Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs XM Group, 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.
AvaTrade (founded 2006) and XM Group (founded 2009) are both online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, trust scores between 90–99 indicate a highly trusted broker. AvaTrade holds a Trust Score of 96/99 and XM Group scores 93/99, placing both firmly in the highly trusted range.
On regulation, each broker holds four Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of oversight recognized by ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade also carries three Tier-2 licenses, while XM Group holds one Tier-2 license. In simple terms, both brands have strong top-tier supervision, with AvaTrade adding more mid-tier coverage.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
AvaTrade’s pricing sits near the industry average, with typical spreads around 0.9 pips (as of June 2024). That’s a touch higher than the entry-level accounts at CMC Markets and Tickmill. If you qualify as a professional trader, AvaTrade’s Professional account tightens spreads to about 0.6 pips, which is competitive and comparable to FP Markets. By contrast, XM Group’s Standard account spreads are on the expensive side, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account—making cost comparisons more difficult.
Ratings reflect this gap: AvaTrade earns 4.5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. XM Group earns 3.5/5 stars and ranks #34 out of 63. In short, AvaTrade tends to offer sharper overall pricing—especially for eligible professionals—while XM Group’s higher Standard spreads and lack of published averages on XM Zero can limit price transparency.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
AvaTrade and XM Group both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, and each offers copy trading plus access to cryptocurrency CFDs (neither broker lets you buy actual, delivered crypto). XM Group lists 1,394 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, edging out AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 pairs.
The bigger difference is in exchange-traded securities. XM Group lets you buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while AvaTrade does not offer exchange-traded stocks. Reflecting this wider product lineup, XM Group earns 4.5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #19 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #26 ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| 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.
AvaTrade and XM Group both make it easy to practice with a free demo account. Each broker offers a Windows desktop platform and a web-based platform, plus copy trading and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). If you want an in-house experience, only AvaTrade provides a proprietary platform; XM Group sticks with MetaTrader. Both also let you trade directly from price charts, which can help with timing and order placement.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates AvaTrade at 4.5 stars and ranks it 13th out of 63 brokers, while XM Group is rated 4 stars and ranked 27th. If a broker-built platform and slightly higher-rated tools matter to you, AvaTrade may be the better fit. If you’re focused on MetaTrader, both brokers offer a familiar setup.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade vs XM Group for mobile trading: both offer iPhone and Android apps, support forex and stock price alerts, and sync watchlists between the app and your online account. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts, but neither app auto-saves those drawings.
AvaTrade’s app includes 73 technical indicators for charting, while XM Group offers 30, giving AvaTrade more tools for analysis. Reflecting this, ForexBrokers.com rates AvaTrade’s mobile app 4.5 stars and ranks it 13th out of 63 brokers, compared with XM Group’s 4-star rating and 26th-place ranking. If deeper indicator choices and higher third-party scores matter to you, AvaTrade has an edge; if you just need alerts, synced watchlists, and straightforward mobile trading, XM Group still delivers.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and XM Group both cover the market research basics traders expect. Each broker streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, includes Trading Central’s technical analysis tools, offers a sentiment gauge showing long vs. short positioning, and provides a global economic calendar. Neither broker adds Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
The clearest difference is daily market commentary: XM Group publishes it, while AvaTrade does not. That extra layer of insight helps explain XM Group’s stronger scores—5 stars and #8 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com—compared with AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #28 ranking. If you want frequent commentary alongside core tools, XM Group is the better fit; if you only need essential research features, AvaTrade still delivers.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing AvaTrade and XM Group for beginner education: both brokers make it easy to get started. Each runs client webinars online at least once a month and provides a sizable set of videos, including at least 10 beginner-focused lessons plus at least 10 advanced videos so newcomers can grow their skills over time. You’ll find coverage of forex and CFD trading topics in plain language, delivered through a mix of live sessions and on-demand content.
In independent ratings, AvaTrade earns 4 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #5. In short, XM Group’s education is rated slightly higher for quality, whereas AvaTrade sits higher in the overall education rankings. Beginners seeking highly rated lessons and regular webinars will be well served by either option.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than XM Group. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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XM Group
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 |
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In the AvaTrade vs XM Group comparison, neither broker allows buying real (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Online brokers AvaTrade and XM Group both support Skrill and bank wire transfers and do not support ACH or SEPA for deposits or withdrawals, but only AvaTrade offers PayPal, while 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 | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
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