Plus500 USA Trading Broker Review

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• Go to:
• General Information
• Account Information
• Trading Information
• Leverage
• Deposit Methods
• Regulations and Security
• Account Types and Features
• Opening an Account
• Trading Platforms
• Trading Instruments
• Trading Conditions
• Deposits and Withdrawals
• Additional Services
• Customer Support
• Pros and Cons
• Conclusion
›

Plus500 US is a leading online broker specialising in futures trading. Its offerings are tailored to the preferences of US traders, and it operates under the strict oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Plus500 US is also a proud member of the National Futures Association (NFA).

Headquartered in Itasca, Illinois, the broker opened its virtual doors in 2021 and delivers a secure and transparent trading experience to US customers. The platform empowers traders by providing access to over 60 futures contracts across key markets such as forex, commodities, cryptocurrencies, indices and interest rates.

At-a-glance Statistics

Number of Tradable FX pairs

Number of Regulators

TrustPilot Rating

Number of TrustPilot Reviews

Traffic & Engagement

• Total visits, December 2024:156,452
• Device distribution:
• Desktop: 33.51%
• Mobile: 66.49%
• Visit duration: 00:01:11

Social Traffic

• Visitors:
• Youtube: 0.16%
• X: 75.87%
• Other: 23.97%

Geographic Distribution of Plus500 US Website Traffic

Plus500 US Contact Information

Plus500 US gives traders the opportunity to engage with the dynamic futures market using advanced tools and a proprietary, user-friendly platform compatible with mobile and desktop devices. With offerings like e-mini and micro e-mini contracts, customers can speculate on market movements or hedge against price fluctuations with reduced capital requirements.

The broker is also relatively accessible, given that the minimum deposit requirement ranges between just $100 and $200, depending on the payment method used. By prioritising cutting-edge technology, regulatory compliance and client-focused features, Plus500 US ensures traders at every level can confidently navigate the complexities of the futures markets.

General Information about Plus500 US

Account Information

Trading Information

Leverage

Deposit Methods

Regulations and Security

Plus500US operates under stringent regulatory oversight to ensure a secure and transparent trading environment for its clients. Its parent company, the Plus500 Group, serves more than 26 million traders worldwide and has been in operation for over 15 years. It holds licences from multiple regulatory authorities, including ASIC, CySEC, MAS and the FCA. The Plus500 Group trades its shares on the London Stock Exchange, further consolidating its spotless reputation among traders. As of January 2025, Plus500US is fully compliant with US financial regulations, giving local traders peace of mind that their funds and personal information are protected.

The company is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the primary regulatory body overseeing the futures and options markets in the United States. Registered as a Futures Commission Merchant with the CFTC, Plus500US is also a member of the National Futures Association (NFA), which ensures that the platform adheres to the industry’s high standards for integrity, fairness and transparency. These regulatory bodies enforce strict guidelines to protect investors, monitor trading activity and ensure that brokers operate with honesty and clarity. The US-facing website is operated by the Group’s subsidiary Plus500US Financial Services LLC.

In terms of security, Plus500US places a strong emphasis on safeguarding client data and funds. The platform utilises state-of-the-art encryption technologies to protect all sensitive information, including your financial details and personal data. Furthermore, client funds are held in segregated accounts, meaning they are kept separate from the company’s own funds, providing an additional layer of protection in the event of financial difficulties. Plus500US also employs robust anti-money-laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols to prevent fraud and ensure the legitimacy of its clients. All new customers must undergo mandatory identity and address verification before they can start trading and moving funds from their Plus500US live accounts.

Account Types and Features

Plus500US makes things simpler for traders with a single account type that supports both real-money and paper trading. This spares customers the hassle of researching and comparing multiple account types to determine which one best fits their needs. All newly registered traders automatically start with demo accounts, with the option to upgrade to live accounts after uploading the necessary documents for verification.

• Standard Account

  The Standard Account is the only account type available for live futures trading with real money. It provides access to an approximately 60-strong range of futures contracts across major asset classes such as forex, indices, commodities, interest rates and cryptocurrencies. There are no complex commission tiers or difficult-to-calculate fees. Customers pay commissions of $0.89 each way for standard futures contracts and $0.49 per side for micro contracts. This simplicity makes Standard Accounts at Plus500US an ideal choice for beginners looking to explore the markets without wasting unnecessary time on trading cost calculations.

• Demo Account

  Plus500US also offers a Demo Account for individuals who want to practise and familiarise themselves with the platform before committing real money. The demo account simulates the live trading environment, providing users with a starting virtual balance of $50,000. Clients who run out of credits can replenish their demo balance with just a few clicks. This account is perfect for new traders looking to practise strategies, explore the platform’s functionalities and build confidence without the fear of financial loss.

Opening an Account with Plus500US

1. Visit the Website: Go to the official Plus500US website. Look for the “Open Account” button located on the homepage and click on it.
2. Create a Profile: You will be prompted to provide basic personal details such as your name, email address, phone number, Social Security number (SSN) and residential information. Ensure all information is accurate to avoid delays during the verification process.
3. Provide Employment Information: Specify your employment status and provide information about your employer. Additionally, you must state your annual income, source of funds and the value of your investments and savings.
4. Complete the Suitability Test: Provide accurate answers to demonstrate you are experienced enough to engage in futures trading.
5. Verify Your Email and Phone Number: Enter the verification codes Plus500US sends via email and text message.
6. Verify Your Identity: To comply with regulatory standards, Plus500US requires users to complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) procedure. This involves uploading proof of identity (passport, identity card or driver’s licence) and proof of residence (utility bill, salary slip, lease agreement, bank statement, etc.). This step ensures the platform complies with anti-money-laundering (AML) regulations.
7. Account Approval: Once your documents are verified, your account will be activated and you will gain full access to the trading platform.
8. Deposit Funds: The next step is funding your account. Plus500US offers a variety of deposit methods, including bank transfers, debit cards and e-wallets. The minimum deposit requirement is $100, making the broker accessible to most retail traders.
9. Start Trading: Once your deposit is processed, you can start trading on the Plus500US platform. The intuitive design allows both new and experienced traders to navigate the platform with ease, and the demo account option is always available for further practice.

This simple, efficient registration process ensures that traders can start exploring the futures markets with minimal hassle. Whether you’re looking to test out your strategies or dive straight into live trading, Plus500US offers a seamless experience from sign-up to order execution.

Trading Platforms

Plus500US offers its traders a seamless and user-friendly experience through a proprietary platform, setting it apart from other brokers that typically rely on third-party solutions like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The broker facilitates trading on both desktop and mobile devices via advanced proprietary software designed by Cunningham Trading Systems (CTC), a company Plus500 acquired shortly before launching in the US in 2021.

• TradeSniper – a mobile trading app available for both iOS and Android devices. This app is ideal for clients who prefer to trade on the go, providing a smooth and intuitive interface for executing trades, monitoring the markets and managing portfolios from the comfort of their surroundings. It offers essential features such as real-time market alerts, custom notifications for margin calls and expiring positions, and take-profit and stop-loss orders to automate trading strategies. The app allows traders to switch between Demo and Real Money modes, making it easy for beginners to practise before committing real funds. Customers can download the free native apps from Google Play or the App Store, provided their devices meet the minimum system requirements of Android 8.0 or iOS 15.0.
• Plus500 WebTrader – on the desktop side, Plus500US offers a proprietary WebTrader, a browser-based platform boasting powerful analysis and trading capabilities. This platform is particularly beneficial for those who prefer a larger screen for trading, as it includes advanced charting tools, real-time market data and the ability to manage trades in an organised manner. The Plus500 WebTrader supports various types of contracts, including micro and e-mini futures. These smaller-sized contracts offer a lower barrier to entry and are suitable for traders who lack the capital to trade standard futures. E-minis are one-fifth the size of a standard futures contract, enabling customers to gain exposure to the futures market while reducing their risk. The WebTrader is compatible with a broad range of desktop browsers, including but not limited to Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge and Firefox.

Both the mobile app and desktop platform are designed with traders’ convenience in mind, making Plus500US a strong contender for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-rich platform for futures trading.

Trading Instruments at Plus500US

Plus500US customers have access to more than 60 futures contracts across different asset classes such as forex, commodities, indices, interest rates and cryptocurrencies. These are tradable via standard, micro and mini contracts, ensuring a lower barrier to entry for customers with limited capital at their disposal. Clients can further increase their exposure to the futures markets by using leverage, but the minimum margin requirements change from one day to the next. Some futures contracts require a minimum margin as low as $20; however, this is subject to change.

• Forex Futures: Customers can choose from 14 futures contracts involving currency pairs, including micro contracts for AUD/USD, GBP/USD, EUR/USD and CAD/USD.
• Index Futures: Clients seeking exposure to the index markets can trade 11 standard, micro and mini futures for major indices like Nasdaq 100, Dow Jones, S&P 500, Nikkei and Russell 2000, among others.
• Commodity Futures: Futures for various hard and soft commodities are also available at Plus500US, including crude oil, natural gas, lean hogs, wheat, corn, live cattle, gold, silver, platinum and copper. Minimum margin requirements for commodity futures range from $25 to $2,200.
• Cryptocurrency Futures: The range of cryptocurrency futures is limited to the two most popular options, Ethereum and Bitcoin. These are tradable via micro futures contracts. Trading Bitcoin Friday futures is also an option at Plus500US.
• Interest Rate Futures: Traders can further diversify their portfolios with standard and micro futures on US Treasury Notes and T-Bonds. Minimum margins fluctuate between $45 and $500 at the time of publication.

While not as extensive as its global offering, Plus500 provides a decent range of futures contracts to its US customer base. The availability of less common options such as interest rates stands out, while the ability to trade micro and e-mini contracts makes it considerably easier for clients on a budget to join in. We could not help but notice the absence of stocks from the trading roster of Plus500, but traders can still capitalise on US share price fluctuations with futures on major indices like Nasdaq 100 and S&P 500.

Unlike CFDs, which are not permitted under US regulations, futures contracts are fully compliant with CFTC and NFA guidelines. This ensures that traders benefit from both the security of regulated markets and the freedom to capitalise on global trends.

Trading Conditions

Plus500US offers competitive trading conditions with low fixed commissions based on contract size. All charges are clearly listed on the platform, saving clients the hassle of calculating their trading costs on their own. The regulatory and exchange fees are included in the listed commissions. Standard contracts incur commissions of $0.89 per side, bringing your round-turn expenses to $1.78 in total. Commissions for micro contracts are nearly half that, at $0.49 per side ($0.98 in total). Automatically liquidated positions are subject to a $10 auto-liquidation fee. Additionally, there is a regulatory fee of $0.02 per side payable to the NFA, but as already mentioned, these costs are included in the trade commissions shown on the platform.

The broker does not penalise casual traders with inactivity fees. There are no additional charges for routing, account opening or using the proprietary platform, either. The platform supports multiple order types, including market, limit and stop-loss orders, allowing traders to manage their risk exposure more efficiently. Plus500US relies on a fast execution model to ensure client orders are processed with minimal slippage under normal market conditions. Intra-day margin requirements vary by asset, with more volatile instruments requiring higher margins. Traders must maintain sufficient funds to avoid margin calls and auto-liquidation.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Plus500US provides a seamless and secure process for moving funds to and from your live balance. The platform supports a variety of payment methods, ensuring flexibility for all traders. Below is a detailed look at the available options and key points related to deposits and withdrawals at Plus500US. We should also highlight that registered clients must verify their payment method by uploading photos of a bank statement or the front and rear sides of their debit cards in their account dashboard.

Deposit Methods

Plus500US offers several convenient deposit methods for traders to fund their accounts:

• Bank Transfers: Ideal for larger transactions, bank transfers take up to five business days to process. Customers using this method must provide a valid transfer reference number to prevent further delays. The transfer must be initiated from a bank account registered in the client’s own name. Bank transfers are reliable but slower than card payments and digital wallets. Minimum deposit requirements are higher here, at $200 per transaction.
• Debit Cards: Deposits can be made with Visa and Mastercard debit cards. The deposited funds will not appear in your balance until Plus500US receives them in its segregated client funds bank account, which may take between one and three business days, according to the broker. The timeframes largely depend on the transmission path through the banking system and the deadlines of the financial institution you use. The minimum deposit here is lower, at $100. Plus500US does not accept deposits with credit or prepaid cards.
• Digital Wallets: Plus500US supports several digital wallet options, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay, both of which enable instant deposits, allowing traders to join the price action without unnecessary delays.
• Minimum Deposit: The minimum deposit required is typically $100, which is accessible for most traders starting out on the platform. Bank transfers are an exception, as they have a higher minimum deposit requirement of $200. Regardless of the payment method used, deposits cannot exceed $10,000 per transaction.

Withdrawal Methods

Withdrawing funds from Plus500US is similarly straightforward and secure. Traders must use the same methods for withdrawals as they used for deposits. Here’s an overview:

• Bank Transfers: Withdrawals via bank transfer may take up to five business days. Plus500US normally processes withdrawal requests within one to three business days. Additional processing times largely depend on the internal timeframes of your bank or financial institution.
• Debit Cards: These withdrawals are processed quickly, usually within one to three business days.
• Note: Withdrawals are processed on weekdays during business hours. If a withdrawal request is made outside these hours, it may be delayed until the next business day.

Fees and Charges

Plus500US does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals. However, traders should be aware that some third-party payment providers, such as banks and card issuers, may impose additional charges, which are outside the control of Plus500US.

Additional Services

Plus500US offers a range of additional services designed to enhance the trading experience. We outline them briefly below.

• Demo Account: A free demo account allows users to practise trading with virtual funds, helping them familiarise themselves with the platform before trading with real money. Upon registering with Plus500US, clients receive $50,000 in virtual credits, but reloading a depleted demo balance is an option for those who bring it to zero. The account closely replicates the real-life trading environment, giving you a clear picture of actual market conditions. Customers can conveniently switch back and forth from paper to live trading from the main account dashboard.
• Educational Resources: Although not extensive, Plus500US provides fundamental trading guides and articles to help inexperienced customers navigate the complexities of futures trading. The Learn section of the website features a range of free educational videos, giving you an in-depth look at commonly implemented strategies and the benefits of incorporating futures into your trading portfolio.
• Advanced Charting Tools: The Plus500US platform boasts powerful charting capabilities, offering real-time price charts, technical indicators and drawing tools to enable traders to perform in-depth market analysis. Various charting patterns are available, including Fibonacci Fans, Gartley and Elliot Waves.
• Alerts and Notifications: Users can set customised alerts for price changes, margin calls and other important events to stay informed and make timely decisions.

Customer Support

Availability and Contact Methods

Customer support is available 24/7, providing timely and professional assistance to customers from the United States. Plus500US understands the importance of adequate help, especially in the fast-moving futures markets. You can reach the support team through:

• Live Chat: Instant responses for urgent enquiries, available directly on the Plus500US website and trading platform.
• Contact Form: For less urgent matters and more complex enquiries, users can enter their details and outline their issues in the contact form on the website to receive a response via email.
• Phone Support: Plus500US does not provide telephone support at the time of publication, but hopefully this will soon change.

Additionally, Plus500US offers a comprehensive Help Center on its website, providing self-service resources with an FAQs section, guides, troubleshooting articles and tutorials. This allows users to find answers to common questions and resolve issues without having to wait for customer support.

English Support

The website is available in Spanish and English, but customers can receive assistance in English only.

Pros and Cons

Conclusion

Plus500US stands out as a premier choice for futures trading, offering a robust and regulated platform tailored to the needs of both novice and experienced traders. With its emphasis on user-friendly tools, advanced analytics and secure trading, Plus500US simplifies the complexities of the futures market while adhering to strict CFTC and NFA regulations.

The platform’s innovative features make futures trading accessible to most traders, regardless of the capital they can put up, while advanced risk-management tools help ensure informed and controlled trading decisions. Additionally, the seamless account setup process, round-the-clock customer support and cutting-edge platforms like TradeSniper and the Plus500 WebTrader further enhance the overall trading experience.

While the platform’s focus on futures may not cater to traders seeking broader investment opportunities or those accustomed to third-party platforms like MetaTrader, Plus500US positions itself as a reliable and efficient gateway to futures trading. Whether you’re exploring new trading opportunities or refining your existing strategies, Plus500US offers the tools, security and expertise to help you succeed in the fast-paced world of futures.

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