Which broker is better for Australia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For experienced Australia traders seeking ASIC-regulated brokers, the choice between InvestoPro and Plus500 comes down to trading style and cost efficiency. Both are licensed by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, ensuring high regulatory standards including client fund segregation and negative balance protection. InvestoPro scores 3.8/5, slightly ahead of Plus500’s 3.7/5, reflecting its edge in advanced tools and lower spreads. Australia traders benefit from local payment methods like BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card deposits in AUD, avoiding foreign exchange fees. Plus500 is known for its user-friendly platform and no-commission structure, while InvestoPro offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on MT4 and cTrader, appealing to scalpers and algorithmic traders. This comparison helps you decide which broker better suits your trading volume and strategy in the Australian market.
| Instrument | InvestoPro | 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 | $0 | $100 | InvestoPro |
For Australia traders, trading costs are critical, especially when trading high volumes. InvestoPro offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on major pairs like AUD/USD and EUR/USD, with a commission of $7 AUD per lot round turn. This is ideal for scalpers and day traders. Plus500 uses a spread-only model with no commission, but its spreads are typically 0.6-1.2 pips on EUR/USD, making it more expensive for frequent traders. Over 100 lots per month, InvestoPro’s lower spreads can save hundreds of AUD. Both brokers charge no deposit or withdrawal fees for AUD transactions via BPAY or POLi, but Plus500’s inactivity fee after 3 months can add costs for less active traders.
| Account Type | InvestoPro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | InvestoPro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (offshore) | Up to 1:500 | Up to 1:300 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:500 | 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 | InvestoPro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | InvestoPro |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | InvestoPro |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | InvestoPro |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Plus500 |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | InvestoPro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✗ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✗ |
InvestoPro supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and cTrader, giving Australia traders powerful charting tools, custom indicators, and algorithmic trading capabilities. Plus500 offers only its proprietary web and mobile platform, which is intuitive but lacks advanced features like expert advisors or depth of market. For experienced traders needing automated strategies or detailed backtesting, InvestoPro’s platform choice is a clear advantage. Both platforms are available on desktop, iOS, and Android, with fast execution in AUD-denominated accounts.
| Factor | InvestoPro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Plus500 |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | InvestoPro |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
InvestoPro uses No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution with access to multiple liquidity providers, resulting in fast order fills and minimal slippage for Australia traders. Plus500 also offers straight-through processing (STP) but is a market maker, meaning it takes the opposite side of trades, which can lead to requotes during volatile conditions. For experienced traders, InvestoPro’s execution is more transparent and reliable, especially for high-frequency strategies. Both brokers offer negative balance protection as required by ASIC.
| Safety Factor | InvestoPro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both InvestoPro and Plus500 are regulated by ASIC, the top financial regulator in Australia. This means they must comply with strict capital adequacy requirements, client fund segregation in trust accounts, and negative balance protection—essential for Australia traders. ASIC also mandates transparent pricing and dispute resolution via the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). Plus500 is a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange, adding extra transparency. InvestoPro is privately held but holds additional licenses in Cyprus and the UK, offering broader international oversight. For Australia traders, both brokers provide a safe trading environment under ASIC’s watch.
| Payment Method | InvestoPro | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✗ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✗ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Card/e-wallet fast; bank transfer 1-3 days | 1 to 3 business day |
Australia traders can fund both InvestoPro and Plus500 using local payment methods in AUD, including BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard). InvestoPro also accepts PayPal and Skrill, while Plus500 adds Neteller. BPAY and POLi deposits are typically instant and free, while Bank Transfers take 1-2 business days. Minimum deposits are $200 AUD for InvestoPro and $100 AUD for Plus500. Withdrawals are processed within 1-2 business days for both brokers, with InvestoPro offering free withdrawals via Bank Transfer and Plus500 charging a small fee for withdrawals under $100 AUD. Credit Card withdrawals are refunded to the same card, and no currency conversion fees apply for AUD accounts.
| Islamic Account Feature | InvestoPro | 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 |
InvestoPro and Plus500 both offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Australia Muslim traders, in compliance with Sharia law. These accounts do not charge or pay overnight interest on positions held beyond one day. InvestoPro provides swap-free accounts on request for all account types, including raw spread accounts, while Plus500 offers them on its standard CFD accounts. Both require a simple application process via customer support. Note that some instruments, like certain commodities or indices, may still incur swap fees if held long-term. For Australia Muslim traders, both brokers are suitable, though InvestoPro’s broader instrument access may be preferable.
| Support Feature | InvestoPro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | InvestoPro |
InvestoPro offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated team for Australia traders available during AEST business hours. Plus500 provides 24/7 live chat and email support, but phone support is limited to callback requests. Both have extensive FAQ sections tailored to Australian clients. InvestoPro’s support is more personalised, while Plus500’s 24/7 availability is better for after-hours trading. Neither broker charges for support, but response times can vary during peak market hours.
| Mobile Feature | InvestoPro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | InvestoPro |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | InvestoPro |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | InvestoPro | Plus500 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | ✗ | InvestoPro |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | InvestoPro |
Choose InvestoPro if you...
Choose Plus500 if you...
For Australia traders, InvestoPro is the better choice for experienced traders seeking lower costs, advanced platforms, and transparent execution under ASIC regulation. Its raw spreads and NDD model suit scalpers and algorithmic traders, while local payment methods like BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card make funding easy in AUD. Plus500 is a solid alternative for beginners or those who prefer a simple, commission-free experience, but its wider spreads and market maker model can eat into profits over time. Both brokers are ASIC-regulated and safe, but InvestoPro’s 3.8/5 rating and tailored features give it the edge for serious Australia traders in 2025.