Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs ACY Securities, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
When comparing online brokers XM Group and ACY Securities, their respective regulatory standings are notable. Founded in 2009, XM Group holds a significant edge with a Trust Score of 93, placing it in the highly trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. It boasts 4 Tier-1 licenses, which are considered a gold standard in terms of trust. In addition to its Tier-1 licenses, XM Group also maintains 1 Tier-2 license. In contrast, ACY Securities, established in 2011, has a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average risk. While it holds 1 Tier-1 license, it's devoid of any Tier-2 licenses. Neither XM Group nor ACY Securities are publicly traded or operate as banks.
For those navigating the choice between these two brokers, XM Group's superior Trust Score suggests a higher level of reliability and regulatory compliance. With more Tier-1 licenses, XM Group stands out as a more secure option for investors seeking an online broker. Meanwhile, ACY Securities' average-risk rating reflects fewer regulatory endorsements, which might influence potential clients considering the stability and trustworthiness of their chosen broker. As always, it's crucial to assess individual needs and conduct comprehensive research when selecting a platform for trading.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, ACY Securities generally offers better value than XM Group—especially if you use a commission-based account. ACY Securities holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #22 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees on ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group has 4 stars and ranks #34. The difference stems from ACY’s tighter effective spreads and clearer pricing, versus XM’s pricier Standard account and limited transparency on its XM Zero account.
XM Group’s Standard account spreads are on the high side, which can raise your trade costs. In addition, XM doesn’t publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, making it harder to gauge what you’ll pay over time. This combination—higher Standard spreads and missing average data for XM Zero—puts XM behind top-priced competitors in this category.
ACY Securities offers three account types with varying deposits and costs. Its commission-free Standard account requires just $50 to start, but averaged about 1.2 pips on EUR/USD in September 2021—slightly above the industry average. The commission-based ProZero (from $200) and Bespoke (from $10,000) averaged around 0.25 pips during the same period, with commissions of $6 and $5 per round turn, respectively. If you live in Australia, ProZero’s commission falls to $3 per round turn, bringing effective spreads to about 0.55 pips (September 2021). Active traders can also cut costs further via a 10-tier program that reduces pricing by 0.5 pips per lot once you exceed 50 standard lots per month.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.85 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the range of investments, ACY Securities lists more total tradeable symbols than XM Group (2,200 vs. 1,394) and offers slightly more forex pairs (66 vs. 55). Both brokers support forex trading (CFD/spot), provide copy trading, and let you speculate on digital assets via cryptocurrency CFDs; neither supports buying actual crypto. A key difference is access to exchange‑traded securities: XM lets clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple or Vodafone), while ACY does not offer real, exchange‑listed shares.
If you want sheer quantity of markets, ACY has the edge on symbol and currency pair counts. If you want the ability to own real stocks alongside CFD trading, XM stands out. Reflecting this balance, ForexBrokers.com rates XM at 4.5/5 stars and ranks it 25th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while ACY earns 4/5 stars and ranks 31st.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
XM Group and ACY Securities both make it easy to get started with a free demo (paper) account and offer popular platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Each supports a Windows desktop download and a web-based trading platform, plus copy trading and the ability to place trades directly from charts. One key difference: ACY Securities also provides a proprietary, in-house platform, while XM Group sticks to third‑party platforms like MetaTrader.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, both brokers earn 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, XM Group comes in at #33 and ACY Securities at #42. If you want access to an in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5, ACY is attractive; if you prefer a broker focused on MetaTrader with a slightly higher category ranking, XM Group has a small edge. Either way, you’ll find core features most traders look for, including web and desktop access, chart trading, and copy trading.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and ACY Securities both offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and 30 technical studies for charting. A key difference is watchlist syncing: XM Group syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ACY Securities does not. On the flip side, ACY’s app auto-saves chart drawings, whereas XM Group’s app does not.
Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for their mobile trading apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, XM Group places #31 and ACY Securities ranks #41. If syncing watchlists across devices matters most, XM Group has the edge; if keeping your chart annotations saved automatically is your priority, ACY Securities may appeal.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at XM Group vs ACY Securities: both brokers publish daily market commentary and provide an economic calendar. XM Group goes further with forex news from top-tier sources (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones), Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, and a sentiment indicator showing long/short positioning. ACY Securities does not offer top-tier news, Trading Central, or a sentiment tool. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading integrations.
On performance, XM Group earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities holds 3.5 stars and ranks #46. If you want richer, built-in research—news, analytics, and sentiment—XM Group stands out. If you only need the basics like daily commentary and an economic calendar, ACY Securities covers the essentials.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XM Group and ACY Securities both offer forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning materials, plus ongoing client webinars held at least once a month. Each broker provides at least 10 beginner-focused videos, making it easy for new traders to get started with clear, structured lessons.
The key difference shows up as you move past the basics: XM Group also offers at least 10 advanced videos, while ACY Securities does not. That gap is reflected in third-party scores—XM Group earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ACY Securities scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #43. In short, both are beginner-friendly, but XM Group offers a stronger path as your skills grow.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than ACY Securities. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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ACY Securities
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 93 | 75 |
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Online brokers XM Group and ACY Securities both do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but each offers trading in cryptocurrency CFDs.
XM Group vs ACY Securities: ACY supports ACH/SEPA transfers plus Skrill and bank wire (no PayPal), while XM Group does not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal but does offer Skrill and bank wire; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ACY Securities Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.85 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | XM Group | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | ACY Securities Review |
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