Plus500 Fees, Charges & Commission

Plus500 Fees Explained

Trading fees directly impact profitability and can reveal which strategies a broker supports, and which it seems to discourage through trading fees, making them the most defining aspects when evaluating a broker. Therefore, traders must consider the Plus500 fees before opening and funding a trading account. Find further up-to-date data about Plus500 in our Plus500 broker review.

Our detailed Plus500 fees review offers a comprehensive breakdown of trading and non-trading costs. How cheap is the commission-free Plus500 fee structure, and does it deliver a competitive edge? Find out all you need to know about Plus500 fees.

Overview of Plus500 Fees and Charges

Plus500 fees consist of spread-based trading costs, which are asset-dependent, and a series of non-trading charges. The pricing environment for Forex traders begins with minimum markups of 0.8 pips over market spreads or $8.00 per 1.0 standard round lot, which is average. Average costs for major currency pairs are closer to $13.00.

Index traders get a competitive cost structure, with a commission-free minimum fee between 0.7 and 2.0 points. Commodity traders also benefit from tight spreads, with crude oil at a $0.04 and gold at a $0.33 markup. Equity traders must accept higher markups for the lack of commission. A similar expensive pricing environment extends to cryptocurrency traders, with Bitcoin listed with a $50+ spread during liquid trading sessions.

Swap rates on leveraged overnight positions rank average, and Plus500 features positive ones where applicable, meaning it pays traders to hold positions where swaps are in the client’s favor. Traders must also consider the up to 0.70% currency conversion fee and markups if they want to add guaranteed stop-loss orders, a feature market makers can provide.

Overall, Plus500 fees are competitive for index and commodity traders but at the higher end of average for Forex, equity, and cryptocurrency strategies. Since Plus500 only supports manual trading, the infrastructure does not support demanding short-term strategies like scalping and high-frequency trading or algorithmic trading.

Here is a snapshot of Plus500 fees:

Plus500 Fees, Spreads, and Commission Explained

The tremendous growth of online multi-asset brokers over the past fifteen years, like Plus500, has disrupted traditional legacy brokers. Besides eliminating the need for broker-assisted trade placements, it has lowered trading fees, spreads, increased liquidity and made financial markets more accessible to retail traders.

Technology and scalability are the 2 primary drivers of the ongoing evolution in trading. Electronic and algorithmic trading accounts for 80%+ of daily Forex trades and 60%+ of equity trading, but Plus500 only supports manual e-trading. The Forex market, with a daily turnover approaching $7 trillion, lies at the center of the global financial system, and Plus500 offers 60+ currency pairs, representing good broad-based sector coverage.

Despite the decrease in trading costs at online brokers, traders must know the Plus500 fees. It will help them understand what they must pay, why they must pay, and how those costs compare to other brokers. Trading costs at brokers fall into two categories: trading and non-trading fees.

Trading fees are:

• Spreads (the difference between the bid and the ask price of an asset, where Plus500 maintains a moderately expensive commission-free cost structure for Forex traders and an expensive one for equity traders, while indices and commodities remain competitively priced)
• Commissions on ticket fee based on volume (Plus500 offers a commission-free cost structure)
• Swap rates (charged on leveraged overnight positions, where Plus500 ranks between competitive and average, dependent on the asset)
• Currency conversion fee (applicable each time the currency of the asset differs from the account base currency, where Plus500 levies a maximum 0.70% currency conversion fee)

Non-trading fees are:

• Deposit fee (not applicable at Plus500)
• Withdrawal fee (not applicable at Plus500)
• Inactivity fee ($10 monthly after three months of inactivity)
• Currency conversion fee (for deposits and withdrawals in currencies that differ from the account base currency, where Plus500 levies a maximum 0.70% currency conversion fee)

Noteworthy:

• Guaranteed stop premiums (only if traders request a guaranteed stop, which is not available on all assets, and traders cannot revoke the wider spreads once placed) apply

Plus500 Trading Fees

Plus500 trading fees apply to each transaction and depend on the instrument. Traders get a spread based pricing environment at Plus500 but higher markups over raw spreads.

Here is an overview of minimum trading fees at Plus500:

Overnight Fees (Swap Rates)

One of the most ignored trading costs is swap rates on leveraged overnight positions. Depending on the trading strategy, it may become the most significant fee per trade. Traders should check them before evaluating the total trading costs.

Traders must pay swap rates on leveraged overnight positions, which triple on Wednesday to account for trades kept open over the weekend. Closing positions before 5 p.m. EST allows traders to avoid swap rates if it suits their trading strategy.

Noteworthy:

• The proprietary Plus500 web-based trading platform lists swap rates under “Details” next to each asset
• Plus500 features positive swap rates on qualifying trading instruments, meaning traders get paid money to hold leveraged overnight positions in certain instruments long or short

Currency Conversion Fees

Plus500 levies a currency conversion fee of up to 0.70%, which applies each time the quote currency of an asset does not match the account base currency. Forex traders may face frequent currency conversion fees as currency pairs consist of two currencies, the base is the first quoted currency and the variable the second in the pair. Profit and loss are calculated in the variable (or second) currency and this p&l needs to be converted if it does not match the account base currency. They can lower them by trading in a US Dollar base account, as the US Dollar is part of 80%+ of the daily Forex trading volume, but it depends on their strategy.

Equity traders who primarily trade UK or EU shares should opt for a British Pound or Euro account but must check availability. Plus500 usually restricts the account base currency to the local one of the geographic location of clients unless unavailable, in which case the US Dollar becomes the automatic account base currency.

Plus500 Non-Trading Fees

Non-trading fees refer to account transactions other than trading, like deposits, withdrawals, and inactivity. While they are notably less frequent, traders should know about them to avoid confusion.

Plus500 has non-trading fees, and all traders should know about them to understand potential charges.

Plus500 Deposit Fee

Plus500 has no internal deposit fee, meaning a trader making a $1,000 deposit will receive $1,000 in their Plus500 trading account. Traders may incur potential third-party payment processing costs and an up to 0.70% currency conversion fee if their deposit currency does not match their Plus500 account base currency.

Plus500 Withdrawal Fee

While Plus500 does not levy internal withdrawal fees for up to five monthly requests, it will charge $10 or a currency equivalent if clients exceed the monthly limit. Traders who request a withdrawal below the minimum will also pay $10, while bank wires may face a processing fee of $6.

Should traders request a withdrawal to another source than the deposit method, a $10 charge applies. Traders must also consider the currency conversion of up to 0.70%, if applicable, and potential third-party payment processing costs.

Plus500 Inactivity Fee

Plus500 charges a monthly inactivity fee of $10 after three months of dormancy. Long-term and low-frequency traders do not have to place trades, as Plus500 clarifies that the inactivity fee only applies if clients do not log into their Plus500 trading account for three months.

Plus500 Safety and Security

Plus500 was founded in 2008 and headquartered in London, it is a publicly listed company in the UK and an FTSE250 constituent. Therefore, it complies with strict financial FCA regulations, including capital requirements and best business practices. Segregation of client deposits from corporate funds and negative balance protection applies at all Plus 500 subsidiaries.

Since listing on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) in July 2018, Plus500 has a spotless regulatory record. It has eight regulatory licenses offering traders a choice between tighter regulation or a business-friendly trading environment. The UK and the Cyprus units additionally offer investor protection funds, where the former secures 100% of deposits up to £85,000 and the latter 90% up to €20,000.

Traders must accept less favorable trading conditions for additional protection versus a more competitive trading environment for example at the Seychelles subsidiary without an investor protection fund. Since Plus500 remains a well-capitalized broker with a trusted reputation and good corporate image, the lack of an investor compensation fund does not increase counterparty risk significantly. Not all clients may open an account with the Seychelles unit. For example, EU-based clients must trade with the CySEC subsidiary. Overall, the Plus500 trading environment ranks amongst the safest industry wide.

Plus500 Fees Bottom Line

Plus500 fees consist of a spread-based trading environment with internal markups over market pricing, which may result in higher overall trading fees. While Plus500 fees depend on the asset traded, where index and commodity traders benefit from competitive costs, average trading fees for Forex traders are above $10.00 per 1.0 standard lot. Equity traders must accept higher markups. Plus500 lists all spreads and other costs in its user-friendly trading platform and expresses them as a percentage.

Swap rates on leveraged overnight positions are industry-average and include positive swap rates. Therefore, Plus500 is ideal for medium-to-long-term traders and investors rather than aggressive and demanding short-term traders. Traders must also consider an up to 0.70% currency conversion fee. Since Plus500 is a market maker, it offers guaranteed stop-loss orders at a premium spread. A $10 monthly inactivity fee applies after three months of dormancy. Plus500 presents a well-balanced asset selection and depending on their clients trading style and requirements, ideally low-frequency strategies, the Plus500 fees in total can equal the industry average.

FAQs

Does Plus500 charge raw account commissions?

No, Plus500 is a market maker offering a commission-free cost structure and does not offer raw accounts. Therefore, it does not levy raw account commissions.

Does Plus500 charge inactivity fees?

Plus500 levies a $10 monthly inactivity fee after three months of dormancy, but clients can avoid it simply by logging into their Plus500 trading account to check their portfolio.

When does Plus500 charge fees?

It depends on the fee. For example, spreads apply the instant a trader opens a position, swap rates on leveraged trades after the cut-off time, currency conversion costs only if applicable, and inactivity fees after three months of dormancy.

How much does Plus500 charge for withdrawals?

Plus500 does not charge anything for up to five monthly withdrawals, but subsequent requests face a $10 fee. Traders who request a withdrawal below the minimum will also pay $10, while bank wires may incur an internal processing fee of $6. Should traders request withdrawals to another source than the deposit method, a $10 charge applies. Traders should also consider currency conversion of up to 0.70%, if applicable, and potential third-party payment processing costs.

What trading fees does Plus500 charge?

Plus500 trading fees consist primarily of spreads. Swap rates on leveraged overnight positions apply if traders keep trades open past 5:00 p.m. EST. Plus500 levies an up to 0.70% currency conversion fee if the currency of their traded asset differs from their account base currency.

Does Plus500 have commissions?

No, Plus500 fees are commission-free.

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