Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM 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.
FXCM, established in 1999, and Xtrade, founded in 2003, are prominent online brokers offering diverse trading services. FXCM stands out with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 95, categorizing it as highly trusted. It is publicly traded, which adds to its transparency, and holds four Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, positioning it as a secure platform for traders. In contrast, Xtrade, with a Trust Score of 74, is considered to carry average risk. It is not publicly traded and holds one Tier-1 license and one Tier-2 license, indicating a moderate level of trust and regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, FXCM and Xtrade offer distinct trading experiences. FXCM, ranked 24th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, boasts a four-star rating in this category. Although FXCM’s pricing for forex trading is slightly above the industry average, it provides a range of options to manage costs. Standard account spreads, based on May 2024 data, show an average of 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, the average spread is 1.38, which is notably higher. However, for commission-based accounts, you can expect a lower average spread of 0.28 pips, not including additional commissions. FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program, providing discounts based on trading volume, though these are not available in the U.K. or EU.
Xtrade, on the other hand, holds a lower position in the rankings, coming in at 63rd for commissions and fees and receiving a 2.5-star rating. Its average spread data is unavailable, making it more challenging for traders to assess cost-effectiveness vis-à-vis pricing structures. This lack of transparency might lead traders to look elsewhere for more competitive rates or straightforward pricing information.
In summary, FXCM presents more detailed and versatile pricing options with potential discounts for high-volume traders, whereas Xtrade offers limited information on its fee structure. This comparison highlights why FXCM is ranked higher and rated more favorably, offering detailed insights even though its standard pricing may sometimes exceed industry norms.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | 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 comparing FXCM and Xtrade, both platforms provide forex trading as CFDs, allowing traders to engage in foreign exchange without owning physical assets. FXCM and Xtrade grant access to hundreds of tradeable symbols, with FXCM offering 440 and Xtrade offering 482. Forex enthusiasts will find Xtrade slightly more appealing with 56 tradeable forex pairs compared to FXCM’s 43. However, neither platform supports the purchase of exchange traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, meaning you cannot directly acquire shares such as Apple or Vodafone through these brokers.
While both FXCM and Xtrade offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, they do not permit the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. If you're interested in copying successful trading strategies, FXCM offers this feature, whereas Xtrade does not. Despite their differences, both brokers are evenly rated at 3.5 stars for their range of investments, although FXCM ranks marginally higher at #47 compared to Xtrade’s #49 among 63 brokers surveyed by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 FXCM and Xtrade, both online brokers offer virtual demo accounts for simulated trading, allowing users to practice without financial risk. FXCM stands out with both a proprietary platform and support for MetaTrader 4, making it versatile for different trading preferences. Additionally, FXCM provides a Windows-based desktop trading platform, which Xtrade does not. Both brokers offer a web-based trading platform, but FXCM goes a step further with copy trading options through ZuluTrade, whereas Xtrade does not support copy trading. Despite both lacking MetaTrader 5 and DupliTrade capabilities, FXCM's complementary ZuluTrade feature offers more avenues for social trading.
In terms of charting tools and watch list customization, there are some distinct differences. FXCM offers 10 drawing tools, while Xtrade provides a more extensive selection with 100, allowing for more detailed technical analysis. However, FXCM allows for greater flexibility with 13 columns in watch lists compared to Xtrade's nine. Both brokers enable direct trading from stock charts, but FXCM's 5-star rating and #6 rank by ForexBrokers.com underscore its superior trading platforms and tools compared to Xtrade, which holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks at #58. Overall, FXCM offers a more comprehensive suite of trading tools, appealing to a wider range of traders.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of FXCM and Xtrade, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android users, allowing traders to access their accounts on the go. However, FXCM stands out by providing stock or forex price alerts, a feature not available with Xtrade. For those who like their watchlists to stay in sync across different devices, FXCM's mobile app offers seamless watchlist symbol syncing with the client’s online account, which Xtrade does not support.
FXCM's mobile app excels in charting tools with 59 technical studies, the capability to draw trendlines, and the ability to view different time frames, all of which auto-save for future reference. In contrast, Xtrade does not offer these features. Additionally, FXCM allows users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, while Xtrade lacks this functionality. On the ratings front, FXCM boasts a higher mobile app rating of 4.5 stars compared to Xtrade's 4 stars, and it's ranked at 16th for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, significantly ahead of Xtrade, which is ranked at 53rd.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing FXCM and Xtrade for market research resources, both platforms deliver daily market commentary and access to high-quality forex news from leading outlets like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, FXCM outshines Xtrade by offering advanced tools like Trading Central's Technical Analytics and a sentiment-based trading tool, which helps users understand position ratios across various currency pairs. Additionally, FXCM provides research insights from TipRanks, a feature not available with Xtrade. Furthermore, both brokers feature comprehensive economic calendars, ensuring that traders are always up-to-date with global events.
In terms of overall research quality, FXCM stands out with a 4.5-star rating and ranks 11th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Xtrade earns a lower rating of 3.5 stars and holds the 52nd position. This indicates that FXCM users can access a more enriched set of research tools, making it a more attractive choice for traders seeking insightful market data and analysis. While neither broker provides tools from Autochartist or Acuity Trading, FXCM's broader selection of research resources better supports informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing FXCM and Xtrade for educational resources, beginners might find FXCM more comprehensive. Both FXCM and Xtrade provide a solid foundation with at least 10 educational materials focused on forex or CFDs, ensuring beginners have access to basic learning resources. However, FXCM stands out by offering monthly online webinars, a searchable archive of these sessions, and a variety of beginner and advanced video content. This means that not only are newcomers catered for, but experienced traders also have the opportunity to deepen their knowledge through extensive video tutorials. By contrast, Xtrade lacks these regular webinars and comprehensive video series, potentially making it less suited for traders seeking ongoing educational opportunities.
In addition, both brokers provide an investor dictionary with over 50 terms, which can be immensely helpful for those new to the trading world. However, when evaluating their educational offerings as a whole, FXCM receives a higher evaluation, with a 4.5-star rating compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. In rankings conducted by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM holds the 14th position in an assessment of 63 brokers for education, while Xtrade is placed at 46. This difference underscores FXCM's commitment to providing a more engaging and thorough educational experience for its clients.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Xtrade. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
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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Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 74 |
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Both FXCM and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing FXCM and Xtrade for online trading, FXCM provides more diverse deposit and withdrawal options such as ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, alongside common methods like Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Xtrade lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal, but supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 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 | 4 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | 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) | 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 43 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.78 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.78 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | Yes | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 13 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 10 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXCM Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Xtrade Review |
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