Plus500 Review 2025 — Is It Right for You?

Yes, Plus500 is highly regulated and publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: PLUS), which provides transparency and additional oversight. Plus500 operates licensed entities regulated by tier-1 authorities including the UK's FCA, Cyprus CySEC, Australia's ASIC, Singapore's MAS, and New Zealand's FMA depending on your location. Client funds are segregated from company funds and held in secure banks, with protection provided by compensation schemes where applicable (up to £85,000 in UK under FSCS, €20,000 in EU under ICF). Plus500 has been operating since 2008 and serves over 25 million registered users globally with a strong compliance record. The company publishes transparent financial results quarterly as a public company. While Plus500 is safe from a regulatory and financial perspective, remember that CFD trading itself is high risk – 80% of retail accounts lose money.

No, Plus500 exclusively offers CFDs (Contracts for Difference), which means you're speculating on price movements without owning the underlying asset. When you 'buy' a stock CFD on Plus500, you're entering a contract to exchange the difference between the opening and closing price, not purchasing actual shares. This means you don't receive dividends, voting rights, or ownership certificates. The advantage of CFDs is that you can profit from falling prices by going short, use leverage to control larger positions, and trade outside regular market hours. However, CFDs carry overnight financing charges and increased risk due to leverage. If you want to actually own stocks, receive dividends, and hold them long-term in a retirement account, you'll need a traditional stock broker, not Plus500. Plus500 is designed specifically for active CFD traders.

Plus500 requires a minimum deposit of $100 (or equivalent in your local currency), which is relatively accessible for new traders. This low entry point allows you to start with manageable capital, though risk management experts recommend having significantly more to trade safely with proper position sizing. Before depositing real money, Plus500 offers a free demo account with $40,000 in virtual funds that never expires, allowing you to practice trading CFDs without risk. The demo account mirrors the live platform exactly, using real market prices. You can fund your Plus500 account using various methods including credit/debit cards (instant), PayPal (instant), bank transfer (1-3 days), or e-wallets like Skrill. The first withdrawal each month is free; subsequent withdrawals may incur a small fee depending on the payment method. Remember that the $100 minimum is just to open an account – effective CFD trading typically requires more capital to manage risk properly.

No, Plus500 does not charge traditional trading commissions. Instead, they earn revenue through the bid-ask spread – the difference between the buy and sell price displayed for each instrument. For example, if EUR/USD shows a buy price of 1.0803 and a sell price of 1.0797, the 0.6 pip spread is Plus500's cost. Spreads are variable and widen during low liquidity periods or high volatility, which means your trading costs can fluctuate. While there are no per-trade commissions, Plus500 does charge overnight financing fees (also called swap or rollover charges) if you hold CFD positions open after market close – these fees can add up for longer-term positions. There's also a guaranteed stop loss fee if you choose to use that risk management tool. Plus500 also charges currency conversion fees if you deposit or withdraw in a currency different from your account base currency. The spread-only pricing is transparent and simple to understand compared to commission-based brokers.

Yes, Plus500 charges a $10 monthly inactivity fee if you don't log in to your account for 3 consecutive months, which is more aggressive than most brokers who typically allow 12 months of inactivity. The fee is automatically deducted from your account balance each month you remain inactive after the 3-month threshold. If your account balance is less than $10, the fee equals your remaining balance, potentially draining the account to zero. To avoid this fee, simply log in to your Plus500 account at least once every 3 months – you don't need to execute a trade, just logging in resets the counter. If you're taking a break from trading, consider withdrawing your funds to avoid the inactivity fee. Set a calendar reminder to log in every 2 months if you're keeping funds in the account. This is one of Plus500's main drawbacks compared to competitors with longer grace periods or no inactivity fees.

Plus500 offers CFDs on over 2,800 instruments across multiple asset classes, providing extensive trading opportunities. Forex includes 60+ currency pairs (majors, minors, exotics) with competitive spreads. Stock CFDs cover 1,500+ shares from major global exchanges including US, UK, European, and Asian markets. You can trade 20+ major stock indices including S&P 500, NASDAQ 100, FTSE 100, DAX, and Nikkei. Commodities include 20+ instruments covering precious metals (gold, silver, platinum), energy (crude oil, natural gas), and agriculture (wheat, coffee, sugar). Cryptocurrency CFDs are available on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Ripple, and other major digital assets. ETF CFDs cover 60+ popular exchange-traded funds. Options CFDs provide exposure to equity and index options. All instruments are CFDs, allowing you to go long or short, trade with leverage, and access markets outside regular hours.

Opening a Plus500 account is quick and straightforward, typically taking 5-10 minutes. Visit Plus500.com and click 'Start Trading' to begin registration. Provide basic information including your email, create a password, and enter your name, date of birth, address, and phone number. Complete the mandatory appropriateness assessment questionnaire about your trading experience and financial knowledge – this is required by financial regulations. Verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox. To trade with real money, you'll need to verify your identity by uploading a government-issued ID (passport or driver's license) and proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, or tax document dated within the last 3 months). Verification is often instant but can take up to 24 hours. Once verified, make your first deposit of at least $100 using your preferred payment method. The entire process from registration to first trade typically takes under 30 minutes. You can also start practicing immediately on the demo account without verification.

Yes, Plus500 offers a comprehensive free demo account with $40,000 in virtual funds that allows you to practice CFD trading without risking real money. The demo account mirrors the live trading platform exactly, providing access to real market prices and conditions across all 2,800+ instruments. Unlike some brokers, Plus500's demo account never expires – you can use it indefinitely to test strategies, learn how different markets behave, or practice with new instruments. If you run low on virtual funds, you can request a balance reset. You can register for a demo account without providing identity verification, making it instantly accessible. The demo account is available on web, iOS, and Android, and you can run both a demo and live account simultaneously to practice new strategies alongside real trading. This is highly recommended for beginners to spend at least 2-4 weeks on demo before risking real capital with CFDs.

Plus500's leverage varies by instrument type and your location due to regulatory restrictions. For retail traders in the UK and EU under FCA/ESMA regulations, maximum leverage is 1:30 for major forex pairs, 1:20 for minor forex pairs, gold, and major indices, 1:10 for commodities and minor indices, 1:5 for stocks, and 1:2 for cryptocurrencies. These conservative leverage limits are designed to protect retail traders from excessive losses. Traders in regions with less restrictive regulations (like Australia, Singapore, or South Africa) may have access to higher leverage, sometimes up to 1:300, depending on the entity regulating their account. Professional traders who meet specific criteria (account balance, trading volume, experience) can apply for professional account status and access higher leverage. Remember that while leverage can amplify profits, it equally amplifies losses, and most traders lose money when using high leverage. Plus500 provides clear leverage information for each instrument before you open a position.

Plus500 withdrawal processing times vary depending on your payment method. E-wallet withdrawals (PayPal, Skrill) are typically processed within 1-2 business days, making them the fastest option. Credit and debit card withdrawals usually take 3-7 business days depending on your card issuer. Bank wire transfers can take 3-7 business days to appear in your account. Processing begins after Plus500 approves your withdrawal request, which typically happens within 24 hours on business days but can take up to 3 business days. First-time withdrawals require identity verification and may take longer for security checks. Withdrawals must be made to the same payment method used for deposits (anti-money laundering requirement). The first withdrawal each month is free; subsequent withdrawals within the same month may incur a small administrative fee. Minimum withdrawal amount is typically $100, and you cannot withdraw funds that are currently allocated to open positions.

A Guaranteed Stop Loss (GSL) on Plus500 is a premium risk management tool that guarantees your position will close at your specified price level, even during extreme market volatility or price gaps. Unlike regular stop losses which can be subject to slippage (closing at a worse price than set during fast markets or overnight gaps), a GSL provides certainty that you won't lose more than you've predetermined. This is particularly valuable for traders who hold positions overnight or during major economic events when gaps can occur. Plus500 charges a small fee for placing a Guaranteed Stop Loss, which is only charged if the GSL is triggered. Regular stop losses are free but don't offer price guarantees. GSLs are especially useful when trading volatile instruments like cryptocurrencies, commodities during OPEC meetings, or stocks over earnings reports. You can add or modify a GSL on open positions at any time. This feature gives peace of mind and helps enforce disciplined risk management.

No, Plus500 is not available to residents of the United States due to US regulatory restrictions on CFD trading. The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and SEC prohibit most retail CFD trading, so Plus500 cannot legally offer its services to US citizens or residents. This restriction applies regardless of where you are physically located – US citizenship or residency makes you ineligible. If you're a US trader looking for similar functionality, you could consider US-regulated brokers that offer options and futures trading (which provide similar leverage and short-selling capabilities) through platforms like Interactive Brokers, TD Ameritrade, or Tastytrade. Note that even if you use a VPN to access Plus500, attempting to circumvent these restrictions violates both Plus500's terms of service and US financial regulations. If you're an American living abroad, you may be able to open an account depending on your tax residency status and local regulations.

Plus500 provides customer support primarily through email ticketing and live chat, with no phone support available which is a common complaint among users. Live chat is available 24/7 and is generally the fastest way to get help, with wait times ranging from immediate to 15 minutes depending on demand. Email support typically responds within 24-48 hours for non-urgent inquiries. The Plus500 website includes a comprehensive FAQ section and help center covering common questions about deposits, withdrawals, trading, and platform features. Video tutorials walk through basic platform operations. Support is available in 30+ languages matching Plus500's global user base. While chat agents can resolve most account and technical issues quickly, some users report that complex trading questions sometimes require escalation. The lack of phone support frustrates traders who prefer voice communication, especially during urgent situations. Overall, Plus500's support is adequate for straightforward issues but may feel limited compared to brokers offering multi-channel support including phone.

Plus500's overnight fee (also called swap, rollover, or financing charge) is charged when you hold a CFD position open past the daily market close, typically 10 PM GMT. This fee reflects the cost of maintaining a leveraged position overnight and varies by instrument, position size, and whether you're long or short. For currency pairs, the fee is based on the interest rate differential between the two currencies. For stocks, commodities, and indices, it's typically a percentage of the position value. Overnight fees can be positive or negative – you might receive a credit for some positions and pay a charge for others. Plus500 clearly displays the overnight fee for each instrument in the platform before you open a position. These fees can significantly impact profitability for swing traders holding positions for days or weeks, making Plus500 (and CFDs generally) more cost-effective for day trading where positions are closed before market close. You can view your accumulated overnight fees in your account history and trading reports.