If you are reading this article, you’re likely having trouble deciding whether Plus500 or Admiral Markets is the better trading platform for you. While both platforms generally provide positive user experiences, there are some essential differences to note.
In this Plus500 vs Admiral Markets review, we outline the highlights of each trading platform to help you make a more informed decision. We evaluate:
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- Plus500 vs Admiral Markets - Verdict
Israel United Kingdom ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FMA, FSCA, MAS ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS 2008 2001 Market Maker Market Maker $100 $100 N/A Proprietary platform, Web-based Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5+ 1.3 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) 1.7 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) - $0.03 - $0.25 82.00% N/A Not applicable N/A Not applicable N/A Commission-free N/A Visit Website 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money Visit Website
Features and Platforms
N/A N/A Visit Website 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money Visit Website
Plus500 launched the first version of its proprietary trading platform in 2008 out of Israel, followed by the introduction of commission-free CFD trading in 2009. This market maker promises fast execution, guaranteed stop-limit orders, and free e-mail/push notifications related to market-moving events and price alerts set by traders. Admiral markets, operational since 2001 in Estonia, offers traders the MT4 and MT5 trading platforms, together with the Supreme Edition upgrade for a superior trading experience. Unlike Plus500, it maintains a highly competitive research and educational division. 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money at Plus500 versus 81.0% at Admiral Markets.
Available Markets
N/A N/A N/A N/A Visit Website 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money Visit Website
Typical Spreads and Fees
1.3 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) 1.7 pips 0.1 pips ($1.00) - $0.03 - $0.25 - $125.60 Not applicable N/A Not applicable N/A Commission-free N/A N/A N/A $10 monthly after 3 months N/A Visit Website 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money Visit Website
Plus500 maintains a commission-free Forex pricing environment with dynamic market spreads plus internal markups. While it offers commission-free CFDs, the markup is significantly higher than at competitors, covering the difference. Admiral Markets also allows commission-free CFD trading, where spreads remain tight. The EUR/USD shows a markup of 0.6 pips. Both brokers levy swap rates on leveraged overnight positions, and Plus500 and Admiral Markets pass on corporate actions. While both apply a $10 monthly inactivity fee, the currency conversion cost is 0.7% at Plus500 and 1.0% at Admiral Markets, which maintains a more competitive cost structure overall.
Security and Trust
United Arab Emirates, Australia, Cyprus, Estonia, Israel, New Zealand, Seychelles, Singapore, United Kingdom, South Africa Australia, Cyprus, Jordan, Kenya, United Kingdom, South Africa ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FMA, FSCA, MAS ASIC, CySEC, FCA, FSCS 509909, 250/14, 417727, 486026, 47546, SD039, 100648-1, NOT AVAILABLE, 4.1-1/18, F005651 595450, 201/13, 410681, 51311, 178, 57026 N/A 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2 Visit Website 82% of retail CFD accounts lose money Visit Website
All client funds deposited with Plus500’s Cyprus subsidiary are held in segregated client bank accounts in accordance with the Cyprus Security and Exchange Commission’s (CySEC) client funds rules. Plus500AU Pty Ltd holds client money in a segregated trust account, in accordance with the Australian legal requirements.In this Plus500 vs Admiral MarketsPlus500 maintains regulation in seven jurisdictions consisting of the UK, Cyprus, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Seychelles, and Singapore. Most international traders will manage their portfolios from the subsidiary operating out of Seychelles. The UK FAC levied a fine in 2012 for not reporting transactions accurately. Admiral Markets operates under the oversight of regulators in the UK, Cyprus, and Australia, where it has a clean track record. Client deposits remain segregated at both brokers, and negative balance protection exists. While Plus500 had several issues in the past, the trading environment at both brokers is overall secure, but Admiral scores better when it comes to trust.All client funds deposited with Plus500’s Cyprus subsidiary are held in segregated client bank accounts in accordance with the Cyprus Security and Exchange Commission’s (CySEC) client funds rules. Plus500AU Pty Ltd holds client money in a segregated trust account, in accordance with the Australian legal requirements.
Plus500 vs Admiral Markets – Verdict
Plus500, listed in the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 250, offers manual traders a clean trading platform, which ranks below average as compared to competitors. The absence of support for automated trading solutions and marketing-inspired educational material deducts further from the core trading environment. Research is non-existent, and while commission-free trading on over 2,000 assets sounds appealing, the higher spreads offset the savings for traders. Admiral Markets presents traders with the MetaTrader Supreme Edition, offering an excellent upgrade to the core MT4/MT5 trading platforms. The commission-free asset selection on over 4,000 CFDs features lower spreads, and investors have over 4,500 equities and ETFs available. New traders can benefit from the educational content at Admiral Markets, supplemented by quality research. While Plus500 invests in sponsorships of sports teams at the expense of its products and services, Admiral Markets maintains a notably more competitive overall trading environment for traders and investors alike.
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