Capital.com vs Plus500: Which Is Better in 2026?
Capital.com (stock CFDs) and Plus500 (stock CFDs) compared head-to-head on cost, minimums, markets and safety.
Capital.com comes out ahead. Capital.com scores 4.5/5 with spread only commission, a $20 minimum and CFD only fractional shares, plus AI insights and low $20 min.
| Feature | Capital.com | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Asset type | Stock CFDs | Stock CFDs |
| Stock commission | Spread only | Spread only |
| Minimum deposit | $20 | $100 |
| Fractional shares | CFD only | CFD only |
| Markets | 3,000+ share CFDs | 2,000+ share CFDs |
| Regulation | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SCB | FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS |
| Platforms | Capital.com app + web + MT4 | Plus500 platform |
Which one should you actually pick?
Capital.com. Traders who want CFDs on shares with tight spreads and a genuinely good mobile app.
Plus500 is not the wrong answer for everyone. Experienced CFD traders who value a simple interface and a listed, well-capitalised operator. Where it struggles: Anyone building a long-term portfolio, or beginners who have not yet understood how leverage and overnight fees interact.
The honest framing is that these two are not interchangeable. Capital.com gives you Stock CFDs with access to 3,000+ share CFDs, while Plus500 gives you Stock CFDs across 2,000+ share CFDs. If you already know which markets you want to hold, that single line decides it faster than any score.
What each one really costs
On the headline number, Capital.com charges spread only and Plus500 charges spread only. That is the figure both of them advertise, and it is the least useful one for predicting what you will pay.
Where Capital.com actually charges you:
- No commission; the cost is the spread, which widens outside main market hours.
- Overnight financing on every leveraged position held past the daily cut-off. This is the fee that compounds.
- Currency conversion on positions denominated in another currency.
- Inactivity fee after a prolonged period without trading.
Where Plus500 actually charges you:
- No commission; cost is the spread, which is wider than a direct-market broker on the same instrument.
- Overnight funding on positions held past the daily cut-off.
- Inactivity fee after three months without logging in, which surprises occasional users.
- Currency conversion where the instrument is priced in another currency.
For a portfolio under a few thousand, currency conversion and withdrawal fees will almost always cost you more over a year than the commission difference. Work out how you will fund the account and how often you expect to take money out, then compare on that rather than on the per-trade rate.
Is your money safe with either?
Capital.com is regulated by FCA, CySEC, ASIC, SCB. Plus500 is regulated by FCA, CySEC, ASIC, MAS. Both are covered by real regulators, so the question is not whether one is legitimate, but which entity your particular account sits under, because that decides your compensation scheme.
Regulated by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC and the SCB depending on the entity. Client money is segregated, and UK clients have FSCS cover to £85,000. Retail accounts carry negative balance protection in the UK and EU, so you cannot lose more than you deposit.
Regulated by the FCA, CySEC, ASIC and MAS depending on entity, with segregated client funds and negative balance protection for retail clients in the UK and EU. Being listed in London means audited, published accounts.
Worth being clear about what that protection is: compensation schemes cover the broker failing and being unable to return your assets. They do not cover your investments losing value. Nothing here removes market risk.
Frequently asked questions
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