Which broker is better for Taiwan traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Taiwan's forex market has grown significantly, with experienced retail traders seeking reliable brokers that offer competitive conditions and local payment support. AvaTrade and Plus500 are two well-known international brokers available to Taiwan traders, but they cater to different trading styles and preferences. AvaTrade, with a score of 4.6/5, is a multi-asset broker offering a wide range of platforms including MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and AvaTradeGO, along with extensive educational resources. Plus500, scoring 3.7/5, is a user-friendly CFD broker known for its simple web and mobile platforms, but lacks advanced charting tools. Both brokers accept Taiwan traders and support deposits via Bank Transfer and Credit Card in TWD. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns better with your trading needs, focusing on costs, regulation, and local support.
| Instrument | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Plus500 |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Plus500 |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Plus500 |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Plus500 |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 | Tie |
For Taiwan traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially for high-volume strategies. AvaTrade offers a standard account with spreads from 0.9 pips on EUR/USD, and a RAW account with spreads from 0.0 pips plus a $7 commission per lot. This can be cost-effective for traders executing many trades. Plus500 typically offers tighter raw spreads, starting from 0.6 pips on EUR/USD, but its spreads can widen during news events. For Taiwan traders who trade frequently, AvaTrade's RAW account may provide lower overall costs, while Plus500 is suitable for lower-volume traders who prefer simplicity. Both brokers charge no deposit fees for Bank Transfer or Credit Card deposits, making it easy to manage costs.
| Account Type | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Taiwan (offshore) | Up to 1:400 | Up to 1:300 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:400 | 1:300 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | AvaTrade |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | AvaTrade |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | AvaTrade |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Plus500 |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✓ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
Platform choice is crucial for experienced Taiwan traders. AvaTrade provides a versatile selection: MetaTrader 4 and 5 for advanced charting and automated trading, AvaTradeGO for mobile trading, and WebTrader for browser-based access. This suits traders who need technical analysis tools and Expert Advisors. Plus500 offers only its proprietary web and mobile platforms, which are clean and intuitive but lack advanced features like custom indicators or EAs. For Taiwan traders who rely on algorithmic trading or complex analysis, AvaTrade is the clear winner. Plus500 is better for those who value simplicity and ease of use.
| Factor | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Plus500 |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | AvaTrade |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Execution quality is crucial for experienced traders. AvaTrade uses market execution with no requotes, offering fast order execution with an average speed of 0.1 seconds. Plus500 also uses market execution but may experience slippage during volatile markets. Both brokers provide negative balance protection. For Taiwan traders who trade during Asian sessions, AvaTrade's reliable execution and lower slippage are beneficial, while Plus500's execution is adequate for most retail traders.
| Safety Factor | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CBI | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key concern for Taiwan traders. AvaTrade is regulated by multiple top-tier authorities including the Central Bank of Ireland, ASIC (Australia), and FSA (Japan), providing strong investor protection and negative balance protection. Plus500 is regulated by the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and ASIC, among others. Neither broker is directly regulated by the FSC Taiwan, but both comply with international standards. For Taiwan traders, this means funds are held in segregated accounts and there is access to compensation schemes (e.g., FSCS for Plus500 UK clients). AvaTrade's broader regulatory oversight may offer greater peace of mind, though both are reliable.
| Payment Method | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Card/e-wallet 24-48hrs after approval; Wire Transfer up to 7-10 business days | 1 to 3 business day |
Taiwan traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer and Credit Card at both brokers. At AvaTrade, Bank Transfer deposits in TWD are processed within 1-2 business days with no fees, while Credit Card deposits are instant and free. Withdrawals via Bank Transfer are free and processed within 1-2 business days. At Plus500, Bank Transfer deposits take 1-3 business days, and Credit Card deposits are instant. Withdrawals via Bank Transfer incur a small fee (around $10), and Credit Card withdrawals are free but may take 1-3 days. For Taiwan traders, AvaTrade offers faster and cheaper withdrawal options, while Plus500 is simpler for small deposits. Both brokers support TWD, so no currency conversion fees apply.
| Islamic Account Feature | AvaTrade | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both AvaTrade and Plus500 offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in Taiwan, in compliance with Sharia law. AvaTrade provides swap-free accounts automatically upon request, with no additional fees or restrictions on trading styles. Plus500 also offers swap-free accounts for all clients, with a simple request process. For Taiwan Muslim traders, both brokers are suitable, but AvaTrade's more flexible account options and wider platform support may be preferable. It's important to note that Islamic accounts may have limited access to certain instruments, but both brokers ensure fair treatment.
| Support Feature | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | AvaTrade |
Customer support is vital for Taiwan traders. AvaTrade offers 24/5 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with Chinese language support available. Plus500 provides 24/7 support via live chat and email, but phone support is limited. For Taiwan traders, AvaTrade's dedicated Chinese-language support is a significant advantage, especially for resolving account issues or technical questions. Plus500's support is efficient but may require English proficiency for complex queries.
| Mobile Feature | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | AvaTrade |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | AvaTrade |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | AvaTrade | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | ✗ | AvaTrade |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | AvaTrade |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | AvaTrade |
Choose AvaTrade if you...
Choose Plus500 if you...
For experienced Taiwan traders, AvaTrade is the superior choice due to its advanced platforms, lower trading costs on high volumes, and better local support. Its RAW account with spreads from 0.0 pips is ideal for frequent traders, while Plus500's simpler offering suits beginners. Both brokers accept Bank Transfer and Credit Card deposits in TWD, but AvaTrade's faster and fee-free withdrawals give it an edge. While neither is regulated by the FSC Taiwan, both operate under strong international regulators. For Taiwan traders seeking a comprehensive trading experience with robust tools and local payment convenience, AvaTrade is the recommended broker.