TradingCritique

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Plus500 Futures vs IG : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Plus500 Futures

Plus500 Futures

VS
IG

IG

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Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Market Maker

ECN

Years of Existence / Established Year

2008

1974

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

30+ Million

313,000 customers


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

NFA, CFTC

NFA CFTC FCA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

NA

Best Multi platform provider - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best Finance App - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2024 Best platform for active trader - ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022

Security Measures

NA

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

No

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

2800+ including Equity index

17,000 + markets

Currency Pairs

Yes

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Yes

Indices

No

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

Yes

CFDs

Yes

Yes

ETFs

No

Yes

Stocks

No

Yes

Options

No

Yes

Futures

Yes

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Yes

Mutual Funds

No

Yes

Fractional Shares

No

No

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

Yes

Precious Metals

Yes

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

Yes

Equities

No

Yes


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

Yes

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

Yes

Copy Trading

No

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Mobile and web trading platform

ProReal Time APIs L2 dealer

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Plus500 futures trading account

Leveraged Accounts Spread betting account CFD accountNon-Leveraged Account Share dealing account ISA account IG smart portfolio account IG smart ISA portfolio account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

$100

$50

Leverage Available

1:30 - 1:300

200:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on the asset type

Trade size vary on each asset

Commission (per account type)

$0

Starting from 0.1

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners

Beginners


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Visa, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Bank transfers Card FPS in Hong Kong dollars Funding on IG mobile app Wise

Withdrawal Methods

Visa, Master card, Bank transfer, e-wallets

Card Bank transfer

Other E-Wallets Supported

Apple pay, GPay, Klarna

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Trading academy, News and Markets insights, Risk management tools

Trade analytics tools Seminars & webinars


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

NFA Regulatory Fee- $0.02 per side, Commission -$0.49 to $0.89

US shares 0 to 50 - commission free 50+ trades - $5Other shares Germany - 0.1% UK - 0.1% Ireland - 0.1%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Fixed

Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

NA

Options Contract Fees

NA

NA

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

NA

NA

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

Vary for each asset

Maximum Leverage

1:300 for professional account

200:1


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$12/month after 24 months of no trading activity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

NA

NA

Advisory Fees

NA

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

$0

$50

Account Opening Fee

NA

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

NA

$0

Deposit Fee

$0

Free for Wire & check deposits

Currency Conversion Fee

NA

0.5% - CFDs and share dealing accounts 0.7% - international shares

Withdrawal Fee

$0

Wire transfer - $25


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Yes


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Depends on the assets type

Forex Monday 00:00 - Friday 22:00 GMT (International times may vary)UK shares (LSE): 08.00-16.30 (London time) US shares: 09.30-16.00 (New York time) European shares: vary on relevant exchanges


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Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

24/7

24x5 support

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

E-mail through Query Form, Live chat

Call +44 (20) 7633 5430 Email: [email protected] 10AM to 7PM whatsapp channel support (Monday to Friday)

Support Languages

2

8


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Israel

IG Cannon Bridge House 25 Dowgate Hill London EC4R 2YA

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.
Plus500 Futures uses a transparent per-trade model (about $0.49 per order + $0.02 NFA fee per side) with a $100 minimum deposit and no inactivity fee. IG may price different markets with spreads, tiered commissions, or plan-based charges, so the cheaper choice depends on your instruments and volume.
Opening an account at Plus500 Futures is digital with ID verification; a demo account is available. Minimum deposit is $100 and Islamic accounts aren't offered. IG may add extra checks or account tiers, which can help advanced users tailor margin and permissions.
Plus500 Futures supports WebTrader and mobile, with core charting. Social/copy trading isn't the focus. IG may offer additional research suites or specialist tools depending on its product mix.
If your priority is regulated access to U.S. futures with straightforward costs, Plus500 Futures is a solid fit. Choose IG if you want broader multi-asset coverage or platform extras beyond core futures trading.