Plus500 List of Supported & Banned Countries

Plus500 is one of the most well-known CFD brokers worldwide, offering traders a diverse collection of market products. Established in 2008, Plus500 has built a strong reputation as a user-friendly platform. It is particularly known for its proprietary trading platform, the wide range of instruments, and its status as a publicly listed company on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Today, the broker serves over 30 million clients from over 60 different countries.

Despite its global reputation, Plus500 does not operate in every country due to regulatory restrictions, local laws, and internal policies. In this article, we’ll explore the Plus500 list of supported and banned countries, as well as recommend some alternatives for traders in restricted jurisdictions.

Not sure if Plus500 accepts traders from your country? Try opening an account and filling in your country of residency. If this works, they welcome traders from your country

80% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Plus500 List of Supported Countries

Plus500 operates through multiple subsidiaries, each regulated by a different financial authority. This structure allows it to serve clients in various jurisdictions while complying with local laws. The availability of specific instruments and the terms of trading (like leverage) can vary depending on which regulated entity serves you. Here is a breakdown of its main regulatory licenses and the regions they cover:

FCA

The United Kingdom - Plus500UK Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with the reference number 509909. This allows Plus500 to offer services to residents of the United Kingdom.

CySEC

Cyprus - Plus500CY Ltd is a company regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) in Cyprus with the license number 250/14. This license gives the broker the ability to serve traders across the European Economic Area (EEA) under MiFID II. Countries supported under the CySEC include: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.

ASIC

Australia - Plus500AU Pty Ltd operates under the regulation of the ASIC in Australia with the license number 417727. This license allows Pepperstone to accept traders from Australia.

DFSA

Dubai - Plus500AE Ltd is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), allowing it to offer services within the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) and the broader UAE. It operates under the license number F005651.

SCA

UAE - Plus500Gulf Securities L.L.C. is incorporated in the UAE and is regulated by the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority under licence number 20200000232. This license allows Plus500 to operate in the UAE.

FSCA

South Africa - Plus500AU Pty Ltd is an authorised Financial Services Provider (FSP) in South Africa, regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) with the license number 47546. This license allows Plus500 to accept traders from South Africa.

MAS

Singapore - Plus500SG Pte Ltd holds a capital markets services license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) with the license number CMS100648-1. This license allows the broker to offer services to traders in Singapore.

ISA

Israel - Plus500IL Ltd is a company registered in Israel, operating under the regulation of the Israel Securities Authority (ISA), under company number 51‌5233914. Under this license, the broker can only accept traders from Israel.

FSA

Seychelles - Plus500SEY Ltd is a Seychelles-based company authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority Seychelles (FSAS) with the license number SD039. This license offers greater flexibility and accepts clients from most countries globally, excluding restricted jurisdictions and the EEA.

EFSA

Estonia - Plus500EE AS holds a regulatory license from the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (EFSA) with the license number 4.1-1/18. This license allows the broker to offer services to clients based in Estonia.

JFSA

Japan - Plus500JP Securities Ltd. is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Agency (JFSA) in Japan with license number 156. This license only allows Plus500 to operate in Japan.

SCB

Bahamas - Plus500BHS Ltd is licensed and regulated by the Securities Commission of The Bahamas (SCB) with licence number SIA-F250. Although SCB-regulated brokers are mainly licensed for domestic operations, they can also offer services internationally as long as they comply with the regulatory frameworks of the jurisdictions in which they operate.

With these licenses, Plus500 covers a large part of Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East.

Plus500 List of Banned or Restricted Countries

Even with its extensive regulatory framework, Plus500 does not accept clients from several jurisdictions. These restrictions are usually due to local laws, international sanctions, or internal policies. However, a comprehensive, single, official list of all banned countries is not publicly available.

The broker does not publish such a list, but its services are not available in countries like India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Brazil, Bangladesh, Philippines, Vietnam, Turkey, Iran, Egypt, Russia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Peru, Morocco, Algeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Jordan, Cambodia, Zimbabwe, Belarus, Maldives, Bahamas, Jamaica, and many others.

We found this when we tried selecting these countries when registering, and we were informed with

We're sorry but we currently cannot accept traders from your country.

Please note that this is not an official list, may change over time, and is certainly not exhaustive.

The most reliable way to check if your country is supported is to visit the official Plus500 website and attempt to start the account registration process. The system will typically not allow you to proceed if your country of residence is restricted. Remember, the list of restricted countries by any broker can change as regulations and internal policies evolve.

Top-Tier Alternatives to Plus500

For traders in regions where Plus500 does not operate, or for those seeking other options, several trusted brokers offer comparable services. Three notable alternatives include:

HFM (Alternative for Traders in Eligible Markets Worldwide)

HFM is a globally trusted broker with a presence spanning multiple countries worldwide. The broker provides traders with access to a wide range of over 1,200 assets, giving them the opportunity to diversify their portfolios as they see fit. Clients can trade CFDs on forex, energies, indices, metals, bonds, stocks, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and ETFs. These products are available on industry-leading platforms such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as HFM’s proprietary trading platform.

The broker offers competitive trading conditions, with spreads that vary depending on the account type. However, it is important to note that some account types may not be available in every jurisdiction, as availability depends on a trader’s country of residence. The Premium account features spreads starting from 1.2 pips, while the Cent account offers slightly tighter spreads from 1.0 pips. Traders using the Top-Up Bonus account can access spreads from 1.4 pips.

For those who prefer lower pricing, the Pro account provides spreads beginning at 0.5 pips, and the Pro-Plus account offers spreads starting from just 0.2 pips. All of these accounts are commission-free, making them suitable for traders who want simple cost structures. For clients who prefer raw pricing, HFM also offers a Zero Spread account. This account type provides spreads starting from 0.0 pips but applies a commission of $3 per lot per side.

HFM operates under strict regulatory oversight, holding licenses from several financial authorities worldwide. These include the FSCA in South Africa, the DFSA in Dubai, and the CMA in Kenya, among others. Such multi-jurisdictional regulation underscores the broker’s commitment to transparency, compliance, and safeguarding its clients’ interests.

Your capital is at risk. Leveraged products may not be suitable for everyone.

Pepperstone (Alternative for EU, UK, AU and International Traders)

Pepperstone is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the market and a globally recognized broker with a presence in over 174 countries. The broker offers traders access to over 1,400 CFDs across various asset classes. These include CFDs on forex, indices, equities, commodities, currency indices, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies. The broker supports multiple advanced platforms such as MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), cTrader, TradingView, and its own Pepperstone Trading Platform.

Clients can choose between two primary account types, each with a different pricing model. The Standard Account features spreads from 1.0 pips on major forex pairs with no commission. In contrast, the Razor Account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission that varies depending on the platform.

On MT4 and MT5, commissions are $3.50, €2.60, £2.25, or CHF 3.30 per side per lot, depending on the account’s base currency. For TradingView and the Pepperstone Trading Platform accounts, the rate is $3.50 per side per lot. On cTrader, commissions are slightly lower at $3.00 per side per lot. For accounts in currencies other than USD, commissions on TradingView, cTrader, and the Pepperstone platform are converted into the account’s base currency at the current spot exchange rate.

Pepperstone is also highly regarded for its regulatory compliance. It holds licenses from several financial authorities, including the FCA in the UK, the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus, the BaFin in Germany, and the CMA in Kenya, among others.

73.7% of retail CFD accounts lose money

Forex.com (Alternative For EU, UK, AU and International Traders)

Forex.com is a globally recognised broker with a strong reputation for reliability and strict regulatory oversight. Operated by StoneX, it is regulated by a plethora of regulatory authorities. These include the FCA in the UK, the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus and the CIRO in Canada, among others.

The offering varies based on your country of residency. However, traders from most countries have access to a broader product offering, including CFDs on forex, stocks, indices, cryptocurrencies, commodities, and precious metals. These instruments are available on multiple platforms, such as MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView, and the broker’s proprietary Forex.com Trader platform.

In terms of costs, Forex.com delivers competitive spreads. The Standard Account offers spreads starting from 0.8 pips, while the MetaTrader Account begins at 1.0 pips, both with no commission fees. In comparison, the Raw Account offers tighter spreads from 0.0 pips plus a commission of $5 per $100,000 traded.

75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider.

Closing Remarks

Plus500 is a major player in the online CFD brokerage industry that serves millions of clients across Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East. However, due to regulatory and internal restrictions, Plus500 does not operate in several countries, including Kenya and Nigeria, among others.

For traders in these restricted regions, alternatives like HFM, Pepperstone and Forex.com provide excellent options. They also feature strong regulation, competitive trading conditions, and wide product coverage. As always, before opening an account, make sure your country is supported and that the broker complies with your local regulations.