Understanding the full cost of trading on Plus500 — This guide explains the broker’s commission and fee structure, deposit and withdrawal steps, processing times, and the main risks associated with forex and CFD accounts. Whether you are new to Plus500 or an experienced trader, knowing what you pay and when you pay it is essential for managing your trading budget.
Plus500 operates a commission-free model for its core CFD offering. This means that for most instruments — including forex, indices, commodities, shares, and ETFs — the broker does not charge a separate dealing commission per trade. Instead, trading costs are embedded in the market spread (the difference between the buy and sell price).
There is, however, an important exception for traders in the United States. Plus500 Futures charges a transparent per-contract commission: $0.49 per micro futures contract and $0.89 per standard (E-mini) futures contract. No platform fees, routing fees, or inactivity fees are applied to futures accounts.
Key takeaway — For standard CFD traders outside the U.S., Plus500 does not charge a commission. All trading costs are reflected in the spread. For U.S. futures traders, commissions are fixed per contract and clearly disclosed on the Plus500 fee schedule.
Since Plus500 does not charge a separate commission for CFDs, the spread is the primary cost you pay per trade. Spreads are variable and fluctuate with market conditions, liquidity, and volatility.
For major forex pairs such as EUR/USD, the spread can be as low as 0.6–0.8 pips under normal market conditions. During periods of high volatility or low liquidity, spreads may widen. Plus500 displays the current spread for each instrument directly on the trading platform, so you can always check the cost before opening a position.
Tip — Always review the live spread on the platform before entering a trade. The spread is your de facto commission, and it varies by instrument and market session.
If you hold a position open after the daily Overnight Funding Time, Plus500 applies an overnight funding fee (also known as a swap or financing charge). This fee is either added to or subtracted from your account, depending on the direction of your trade and the interest rate differential between the two currencies in a forex pair.
The exact overnight funding percentage is instrument-specific and can be found in the “Details” link next to the instrument’s name on the main trading screen. Overnight funding can significantly affect the cost of holding positions for more than one day, especially for leveraged trades.
Important — Overnight funding is not a fixed fee; it varies by instrument and market conditions. Always check the applicable rate before holding a position overnight.
When you trade an instrument denominated in a currency different from your account’s base currency, Plus500 charges a Currency Conversion Fee. This fee is currently set at up to 0.7% of the trade’s realised net profit and loss and is reflected in real time in the unrealised profit and loss of the open position.
For example, if your account is in USD and you trade a GBP-denominated stock CFD, the conversion fee will apply to any realised profit or loss from that trade. The fee is not a flat charge but a percentage of the trade’s result.
Plus500 supports a range of payment methods, including bank transfers, credit/debit cards, and e-wallets such as PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller. The minimum deposit is typically $100 (or equivalent), though regional variations may apply.
Plus500 does not charge fees for deposits or withdrawals, but third-party payment providers may impose their own charges. Internal processing times are as follows:
| Payment Method | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Processing Time | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Credit / Debit Card | Instant | 1–3 business days | None (provider fees may apply) |
| Bank Transfer | 1–3 business days | 1–3 business days | None (provider fees may apply) |
| E-wallets (PayPal, Skrill, Neteller) | Instant | 1–3 business days | None (provider fees may apply) |
Withdrawal requests are processed by Plus500 within 1–3 business days, after which the funds are released to your payment provider. Depending on your geographical location and the payment method, total arrival time may range from 1 to 7 business days.
Plus500 charges an inactivity fee of up to $10 per month (or equivalent in your account currency) if you do not log in to your trading account for a period of at least three consecutive months. The fee is charged monthly thereafter until you log in again.
The fee is capped at the lesser of the remaining available balance in your account or $10. To avoid this charge, simply log in to your account at least once every three months — no trade is required.
Trading forex and CFDs on Plus500 involves significant risk. Leverage can amplify both gains and losses, and it is possible to lose more than your initial deposit. According to industry disclosures, a high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
Key risks include:
Always ensure you understand the full terms of service and risk disclosures. Plus500 is regulated by multiple authorities including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and MAS (Singapore), among others. You can verify the broker’s regulatory status on the official registers of these authorities.
The table below compares Plus500’s fee structure with two other common broker pricing models: a low-commission ECN model and a traditional per-trade commission model.
| Fee Component | Plus500 (CFD) | Typical ECN Broker | Traditional Commission Broker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commission per trade | $0 (spread-based) | $3–$7 per lot | $5–$10 per lot |
| Spread (EUR/USD) | From 0.6 pips | From 0.0–0.2 pips | Fixed or variable |
| Overnight funding | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) | Yes (variable) |
| Currency conversion fee | Up to 0.7% | Often 0.5–1.0% | Often 0.5–1.0% |
| Inactivity fee | $10/month after 3 months | Varies | Varies |
Scenario — You have a USD-denominated account and decide to trade EUR/USD. The current spread is 0.8 pips. You open a position of 1 standard lot (100,000 units) and hold it for two days.
This example illustrates that while there is no commission, the spread and any overnight funding are your primary trading costs.