Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM vs XM Group: both earn “highly trusted” status on the ForexBrokers.com Trust Score (FXCM 95/99, XM Group 93/99; 90–99 = highly trusted). Each holds four Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com), and neither is a bank. For mid-tier oversight, FXCM has two Tier-2 licenses while XM Group has three.
FXCM was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while XM Group was founded in 2009 and is not publicly traded. In this regulation-focused comparison, both appear strong on top-tier approvals; FXCM edges ahead on overall score, and XM Group carries one extra Tier-2 license.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FXCM is the cheaper pick overall, though its pricing still sits a bit above the industry average in some areas. On its standard accounts, EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings in May 2024, while the St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity averaged 1.38 pips, which is relatively high. FXCM’s commission-based accounts were more competitive, with average spreads of 0.28 pips before commissions, and active traders may lower costs further through rebate tiers if they qualify. FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #17 out of 36 for commissions and fees.
XM Group is less attractive on pricing by comparison. Its standard account spreads are described as expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, making it harder to gauge cost competitiveness. Based on the information provided, XM Group earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #36 out of 36 in the commissions and fees category.
In simple terms, FXCM offers better value for traders focused on trading costs, especially those who can take advantage of volume-based discounts. XM Group may still suit some traders for other reasons, but on commissions and fees alone, FXCM has the clear edge.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 0.7+ |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and XM Group both let clients trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Each broker earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, so they are both solid choices for traders who want access to core markets through a simple platform setup. FXCM offers 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, while XM Group gives traders a much wider selection with 1,583 tradeable symbols and 54 forex pairs.
The bigger difference is that XM Group also supports exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international markets, such as Apple shares or Vodafone shares, while FXCM does not offer these non-CFD stock investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for range of investments, XM Group places slightly higher at #19 out of 36 brokers, compared with FXCM at #21. For traders who want the broader range of markets, XM Group has the edge.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1583 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 54 |
| 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.
FXCM and XM Group both give traders a strong mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, copy trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let you place trades straight from a chart, which can make it easier to act quickly. The biggest difference is that FXCM also offers its own in-house trading platform, while XM Group does not. XM Group, however, adds MetaTrader 5, which FXCM does not provide.
When it comes to overall trading platforms and tools, FXCM has the edge. It earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers in this category, while XM Group is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #29. In simple terms, both brokers cover the essentials well, but FXCM stands out for platform variety and category ranking, while XM Group may appeal to traders who want MT5 alongside the standard platform options.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and XM Group both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, watchlist syncing, and chart tools that let you draw trendlines. Both brokers also support mobile watchlists that stay linked with your online account, so updates made in one place appear in the other. For everyday mobile trading needs, each app covers the basics well and offers a smooth way to track markets from a phone or tablet.
Where they differ is in charting depth and app experience. XM Group offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 100 compared with FXCM’s 59, but FXCM has the edge in user ratings and ranking, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and placing #16 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, versus XM Group’s 4 stars and #26 ranking. FXCM also auto-saves chart drawings in the app, while XM Group does not, which may matter if you often mark up charts and want your work preserved automatically.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 | 59 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and XM Group both give traders a wide range of market research tools. Each one offers daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, Trading Central tools, sentiment data that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with upcoming global events. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so their research offerings are similar in those areas.
The main difference is that FXCM also includes market research from TipRanks, while XM Group does not. That said, XM Group comes out slightly ahead overall for research, with a 5-star rating and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with FXCM’s 4.5 stars and #11 ranking. In short, both brokers are strong choices for market research, but XM Group has the edge overall, while FXCM has the added benefit of TipRanks.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and XM Group both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, with forex and CFD education, online webinars held at least once a month, and large libraries of videos for both new and more experienced traders. Each broker also meets the mark for having 10 or more beginner-focused videos and 10 or more advanced videos, so either one can help users build skills step by step. For overall education quality, FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers, while XM Group scores a full 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36, giving it the edge for learners who want the stronger education offering.
In simple terms, FXCM is a good choice for beginners who want a wide mix of learning tools, but XM Group stands out a bit more thanks to its higher education rating and better ranking. If your main goal is to learn trading basics from a broker with clear guides, videos, and webinars, both brokers are solid options, though XM Group appears to offer the more polished education experience overall.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
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 FXCM is better than XM Group. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 |
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FXCM vs XM Group: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing FXCM vs XM Group for deposit and withdrawal methods: FXCM supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers, while XM Group supports Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability for both brokers is not specified.
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 | FXCM | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1583 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 54 | |
| 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 | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | 1.1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | 0.7+ | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | 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) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | 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 | 59 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | FXCM | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | XM Group Review |
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