Is Plus500 legit?
In the UK, Plus500 is legit: the Financial Conduct Authority has Authorised Plus500UK Ltd under firm reference number 509909. Since 29 June 2010 the firm has been authorised, and it holds permission to hold client money. This lets you use both the Financial Ombudsman Service and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
Authorised by the FCAFRN 509909on the register since 29 Jun 201012 clone firms on the register
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. When retail investors trade CFDs with this provider, 76% of their accounts lose money. Consider whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money and whether you understand how CFDs work.
Read 2 Nov 2026: Plus500's own wording on plus500.com.
How Plus500 compares on loss rate with the wider field
Firms on the register that copy Plus500
The FCA register includes 12 clone firms that use this firm's name or details., and none of them is Plus500UK Ltd.
- Tradovest/Tradeoveston the register from 07 Jun 2018
- Forex-max. A clone of an FCA Authorised firm, listed 10 Mar 2022.on the register from 10 Mar 2022
- FRCM Mangement / Finance Reserves. Listed as a Clone of FCA authorised firms on 18 Dec 2020.on the register from 18 Dec 2020
- Plus-500. Listed as a Clone of FCA authorised firm on 01 Feb 2021.on the register from 01 Feb 2021
- Fx Plus500. Listed as a Clone of FCA Authorised Firm on 12 May 2023.on the register from 12 May 2023
- www.plus500un.com. A clone of an FCA Authorised firm, listed 06 Nov 2023.on the register from 06 Nov 2023
- Investor500. Listed as a Clone of FCA authorised firm on 10 Nov 2021.on the register from 10 Nov 2021
- Gatebits. Listed as a Clone of FCA Authorised Firm on 13 Jan 2023.on the register from 13 Jan 2023
- Zoom-Bit. A clone of an FCA authorised firm, listed 06 Feb 2023.on the register from 06 Feb 2023
- Zoom Bit / zoom-bit.com. Listed as a Clone of FCA regulated firm on 24 Mar 2023.on the register from 24 Mar 2023
- p500.io / plus500v.com. Listed as a Clone of FCA authorised firm on 08 Aug 2024.on the register from 08 Aug 2024
- Plus 500 UKon the register from 26 Apr 2012
From the FCA Financial Services Register, read 2 Nov 2026.
What protects your money
| FSCS | As an FCA authorised UK firm, Plus500UK Ltd gives you access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which can provide up to £85,000 for each person if the firm fails owing you money. |
|---|---|
| Negative balance protection | Yes, as the broker states |
| Client money | The register shows permission to hold client money |
Read 2 Nov 2026: fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/investments; plus500.com/en-gb/tradingacademy/faq/trading/24-7_doesnegativebalanceprotectionapply, read 2 Nov 2026.
If Plus500 were to fail
The Financial Services Register lists permission for Plus500UK Ltd to handle your client money. You can claim compensation if the firm closes and can't return all of your money or assets. The UK fund for failed authorised firms is the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. It pays up to £85,000 for each eligible person, per firm, covering failures after 1 April 2019.
For this cover to apply, the firm must be authorised and the service you use must be regulated by the FCA. Poor investment performance isn't covered because investment values can rise or fall. Among retail investor accounts at Plus500, 76% lose money when trading CFDs. Negative balance protection is included with your retail account.
The Financial Ombudsman Service can review any complaint that the firm hasn't resolved. It can help with an investment problem, provided the business is regulated by the FCA.
Check the firm and its website
- On register.fca.org.uk, open the FRN 509909 record.
- Make sure the record shows Plus500UK Ltd with an Authorised status.
- Check the address in your browser against www.plus500.com/en, which is listed on the register.
- Watch out for names included in the clone list and for calls or messages seeking a transfer of your money.
Review of Plus500: costs, platforms, deposits and withdrawals
Other options besides Plus500: other FCA authorised CFD brokers
Each firm sits in A to Z order, with none ranked above another.
Common questions answered
Is Plus500 FCA regulated?
The FCA gives Plus500UK Ltd permission to offer regulated investments, including derivatives. A firm registered only with the FCA can't provide these regulated products. Since Plus500UK Ltd is authorised, you may use the Financial Ombudsman Service at no cost. When you believe a regulated firm acted unfairly toward you, this official service settles complaints. Before contacting the ombudsman, you must make a complaint to Plus500. If the firm's final reply doesn't satisfy you, the ombudsman can look into overcharging, unsuitable CFDs or administrative errors. We put its register record side by side with those of FCA regulated forex brokers.
With Plus500, is my money protected?
Protection applies only if both your provider and the specific activity are regulated by the FCA. To confirm that the service your firm provides is regulated and protected, the FSCS advises asking the firm. On retail accounts, Plus500 caps leverage at 1:30 for forex CFDs and 1:5 for share CFDs. There are no deposit or withdrawal fees. Charges may apply to withdrawals that fall below the stated minimum. Processing normally takes 1 to 3 working days, while digital wallets need another 3 to 7 working days to clear. A bank transfer takes 5 to 7 working days.
Does Plus500 qualify as a legitimate broker in the UK?
Yes, it began in 2008 and operates an authorised UK site at https://www.plus500.com/en/. You can access over 2,800 instruments for forex and CFD trading through its web platform and mobile app. Across 7,849 reviews, the iOS Plus500 Trading app has a 4.25 rating. A demo account lets you practise. You can contact customer support 24/7 by chat, email or WhatsApp. There is 0 dealing commission because the firm earns money from the bid and ask spread. For currency conversion, you'll pay up to 0.7%. After 3 months without login, there's also a monthly charge of up to USD 10. These fees are explained in detail in our Plus500 review.
What steps can I take to avoid Plus500 clone firms?
On the FCA register you can see 12 clone firms, each of which has targeted Plus500UK Ltd. Such a firm is an unauthorised scam that copies the name, the address or the reference number of a real company. Scammers often contact people through phone calls, emails or social media, using fake numbers or addresses from Outlook and Gmail. Dismiss anyone who says the register is outdated. On average, the FCA refreshes its Firm Checker every 24 hours. Always confirm that the contact details you've been given match those listed in the FCA Firm Checker. If anything looks wrong, call the FCA on 0800 111 6768.