Comparison of Trading212 vs Plus500 [ 2024 ]

The best brokers to invest in cryptocurrencies compared by their commissions, cryptos, security and much more. Here is theTrading212 vs Plus500 comparison!

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

Trading212

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

Plus500

Main points

Fees

Low 4/5

Regulated

FCA, CySEC

Demo account

Yes
Low 3,7/6

Fees

FCA, CySEC

Regulated

Yes

Demo account

Recommended for

Beginners

Yes

Trading

Yes

Passive income

No

Buy and hold

No
Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

No

Passive income

No

Buy and hold


Comparison of fees

Rating

4.3 – Trading212 provides commission-free trading and a user-friendly platform. However, the 0.3% to 0.5% fee on currency conversion orders and inactivity fee are potential downsides .
4.0 – Plus500 provides good value with tight spreads and no commission on trades. The inactivity fee after three months and currency conversion fees are potential downsides .

Level

Low 4/5
Low 3,7/6

Brief explanation

Trading212 employs a straightforward fee structure with no commissions on most trading activities, particularly for CFD accounts. Users benefit from free deposits and withdrawals, making the platform financially accessible. However, there are fees associated with specific services. For instance, a 0.7% fee is charged on deposits exceeding €2,000 when using credit/debit cards or electronic wallets. Currency conversion carries a fee of 0.15% for Invest accounts and 0.5% for CFD accounts. Additionally, inactive accounts are charged £9, €9, or $9 after six months of inactivity​​ .
Plus500’s commission structure is designed to be straightforward, primarily utilizing the market spread. This means that the cost to trade is embedded in the difference between the buy and sell prices, rather than in explicit fees. For example, spreads can vary from 0.02% to 2%, depending on the cryptocurrency and market conditions. While this can be competitive, it may be higher compared to other platforms, especially for less liquid assets. In addition to the spread, Plus500 charges an overnight funding fee, which applies when positions are held open past a certain time. This fee can be either a charge or a credit, depending on the direction of the trade and the current interest rates. Additionally, there is a currency conversion fee for trades conducted in a currency different from the account’s base currency. Plus500 also implements an inactivity fee of up to $10 per month if no login activity occurs for three months, which continues to accrue until the account is active again. Despite these potential costs, Plus500 does not charge for deposits or withdrawals, which is a significant advantage. Users can fund their accounts via various methods including credit/debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets like PayPal. This fee structure makes Plus500 accessible and predictable for users, with the primary costs tied to the actual trading activity and specific conditions of the account .

Trading212

Plus500

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Product selection

Native token

Trading212 does not have a native token.
Plus500 does not have a native token.

Earns

Trading212 does not offer staking or other earning options for cryptocurrencies. It provides trading through crypto CFDs .
Plus500 does not offer staking or earning options for cryptocurrencies. It focuses on trading crypto CFDs .

NFT marketplace

Trading212 does not have an NFT marketplace.
Plus500 does not have an NFT marketplace.

Cripto/debit card

Trading212 does not offer a card for its clients .
Plus500 does not offer a card for its clients .

Company information

Full name

Trading 212 UK Ltd​​.
Plus500 Ltd​​.

Regulation

FCA (UK), CySEC​​.
FCA (UK), ASIC, CySEC, FMA (New Zealand), FSCA (South Africa), MAS​​.

Year founded

2004​​
2008​​

Founder

Ivan Ashminov, Nick Saunders
Alon Gonen, Shimon Sofer, Shlomi Weizmann, Elad Ben-Izhak, Gal Haber, Omer Elazari​​

Payment methods

Transfers

Yes, Trading 212 accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .
Yes, Plus500 accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .

Mastercard

Yes, Trading212 accepts Mastercard for deposits​​.
Yes, Plus500 accepts Mastercard for deposits​​.

Wire transfer

Yes, Wise is supported as a payment method .
Wise is not mentioned as a supported payment method .

Card

Yes, Trading 212 accepts credit/debit cards .
Yes, Plus500 accepts credit/debit cards .

Comparative table

Trading212 Features Plus500
The platform allows users to start trading with as little as £1, making it highly accessible for beginners.
Minimum Trade
Firstrade allows low minimum trade amounts, making it accessible for beginners to start investing in cryptocurrencies.
Trading212 offers competitive fees with no commissions on real stock trades, but CFD trading involves spreads.
Trading and Transaction Fees
The platform offers competitive trading fees, although some users might find hidden costs associated with certain transactions.
Trading212 supports a limited selection of cryptocurrencies, which might not satisfy traders looking for a wide variety of digital assets.
Number of Cryptocurrencies
Firstrade supports over 30 cryptocurrencies, providing a good range of options for investors.
The platform does not offer direct crypto-to-crypto trading pairs, limiting the trading options available.
Crypto-to-Crypto Trading Pairs
While it offers a variety of cryptocurrencies, the number of available trading pairs is somewhat limited compared to other platforms.
Trading212 provides clear and comprehensive information about its fees, services, and regulatory status, ensuring transparency for users.
Website Transparency
Firstrade’s website is transparent and informative, clearly outlining fees, security measures, and available services.
Trading212 does not offer a card for its clients .
Credit/Debit Card
Plus500 does not offer a card for its clients .
Trading212 does not provide dedicated cryptocurrency storage solutions, as it primarily deals with CFDs rather than actual cryptocurrency ownership.
Storage Offering
Firstrade lacks a dedicated cryptocurrency wallet, requiring users to use third-party services for storing their digital assets.
There are no staking or rewards programs available on Trading212, limiting passive income opportunities for users.
Staking and Rewards
The platform currently does not offer staking or reward programs, which can be a downside for users looking to earn passive income.
Trading212 offers robust mobile and desktop applications with a user-friendly interface and advanced trading tools.
Mobile App and Desktop
Firstrade offers a highly rated mobile app and a robust desktop platform, ensuring a seamless trading experience across devices.
The platform offers good customer support through various channels, though there is room for improvement in response times.
Customer Service
Firstrade’s customer service is reliable but not available 24/7, which can be an inconvenience for users needing assistance outside business hours.
Deposits and withdrawals are straightforward and support multiple payment methods, though crypto withdrawals are not available.
Deposit and Withdraw
Firstrade offers a variety of deposit and withdrawal options, although the lack of instant processing for some methods can be a drawback.

Key features

Analysis tools

Trading 212 offers a web-based platform and mobile apps with many features, including technical indicators and charting tools. They also provide educational resources and a demo account for practice trading .
Plus500 offers a WebTrader platform with advanced charting tools and technical indicators. They also provide innovative tools such as +Insights and Traders’ Sentiment for market analysis .

Mobile APP

Yes, Trading 212 provides mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices, featuring many of the functionalities found on their web-based platform .
Yes, Plus500 offers a user-friendly mobile app for trading CFDs on cryptocurrencies and other instruments .

Security

Trading 212 is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, ensuring a high level of security. However, they do not provide basic security features like two-factor authentication, which could be a concern for some investors​​.
Plus500 is regulated by several top-tier authorities, including the FCA and ASIC. They offer negative balance protection for CFD trading and are listed on the London Stock Exchange, enhancing transparency and security​​.

Additional features

Trading212 allows trading of cryptocurrency CFDs with benefits like leverage and short selling. They offer a user-friendly platform with a demo account for practice. Trading212 supports a wide range of payment methods and provides low fees for trading CFDs on stocks, indices, commodities, and forex in addition to cryptocurrencies .
Plus500 is a CFD trading platform offering a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. They provide a user-friendly WebTrader platform and a mobile app with powerful research tools. Plus500 offers competitive spreads and operates under multiple regulations, ensuring a secure trading environment. However, they do not allow the direct purchase of cryptocurrencies, only trading on price movements through CFDs .

Anonymity

Trading212 does not support anonymous accounts. The registration process includes providing personal details and identity verification​​.
Plus500 requires identity and residence verification during the account opening process, so anonymous accounts are not supported .

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

Trading212 supports trading in cryptocurrency CFDs. The available cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and other popular cryptocurrencies .
Plus500 offers trading in cryptocurrency CFDs. The available cryptocurrencies include Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), NEO, Ripple (XRP), IOTA, Stellar (XLM), EOS, Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Cardano (ADA), Tron (TRX), and Monero (XMR)​​.

User-friendliness

Trading212 offers a user-friendly and fast platform for trading crypto CFDs. The account setup process is quick, and the platform supports multiple payment methods. While the range of cryptocurrencies available for trading is limited, Trading212’s intuitive design and ease of use make it a good option for beginners​​.
Plus500 is known for its intuitive WebTrader platform, which simplifies the process of trading cryptocurrency CFDs. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, with a clean and minimalist interface that makes it easy to navigate. Plus500’s focus on CFDs means users do not own the underlying assets, which can be a limitation for those looking to hold actual cryptocurrencies .

Value for money

Trading212 provides excellent value with commission-free trading and a user-friendly platform. However, its fee for credit/debit card deposits and a small commission on stock trades might be a downside for some users​​.
Plus500 offers solid value for money with no deposit or withdrawal fees and a user-friendly platform. Its tight spreads and zero commission on trades are major benefits, although the minimum withdrawal amounts and inactivity fees could be drawbacks​​.

Countries of operation

United Kingdom, European Union, available in most countries that allow crypto trading .
United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel, United Arab Emirates .

Best for

Trading212 is best for beginner and intermediate traders looking for a user-friendly platform with commission-free trading of crypto CFDs. It’s suitable for those who want to start trading quickly and benefit from a wide range of other financial instruments​​.
Plus500 is ideal for traders who want a simple and intuitive platform for trading cryptocurrency CFDs without the need to manage actual crypto assets. It’s best for those who prefer a straightforward, user-friendly experience with competitive spreads​​.

Account

Trading

Trading212 supports crypto CFD trading with leverage, offering a straightforward and easy-to-use platform. It is ideal for beginners who want to start trading cryptocurrencies without owning them.
Plus500 supports crypto CFD trading with a user-friendly interface and a variety of cryptocurrencies. It offers leverage and competitive spreads, making it accessible to both new and experienced traders.

Deposit and withdrawal

Trading212 offers free deposits and withdrawals through a variety of methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets. The process is typically fast and efficient.
Plus500 supports deposits and withdrawals through bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets. Transactions are generally processed quickly, though some methods may incur small fees.

Account opening process

Trading212 offers a simple and fast account opening process. Users fill out an online form, provide personal and financial information, and submit verification documents. The process is fully digital and accounts are typically approved within one business day.
The account opening process at Plus500 is quick and fully digital. Users fill out an online form with personal and financial information, and submit verification documents. Accounts are usually approved within one business day.

KYC required?

KYC is mandatory at Trading212. Users must submit identification documents and proof of address during the account opening process.
KYC verification is mandatory at Plus500. Users need to provide identification documents and proof of address during the account opening process.

Customer Service

Trading212 offers customer support through live chat, email, and phone. The support is available 24/7 and is known for being responsive and helpful, providing users with timely and effective assistance.
Plus500 offers customer support through live chat and email, but does not provide phone support. The support is available 24/7 and is known for being responsive and efficient, though the lack of phone support can be limiting.

Security

Trading 212 is regulated by the FCA and CySEC, ensuring a high level of security. However, they do not provide basic security features like two-factor authentication, which could be a concern for some investors​​.
Plus500 is regulated by several top-tier authorities, including the FCA and ASIC. They offer negative balance protection for CFD trading and are listed on the London Stock Exchange, enhancing transparency and security​​.

Which of these exchanges is for you?

As an expert at our website, I recommend Trading212 for beginners and casual traders who are looking to explore the world of cryptocurrency trading in a secure and user-friendly environment. The platform’s ease of use, competitive fees, and strong regulatory oversight make it a reliable choice. However, if you’re an advanced trader seeking a wide variety of cryptocurrencies or specialized features like staking, you might find the platform somewhat limited. Nonetheless, Trading212 is an excellent starting point for anyone new to crypto trading.
As an expert at our website, I find Plus500 to be a robust and user-friendly platform for trading cryptocurrencies. Its intuitive interface makes it ideal for beginners, while its range of available cryptocurrencies ensures that even more experienced traders can find what they need. The lack of commission fees is a significant advantage, allowing users to trade more cost-effectively. However, it’s essential to be mindful of the spreads and potential withdrawal fees. Overall, Plus500 offers a secure and efficient environment for cryptocurrency trading, backed by strong regulatory oversight and advanced security measures.

How do we review crypto exchanges?

At Threenvest, we conduct a thorough review process to evaluate and rank the world’s leading crypto exchanges. Our goal is to offer an unbiased assessment, providing you with the information you need to make informed decisions on which ones best suit your needs. We strictly adhere to the guidelines of our editorial policy.

 

We collect data directly from exchanges through detailed questionnaires and conduct first-hand testing and observations during crypto exchange demonstrations. Questionnaire responses, combined with demonstrations and hands-on research from our experts, feed into our proprietary evaluation process that scores each provider’s performance on more than 15 factors. The end result produces star ratings ranging from poor (one star) to excellent (five stars).


For more details on the categories considered when rating brokers and our process, read our full methodology.

Risk Disclaimer

Investing in cryptocurrencies is very risky, you should only invest the money you are willing to lose. Also you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong.

Neither Threenvest, nor the author, are recommending you to invest with this article.

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