Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs FXCM, 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 it comes to choosing a reliable online broker, both XTB and FXCM present strong options in the world of forex trading. Founded in 2002, XTB operates as a publicly traded company, similar to FXCM, which has been in operation since 1999. Neither of the brokers are banks, but both hold a range of licenses adding to their credibility. Highlighting their regulatory strength, XTB holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, earning it a Trust Score of 96 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This places it in the highly trusted category.
FXCM, on the other hand, holds a slightly greater number of Tier-1 licenses, boasting four of them, along with two Tier-2 licenses, which speaks volumes about its trusted status in the industry. Although its Trust Score is just a point lower than XTB's, at 95, it still sits comfortably in the highly trusted bracket. Both brokers, being publicly traded and regulated in multiple jurisdictions, offer dependable choices for traders seeking assurance and transparency.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
XTB and FXCM are both rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but XTB has the edge in the rankings, coming in at #13 out of 36 brokers versus FXCM at #17. XTB’s pricing is generally close to the industry average, with a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account for eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe. Based on Q4 2023 data, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1 pip, and its Standard account is usually the better pick for most retail traders, especially since the Pro account is being phased out in many regions.
FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly above the industry average overall, though its EU, U.K., and Australia entities showed a competitive average EUR/USD spread of 0.78 pips in May 2024. FXCM also offers commission-based accounts with average underlying spreads of 0.28 pips before commissions, but the effective cost rises once commissions are included. Its pricing can improve for active traders through rebate programs, but these discounts are not available everywhere and can depend heavily on trading volume.
For active traders, both brokers offer ways to lower trading costs. XTB’s Lower Spread Group can rebate 5% to 30% of the spread once volume thresholds are met, while FXCM’s Active Trader Rebate Program offers tiered cash rebates for very high monthly volumes. In simple terms, XTB may be the easier option for many everyday traders, while FXCM can become more attractive only if you qualify for its higher-volume discounts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | Starts from $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB offers a wider range of investments than FXCM, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more market access in one place. XTB supports forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, offers 10,900 tradeable symbols and 71 forex pairs, and also lets clients buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges. FXCM also supports forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but its selection is much smaller, with 440 tradeable symbols and 46 forex pairs, and it does not offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international stock exchanges.
Both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. FXCM does have copy trading, while XTB does not. Overall, XTB is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with FXCM’s 4.5-star rating and #21 ranking. For investors looking for more variety, XTB has the edge.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 440 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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.
XTB and FXCM both give traders a choice of a free demo account, plus access to a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which can make it easier to place orders while reviewing price action. In terms of ratings, XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com.
FXCM has an edge for platform variety because it supports copy trading and MetaTrader 4, while XTB does not offer either. Neither broker offers MetaTrader 5. FXCM’s platform and tools lineup is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36, making it the stronger pick for traders who want more third-party platform options and social trading features.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and FXCM both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Each mobile app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for mobile trading apps, so both are well regarded for everyday use. The main difference is in watchlist syncing: FXCM lets you keep watchlists in sync between its mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not.
When it comes to charting, FXCM has the edge with 59 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 39 at XTB. That said, XTB still scores well overall and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers for mobile trading apps, ahead of FXCM’s #16 ranking. For traders who want more chart tools and synced watchlists, FXCM may be the better fit; for those who value a higher overall ranking and a simple mobile trading experience, XTB is also a strong choice.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 59 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and FXCM both give traders a solid set of market research features, including daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short position ratios, and an economic calendar for upcoming global events. Neither broker offers Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools, so their research coverage is similar in some areas and more limited in others.
The main difference is that FXCM adds Trading Central and TipRanks, which can provide extra analysis and market ideas that XTB does not offer. That edge is reflected in independent ratings too: XTB is rated 5 stars for Research and ranked 9th out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM is rated 4.5 stars and ranked 11th.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB and FXCM both give beginners plenty of ways to learn, with each broker offering forex and CFD education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means new traders can find basic lessons, live teaching sessions, and more advanced topics at either broker. In this area, XTB has a slight edge because it is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while FXCM is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #13.
For someone just starting out, both platforms look like solid choices for learning the ropes. XTB may be the better pick if you want the higher Education rating and a slightly stronger overall ranking, but FXCM still offers a strong mix of beginner-friendly and advanced learning materials. In short, both brokers support new traders well, with XTB coming out just ahead.
| Feature |
XTB
|
FXCM
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB is better than FXCM. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10.
As a trusted multi-asset broker, XTB offers outstanding customer service, a wide variety of forex and CFDs, and an excellent overall trading experience. Its xStation 5 trading platform is well-designed and packed with innovative features, and XTB’s offers comprehensive educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XTB
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FXCM
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 |
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In a head-to-head comparison, online brokers XTB and FXCM do not support purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide access to trade cryptocurrency CFDs.
In the XTB vs FXCM online broker comparison for deposits and withdrawals, FXCM supports ACH/SEPA while XTB does not; both brokers offer PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | XTB | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | FXCM Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | FXCM | |
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| Regulation | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | 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) | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 10900 | 440 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | Starts from $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 59 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | FXCM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XTB Review | FXCM Review |
| Overall | XTB | FXCM | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 95 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | FXCM Review |
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