Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs Xtrade, 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.
FOREX.com, established in 1999, and Xtrade, which began operations in 2003, are two prominent names in the online brokerage world. FOREX.com holds a significant edge in terms of trust and reliability, as indicated by its top-tier ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, which categorizes it as a highly trusted broker. This status is supported by its seven Tier-1 licenses, which are regarded as the gold standard in regulatory compliance. Additionally, FOREX.com is publicly traded, which can offer another layer of transparency and oversight. In contrast, Xtrade is not publicly traded and holds only one Tier-1 license, earning it a lower Trust Score of 74, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com.
Neither FOREX.com nor Xtrade operate as banks, but their regulatory structures show significant differences. The emphasis on regulatory compliance is clear with FOREX.com, which holds one Tier-2 license alongside its multiple Tier-1 approvals, underscoring its commitment to maintaining consumer trust. Meanwhile, Xtrade also holds one Tier-2 license but does not possess the same regulatory breadth as its competitor. For investors prioritizing security and transparency, FOREX.com’s substantial regulatory endorsements and industry reputation make it a preferable choice.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FOREX.com provides clearer, more detailed pricing than Xtrade. FOREX.com earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade earns 2.5/5 stars and ranks #64 out of 63. Xtrade does not publish average spread data, which makes direct cost comparisons difficult.
FOREX.com offers two main pricing setups. The Standard account (the only option for MetaTrader) is spread-only: typical EUR/USD spreads were about 1.4 pips in the U.S. in July 2023, and around 0.74 pips outside the U.S. in July 2023. The RAW account uses commissions with typical EUR/USD spreads near 0.13 pips (February 2024) plus a $7 per standard lot round-turn commission (about 0.7 pips), and includes six volume tiers with rebates from $2 to $9 per million. For most U.S. traders who don’t trade more than roughly $50 million per month, the all-in cost of the RAW plan ends up close to the Standard account.
Because Xtrade’s average spreads and detailed fee schedule aren’t published, it’s hard to judge how competitive its pricing is next to FOREX.com. Its 2.5/5 star rating and #64 of 63 ranking at ForexBrokers.com reflect that limited transparency and weaker value in this category, whereas FOREX.com provides time-stamped spread data and the potential to lower costs with volume rebates.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing FOREX.com vs Xtrade for range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. FOREX.com offers a much larger lineup with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, while Xtrade lists 482 symbols and 56 pairs. Both lack access to real exchange-traded shares in the U.S. or international markets, and neither supports copy trading or buying actual cryptocurrency. If you want crypto exposure, both brokers provide cryptocurrency CFDs rather than delivered coins.
On overall depth, FOREX.com stands out: it’s rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #50. In short, FOREX.com suits traders seeking more markets and forex pairs, while Xtrade covers the essentials with a smaller selection, including forex and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
In the FOREX.com vs Xtrade comparison for trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide free demo (paper) accounts and their own in-house platforms. FOREX.com adds a Windows desktop platform and supports popular third-party software MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Xtrade does not offer a desktop download and does not support MT4 or MT5. Both brokers have web-based platforms you can use in a browser, and neither offers copy trading.
When it comes to charting and workflow, both let you place trades directly from charts. Specific counts for built-in indicators and watchlist fields were not provided. Independent ratings favor FOREX.com for platforms and tools (5 stars, ranked #7 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com) over Xtrade (3.5 stars, ranked #59 of 63). If you want more platform choice and MetaTrader access, FOREX.com is likely the better fit; if you’re fine with a simpler, browser-only setup, Xtrade may suffice.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both FOREX.com and Xtrade offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. The key differences show up in everyday use: the FOREX.com app supports price alerts and syncs your watchlists across web and mobile, so changes carry over automatically. Xtrade’s app does not currently offer price alerts or watchlist syncing.
For charting, FOREX.com’s app includes 88 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and auto-saves your drawings. Xtrade does not list a study count and does not support trendline drawing or auto-save for drawings. Reflecting these gaps, ForexBrokers.com rates FOREX.com 5 stars and ranks it #3 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Xtrade earns 4 stars and ranks #54.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both FOREX.com and Xtrade cover the basics for market research. Each offers daily market commentary, forex news from well-known sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar to track key events. On the flip side, neither broker includes tools from Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
Where they differ is in extra analysis tools. FOREX.com adds Trading Central and a sentiment indicator that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, while Xtrade does not. These additions help explain the gap in scores: FOREX.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Xtrade’s 3.5 stars and #53 ranking. For traders seeking deeper research and actionable insights, FOREX.com offers a stronger toolkit.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
For beginners seeking forex and CFD education, FOREX.com delivers more structure than Xtrade. FOREX.com runs online educational client webinars at least once per month and offers at least 10 beginner videos plus at least 10 advanced videos, giving new traders a clear learning path. Xtrade does not host monthly educational webinars and does not provide at least 10 beginner videos or at least 10 advanced videos, so its catalog is leaner and less video-focused.
That gap shows up in independent ratings: FOREX.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #46. If you want a beginner-friendly program with webinars and a deep set of videos, FOREX.com is the stronger pick; if you prefer a simpler set of materials without live sessions, Xtrade may suit your needs.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 FOREX.com is better than Xtrade. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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In the FOREX.com vs Xtrade online broker comparison, neither offers buying actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
In a FOREX.com vs Xtrade comparison of deposit and withdrawal options, FOREX.com offers ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires, while Xtrade does not support ACH/SEPA and no details were provided for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, or bank wire funding.
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 | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.4 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.9 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 88 | N/A | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 88 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | Xtrade Review |
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