Plus500 vs Swissquote (2026): regulation, platforms and costs compared

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Data refreshed 25 Aug 2026 · Compiled by David Ispiryan

Plus500

Trust rank #3 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 2008

Plus500 is a regulated forex and CFD broker offering broad access to currency pairs and other markets on a proprietary web and mobile platform. It provides built-in charting, order types, and risk…

Read the Plus500 review

Swissquote

Trust rank #5 · Editorial rating 10 / 10 · Founded 1996

Swissquote provides forex and multi-asset trading through proprietary and third-party platforms, with research, education, and customer support. It is well-regarded for a broad product range, clear pricing, and tools suitable for different…

Read the Swissquote review

Plus500 (Israel, founded 2008) holds 11 regulatory licences (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA…), 6 of them tier-1, offers Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. Swissquote (Switzerland, founded 1996) holds 4 regulatory licences (CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINMA), 3 of them tier-1, offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary and sits in our low-fee bracket. The two overlap in 230 countries; Plus500 is available in 1 countries where Swissquote is not, and Swissquote in 1 where Plus500 is not.

Verdict at a glance

  • Plus500 leads on trust rank, regulatory coverage and tier-1 licences.
  • Swissquote leads on track record and platform choice.
  • Level on editorial rating, instrument range, country coverage and fee level.

Scored on 9 measurable dimensions where both brokers have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.

Plus500 vs Swissquote: side-by-side data

CriteriaPlus500Swissquote
Editorial rating10 / 1010 / 10
Trust rank#3#5
Founded20081996
HeadquartersIsraelSwitzerland
RegulatorsASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFACSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINMA
Broker typeMarket MakerSTP
PlatformsProprietaryMT4, MT5, Proprietary
InstrumentsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, MetalsCommodities, Cryptocurrencies, Forex, Indices, Metals
Countries accepted231 countries231 countries
Fee levelLowLow
Trading typesCFD Trading, Spot TradingCFD Trading, Spot Trading
Best-for use casesProfessional Trading, Retail TradingProfessional Trading, Retail Trading

Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that broker — we never fill gaps with estimates.

Pros

Plus500

  • Multi-jurisdiction regulation and segregated client funds
  • Commission-free FX trading with competitive spreads
  • Negative balance protection and advanced risk tools
  • Intuitive WebTrader and mobile apps
  • Broad FX pair selection

Swissquote

  • FINMA-regulated Swiss bank; publicly listed (SIX)
  • Segregated client funds with Swiss deposit protection up to CHF 100,000
  • NDD/STP execution with multi-bank liquidity
  • MT4/MT5 and Advanced Trader; FIX API access
  • 80+ FX pairs plus CFDs and crypto

Cons

Plus500

  • Market-maker execution (no ECN/STP/DMA)
  • Proprietary platform only (no MetaTrader/cTrader)
  • No algorithmic/API trading support
  • No commission-based raw-spread accounts
  • Inactivity fee after inactivity

Swissquote

  • Higher spreads than many ECN brokers
  • High minimum deposit for tighter pricing tiers
  • No cTrader platform support
  • No guaranteed stop-loss orders
  • Negative balance protection varies by entity

Key features

Plus500

  • Multi asset CFD trading Forex Indices Commodities Shares ETFs Options and Crypto
  • Proprietary WebTrader platform on web and mobile advanced charting alerts and sentiment
  • Top tier regulation segregated client funds and FTSE 250 listed parent company
  • Risk management Guaranteed Stop Orders Trailing Stops and Negative Balance Protection
  • Commission free spread only pricing with overnight funding and conversion fees
  • Free unlimited demo account and 24 7 multilingual support

Swissquote

  • Swiss bank regulation FINMA and FCA oversight
  • Advanced Trader MT4 and MT5 platforms
  • Wide range of forex and CFD instruments
  • Deep liquidity and competitive spreads
  • Research and trading tools Trading Central and Autochartist
  • Secure client fund segregation and deposit protection

Country availability: Plus500 vs Swissquote

Available at both (230): Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China and 190 more.

Only Plus500 (1): United States of America.

Only Swissquote (1): Belgium.

Availability reflects the countries each broker declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the broker's own site before signing up.

Plus500 vs Swissquote: common questions

Which broker is more regulated, Plus500 or Swissquote?

Plus500 holds more regulatory licences: Plus500 (ASIC, CFTC, CySEC, DFSA, FCA, FMA, FSA Seychelles, FSCA, ISA, MAS, NFA) versus Swissquote (CSSF, DFSA, FCA, FINMA). Tier-1 licences: Plus500 6, Swissquote 3.

Which trading platforms do Plus500 and Swissquote offer?

Plus500 offers Proprietary; Swissquote offers MT4, MT5, Proprietary.

Which has lower fees, Plus500 or Swissquote?

Both sit in the same fee bracket (low) in our catalogue; compare the spreads and commission rows above for detail.

Which is older, Plus500 or Swissquote?

Swissquote is the older of the two, founded in 1996; Plus500 was founded in 2008.

Are Plus500 and Swissquote available in the same countries?

They overlap in 230 countries. Plus500 is additionally available in 1 countries (United States of America) and Swissquote in 1 countries (Belgium).

Keep comparing

Plus500

Swissquote

Risk warning: CFDs and forex are complex, leveraged instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly. A majority of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Nothing on this page is financial advice; verify licence status on the regulator's register before depositing. Full risk disclosure.