Comparison of Interactive Brokers vs Plus500 [ 2024 ]

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

Your expert: Alejandro Borja

Interactive Brokers

Your expert: Xavier Tarrasó

Plus500

Main points

Fees

Low 4,4/5

Regulated

SEC, FCA

Demo account

Yes
Low 3,7/6

Fees

FCA, CySEC

Regulated

Yes

Demo account

Recommended for

Beginners

No

Trading

Yes

Passive income

No

Buy and hold

Yes
Yes

Beginners

Yes

Trading

No

Passive income

No

Buy and hold


Comparison of fees

Rating

4.6 – Interactive Brokers charges low commissions (0.12% to 0.18% of trade value) with no added spreads or custody fees, making it one of the most cost-effective options for serious traders .
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 4,4/5
Low 3,7/6

Brief explanation

Interactive Brokers offers a competitive and transparent commission structure for cryptocurrency trading. The commission rates range from 0.12% to 0.18% of the trade value, with a minimum fee of $1.75 per order, capped at 1% of the trade value. This fee structure is notably lower than many competitors, who may charge up to 2.00% or include additional spreads and markups​​. Trading cryptocurrencies on Interactive Brokers’ platform does not incur any added spreads, markups, or custody fees. This is facilitated through their partnerships with Paxos Trust Company and Zero Hash LLC, both of which are regulated entities, ensuring a secure trading environment​​. Furthermore, clients can trade cryptocurrencies 24/7 when funds are transferred to their dedicated Paxos or Zero Hash account during normal US banking hours​​.
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 .

Interactive Brokers

Plus500

Guide sponsored by the best exchange

eToro

eToro Special Offer*

Earn up to 4.90% APY on uninvested cash with eToro USA.

Account Minimum

Get started with just $100.

And 1% fee on all cryptocurrency trades.

etoro logotipo

Direct link to the website

Product selection

Native token

Interactive Brokers does not have a native token.
Plus500 does not have a native token.

Earns

Interactive Brokers does not offer staking or similar earning options for cryptocurrencies. The platform allows trading and holding of cryptocurrencies .
Plus500 does not offer staking or earning options for cryptocurrencies. It focuses on trading crypto CFDs .

NFT marketplace

Interactive Brokers does not have an NFT marketplace.
Plus500 does not have an NFT marketplace.

Cripto/debit card

Interactive Brokers offers an IBKR debit card for US residents as part of their Integrated Investment Management accounts .
Plus500 does not offer a card for its clients .

Company information

Full name

Interactive Brokers LLC​​.
Plus500 Ltd​​.

Regulation

SEC, FINRA, CFTC, FCA, ASIC, SFC (Hong Kong)​​.
FCA (UK), ASIC, CySEC, FMA (New Zealand), FSCA (South Africa), MAS​​.

Year founded

1977​​
2008​​

Founder

Thomas Peterffy​​
Alon Gonen, Shimon Sofer, Shlomi Weizmann, Elad Ben-Izhak, Gal Haber, Omer Elazari​​

Payment methods

Transfers

Yes, Interactive Brokers accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .
Yes, Plus500 accepts bank transfers for both deposits and withdrawals .

Mastercard

No, Interactive Brokers does not accept Mastercard for deposits​​.
Yes, Plus500 accepts Mastercard for deposits​​.

Wire transfer

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

Card

No, Interactive Brokers does not accept credit/debit cards .
Yes, Plus500 accepts credit/debit cards .

Comparative table

Interactive Brokers Features Plus500
Interactive Brokers offers a low minimum trade amount, making it accessible for both small and large investors. This encourages new traders to start without significant capital.
Minimum Trade
Firstrade allows low minimum trade amounts, making it accessible for beginners to start investing in cryptocurrencies.
The platform’s fees are among the lowest in the industry, which is a major advantage for frequent traders.
Trading and Transaction Fees
The platform offers competitive trading fees, although some users might find hidden costs associated with certain transactions.
Currently, only eight cryptocurrencies are available, which limits options for traders looking for a diverse portfolio.
Number of Cryptocurrencies
Firstrade supports over 30 cryptocurrencies, providing a good range of options for investors.
The platform offers limited crypto-to-crypto pairs, which restricts trading strategies for users looking to trade beyond major cryptocurrencies.
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.
Interactive Brokers provides clear and comprehensive information about their services and fees. However, the site could be more intuitive for beginners.
Website Transparency
Firstrade’s website is transparent and informative, clearly outlining fees, security measures, and available services.
Interactive Brokers offers an IBKR debit card for US residents as part of their Integrated Investment Management accounts .
Credit/Debit Card
Plus500 does not offer a card for its clients .
The platform offers secure storage solutions through partnerships with regulated entities, ensuring the safety of users’ digital assets.
Storage Offering
Firstrade lacks a dedicated cryptocurrency wallet, requiring users to use third-party services for storing their digital assets.
Interactive Brokers does not currently offer staking or rewards programs, which could be a drawback for users looking for passive income opportunities.
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.
The mobile and desktop platforms are highly rated for their functionality and user-friendly design, catering to both novice and experienced traders.
Mobile App and Desktop
Firstrade offers a highly rated mobile app and a robust desktop platform, ensuring a seamless trading experience across devices.
The customer service is generally responsive and helpful. However, the complex account setup process can be a barrier for new users.
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.
The platform provides efficient deposit and withdrawal processes with multiple options, although there is room for improvement in speeding up withdrawal times.
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

Interactive Brokers offers the Trader Workstation (TWS) platform, which includes powerful trading tools and advanced charting capabilities. They also provide comprehensive market data and analysis tools .
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, Interactive Brokers offers the IBKR Mobile app for iOS and Android devices, providing comprehensive trading tools and account management features .
Yes, Plus500 offers a user-friendly mobile app for trading CFDs on cryptocurrencies and other instruments .

Security

Interactive Brokers is regulated by top-tier US authorities like the SEC and FINRA, providing a high level of security and transparency. They offer SIPC insurance, protecting clients’ securities up to $500,000, including a $250,000 cash limit​​.
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

Interactive Brokers allows clients to trade cryptocurrencies through Paxos or Zero Hash, offering a low commission rate of 0.12% to 0.18% of the trade value. They support a variety of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin, and provide advanced trading tools through their Trader Workstation platform. Interactive Brokers also offer features like holding USD in crypto accounts and 24/7 trading .
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

Anonymous accounts are not available. Interactive Brokers requires detailed personal information and identity verification .
Plus500 requires identity and residence verification during the account opening process, so anonymous accounts are not supported .

Key points

Available cryptocurrencies

Interactive Brokers allows both direct trading and CFDs for cryptocurrencies. The available cryptocurrencies for direct trading are Bitcoin (BTC), Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Ethereum (ETH), and Litecoin (LTC). Additional coins are available through CFDs​​.
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

Interactive Brokers integrates cryptocurrency trading into its existing platform, allowing users to trade crypto alongside other asset classes. The platform offers low commissions and a professional-grade trading environment. However, the setup process might be more complex compared to dedicated crypto exchanges, which could be a drawback for less experienced users .
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

Interactive Brokers is known for its low commissions and transparent pricing, making it a cost-effective choice for crypto trading. Its professional-grade trading tools add significant value, though the platform might be too complex for beginners​​.
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 States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Hungary, Australia, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore .
United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Israel, United Arab Emirates .

Best for

Interactive Brokers is ideal for professional and experienced traders who want to trade cryptocurrencies alongside other asset classes. Its low commissions and professional-grade trading tools make it a strong choice for serious investors​​.
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

Interactive Brokers offers limited direct cryptocurrency trading but provides access to crypto-related financial products. It is more focused on traditional investment products, making it less ideal for pure crypto trading.
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

Interactive Brokers allows deposits and withdrawals via bank transfers and wire transfers. The process is secure but can be slower, especially for international transfers. Fees may apply for withdrawals.
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

The account opening process at Interactive Brokers is detailed and thorough. Users must provide extensive personal and financial information, and submit various verification documents. The process is fully digital but can take a few days for approval due to the comprehensive requirements.
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?

Yes, KYC is required at Interactive Brokers. The account opening process includes submitting personal identification documents and proof of address.
KYC verification is mandatory at Plus500. Users need to provide identification documents and proof of address during the account opening process.

Customer Service

Interactive Brokers provides customer support via phone, email, and live chat. The support is available 24/5 and is generally responsive, though some users find the service to be slower during peak times due to high demand.
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

Interactive Brokers is regulated by top-tier US authorities like the SEC and FINRA, providing a high level of security and transparency. They offer SIPC insurance, protecting clients’ securities up to $500,000, including a $250,000 cash limit​​.
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 on our website, I highly recommend Interactive Brokers for those interested in integrating cryptocurrency trading with traditional financial instruments. The platform offers competitive fees, robust security, and seamless integration with other asset classes, making it an excellent choice for experienced traders looking to diversify their portfolios. While the account setup process can be complex, the advanced trading features and reliable customer support make it worth the effort. If you’re seeking a secure and cost-effective way to trade cryptocurrencies, Interactive Brokers is a solid option.
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.

More comparatives Interactive Brokers and Plus500