Plus500 vs Superhero
Plus500 and Superhero aren't really competing in the same game. Plus500 is a CFD provider — you never own the underlying shares, you're speculating on price movements with leverage. Superhero is a genuine broker that lets you buy real ASX and US shares (and ETFs) for a flat $2 brokerage. The biggest practical difference: one is a derivatives trading platform, the other is a real share broker.
- ›You want to trade CFDs with leverage on indices, commodities, forex or crypto — not real shares
- ›You need a demo account to practise strategies before risking real money
- ›You trade around the clock and need after-hours / overnight access to markets
- ›You want 24/7 customer support via live chat, email or WhatsApp
- ›You're comfortable with a custodian model where you don't get a HIN and don't own the underlying asset
- ›You want to buy real ASX or US shares and ETFs, not derivatives
- ›You want the lowest cost on the ASX — $2 flat brokerage up to $20,000
- ›You need a kids / minor account, SMSF, or trust account structure
- ›You want auto-invest / DCA functionality with multiple schedule options
- ›You need an Australian tax statement and CGT report at EOFY, plus Sharesight integration
Where they differ
| Fact | Plus500 | Superhero |
|---|---|---|
| What you actually buy | CFDs only — no real shares | Real ASX and US shares & ETFs |
| ASX brokerage | Not applicable (no ASX shares) | $2 flat up to $20,000, then 0.01% |
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 0.7% | 0.005% |
| Account types | Individual, Company | Individual, Company, Trust, SMSF, Kids / Minor |
| Auto-invest / DCA | Not available | Yes — multiple schedule options |
If you want to own real shares cheaply, choose Superhero. If you want leveraged CFD speculation, choose Plus500.
Common questions
How do Plus500 and Superhero compare on what you actually buy?
Plus500: CFDs only — no real shares. Superhero: Real ASX and US shares & ETFs. This is the fundamental difference between the two platforms.
How do Plus500 and Superhero compare on asx brokerage?
Plus500: Not applicable (no ASX shares). Superhero: $2 flat up to $20,000, then 0.01%. Superhero is one of the cheapest ASX brokers; Plus500 doesn't offer ASX shares at all.
How do Plus500 and Superhero compare on fx spread (aud/usd)?
Plus500: 0.7%. Superhero: 0.005%. Superhero's FX fee is dramatically lower for US trades.
When is Plus500 the better choice over Superhero?
Pick Plus500 if you want to trade CFDs with leverage on indices, commodities, forex or crypto — not real shares; you need a demo account to practise strategies before risking real money; you trade around the clock and need after-hours / overnight access to markets; or you want 24/7 customer support via live chat, email or WhatsApp.
When is Superhero the better choice over Plus500?
Pick Superhero if you want to buy real ASX or US shares and ETFs, not derivatives; you want the lowest cost on the ASX — $2 flat brokerage up to $20,000; you need a kids / minor account, SMSF, or trust account structure; or you want auto-invest / DCA functionality with multiple schedule options.
Plus500 or Superhero — what's the verdict?
If you want to own real shares cheaply, choose Superhero. If you want leveraged CFD speculation, choose Plus500.
All data points side-by-side
Every verified fact for both platforms. Differences are highlighted.
| Field | Plus500 | Superhero |
|---|---|---|
| account structure | ||
| CHESS sponsorship model | — | custodian |
| Individual HIN | — | No |
| Individual account | Yes | Yes |
| Joint account | No | No |
| Company account | Yes | Yes |
| Trust account | No | Yes |
| SMSF account | No | Yes |
| Kids / minor account | No | Yes |
| asset coverage | ||
| ASX shares supported | No | Yes |
| ASX ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| US shares supported | No | Yes |
| US ETFs supported | No | Yes |
| Other markets supported | ||
| Fractional shares (ASX) | No | No |
| Fractional shares (US) | No | Yes |
| Options trading | Yes | No |
| CFDs supported | Yes | No |
| Managed funds | No | No |
| Bonds supported | No | No |
| IPO access | No | — |
| costs hidden | ||
| FX spread (AUD/USD) | 70% | 0.5% |
| Holds USD account | No | No |
| Market data fees | $0/month | $0/month |
| Conditional order fees | $0 | $0 |
| Corporate action fees | Not applicable — Plus500 only offers CFDs, so users do not participate in real corporate actions (rights issues, SPPs, takeovers). Dividend adjustments on share CFDs are credited/debited to positions automatically. | — |
| costs visible | ||
| ASX brokerage minimum | — | $2 |
| ASX brokerage percentage | — | 0.01% |
| ASX brokerage threshold | — | $20,000 |
| US brokerage minimum | — | US$2 |
| US brokerage percentage | — | 0.01% |
| Monthly platform fee | $0/month | $0/month |
| Annual platform fee | $0/year | $0/year |
| Inactivity fee | $10 | $0 |
| Withdrawal fee (AUD) | $0 | $0 |
| identity and trust | ||
| Legal entity name | Plus500AU Pty Ltd | Superhero Securities Limited |
| AFSL number | 417,727 | 430,150 |
| Year founded | 2,008 | 2,020 |
| Parent / ownership | Plus500 Ltd (UK/Israel, LSE-listed parent) | Independent (founder-controlled). Previously merged into Swyftx in 2022; demerger completed December 2022 returning ownership to co-founders John Winters and Wayne Baskin. |
| Country of incorporation | AU | AU |
| Public company status | public | private |
| money movement | ||
| Minimum initial deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Minimum subsequent purchase | — | $100 |
| Deposit methods | BPAY, Bank transfer, Credit/debit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay | PayID, BPAY, bank transfer |
| Settlement period | — | T+2 for ASX, T+1 for US |
| Withdrawal time | Typically 1-3 business days; same payment method as deposit (card, bank, e-wallet). | 1-3 business days |
| platform ux | ||
| iOS app | Yes | Yes |
| Android app | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop platform | No | No |
| Demo account | Yes | No |
| Free real-time market data | Yes | Yes |
| Free research reports | Yes | No |
| 2FA support | SMS only | SMS |
| Customer support channels | Live chat, Email, WhatsApp, Contact form | email, in-app chat |
| Support hours (AU time) | 24/7 live chat, email and WhatsApp support | Monday-Friday 9:00am-5:00pm AEST |
| Education content | structured courses | basic |
| tax and reporting | ||
| Australian tax statement | No | Yes |
| Distribution component breakdown | No | — |
| CGT calculator / report | No | Yes |
| Sharesight / Navexa integration | No | Yes |
| trading mechanics | ||
| Market orders | Yes | Yes |
| Limit orders | Yes | Yes |
| Stop loss orders | Yes | Yes |
| Conditional orders | Yes | — |
| Auto-invest / DCA | No | Yes |
| Auto-invest sophistication | none | multiple |
| DRP (dividend reinvestment) | No | No |
| After-hours / overnight trading | Yes | No |