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.
When deciding between AvaTrade and XM Group, it's important to consider their regulatory standing and trust ratings. Founded in 2006, AvaTrade holds a total of four Tier-1 licenses, denoting high trustworthiness, alongside three Tier-2 licenses. This strong regulatory framework contributes to AvaTrade's impressive Trust Score of 94 out of 99 as per ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. Although AvaTrade isn't publicly traded or a bank, its regulatory credentials suggest a reliable platform for potential traders.
On the other hand, XM Group, established in 2009, also boasts four Tier-1 licenses, signifying a solid level of trust. However, it holds just one Tier-2 license compared to AvaTrade's three. Despite this, XM Group maintains a commendable Trust Score of 93, close on the heels of AvaTrade. Like its counterpart, XM Group is neither publicly traded nor a bank. These factors together make XM Group a trustworthy choice, although AvaTrade slightly edges out in trust ratings and regulatory licensing variety.
| 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 commissions and fees are competitive for most traders. Average spreads sit just below one pip (around 0.9 pips as of June 2024), which is close to the industry average, though a bit wider than entry-level accounts at CMC Markets and Tickmill. If you qualify as an elected professional, the Professional account tightens spreads to about 0.6 pips—comparable to FP Markets. For Commissions and Fees, AvaTrade is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
XM Group’s pricing is less appealing on its Standard account, where spreads are considered expensive. The broker also does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, making direct cost comparisons more difficult. In this category, XM Group holds a 4 out of 5 stars rating and is ranked #34 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Bottom line on costs: AvaTrade generally offers lower typical spreads than XM Group’s Standard account and provides even tighter pricing if you qualify for its Professional account. Based on ratings and rankings, AvaTrade holds the edge on commissions and fees.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.93 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.8 |
| 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 let you trade forex either as CFDs or spot, and both include copy trading. XM Group edges out AvaTrade on choice, listing 1,394 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs versus AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 pairs. A key difference is stock access: XM Group lets you buy exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while AvaTrade does not offer real share dealing. For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both provide cryptocurrency derivatives.
For range of investments, XM Group earns 4.5/5 stars (ranked 25th of 63), ahead of AvaTrade’s 4/5 stars (33rd of 63). If you want a larger catalog and the option to own stocks outright, XM Group is the better fit; if you mainly plan to trade CFDs and forex with the option to mirror other traders, AvaTrade covers the essentials.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 55 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 get started with a free demo (paper) trading account. Each broker offers web-based and Windows desktop platforms, plus support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). AvaTrade also has its own proprietary platform, while XM Group sticks to the MetaTrader suite. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place trades directly from charts.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates AvaTrade 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks it 13th out of 63 brokers, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks 33rd. If you want an in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5 and copy trading, AvaTrade stands out. If you prefer a broker focused on the familiar MetaTrader experience across web and desktop with a free demo, XM Group is a straightforward pick.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / 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 and XM Group both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and watchlists that sync with your online account. You can also draw trendlines on charts in both apps, though neither app auto-saves those drawings.
For charting depth, AvaTrade stands out with 73 technical studies compared with XM Group’s 30. Reflecting that advantage, AvaTrade earns 4.5 stars and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #31. If you value a wider range of built-in indicators, AvaTrade has the edge; if you just need core tools and alerts on iPhone or Android, XM Group covers the basics.
| 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 |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and XM Group both check the key boxes for market research. Each offers top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg or Reuters), Trading Central tools for technical analysis, a sentiment gauge showing long vs. short positions, and an economic calendar. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. The biggest difference is daily market commentary: XM Group publishes regular commentary, while AvaTrade does not, giving XM users more day-to-day guidance to put news and data into context.
Independent ratings back this up: XM Group earns 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade holds 4 stars and ranks #35. If you want fresh commentary alongside news, sentiment, and Trading Central ideas, XM Group has the edge. If daily commentary isn’t a priority, AvaTrade still delivers strong forex research basics with quality news and core analysis tools.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re comparing AvaTrade vs XM Group for beginner education, both brokers check key boxes. Each runs at least one client webinar every month and offers a sizable library of beginner-friendly videos (10 or more), plus advanced videos you can grow into as your skills improve. These features make it easy to start with structured lessons and live sessions.
Ratings and rankings differ. XM Group earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education, while AvaTrade scores 4 out of 5. However, in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, AvaTrade ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, and XM Group ranks #7. It isn’t specified whether either broker meets the 10-piece minimum for broader forex/CFD education beyond videos, nor whether they host a searchable webinar archive or provide an investor dictionary with 50+ terms. If star-rated quality is your priority, XM Group has the edge; if category ranking matters more, AvaTrade comes out ahead. Both are strong picks for beginners thanks to their monthly webinars and beginner video lessons.
| 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 #13, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, as well as exceptional educational content that helped it nab Best in Class honors for Beginners in the ForexBrokers.com 2025 Annual Awards.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 93 |
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Both AvaTrade and XM Group do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency but do provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
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 | 94 | 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 | 94 | 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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 0.93 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| 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 | |
| Social Trading / 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 | 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 | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 94 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
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