DEGIRO vs Plus500: Which Broker Suits You?
DEGIRO scores 3.4 and Plus500 3.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. DEGIRO leads on Costs & Fees and Asset Range, and they tie on Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the EU.
Score by score
Each category is scored 1–5 using our published methodology. The overall score is the plain average of the first five; ease of use is shown separately.
Key facts side by side
| DEGIRO | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | CFDs only |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and funds across many European and global exchanges | CFDs on shares, indices, forex, commodities and crypto |
| Regulated by | BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others |
| Stands out for | Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe | A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent |
| Watch out for | Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents | No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5 |
| Accepts clients in | The EU | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is DEGIRO cheaper than Plus500?
On our Costs & Fees score, DEGIRO rates 4/5 against Plus500’s 3/5, so it is generally the cheaper of the two for the costs we assess: commissions, spreads, currency conversion and account fees. Fees differ by country and account type and change often, so check both brokers’ current price lists before you choose.
Which is safer, DEGIRO or Plus500?
DEGIRO is regulated by BaFin (flatexDEGIRO Bank SE), with DNB and AFM overseeing the Dutch branch; Plus500 by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others. Both score 4/5 on our Regulation & Trust measure. Which company holds your account, and which investor compensation scheme covers it, depends on where you live. Compensation schemes cover a broker failing, never investment losses.
Which is better for beginners?
On ease of use for a beginner, which sits outside the overall score, DEGIRO scores 3/5 and Plus500 3/5. Neither has a clear edge for a first account. Beginners should know that CFDs are leveraged derivatives rather than ownership, and that most retail accounts trading them lose money.
Who each one tends to suit
DEGIRO
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost European investing
- Stands out for
- Among the lowest per-trade costs available in Europe
- Watch out for
- Basic platform, no forex, and not open to US residents
Plus500
- Tends to suit
- Simple CFD trading
- Stands out for
- A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent
- Watch out for
- No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5
More head-to-heads
Scores and facts come from our own reviews as of September 2026 and follow one published methodology. Plain Investor has no commercial relationship with either broker. This is general education, not personal financial advice. Fees, features and regulation change, so confirm current terms with each broker before opening an account.