Plus500 US
- Written By Forex
- Updated:
Plus500 expanded into the US market in 2021, providing traders with a wide range of futures contracts across major asset classes such as forex, commodities, stock indices, interest rates, and cryptocurrencies. The US platform operates on a robust proprietary system compatible with both desktop and mobile devices. The broker’s credibility is further reinforced by its London Stock Exchange listing, sponsorship of the Chicago Bulls, and membership in the National Futures Association (NFA).
As a CFTC-regulated broker, Plus500 US offers low-cost trading with no platform, routing, or inactivity fees, and deposits and withdrawals are free. The platform is designed with a low entry barrier, making it accessible to traders of all experience levels. It is particularly appealing to beginners, as it provides access to a solid selection of free educational resources.
Plus500 Overall Summary Table | |
Launch Year in the US | 2021 |
Minimum Deposit Req | $100 |
Tradable Instruments | Futures contracts on fiat currency pairs, cryptocurrencies, stock indices, metals, energies, agriculture, and interest rates |
Open an Account | How to Open an Account at Plus500 US |
Plus500 USA – Hits and Misses
The main advantages and disadvantages of trading with Plus500 include:
- Key Pros
- Over 70 tradable futures across all asset classes
- Fully regulated in the United States
- No data, routing, platform, and inactivity fees
- A low barrier to entry ($100) and unlimited demo accounts
- A round-the-clock support service via online chat and email
- Availability of micro, mini, and standard futures contracts
- Free articles and educational videos on futures trading
- Low commissions for futures contracts without hidden fees
- Member of the NFA and CME
- Available in English and Spanish
- Key Cons
- SIPC protection unavailable to futures traders
- No telephone line for customer support
- Uses a proprietary trading platform only
- Withdrawals may take up to 3 working days to process
- Automatically charges a $10 liquidation fee for failing to meet margin calls
Company Information
Founded in 2008 as the Plus500 Group, the broker serves over 30 million clients across more than 60 countries and maintains regulated entities in regions such as Australia, Cyprus, Dubai, the UK, Estonia, Singapore, and Israel. The company is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.
Plus500 entered the US market in 2021 through the acquisition of Cunningham Trading System (CTS), an advanced platform enabling options and futures trading. In 2022, the broker launched futures trading for US clients via the TradeSniper platform, which incorporates CTS’s advanced technology. The US operations are managed by Plus500US Financial Services LLC, which is registered with several regulatory bodies and organizations.
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM).
- National Futures Association (NFA) with registration ID number 0001398.
Catering to Traders Worldwide
One of the impressive features of AvaTrade is its truly global reach, which is something that will appeal to traders all around the world. Their website is configured for over 25 separate countries and regions and supports at least 20 different languages.
Multiple Industry Awards
AvaTrade has won multiple industry accolades from reputable outlets, such as The European, International Business Magazine, FXEmpire, and Daytrading.com.
Regulation
5/5
- Regulated by Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC)
- Registered as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM)
- Member of National Futures Association (NFA)
Available Trading Platforms
A key feature of Plus500 US is its use of proprietary trading software rather than third-party platforms like MetaTrader or TradingView. Currently, there is no downloadable desktop platform. Traders can access the Plus500 WebTrader through most modern web browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Safari.
The platform allows futures traders to create charts and watchlists, manage positions, and execute trades with various order types, including market, limit, and stop-loss orders. It is fully compatible with desktops, tablets, and smartphones, with native mobile apps available for download from Google Play and the App Store.
- The Android app requires Android 8.0 or higher to run smoothly.
- The iOS app performs optimally on iOS 16.0 or higher and is available in English and Spanish.
Trading Platforms
3/5
- A proprietary trading platform
- Various useful trading tools
- Available on mobile and desktop
Instruments Available for Trading
At Plus500 US, traders can access a wide selection of futures contracts across seven main categories: forex, cryptocurrencies, indices, metals, agriculture, energies, and interest rates. The platform offers standard, mini, and micro futures, all of which are traded on a variable margin that adjusts daily. Below is a concise overview of the tradable instruments available at Plus500 US.
Forex
Plus500 US provides 15 forex futures contracts, including nine standard contracts for AUD, GBP, CAD, CHF, NZD, JPY, BRL, ZAR, and MXN. Additionally, micro contracts are available for four currency pairs: AUD/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/USD, and CAD/USD. CME-listed Euro FX futures can be traded through both standard and e-mini contracts. Intraday margin requirements vary by asset and currently range between $40 and $385.
Cryptocurrencies
Plus500 provides micro futures contracts for four highly liquid cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and Ripple. Traders can also access crypto markets through Bitcoin Friday futures, which are weekly cash-settled contracts, each representing one-fiftieth of a single Bitcoin. Intraday margin requirements for cryptocurrency futures currently range from $20 to $215.
Interest Rates
Plus500 US offers eight standard and micro futures contracts for interest rates, including 2-year and 10-year Treasury notes. Futures on US Treasury Bonds are also available, with margin requirements ranging from $45 to $500 at the time of publication.
Equity Indices
Plus500 US allows clients to trade standard, mini, and micro futures on major US stock indices such as the S&P 500, S&P MidCap 400, Dow Jones, and Nasdaq 100. Traders can also speculate on the Russell 2000, which tracks 2,000 small-cap US companies, and gain exposure to Japan’s Nikkei index on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
Metals
Clients can trade precious metals through nine futures contracts covering gold, silver, copper, and platinum. Micro futures are available for gold, silver, and copper, while e-mini Gold futures offer another trading option. Additionally, 1-ounce gold futures contracts provide a smaller alternative, representing 1/10th of a micro gold contract and 1/100th of a standard gold contract, making gold trading more accessible.
Energies
Traders can access other hard commodities through 10 futures contracts, including Brent Crude, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude, heating oil, natural gas, and RBOB gasoline. Micro contracts are offered for both WTI Crude and natural gas, allowing smaller-scale trading.
Agriculture
Plus500 US also offers soft commodities, with 14 futures contracts available for trading. These include corn, soybeans, soybean meal, soybean oil, live cattle, lean hogs, feeder cattle, and wheat, providing diverse exposure to agricultural markets.
Traded Instruments
4.5/5
- Broad range of futures contracts
- Tradable on variable margin, which changes day-to-day
Trading Fees and Other Costs
Our analysis of Plus500 US indicates that the broker offers competitive commission rates and minimal account maintenance fees. For futures trading, clients pay flat commissions of $0.89 per side for standard and e-mini contracts, and $0.49 per side for micro contracts.
This translates to a total cost of $1.78 to open and close a standard or e-mini contract, and $0.98 for a micro contract. Note that these charges do not cover regulatory fees or exchange commissions. As an NFA member, Plus500 US passes along nominal assessment fees collected by the self-regulatory body. Additional fees clients may encounter include:
- NFA assessment fees of $0.02 per futures contract per side ($0.04 round-trip)
- Liquidation fees of $10 for failing to maintain the minimum required margin
- $0 fees for inactivity, account opening, routing, and platform usage
Because futures trading occurs on centralized exchanges such as the CME (Chicago Mercantile Exchange), traders are subject to additional exchange commissions that are outside Plus500 US’s control. The broker holds full membership in the CME Group, enabling direct access to these markets.
Trading Fees and Other Costs
3.5/5
- No fees for account maintenance
- Flat commissions of $0.89 per side for standard contracts and $0.49 for micro contracts
Payment Methods at Plus500 US
US-based traders can fund their Plus500 accounts using a range of secure and widely used payment methods, all without incurring deposit or withdrawal fees. Accepted options include debit cards (Visa and Mastercard), bank transfers, Google Pay, and Apple Pay. Currently, credit and prepaid cards are not supported.
Withdrawals are typically returned via the same method used for deposits and usually take 1–3 business days to process. The minimum withdrawal amount is $100, while the minimum deposit to a live account is $200 for bank transfers and $100 for the other accepted methods.
Banking Methods
4/5
- $100 ($200 for Bank Transfer) minimum deposit
- No deposit fees charged
- A good selection of payment methods
Customer Support at Plus500 US
Plus500 US offers reliable and prompt customer support, available 24/7, including weekends. Traders can reach the support team via email or live chat, while the FAQ section covers common queries related to account funding, futures trading, and promotions.
During testing, live chat responses were almost instantaneous, and agents were professional and well-informed. Customers can also submit inquiries through the website’s contact form to receive email support. Currently, telephone support is not offered. Assistance is provided in English, although the website is accessible in both English and Spanish.
Plus500 US maintains a presence on social media, allowing clients to stay abreast of important market developments, news, and announcements. You can follow the broker on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube, Telegram, and LinkedIn.
Support Contact
4/5
- Extensive FAQs section
- Live Chat and Email support available
- Active on Social media channels
- Telephone contact is absent
Educational Content at Plus500 US
Plus500 US supports traders of all experience levels by offering accessible educational resources to help them understand the complexities of the futures markets. The Plus500 Academy provides detailed articles covering topics such as fundamental and technical analysis, margin trading, and different types of futures contracts.
A glossary of key futures trading terms is also available for quick reference. Visual learners can access a wide range of free educational videos organized by asset class, including forex, indices, and cryptocurrencies. Some videos focus on practical trading strategies, while others highlight the main advantages of trading futures.
The videos are free to watch and do not require signing into your live account. You can also find them on the Plus500 official YouTube channel. Onboarding clients can give the platform a test drive by opening free demo accounts. They have the flexibility to set their demo funds to a specific amount and reset the demo balance whenever they wish.
Research & Education
3.5/5
- Easy-to-digest educational content
- Plus500 Academy
- A glossary of commonly used terms in futures trading
Client Protections and Compensation Schemes at Plus500 US
Plus500 US does not offer negative balance protection or investor compensation in the event of insolvency, as futures contracts are not covered by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC).
To help manage risk, the broker uses an automated liquidation system that assists clients in meeting margin requirements and minimizing the chance of a negative balance. Client funds are securely held in segregated accounts, separate from the company’s operational funds, ensuring that customer money is never mishandled.
Final Thoughts on Plus500 US
Overall
5/5
- A proprietary trading platform
- Competitive trading costs
- Fully regulated
