Plus500 vs Trade Republic: Which Broker Suits You?
Plus500 scores 3.0 and Trade Republic 3.4 out of 5 on our published methodology. Trade Republic 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.
Higher overall score
Trade Republic
3.4/5
Best for: Low-cost EU investing & savings plans
Read the full Trade Republic 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
| Plus500 | Trade Republic | |
|---|---|---|
| What you own | CFDs only | Real assets |
| Available assets | CFDs on shares, indices, forex, commodities and crypto | Stocks, ETFs, bonds and crypto, plus warrants and private-market funds |
| Regulated by | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others | German bank licence, supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, with branches in several EU countries |
| Stands out for | A simple proprietary platform backed by an LSE-listed parent | A flat €1 order fee, free savings plans and interest on uninvested cash |
| Watch out for | No real asset ownership at all, and no MT4 or MT5 | EU only, an app-first service whose support has struggled with rapid growth, and tax reporting that varies by country |
| Accepts clients in | The UK, the EU and other countries | The EU |
Is Plus500 cheaper than Trade Republic?
On our Costs & Fees score, Trade Republic 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, Plus500 or Trade Republic?
Plus500 is regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, MAS and others; Trade Republic by German bank licence, supervised by BaFin and the Bundesbank, with branches in several EU countries. 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, Plus500 scores 3/5 and Trade Republic 5/5. Trade Republic 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
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
Trade Republic
- Tends to suit
- Low-cost EU investing & savings plans
- Stands out for
- A flat €1 order fee, free savings plans and interest on uninvested cash
- Watch out for
- EU only, an app-first service whose support has struggled with rapid growth, and tax reporting that varies by country
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.