Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Plus500 vs XTB
Plus500 vs XTB: the differences
| Compare |  Plus500 |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Options, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 81% | 77% |
| Platforms | Plus500 WebTrader, Plus500 Mobile App | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- Plus500 scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.3.
- Regulators: only Plus500 offers Financial Conduct Authority, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- XTB is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Plus500 offers Options.
- Markets: only XTB offers CFDs.
- Platforms: only Plus500 offers Plus500 WebTrader, Plus500 Mobile App.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Support channels: only Plus500 offers Help centre.
- Support channels: only XTB offers Phone.
Our verdict on each
Plus500
Plus500 suits UK and European retail traders who want one account covering stocks, etfs and forex in a single app. The UK arm is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 behind UK balances and costs charged per trade rather than as a flat account fee.
XTB
XTB suits retail traders who want to hold stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto under one Cyprus-based account without a monthly charge. The account fee is €0, deposits cost nothing, and CySEC, FCA and KNF authorisations sit behind a legal entity founded in 2002.
Score breakdown
| Area | Plus500 | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Not confirmed | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Trust | 9.5 | 9.6Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Plus500 | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 57 of 471 | 3 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 25 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 23 of 145 | 2 of 145 |
Where these facts come from
Plus500
- 500affiliates.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- plus500.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
XTB
- xtb.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hello-brokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Plus500 | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Plus500UK Ltd | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Chat, Email, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Plus500 | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10above the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 81%highest quarter | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Plus500
Pros
- Costs are charged per trade, with no account fee listed
- UK protection stands at FSCS up to GBP 85,000
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex in the same app
Cons
- Losses run high at 81% of retail accounts
- Support runs on chat, email and help centre only, with no phone line
- Retail loss of 81% tops the site median of 70.15%
XTB
Pros
- Account fee of €0 on the standard account, and stock trades cost €0.
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without a funding floor.
- Regulated by CySEC, the FCA and KNF across Cyprus, the UK and Poland.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, unlike eToro, which has no such charge.
- Forex and CFD trading is not cost free: fx trading costs 0.5%.
- CFDs carry a high proportion of losing retail accounts, and XTB's own figure is 77%.
Who each suits
Plus500
Who it suits
- UK retail traders wanting one app for several asset classes
- First-time traders who can practise on the demo account
- Traders who prefer one platform over several brokers
Who should look elsewhere
- Long-term investors wanting ISA or SIPP style accounts
- Traders wanting CFDs or futures, absent from stocks, etfs and forex
- Traders who want a phone line rather than chat, email and help centre
XTB
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto in one account
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before committing money
- Cost conscious traders who will not hold a balance large enough to trigger the inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if a small minimum deposit of $5 suits a smaller starting balance better
- CFI, for traders who want forex and CFDs without paying an fx charge of 0.5%
- Anyone who plans to hold an idle balance for a long period, given the inactivity fee of €10
Questions about each
Plus500
What does Plus500 cost to trade?+
Plus500 charges per trade rather than a flat account fee, and no account fee is listed for the brand. Retail loss figures sit high at 81%, so costs per trade matter more than an annual charge.
Is Plus500 regulated in the UK?+
Yes. The UK arm trades as Plus500UK Ltd and is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under 509909. A Cyprus entity is separately authorised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under 250/14.
XTB
What does XTB charge to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly or annual cost to keeping the account open. A stock trade costs €0 on the same account. The only recurring charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10 for traders whose balance sits idle.
Is there a minimum deposit at XTB?+
The minimum deposit is €0, which means the account can be opened and funded with a small amount. It is a lower floor than the $5 asked by Vantage, so it suits a trader testing the platform before scaling up.
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