Plus500 review

CFD broker authorized in Canada, valued for its simple proprietary platform and its wide range of instruments.

9.3/10#3 in our ranking
Analysis of public sources
  • CIRO
  • CIPF
  • Since 2008

Ratings by category

  • Regulation and safety10.0
  • Trading platforms8.5
  • Fees and commissions9.5
  • Instruments and markets9.5
  • Customer service and education9.0

Our verdict on Plus500

In short

Plus500 is a specialist CFD broker, founded in Israel in 2008 and listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: PLUS). Authorized by CIRO through its Canadian subsidiary Plus500CY, the broker stands out for its simple, intuitive proprietary platform and a very wide range of more than 2,500 CFD instruments covering Forex, stocks, indices, commodities and bonds. Plus500 offers neither MT4 nor MT5, choosing to focus its offering on its own platform.

Who is it for?

Ideal for CFD traders who prefer a clean, intuitive interface and do not need MetaTrader's technical depth. Particularly suits traders who want access to a wide range of CFD instruments (more than 2,500), especially international stocks and commodities, on a single platform.

Who it suits less

Less suited to traders who rely on MetaTrader 4 for Expert Advisors or automated trading (Plus500 only offers its proprietary platform). Not relevant either for cryptocurrency traders in Canada, where crypto is not offered. Investors who want registered accounts should look at Questrade.

Plus500 overview

Plus500 is a CFD broker founded in 2008 by a group of Israeli engineers with the goal of simplifying access to CFD trading for retail investors. The company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol PLUS since 2013, which gives it a level of financial transparency and independent auditing that private brokers do not have. This listing requires regular publication of financial results and regular external audits.

The Canadian offering is provided through Plus500CY Ltd, a subsidiary authorized by CIRO (formerly IIROC, before the June 2023 merger) and a member of the CIPF. Canadian client funds are segregated at Canadian banks and covered up to one million dollars CAD per account category. At group level, Plus500 operates under licences from the FCA in the United Kingdom, CySEC in Cyprus, ASIC in Australia, the FSCA in South Africa, the MAS in Singapore and the DFSA in Dubai.

The product range is one of the widest on the market, with more than 2,500 CFD instruments available: currency pairs, international stocks (United States, Canada, Europe, Asia), global stock indices, commodities, government bonds and ETF CFDs. Plus500 does not offer cryptocurrencies to its Canadian clients, in line with CIRO restrictions. The focus is on the variety of CFD assets, not on the number of platforms.

In our 2026 comparison, Plus500 earns an overall rating of 9.3 out of 10. Its rating is based on full Canadian regulation, competitive commission-free spreads, a very wide range of CFD instruments and the simplicity of its proprietary platform. The main weakness is the absence of MetaTrader 4 and 5, which rules Plus500 out for algorithmic traders who rely on Expert Advisors or custom scripts.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Authorized by CIRO and a member of the CIPF (protection up to $1M CAD per category)
  • Company listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: PLUS) since 2013
  • More than 2,500 CFD instruments available (Forex, stocks, indices, commodities)
  • Simple, intuitive proprietary platform, suited to beginners
  • Accessible $100 minimum deposit
  • Six major regulatory jurisdictions in addition to Canada

Cons

  • No MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 (proprietary platform only)
  • Cryptocurrencies not available to Canadian clients
  • No Expert Advisors or script-based automated trading
  • No RRSP or TFSA registered accounts

Fees and commissions

Plus500's fee structure is based on a commission-free model, where the broker earns exclusively on the spread. Spreads on major pairs are competitive, from 0.6 pip on EUR/USD, a level comparable to OANDA's. This model particularly suits traders who prefer a simple cost structure without calculating a commission on each trade. Deposits are accepted through many methods (cards, e-wallets, bank wire), which makes it more accessible than Fortrade, for example, which is limited to bank wire. An important point to watch: inactivity fees apply after only 3 months without activity (US$10 per quarter), a much shorter threshold than OANDA's (12 months) or FOREX.com's (12 months). Occasional traders who do not trade regularly should factor this in.

Plus500 fees and commissions
Fee typeDetails
Spread EUR/USDFrom 0.6 pip (variable spread)
Spread USD/CADFrom 1.5 pip
CommissionNo commission on trades (revenue from the spread)
Overnight financing (swap)Varies by position, calculated daily based on interbank rates
Deposit feesFree via Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, Skrill and bank wire
Withdrawal feesFree via bank wire. Usual bank fees may apply depending on your institution.
Inactivity feeUS$10 per quarter after 3 months without trading activity

Trading platforms

Plus500 makes the strategic choice to focus its offering on a single proprietary platform, available in web and mobile versions. This decision contrasts with multi-platform brokers such as FOREX.com or AvaTrade, which offer MT4, MT5, TradingView and proprietary platforms. The advantage of the Plus500 approach is consistency: the interface is identical across all versions, which makes it easier to learn and reduces potential mistakes when switching from one device to another. For a trader who is new to CFDs and has no strong technical preference, this simplicity is a selling point. The downside is that MetaTrader 4 or 5 cannot be used: traders who rely on Expert Advisors or custom MQL4 and MQL5 scripts for automated trading will not be able to move their strategy to Plus500. Negative balance protection, guaranteed by Plus500, is built into the platform: in the event of an extreme market move, the client's balance can never fall below zero.

Plus500 WebTrader

Plus500's proprietary web platform, accessible from any browser with nothing to install. A clean interface designed for ease of use, with built-in charts, price alerts and fast order execution. Suits beginner and intermediate traders.

  • Web access, nothing to install
  • Built-in charts with basic indicators
  • Price alerts and notifications
  • Guaranteed negative balance protection
  • Free unlimited demo account

Plus500 Mobile

A native iOS and Android mobile app. Syncs in real time with your WebTrader account, so you can manage positions, follow prices and place orders from your phone.

  • Native iOS and Android apps
  • Customizable push notifications
  • Price alerts and news
  • Biometric authentication
  • Touch-optimized interface

Available instruments

  • 70Forex pairs
  • 2,000Stocks
  • 100ETFs
  • 25Commodities
  • 30Indices
  • 10Bonds

Approximate figures published by the broker. The exact list may vary by account type.

Deposits and withdrawals

Minimum deposit
$100 CAD
Payment methods
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • PayPal
  • Skrill
  • Bank wire
Processing times
Card and e-wallet deposits: instant. Bank wires: 2 to 5 business days. Withdrawals: 1 to 3 business days, excluding bank delays.
Fees
Free for all deposit methods. Free for bank wire withdrawals.

Customer service

Languages
  • English
  • French
Opening hours
24 hours a day, 7 days a week via live chat
Contact channels
  • Live chat
  • Email
  • Contact form
Response time
Under 15 minutes on live chat

Safety and regulation

Plus500 operates in Canada through its subsidiary Plus500CY Ltd, authorized by CIRO and a member of the CIPF. Canadian client funds are segregated at top-tier Canadian banks and covered up to one million dollars CAD per account category if the broker becomes insolvent. One feature that sets Plus500 apart from many competitors is its listing on the London Stock Exchange (LON: PLUS) since 2013. This listing comes with strict obligations for financial transparency, quarterly reporting, independent external audits and reporting to the UK market authorities (FCA). For clients, this transparency is an extra layer of security compared with private brokers whose finances cannot be publicly verified. At group level, Plus500 is regulated in seven major jurisdictions in addition to Canada, which reflects significant institutional regulatory maturity.

Main regulator in Canada
CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization)
Other group regulators
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • CySEC (Cyprus)
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • MAS (Singapore)
  • DFSA (Dubai)
Investor protection
CIPF up to $1 million CAD per account category
Segregated client funds
Yes
Parent company
Plus500 Ltd, listed on the London Stock Exchange (LON: PLUS)
Year founded
2008

Frequently asked questions

Yes. Plus500CY Ltd, Plus500's Canadian subsidiary, is authorized by CIRO (Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization) and is a member of the CIPF. Your funds are protected up to $1 million CAD per account category if the broker becomes insolvent. Plus500 Ltd, the parent company, is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol PLUS.

The minimum deposit to open an account with Plus500 Canada is $100 CAD. This amount is within reach of most investors who want to try the platform with limited capital before increasing their positions.

No. Plus500 only offers its proprietary platform, in web and mobile versions. Traders who rely on MetaTrader 4 or 5 to use Expert Advisors or automated trading will need to turn to other brokers such as AvaTrade or FOREX.com, which offer these platforms.

No. Cryptocurrencies are not available to Plus500's Canadian clients, due to the regulatory restrictions that apply to CIRO-authorized brokers. To trade cryptocurrencies in Canada, you need to use a crypto asset trading platform registered with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA). Forex Brokers Canada focuses on Forex and CFD brokers.

Plus500 offers more than 2,500 CFD instruments, including more than 70 currency pairs, about 2,000 international stocks, 30 global stock indices, 25 commodities, 100 ETFs and 10 government bonds. This is one of the widest ranges on the Canadian market.

Plus500 specializes in CFDs, or contracts for difference. Unlike a traditional Forex broker that might offer spot Forex, all trades at Plus500 are leveraged CFDs. The platform does not offer MetaTrader, favouring a proprietary interface designed for simplicity. The range of instruments is also more diversified than that of a pure Forex broker such as OANDA.

Plus500 alternatives

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Ready to open an account with Plus500?

Overall rating: 9.3/10

Trading CFDs involves a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.