Plus500 Alternatives

XTB is the best Plus500 alternative for most UK and European users in 2026. It combines CFD trading with access to real stocks and ETFs, offers a capable proprietary platform in xStation, and gives investors more flexibility if they want to trade leveraged products and build a longer-term portfolio from the same account.

That does not make XTB the best choice for everyone. IG is better for advanced multi-platform trading, Pepperstone is stronger for MetaTrader and algorithmic forex trading, eToro is the obvious choice for copy trading, and Trading 212 is a better fit if you mainly want to invest in shares and ETFs rather than trade CFDs.

This comparison is primarily aimed at UK and European retail traders. Plus500's product range differs by jurisdiction. For example, Plus500 offers CFDs in many international markets, share dealing in parts of Europe, and futures and options on futures in the US.

Best Plus500 alternatives at a glance

The short verdict

Choose XTB if you want the closest all-round upgrade from Plus500.

Choose IG if trading tools, market breadth and specialist platforms matter more than simplicity.

Choose Pepperstone if you specifically want MetaTrader, cTrader, TradingView or automated strategies.

Choose eToro if the feature missing from Plus500 is copy trading.

Choose Trading 212 if you have realised that you do not actually need a CFD-first broker and mainly want to own stocks and ETFs.

Choose CMC Markets if you want a sophisticated proprietary platform without giving up access to third-party charting tools.

1. XTB: best overall Plus500 alternative

XTB's xStation platform supports CFDs alongside exchange-traded stocks and ETFs. XTB currently states that it offers more than 7,100 stocks from 16 major exchanges, although the exact instruments available depend on your country and account.

For stocks and ETFs, XTB publishes a zero-commission allowance up to €100,000 of monthly turnover. Above that threshold, a 0.2% commission applies, subject to a minimum charge. Currency conversion can add a 0.5% fee where the instrument and account use different currencies.

xStation also includes market analysis, charts, scanners, economic information and order-management tools in the same interface.

Why XTB is better than Plus500 for some traders

The biggest difference is flexibility.

Plus500 remains heavily associated with its proprietary trading environment. XTB gives a trader a relatively simple proprietary platform while also making it easier to move between leveraged CFD trading and ownership of stocks or ETFs.

That matters if your strategy is changing. Someone who originally opened Plus500 to trade indices or forex might later want to hold an ETF portfolio without maintaining an entirely separate brokerage relationship.

Choose XTB over Plus500 if you want one platform that can cover both active trading and longer-term investing.

2. IG: best Plus500 alternative for advanced traders

IG currently advertises access to more than 15,000 markets. Its platform stack includes its own web and mobile platforms plus specialist options such as MetaTrader, ProRealTime, TradingView and L2 Dealer.

That is a meaningful difference from the standard Plus500 experience.

For example, ProRealTime is aimed at technical chart users, while L2 Dealer provides direct market access functionality for certain products. MetaTrader supports automated trading, and TradingView gives users a familiar third-party charting environment.

IG's published UK CFD pricing starts from 0.6 points on EUR/USD, although the actual cost depends on the instrument, market conditions and product. Share CFDs use commission-based pricing rather than the spread-only model used for many other markets.

Who should switch from Plus500 to IG?

IG makes the most sense for a trader who has outgrown a straightforward proprietary platform.

If you want advanced charting, automated strategies, direct market access, specialist order execution or substantially broader market coverage, IG gives you more room to expand.

The trade-off is complexity. A trader who values Plus500 precisely because it keeps everything simple may find much of IG's additional functionality unnecessary.

3. Pepperstone: best alternative for MetaTrader, forex and automation

Pepperstone supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader and TradingView, alongside Pepperstone's own platform. It also supports automated trading through MetaTrader Expert Advisors, cTrader Automate and API integrations.

That makes Pepperstone particularly relevant to traders searching for a Plus500 alternative because they want to use third-party software, custom indicators, robots or automated strategies.

Pepperstone's Razor account uses raw-spread plus commission pricing for forex and spot gold CFDs. Published FX spreads start from 0.0 points, with commission from US$3.50 per standard lot per side. Its Standard account instead incorporates most trading costs into the spread.

Pepperstone vs Plus500

The decision is relatively straightforward.

Plus500 is better suited to someone who wants a self-contained, simple trading environment. Pepperstone is better suited to someone who wants to build their trading setup around MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView or automation.

Pepperstone is less attractive if your main objective is buying and holding conventional shares and ETFs. Its core proposition is active trading.

4. eToro: best Plus500 alternative for copy trading

eToro's CopyTrader feature lets users automatically replicate the positions of another investor. eToro does not charge an additional CopyTrader management or subscription fee, although the normal spreads, overnight charges and other costs associated with the underlying positions still apply.

That addresses one of the clearest feature gaps for someone comparing eToro with Plus500.

The two platforms also encourage different behaviour. Plus500 is primarily built around making your own trading decisions through its trading interface. eToro adds investor discovery, portfolio visibility and social features around the investment process.

Is eToro better than Plus500?

Copy trading does not remove investment risk. Following another investor can reproduce their losses just as automatically as their profitable trades.

5. CMC Markets: best for charting and platform flexibility

CMC offers its Next Generation platform and mobile application, while eligible CFD accounts can also connect to TradingView. Traders who prefer MetaTrader can open a separate MT4 CFD account, although the available instruments differ by platform.

CMC therefore sits in an interesting middle ground.

You are not forced to abandon a proprietary broker platform, but you have considerably more choice around how you analyse and execute trades.

CMC has also expanded its broader multi-asset proposition. In March 2026, CMC Markets announced access to more than 12,000 global shares and ETFs through its new multi-asset platform, with zero commission on those investments and a stated 0.5% FX conversion fee where applicable.

Holding costs apply to relevant CFD positions carried overnight, so active traders should compare the total cost of their typical strategy rather than looking at headline spreads alone.

6. Trading 212: best Plus500 alternative for stock and ETF investors

Trading 212's Invest accounts currently charge no trading commission or custody fee. Its published foreign-exchange fee for Invest accounts is 0.15%, although exchange charges and taxes can still apply to particular transactions.

Trading 212 also offers a separate CFD account. Its CFD pricing includes dynamic spreads, a 0.5% FX fee and overnight interest where applicable.

The distinction matters.

Someone searching for a Plus500 competitor may assume they need another CFD broker. Often they do not.

If your real objective is regularly buying global shares or ETFs and holding them for years, comparing CFD spreads is the wrong decision framework. An investment account designed around ownership of securities is usually the more relevant product to compare.

Why look for an alternative to Plus500?

Plus500 is not automatically a bad broker simply because alternatives exist.

The platform can still make sense for traders who value a relatively straightforward proprietary interface and access to CFDs across forex, shares, indices, commodities, ETFs, options and cryptocurrencies where those products are available. Plus500 has also expanded beyond CFDs into share dealing in Europe and futures products in the US.

There are, however, several legitimate reasons to compare other brokers.

Platform choice is one. Traders who want MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView, advanced automation or direct market access have stronger options elsewhere.

Copy trading is another. eToro provides a native feature that Plus500 does not replicate in the same way.

Long-term investing can also change the decision. Trading 212 and XTB may be more natural choices for someone primarily buying shares and ETFs.

Costs matter too. Plus500 primarily earns through the bid-ask spread rather than a trading commission, but additional charges can include overnight funding, currency conversion and inactivity fees. Plus500 currently states that its currency conversion fee can be up to 0.7% and that an inactivity fee of up to US$10 per month can apply after at least three months without logging into a funded real-money account.

Plus500 vs its alternatives: what should you actually compare?

Do not choose a broker from one headline number.

1. Decide whether you want CFDs or real investments

This is the most important distinction.

A share CFD gives you exposure to the movement in a share price without ownership of the underlying share. A conventional investment account lets you own the security.

If you want leverage, short selling and short-term speculation, compare CFD brokers.

If you want to build a portfolio over several years, compare investment accounts first.

2. Compare total trading cost, not just the spread

Your actual cost can include:

• bid-ask spreads
• trading commissions
• overnight financing
• currency conversion
• market-data subscriptions
• inactivity fees
• exchange and regulatory charges

A broker with a narrower advertised spread can still be more expensive for your particular strategy once commissions and financing are included.

Compare the exact instruments you normally trade and the length of time you normally hold them.

3. Choose the platform before chasing tiny fee differences

A small pricing advantage is not particularly useful if the broker cannot support your trading process.

A trader using Expert Advisors should prioritise MetaTrader compatibility.

A TradingView user should check direct broker integration.

A discretionary trader might care more about proprietary charting, news, alerts and order-management tools.

A passive investor may need none of them.

4. Check the legal entity serving your country

Broker names are global. Regulation is not.

The products, leverage limits, investor protections, fees and even available platforms can differ depending on whether your account sits with a UK, EU, Australian or other legal entity.

Check the broker's local terms and verify the relevant company on the regulator's official register before funding an account. The FCA, for example, lists Plus500UK Ltd separately from unauthorised firms attempting to impersonate the brand.

Which Plus500 alternative should you choose?

For most UK and European users, XTB is the strongest overall alternative to Plus500 because it gives you a credible active-trading platform without locking you into a CFD-only mindset.

The better choice changes when your requirement becomes more specific:

• Choose XTB for the best balance of CFDs, stocks, ETFs and usability.
• Choose IG for advanced tools, huge market coverage and multiple professional trading platforms.
• Choose Pepperstone for forex, MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView and automation.
• Choose eToro for copy trading and social investing.
• Choose CMC Markets for sophisticated charting and flexible platform access.
• Choose Trading 212 if your priority is inexpensive long-term stock and ETF investing.

The useful question is therefore not simply, "Which broker is better than Plus500?"

It is which Plus500 limitation are you actually trying to solve?

Once that is clear, the shortlist becomes much smaller.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best alternative to Plus500?

XTB is the best all-round Plus500 alternative for most UK and European users. It combines CFDs with conventional stocks and ETFs and provides a more rounded investment platform through xStation.

IG may be better for advanced traders, while Pepperstone is stronger for traders who require MetaTrader or cTrader.

Which Plus500 alternative supports MT4 and MT5?

Pepperstone is one of the strongest alternatives if MetaTrader support is a priority. Pepperstone offers MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView. IG also offers MetaTrader alongside several other specialist platforms.

What is the best Plus500 alternative for copy trading?

eToro is the most obvious Plus500 alternative for copy trading. Its CopyTrader feature automatically mirrors the investments of selected traders and does not carry a separate CopyTrader subscription or management fee. Normal costs associated with the copied positions can still apply.

What is the best alternative to Plus500 for investing in stocks and ETFs?

Trading 212 and XTB are stronger choices when the objective is owning shares and ETFs rather than primarily trading CFDs.

Trading 212's Invest account currently has no trading commission or custody charge and publishes a 0.15% FX conversion fee. XTB combines real stocks and ETFs with a more trading-focused platform.

Is there a cheaper alternative to Plus500?

There is no single cheapest Plus500 alternative because CFD costs depend on the instrument, position size, holding period and account type.

For active forex trading, a raw-spread account such as Pepperstone Razor can offer spreads from 0.0 points but adds a commission. For long-term stock investing, Trading 212's fee structure can be considerably more relevant than comparing CFD spreads.

CFDs are leveraged products and can result in rapid losses. Broker availability, fees, products and investor protections vary by jurisdiction, so check the current terms for the legal entity that would actually hold your account.