Avatrade vs Plus500: Which Broker is Better?
CompareForexBrokers compared AvaTrade and Plus500 for their key trading features like trading spreads, platforms, customer services, and more so you can decide on a broker to trade with.
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*Cryptocurrency CFDs are not available to retail traders in the UK due to FCA regulations
*CFD trading is not available in the USA due to NFA and CFTC regulations, American traders spot trade in place of CFDs.
Our full comparison covers the most important trading factors to help you decide between AvaTrade and Plus500. AvaTrade provides traders with a wide range of platforms, including MetaTrader 4 and 5, whereas Plus500 offers its own user-friendly yet less-featured platform.
AvaTrade offers social and copy trading options through ZuluTrade and DupliTrade, which are not available on Plus500. Both brokers offer commission-free trading, but Plus500’s tighter spreads make it more cost-effective for frequent traders.
1. Plus500: Lowest Spreads And Fees
AvaTrade provides commission-free trading services with variable spreads as a market maker. Plus500 provides traders with two kinds of spreads – fixed and dynamic – both commission-free.
AvaTrade offers competitive spreads for its standard account holders, while Plus500 provides tight spreads, which can be beneficial for frequent traders. For more details, check out our Standard Account Testing.
Below, we have a table comparing the standard account spreads from AvaTrade and Plus500 against the industry average. AvaTrade generally has tighter spreads than Plus500 for most currency pairs.
| Standard Account | Avatrade Spreads | Plus500 Spreads | Industry Spreads |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Average | 1.44 | 1.75 | 1.6 |
| EUR/USD | 0.9 | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| USD/JPY | 1.3 | 2 | 1.4 |
| GBP/USD | 1.3 | 1.7 | 1.6 |
| AUD/USD | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 |
| USD/CAD | 1.8 | 2 | 1.8 |
| EUR/GBP | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.8 | 2.5 | 1.9 |
| AUD/JPY | 2.1 | 2 | 2.1 |
RAW Account Spreads
For RAW account holders, AvaTrade offers even more competitive spreads, while Plus500 does not offer a RAW account. For more information, refer to our RAW Account Testing.
Use the fee calculator below to compare trading costs between Plus500 and Avatrade. You can determine which broker offers better rates by adjusting currency pairs, lot sizes, and base currency across various markets.
Other Fees
Plus500 has no charges for their funding methods while AvaTrade charges $2 on both deposits and withdrawals.
AvaTrade charges an inactivity fee after a period of non-use:
- $50 per quarter after 90 days
- $100 annual administration fee is inactive for 12 months
while Plus500 also charges an inactivity fee after three months of non-use:
- $10 per month after 3 months inactivity
Verdict
When it comes to trading costs, Plus500 has an edge due to its tighter spreads and no commission fees.
*Your capital is at risk ‘82% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
2. AvaTrade: Better Trading Platforms
AvaTrade offers both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGo and AvaTradeOptions. Plus500 only offers its user-friendly proprietary platform, which lacks the advanced features of MetaTrader.
| Trading Platform | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 | Yes | No |
| cTrader | No | No |
| TradingView | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
Social And Copy Trading
AvaTrade provides social and copy trading options through MetaTrader Signals, AvaSocial, and DupliTrade, enabling traders to copy the activities of experienced traders. Plus500 does not offer social or copy trading.
Verdict
AvaTrade wins in terms of trading platform variety and features.
3. AvaTrade: Superior Accounts And Features
AvaTrade offers different account types including retail, standard and professional. Plus500 provides only a standard account and does not have a professional account option. If you’re interested in spread betting, AvaTrade is one of the best spread betting brokers in the market.
Most of the customers who trade with AvaTrade will have access to only one type of account. If you are located in the UK or Europe, you can use the “Retail” account. If you are a client residing outside of the UK and Europe, you will have a “Standard” account. These accounts are both market maker/dealing desk accounts with no commissions.
Plus500 offers four types of accounts: the CFD Account, Professional Account, Invest Account, and Futures Account. The Plus500 CFD Account is the default and is available to all clients worldwide.
Swap-Free Account
AvaTrade offers a swap-free account, also known as the Islamic account. This account type is similar to a regular one but is not subjected to any special fees or interest, which aligns with the financial principles of Sharia law. Such an account is not available at Plus500.
| AvaTrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Account | Yes | Yes |
| Raw Account | No | No |
| Swap Free Account | Yes | No |
| Active Traders | No | No |
| Spread Betting (UK) | Yes | No |
Verdict
AvaTrade wins for its wider range of account types.
4. AvaTrade: Best Trading Experience
AvaTrade, as a market maker, has fast executions due to the low latency with servers close to the New York and London market trading hubs.
AvaTrade offers forex and metals options trading through their AvaOptions mobile platform, which includes risk management tools. Plus500 is a global fintech that uses in-house technologies. It offers a trading platform, risk management tools, customer onboarding, affiliates, back-office systems, and marketing.
When it comes to trading experience, you want a platform that’s not just powerful but also intuitive and user-friendly. Based on our in-depth analysis and the data we’ve collected, AvaTrade really shines in this department.
On the other hand, Plus500 offers a very user-friendly platform that’s great for beginners. It’s less overwhelming than the multiple platforms offered by AvaTrade, making it easier to get started. However, it lacks the advanced features and social trading options that AvaTrade offers, which could be a deal-breaker for more experienced traders.
Verdict
For a well-rounded and feature-rich trading experience, AvaTrade takes the cake.
5. Plus500: Stronger Trust And Regulation
We evaluated both brokers based on regulations, reputation, and reviews. Plus500 scored 78 while AvaTrade scored 77.
AvaTrade Trust Score
Plus500 Trust Score
Regulation
AvaTrade is regulated by several authorities, including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC, FSCA, FSA, and ADGM. Plus500, on the other hand, is regulated by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, and MAS. Both brokers are publicly traded, adding an extra layer of transparency and trust. AvaTrade, regulated by ASIC Regulated Brokers, offers a higher level of trust and security for traders.
| Avatrade | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 Regulation | ASIC (Australia) CIRO (CANADA) CYSEC (Cyprus) | ASIC (Australia) FCA (UK) CYSEC (Cyprus) FMA (New Zealand) MAS (Singapore) |
| Tier 2 Regulation | ADGM (UAE) ISA (Israel) JFSA (Japan) CBI KNF (Poland) | DFSA (Dubai) EFSRA |
| Tier 3 Regulation | FSC- BVI FSCA (South Africa) | FSA-S (Seychelles) FSCA (South Africa) |
Reputation
In 2006, AvaTrade was established in Dublin, Ireland. Plus500 opened its doors in 2008 in Haifa, Israel.
Regarding popularity, AvaTrade gets searched by traders at least 74,000 a month. Plus500 proves to be more popular, with 246,000 hits on Google monthly.
Reviews
AvaTrade has a TrustPilot score of 4.7 from 8,218 reviews, while Plus500 scored 4.0 from 12,099 reviews.
Verdict
Both brokers are highly trusted, and the one-point difference in their overall scores displays just how neck and neck they are.
6. Plus500: CFD Product Range And Financial Markets
AvaTrade offers more than 1,250 tradable assets, including Forex, commodities, and bonds. They also offer a unique feature of spread betting. Plus500 provides over 2,800 financial products for CFD trading, such as forex, shares, commodities, and options.
| Product / Market | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Forex | 55 | 65 |
| Share CFDs | No | 11,000+ |
| Crypto | 17 (+ Crypto10 Index) | 18 (+ Crypto 10) |
| Commodities | 5 Metals 5 Energies 7 Softs | 5 Metals 7 Energies 10 Softs |
| ETFs | 59 | 97 |
| Indices | 33 | 65 |
| Bonds | 2 | - |
| Options | Yes | No |
Plus500 offers an extensive range of Shares CFDs, boasting over 11,000 options. They also have a slightly wider range of Forex and Indices CFDs. However, they lack social trading options and don’t offer MetaTrader 5 or cTrader platforms, which could be crucial for some traders.
Verdict
For traders looking for a diverse and extensive range of CFDs and Markets, Plus500 offers a more comprehensive list, especially in Shares CFDs.
*Your capital is at risk ‘82% of retail CFD accounts lose money’
7. AvaTrade: Superior Educational Resources
AvaTrade stands out for its comprehensive educational content, including webinars, eBooks, and even a dedicated educational platform called Sharp Trader. This is particularly helpful for new traders who need a strong foundation.
- AvaTrade offers webinars for real-time learning experiences.
- Plus500 provides a range of articles and FAQs but lacks webinars.
- AvaTrade has a dedicated educational platform called Sharp Trader.
- Plus500 offers a more basic set of educational resources.
- AvaTrade provides eBooks for in-depth learning.
- Plus500 focuses more on quick guides and FAQs for immediate queries.
Plus500 provides a more concise and well-organized set of educational materials. Traders who prefer quick and straightforward answers can easily understand the articles and FAQs provided. However, they lack the depth and variety that AvaTrade offers, especially when it comes to webinars and eBooks.
Verdict
Based on our testing, AvaTrade offers superior educational resources, scoring higher in comprehensiveness and depth.
8. AvaTrade: Superior Customer Service
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 offer 24/7 customer service. AvaTrade offers support via live chat, phone, and email, and it supports multiple languages. Plus500 also offers multilingual support via live chat and email but does not offer phone support.
Verdict
AvaTrade wins for its more comprehensive customer service.
9. AvaTrade: Better Funding Options
AvaTrade offers a wide range of payment options, including credit/debit cards, bank wire transfers, and various e-wallets such as PayPal and Skrill. It is very convenient for traders who have a preferred payment method or want to expand their funding sources.
Plus500 offers a limited range of funding options compared to AvaTrade. They offer credit/debit cards and bank wire transfers but lack the e-wallet options that AvaTrade provides. This could be a limiting factor for traders who prefer to use e-wallets for their transactions.
| Funding Option | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Credit/Debit Card | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| PayPal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| Rapid Pay EUR/GBP (5) | ✗ | ✗ |
| POLi / bPay AU/NZ (5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Klarna (2) | ✗ | ✗ |
Verdict
With its variety of flexible funding options, AvaTrade offers a more comprehensive list, making it the better choice for traders with diverse funding needs.
10. Tie: Lower Minimum Deposit
AvaTrade and Plus500 both have a minimum deposit requirement of $100 for their standard accounts. This makes both brokers accessible to beginners and those who prefer smaller investments.
The table below shows similar payment methods available for both brokers.
| GBP | USD | EUR | AUD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card / Debit Card | £100 Minimum Deposit | $100 Minimum Deposit | €100 Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Paypal | £100 Minimum Deposit | $100 Minimum Deposit | €100 Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Bank Wire | £100 Minimum Deposit | $100 Minimum Deposit | €100 Minimum Deposit | $100 |
| Skrill | £100 Minimum Deposit | $100 Minimum Deposit | €100 Minimum Deposit | $100 |
The similarity in minimum deposit requirements allows traders to choose either broker without worrying about a financial barrier. This is highly advantageous for beginner traders who may not want to invest a large sum of money initially.
Verdict
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 offer a minimum deposit of $100, making them equally accessible for traders of all levels.
So is Plus500 or AvaTrade the Best Broker?
AvaTrade is the winner because it outperforms Plus500 in a majority of the key areas we’ve examined, including trading platforms, account features, and educational resources. The table below summarises the key information leading to this verdict.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Spreads And Fees | ❌ | ✅ |
| Better Trading Platform | ✅ | ❌ |
| Superior Accounts And Features | ✅ | ❌ |
| Best Trading Experience And Ease | ✅ | ❌ |
| Stronger Trust And Regulation | ❌ | ✅ |
| Top Product Range And CFD Markets | ❌ | ✅ |
| Superior Educational Resources | ✅ | ❌ |
| Superior Customer Service | ✅ | ❌ |
| Better Funding Options | ✅ | ❌ |
| Lower Minimum Deposit | ✅ | ✅ |
AvaTrade: Best For Beginner Traders
For beginner traders, AvaTrade is the better choice due to its comprehensive educational resources and user-friendly trading platforms.
AvaTrade: Best For Experienced Traders
For experienced traders, AvaTrade still holds the edge, offering advanced features and a wider range of account options.
FAQs Comparing AvaTrade Vs Plus500
Does Plus500 or AvaTrade Have Lower Costs?
Plus500 has lower costs when it comes to spreads and fees. They generally offer tighter spreads, making it more cost-effective for frequent traders. For example, the EUR/USD spread can go as low as 0.6 pips. For more information on low-cost brokers, you can visit this list of Lowest Commission Brokers.
Which Broker Is Better For MetaTrader 4?
AvaTrade is the better choice for MetaTrader 4 users. They offer a more comprehensive MetaTrader 4 experience, including advanced charting tools and custom indicators. For a detailed comparison, you can check out this list of best MT4 brokers.
Which Broker Offers Social Trading?
AvaTrade offers social trading options, enhancing the overall trading experience. They provide platforms like ZuluTrade and DupliTrade for social and copy trading. For more on social trading platforms, you can read this guide on the best social trading platforms.
Does Either Broker Offer Spread Betting?
AvaTrade offers spread betting, specifically for UK traders. This feature allows traders to bet on the price movements of financial instruments. For more details on spread betting, you can check out this guide on the best spread betting brokers.
What Broker is Superior For Australian Forex Traders?
In my opinion, AvaTrade is the superior choice for Australian Forex traders. They are regulated by ASIC and offer a wide range of trading platforms and features. Plus500, on the other hand, is also ASIC-regulated but is originally from Israel. For more information, you can read this guide on the Best Forex Brokers In Australia.
What Broker is Superior For UK Forex Traders?
For UK traders, I’d recommend AvaTrade. They are regulated by the FCA and offer a comprehensive set of trading platforms and features. Plus500 is also FCA-regulated but lacks the depth of features that AvaTrade provides. For more insights, you can visit this guide on the best UK Forex brokers.
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