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Articles / Plus500 vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2023 Comparison

Plus500 vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2023 Comparison

Franklin Carneiro da Silva| Updated March 10th, 2023

Are you confused about whether to choose Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Plus500 as a broker for your investing needs?

In this side-by-side comparison, we analyse Interactive Brokers (IBKR) vs Plus500 to help you understand how these apps compare on some of the most common features and make a better-informed decision about the best broker for you.

Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each broker, as well as a comparison table that features the different fees charged, the financial instruments supported, the regulation, and more. Keep reading!

Plus500 vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2023 Comparison 1
Visit Plus500Asset 3

82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

Ideal for
Commission-free CFDs trading and low spreads

Plus500 is an online broker offering a wide range of financial products, including real shares and CFDs on forex, indices, shares, commodities, options, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies.

There are two distinct account types: Plus500 CFD, which only focuses on CFD products; Plus500 Invest, where you can trade stocks (real shares).

The web platform you will use is the WebTrader, Plus500’s proprietary platform, offering a stable trading experience and easy access from multiple devices.

Ideal for
Every investor (best overall)

Interactive Brokers is a global online broker and publicly listed company which surpassed major financial crises, showing resilience and a rigorous risk management process.

It offers an advanced investment platform that includes a wide range of products (stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs, futures, bonds, and currencies) from 150 markets.

Beginners and intermediate investors have educational tools to explore, but the learning curve will be steep. Interactive Brokers also launched IBKR GlobalTrader, a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Easy-to-use and responsive platform
  • Low spreads
  • No dealing commissions
  • Demo Account
  • Top-tier regulators

Cons

  • No ETF offering
  • Inactivity fee ($10 per month after no login activity in 3 months)
  • High overnight funding fees
  • Very little research and education provided

Pros

  • Low commissions on US stock trading (for EUR based accounts)
  • No monthly inactivity fee
  • The broadest product and markets range in the brokerage industry
  • Demo account
  • Excellent reputation (founded in 1978)
  • Extensive research and Education tools
  • Has a modern mobile trading app to trade Stocks, Options and ETFs, ideal for novice investors, IBKR GlobalTrader.

Cons

  • Complicated and lengthy account opening process (but fully online)
  • Steeper learning curve for beginners
  • Website is difficult to navigate
  • Interactive Advisors (Robo-advisor feature) is only available for US customers
Plus500 vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2023 Comparison 3
Plus500 vs Interactive Brokers (IBKR): 2023 Comparison 4
  •  
  • General Information
  • Founded in
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocks
  • EU stocks
  • ETFs
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Custody Fee
  • Inactivity Fee
  • Withdrawal Fee
  • Connectivity Fee
  • Currency Conversion Fee
  • Security
  • Regulators
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)
  • Plus500Asset 3

    82% of retail CFD accounts lose money.

  • General Information
  • Founded in2008
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum$100
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)0%
  • Products
  • Stocks*On "Plus500 Invest" only.
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs*On Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Stocks, Commodities, ETFs, Options and Indices
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex*Through CFDs only
  • Cryptocurrencies*Through CFDs only
  • Commodities*Through CFDs only
  • Fees
  • US stocks$0.006 per share
  • EU stocksIt varies according to each country stock exchange
  • ETFsNot Applicable
  • CryptocurrenciesNot Applicable**0.30% spread on Bitcoin CFD - it varies according to each crypto (Availability subject to regulations and spreads subject to change).
  • Custody Fee$0
  • Inactivity Fee$10/month**After 3 months of login inactivity.
  • Withdrawal Fee$0
  • Connectivity Fee$0
  • Currency Conversion FeeUp to 0.70%
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFCA, CySEC, FSCA, FMA and ASIC.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)

    Up to £85,000 for clients under Plus500UK Ltd.

  • Interactive BrokersAsset 3
  • General Information
  • Founded in1978
  • Demo Account
  • Account Minimum€/$/£0
  • Interest on unninvested cash (annually)EUR: 2.63%; USD: 4.58%; GBP: 3.90%
  • Products
  • Stocks
  • ETFs
  • Bonds
  • Funds
  • Options
  • Futures
  • CFDs*On Stocks, Indices, Metals, and Forex.
  • Leverage Products
  • Forex
  • Cryptocurrencies
  • Commodities
  • Fees
  • US stocksTiered plan: $0.0035 per share**Min. $0.35; Max. 1% of trade value.
  • EU stocksTiered plan: 0.05% of trade value**Min. €1.25; Max. €29.
  • ETFsTiered plan: 0.05% of trade value**Min. €1.25; Max. €99.
  • CryptocurrenciesUp to 0.18% of the trade value**Only in the US.
  • Custody Fee€/$/£0
  • Inactivity Fee€/$/£0
  • Withdrawal Fee€/$/£0**One free withdrawal per month
  • Connectivity Fee€/$/£0
  • Currency Conversion Fee0.0020%
  • Security
  • RegulatorsFINRA, SIPC, SEC, CFTC, IIROC, FCA, CBI, AFSL, SFC, SEBI, MAS and MNB.
  • Investor Compensation Scheme(per person, per institution)

    Up to £85,000 for clients under IB U.K. Limited; Up to €20,000 for clients under IB Ireland Limited.

Franklin Carneiro da Silva
Co-Founder & Fintech Analyst

Franklin is a CFA Level III Candidate with 3 years of experience in Wealth Management as a Fund Research Analyst and the Host of the "Edge Over Hedge" YouTube Channel.

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