FXTM vs Plus500 2026: In-Depth Comparison for Italy Traders
Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Quick Verdict — Italy Traders
When choosing a forex broker in Italy, retail traders often compare FXTM and Plus500 due to their strong reputations and CONSOB compliance. FXTM, with a 4.3/5 rating, stands out for its comprehensive trading education, multiple account types, and support for local payment methods like PostePay and SEPA transfers. Plus500, rated 3.7/5, is known for its user-friendly platform and simplicity, but it lacks some customization and educational resources that Italian traders may need. Both brokers are regulated under ESMA rules, ensuring protection for EUR-denominated accounts. For Italian traders, the choice largely depends on whether they prioritize low spreads and flexibility (FXTM) or ease of use and a streamlined interface (Plus500). This comparison dives into trading costs, platforms, regulation, and deposit methods specific to Italy to help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals in 2026.
Overall Scores Comparison
Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | FXTM | 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 | $200 | $100 | Plus500 |
For Italian traders, trading costs are a critical factor, especially for high-volume forex trading. FXTM offers competitive spreads starting from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD with its ECN account, making it ideal for scalpers and active traders. Plus500, while transparent with no commission fees, typically has wider spreads averaging 0.6-0.8 pips on the same pair. Over 100 trades per month, FXTM can save Italian traders €50-€100 in spread costs compared to Plus500. Additionally, FXTM provides lower swap rates for overnight positions, which is beneficial for swing traders in Italy. Both brokers charge no deposit fees for EUR accounts, but Plus500's inactivity fee after three months can be a hidden cost for occasional traders.
Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | FXTM | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $200 | $100 |
Leverage Comparison - Italy Traders
| Entity / Asset | FXTM | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:3000 | Up to 1:300 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:3000 | 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 |
Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | FXTM | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FXTM |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FXTM |
| Crypto CFDs | ✗ | 20+ | FXTM |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Plus500 |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
Platforms Comparison
| Platform | FXTM | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
Italian traders will find distinct platform experiences with FXTM and Plus500. FXTM offers MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are industry standards for advanced charting, automated trading, and custom indicators. This is ideal for Italian traders who use Expert Advisors or need detailed technical analysis. Plus500 provides its proprietary web-based platform, which is intuitive and mobile-friendly but lacks advanced features like algorithmic trading. For Italian traders who value ease of use and quick execution on mobile devices, Plus500 is suitable, but those needing in-depth analysis should choose FXTM. Both platforms are available in Italian language, ensuring a localized experience.
Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | FXTM | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Plus500 |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FXTM |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Execution quality is crucial for Italian traders, especially for scalping or news trading. FXTM uses No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution with low latency and no requotes, offering fast order fills on EUR/USD. Plus500 operates a market maker model, which can lead to slippage during volatile periods. FXTM's execution speed averages under 50ms, while Plus500's execution is slightly slower. For Italian traders prioritizing speed and transparency, FXTM outperforms Plus500.
Regulation & Safety for Italy Traders
| Safety Factor | FXTM | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both FXTM and Plus500 are regulated by reputable authorities, providing security for Italian traders. FXTM is authorized by CySEC (Cyprus) and adheres to ESMA guidelines, including leverage caps of 1:30 for retail clients and negative balance protection. Plus500 is regulated by the FCA in the UK and CONSOB in Italy, offering similar protections. For Italian traders, CONSOB oversight means Plus500 must comply with local marketing and leverage restrictions, while FXTM's CySEC license is recognized across the EU. Both brokers segregate client funds in Tier-1 banks, ensuring that Italian traders' capital is safe. However, FXTM's additional regulation in jurisdictions like the FSC (Mauritius) provides more flexibility for professional traders.
Deposits & Withdrawals for Italy
| Payment Method | FXTM | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | 24 hours (often in 30 minutes),Credit / Debit Cards (Visa, Mastercard): 1 to 3 business days. | 1 to 3 business day |
Italian traders benefit from multiple deposit options at both brokers. FXTM supports SEPA bank transfers, standard Bank Transfer, and PostePay, making it easy for Italian users to fund accounts with no fees. Minimum deposits start from €10, and withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days. Plus500 accepts SEPA and Bank Transfer but does not support PostePay, which is a popular e-money solution in Italy. Plus500's minimum deposit is €100, higher than FXTM's. For withdrawals, Plus500 processes requests within 3-5 business days, slightly slower than FXTM. Both brokers allow EUR deposits, avoiding currency conversion fees for Italian traders. FXTM's support for PostePay gives it an edge for local convenience.
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for Italy Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | FXTM | 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 |
For Italy's Muslim traders, both FXTM and Plus500 offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by eliminating interest on overnight positions. FXTM provides Islamic accounts on request for all account types, with no swap charges on forex, commodities, and indices. Plus500 automatically applies swap-free conditions for clients from Muslim-majority regions, including Italy, but only on certain instruments. FXTM offers more flexibility with a wider range of tradable assets on Islamic accounts, while Plus500 limits some instruments. Italian traders seeking comprehensive Islamic trading should prefer FXTM, though both brokers meet basic requirements.
Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | FXTM | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FXTM |
Italian traders can access customer support in Italian at both FXTM and Plus500. FXTM offers 24/5 live chat, email, and phone support with dedicated Italian-speaking agents, plus a comprehensive FAQ section in Italian. Plus500 provides 24/7 live chat and email support, but phone support is limited. FXTM's support is more responsive and personalized, while Plus500's automated system can be less helpful for complex issues. For Italian traders who value direct human interaction, FXTM is the better choice.
Mobile App Comparison
| Mobile Feature | FXTM | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | FXTM |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | FXTM |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
Education & Research Tools
| Resource | FXTM | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | ✗ | FXTM |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | FXTM |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FXTM |
Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
Pros & Cons of Each Broker
FXTM
Plus500
Who Should Use Which Broker? - Italy Guide
Choose FXTM if you...
- Want low spreads starting from 0.1 pips on EUR/USD for cost-effective trading.
- Prefer advanced platforms like MetaTrader 4/5 with automated trading capabilities.
- Need local payment methods like PostePay and SEPA for easy deposits.
- Require an Islamic account with flexible terms and a wide range of instruments.
Choose Plus500 if you...
- Value a simple, user-friendly platform with no learning curve.
- Trade occasionally and don't need advanced analysis tools.
- Prefer a broker with direct CONSOB regulation for added local oversight.
- Want a straightforward trading experience with no commission fees.
FAQ - FXTM vs Plus500 in Italy
Final Verdict - Italy 2026
For Italian retail traders in 2026, FXTM emerges as the stronger choice over Plus500, thanks to its 4.3/5 rating, lower spreads, and superior support for local payment methods like PostePay and SEPA transfers. While Plus500 offers simplicity and direct CONSOB regulation, its higher costs, limited platform, and lack of PostePay make it less appealing for most Italian traders. FXTM's flexible account types, Islamic account options, and educational resources cater to both beginners and experienced traders. If you prioritize low costs and customization, choose FXTM. If you want a hassle-free platform with basic features, Plus500 is a viable alternative. Ultimately, FXTM provides better value for Italian traders seeking comprehensive forex trading solutions.