Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 vs TopFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Plus500, founded in 2008, is a well-regarded online broker with a strong regulatory standing. It is publicly traded and holds an impressive total of six Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, along with three Tier-2 licenses. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 ranks as a highly trusted broker for online trading, ensuring users a secure and reliable platform. Importantly, Plus500 is not a bank but is still notable for its high level of trustworthiness.
In comparison, TopFX, established in 2010, is a privately-held broker that holds one Tier-1 license, reflecting limited highly trusted regulatory recognition. Lacking any Tier-2 licenses, TopFX falls into the high-risk category with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 67, indicating significant caution for potential users. Like Plus500, TopFX is not a bank, but its regulatory standing suggests a need for careful consideration when choosing to trade with them.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing Plus500 and TopFX on the basis of commissions and fees, it appears that Plus500's pricing is slightly higher than the industry average. Notably, their EUR/USD spread in April 2024 averaged 1.5 pips, which is above the typical market rate. While Plus500 does not supply retail clients with discounts, those who qualify as Professional clients may receive cash rebates, similar to an active trader program. This contributes to Plus500's commission and fee rating of 4 out of 5 stars, and a ranking of 25th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, TopFX provides two distinct account options: the spread-only ZERO account and the commission-based RAW account. The RAW account charges a commission of 2.75 EUR per side (5.50 per round turn standard lot) and posted an average spread of 0.33 pips on the EUR/USD in July 2024, leading to an all-in cost around the industry average at 0.88 pips. Meanwhile, the ZERO account, although commission-free, had a higher average spread of 1.03 pips for the same currency pair. TopFX's approach to trading fees earns it a 4-star rating and a rank of 40th by ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, while both brokers hold the same star rating, Plus500 may be seen as more favorable due to its slightly higher industry position despite its above-average costs, potentially appealing more to Professional clients eligible for rebates. In comparison, TopFX offers flexible account options for traders who may prioritize either transparency in commission costs or prefer the simplicity of spread-only pricing.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | Depends on payment method |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.03 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.88 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
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When comparing the range of investments available at online brokers Plus500 and TopFX, there are a few notable differences. Plus500 stands out with an impressive offering of 5,500 tradeable symbols, compared to TopFX's 655. This includes a slight advantage in forex pairs, with Plus500 offering 65 pairs against TopFX's 60. Plus500 also allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling direct purchases of popular stocks like Apple and Vodafone, a feature not available with TopFX. Both brokers provide the option of trading forex as a CFD or spot contract, but when it comes to buying actual cryptocurrencies, neither broker offers this service, though they both provide the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Plus500 is noted for its extensive range of investments, receiving a 4.5-star rating and a rank of #20 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, TopFX garnered a 3.5-star rating and a #46 ranking. Despite Plus500’s broader investment choices, TopFX distinguishes itself by offering copy trading, a useful feature for those looking to mimic the strategies of successful traders. Overall, both brokers cater to different investor needs, with Plus500 providing a wider array of investment opportunities and TopFX offering unique trading features like copy trading.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 655 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 60 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Plus500 and TopFX, each has its strengths. Plus500 stands out for its proprietary in-house platform, which provides a seamless web-based trading experience, alongside a comprehensive demo account to test strategies without financial risk. While Plus500 doesn't support Windows-based desktop downloads, it scores highly with ten fields for its watch lists and a generous 36 drawing tools for charting purposes. Despite lacking MetaTrader options and copy trading capabilities, Plus500 achieves a near-perfect 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking impressively at #14 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, TopFX offers traders the versatility of both MetaTrader 4 and a Windows-based desktop platform, which can be appealing for those who prefer these well-known trading environments. The presence of copy trading on TopFX platform provides an added layer of engagement, allowing users to mimic successful strategies. Moreover, while its charting capabilities feature only 15 drawing tools, TopFX permits trading directly from stock charts, enhancing the user experience. Despite receiving a 4-star rating and ranking at #45, TopFX continues to attract traders seeking robust features like MT4 and advanced copy trading options.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
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Comparing mobile trading apps of Plus500 and TopFX reveals distinct features that cater to different trading needs. Both platforms offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android, alongside stock or forex price alerts, and the ability to draw trendlines or view multiple time frames on charts. While these common functionalities lay a strong foundation, Plus500 distinguishes itself by providing 115 technical studies for chart analysis compared to TopFX's 30, and it enables seamless syncing of watchlists with the desktop account—an option not available with TopFX. However, TopFX has an edge with auto-saving chart drawings, compensating for some of Plus500's advantages.
Despite both platforms allowing real-time quote watchlists, Plus500 stands out with a slightly higher overall mobile app rating of 4.5 stars compared to TopFX's 4 stars. Plus500 is ranked #14 by ForexBrokers.com in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while TopFX sits at #51. These metrics suggest that Plus500's mobile app is generally more favored among traders for its comprehensive technical features and user experience, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing advanced charting tools and account integration. On the other hand, TopFX offers a competent alternative for traders valuing features like automatic chart-saving.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Plus500 and TopFX offer distinct features that cater to different trading needs. Plus500 excels in daily market commentary and provides a sentiment-based trading tool, which displays the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments. Additionally, their offering includes tools from Trading Central and an economic calendar to track global news events. However, Plus500 doesn't deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters and lacks research tools from Autochartist. These features have helped Plus500 earn a solid 4.0-star rating, placing it at #19 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
TopFX, on the other hand, distinguishes itself by offering forex news from top-tier sources, along with technical analysis tools from Autochartist and Trading Central. Like Plus500, it provides a sentiment-based trading tool and an economic calendar. Although TopFX covers a broad spectrum of market insights, its absence of daily market commentary and other advanced research tools like those from Acuity Trading has earned it a lower rating of 3 stars and a ranking of #60 on ForexBrokers.com’s list. Both platforms offer unique strengths, allowing traders to choose based on their specific research needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Plus500 outshines TopFX by offering a wide range of learning materials suitable for those new to trading. Plus500 provides over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles and videos, making it easier for beginners to get started. In addition, Plus500 hosts monthly online webinars and maintains a searchable archive of these sessions, allowing users to revisit past content anytime for further learning. It also offers over ten beginner-specific videos and a selection of advanced content, supporting traders as they gain more experience. Despite lacking an investor dictionary, Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars for its educational offerings, ranking #31 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, TopFX does not provide the same level of educational resources as Plus500. The broker does not meet the minimum requirement of ten educational pieces on forex or CFDs and lacks both monthly webinars and a searchable archive of past sessions. Additionally, TopFX falls short with fewer beginner and advanced educational videos, making it more challenging for newcomers to find comprehensive learning materials. Like Plus500, TopFX also lacks an investor dictionary. As a result, TopFX receives a lower education rating of 3 stars and ranks #61 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Overall, Plus500 offers a more comprehensive educational experience for beginners in comparison to TopFX.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than TopFX. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while TopFX finished with an overall rank of #62.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
TopFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 |
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Both Plus500 and TopFX do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both Plus500 and TopFX offer convenient options like PayPal, Skrill, Visa, and Mastercard for depositing and withdrawing funds, as well as bank wire transfers, but neither support ACH or SEPA transfers.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Plus500 | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | TopFX Review |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 655 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 60 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.03 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.88 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | Depends on payment method | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | Yes | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | TopFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review | TopFX Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | TopFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | TopFX Review |
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