?
No. Plus500 uses its own proprietary WebTrader platform only. MT4 and MT5 are not available. If you need MetaTrader for automated strategies or custom indicators, consider Pepperstone, IC Markets, or XM instead.
Can I trade real stocks on Plus500?
No. Plus500 only offers CFDs on stocks, not real share ownership. You do not receive dividends in the traditional sense (CFD positions receive a dividend adjustment instead) and you cannot vote at company meetings. For real stock ownership, eToro or IG offer this alongside CFDs.
Why did my Plus500 account get closed?
Plus500 closes accounts that exhibit patterns consistent with professional trader behaviour or that violate its terms. This includes excessive hedging, arbitrage strategies, or accounts where the client refuses to complete full KYC verification. This is standard practice for regulated CFD brokers and is not a scam. If your account was closed in error, Plus500's compliance team handles appeals.
User Reviews
FCA registration verified. Platform tested. The spreads are competitive for a no-commission model. The inactivity fee is the main thing to watch.