Interactive Brokers vs Plus500: Which Broker Suits You?
Interactive Brokers scores 4.8 and Plus500 3.0 out of 5 on our published methodology. Interactive Brokers leads on Costs & Fees, Platform & Tools, Regulation & Trust, Asset Range and Account Access & Support. Both accept clients in the UK, the EU and other countries.
Higher overall score
Interactive Brokers
4.8/5
Best for: Active & globally-minded traders
Read the full Interactive Brokers review →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
| Interactive Brokers | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | Real assets | CFDs only |
| Available assets | Stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds, forex, crypto across 170+ markets | CFDs on shares, indices, forex, commodities and crypto |
| Regulated by | SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others |
| Stands out for | Unmatched global market access from a single account | A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent |
| Watch out for | Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve | No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5 |
| Accepts clients in | The US, the UK, the EU and other countries | The UK, the EU and other countries |
Is Interactive Brokers cheaper than Plus500?
On our Costs & Fees score, Interactive Brokers rates 5/5 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, Interactive Brokers or Plus500?
Interactive Brokers is regulated by SEC, FINRA, FCA, ASIC, CIRO and others; Plus500 by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others. Interactive Brokers scores higher on our Regulation & Trust measure (5/5 against 4/5). 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, Interactive Brokers scores 2/5 and Plus500 3/5. Plus500 is the gentler place to start. 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
Interactive Brokers
- Tends to suit
- Active & globally-minded traders
- Stands out for
- Unmatched global market access from a single account
- Watch out for
- Trader Workstation has a genuinely steep learning curve
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.