Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs BDSwiss, 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 choosing an online broker, understanding regulatory standings can help ensure your investments are in good hands. XM Group, founded in 2009, demonstrates a solid regulatory foundation with four Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com ratings. With one additional Tier-2 license, XM Group achieves a Trust Score of 88, categorizing it as a trusted broker. Although XM Group is not publicly traded or a bank, its regulatory compliance provides customers with confidence when engaging with its platform.
Conversely, BDSwiss, established in 2012, holds one Tier-1 license, which also suggests trust according to industry standards, but it has no Tier-2 licenses. This regulatory setup contributes to a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 73, placing it in the average risk category. Like XM Group, BDSwiss is neither publicly traded nor a banking institution. Investors might consider these factors when deciding between the two brokers, as the number and level of licenses can influence overall trust and risk perception.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2012 |
| 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 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers XM Group and BDSwiss, there are notable differences to consider. XM Group presents a standard account option with high spread expenses, and it does not disclose average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. Despite these limitations, XM Group earns a commendable four-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking at number 33 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, BDSwiss is recognized for commendable order execution statistics, although its spreads can be more expensive than some industry leaders. The Classic account offers a spread of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which is on the higher side. The Raw account improves on this with a spread of 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, resulting in an effective spread of 1.3 pips. Additionally, the VIP account offers a spread of 1.2 pips. These options have earned BDSwiss a four-star rating as well, with a slightly higher rank of number 30 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of investments offered, XM Group stands out compared to BDSwiss. XM Group provides an impressive total of 1,394 tradeable symbols, surpassing the 1,081 symbols available at BDSwiss. Both platforms offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, but XM Group edges ahead with 55 tradeable forex pairs, slightly more than the 53 pairs from BDSwiss. An added advantage with XM is the ability to invest directly in exchange traded securities on U.S. and international markets, allowing you to purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone, an option not available with BDSwiss. Both brokers facilitate copy trading, though neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, offering derivative options instead.
Regarding their investment range ratings, XM Group excels with 4.5 stars, compared to the 4 stars given to BDSwiss. This higher rating is reflected in XM Group's superior position, ranking 23rd out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for their investment range, whereas BDSwiss takes the 34th spot. In summary, while both brokers offer a solid lineup of trading options, XM Group offers a more comprehensive range, particularly for those interested in direct stock investment in both U.S. and international markets.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1081 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 53 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of XM Group and BDSwiss, both provide a range of features designed to enhance the trading experience. For those looking to practice without risking real money, both brokers offer a demo account, a valuable tool for beginners. In terms of platform compatibility, both XM Group and BDSwiss offer traders the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. However, BDSwiss has the edge with a proprietary platform developed in-house, potentially offering features tailored to their specific clientele. On the other hand, an easy-to-use Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based trading platform are available from both brokers, making it convenient for traders to switch between devices.
For those interested in copy trading, both XM Group and BDSwiss give traders this possibility, albeit without third-party services like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade. Charting capabilities are comparable as well, with both brokers offering 15 drawing tools. Additionally, real-time trading is simplified with the option to trade directly from stock charts on both platforms. Watchlist customization is also identical, with seven fields available for organizing preferred stocks or currencies. Despite sharing similar ratings of four stars for trading platforms and tools, BDSwiss ranks slightly higher in platform offerings, coming in at 24th compared to 31st for XM Group in the ForexBrokers.com annual review. This might suggest BDSwiss’s platform could provide a more refined trading experience.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| 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 |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XM Group and BDSwiss offer their traders convenient mobile trading experiences with apps available for iPhone and Android users. They provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts and support for viewing multiple time frames on charts. Both brokers offer 30 technical studies for charting and allow the drawing of trendlines. While XM Group enables watchlist symbol syncing between mobile apps and online accounts, BDSwiss lacks this feature, which could be a consideration for users who frequently switch devices. Conversely, BDSwiss stands out as it automatically saves chart drawings, a helpful feature not available with the XM Group app.
When it comes to rankings, BDSwiss edges slightly ahead, ranking 24th compared to XM Group's 29th position in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. Both apps hold a respectable four-star rating for user satisfaction, and they allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes. Ultimately, choosing between these two might come down to specific needs, such as if syncing watchlists or saving chart drawings automatically is more important to your trading style.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of XM Group and BDSwiss, both brokers provide daily market commentary, keeping traders updated with timely insights. XM Group stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, providing traders with high-quality information. While both brokers utilize Trading Central for technical analysis, BDSwiss differentiates itself by offering tools from Autochartist, a well-regarded resource for technical and fundamental analysis. However, XM Group provides a sentiment-based trading tool that tracks the ratio of long and short positions, which BDSwiss does not offer.
Both brokers present an economic calendar to keep traders informed of significant global economic events. However, when considering overall ratings, XM Group receives 5 stars for research compared to BDSwiss's 4-star rating. This higher rating is reflected in their positions in the ForexBrokers.com research category, where XM Group ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, significantly ahead of BDSwiss, which comes in at #24. This comparison highlights that while both platforms have commendable offerings, XM Group provides more comprehensive market research tools and information accessibility, which may appeal to more informed and resource-hungry traders.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both XM Group and BDSwiss offer a substantial array of tools to help newcomers get started in forex and CFD trading. Both brokers provide more than ten educational materials, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, focusing on helping traders understand the intricacies of these markets. Each platform hosts regular online webinars, with at least one session per month, and provides an easily accessible archive of recorded sessions, ensuring that users can continue learning at their own pace. Furthermore, both brokers cater to beginners with over ten educational videos each, specifically designed to demystify trading concepts and strategies.
While XM Group and BDSwiss have similarities in their beginner offerings, there are notable differences as well. BDSwiss distinguishes itself by offering an investor dictionary, giving users quick access to definitions of more than 50 trading terms. In contrast, XM Group does not provide a similar feature. Overall, XM Group holds an edge in terms of educational quality, earning a perfect 5-star rating from ForexBrokers.com and ranking seventh out of 63 brokers. BDSwiss, while scoring a respectable four stars in education and ranking nineteenth, still provides valuable learning resources that cater to various levels of trading expertise.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
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 BDSwiss. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 |
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Both XM Group and BDSwiss provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
While both XM Group and BDSwiss provide deposit and withdrawal options through Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, BDSwiss additionally supports ACH and SEPA transfers, whereas neither broker offers PayPal as a payment method.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | BDSwiss Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1081 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 53 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | 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 | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| 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 | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | XM Group Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | XM Group | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | BDSwiss Review |
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