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 comparing commissions and fees, FXCM comes out ahead of XM Group for most traders. FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly higher than the industry average, but its commission-based accounts can offer low underlying spreads, especially for active traders who qualify for rebates. In May 2024, FXCM’s average EUR/USD spread was 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings, while its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips before commissions. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #17 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program in some regions, with discounts that can lower trading costs further for high-volume clients. That said, the benefits depend on where your account is based and how much you trade, and pricing can still widen during fast-moving or illiquid market conditions. Even so, FXCM’s fee structure is generally more competitive than many brokers aimed at less active traders.
XM Group, by comparison, has pricier standard account spreads, and it does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. That makes it harder to judge its true all-in cost, but its overall commissions-and-fees profile is weaker than FXCM’s. XM Group is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #35 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each also supports copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency. In the Range of Investments category, both are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars, so they are seen as strong choices for traders focused mainly on forex and CFD products.
XM Group has the wider selection overall, with 1,429 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, compared with FXCM’s 440 symbols and 46 forex pairs. XM Group also stands out by offering exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, while FXCM does not offer these direct share purchases. That broader product list helps explain XM Group’s higher ranking for Range of Investments, where it places #19 out of 36 brokers versus FXCM at #21.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 1429 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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.
FXCM and XM Group both give traders a solid mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop access, copy trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades right from a chart. Both brokers also support traders who want to practice first before using real money, which makes either one a workable choice for beginners and more active users alike.
The main difference is that FXCM offers its own in-house trading platform, while XM Group does not. XM Group does offer MetaTrader 5, which FXCM does not, so it may appeal more to traders who want the newer MetaTrader setup. Based on ForexBrokers.com, FXCM scores higher for trading platforms and tools, with 5 out of 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with XM Group’s 4 out of 5 stars and #28 ranking.
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and XM Group both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock and forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the app and the online account. That means traders can move between devices without losing track of saved symbols or important market updates. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, making basic chart analysis easy on the go.
Where FXCM pulls ahead is in charting depth and app ratings. FXCM’s mobile app includes 59 technical studies, compared with 30 for XM Group, and it also auto-saves chart drawings, which XM Group does not. In independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com, FXCM scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #26 out of 36. For traders who want a stronger mobile charting experience, FXCM has the edge, while XM Group still covers the core mobile trading features most users need.
| 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 | 30 |
| 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
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|---|---|---|
| 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 |
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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 | 1429 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 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 | FXCM | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| 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 | 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 | 30 | |
| 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 30 | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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