Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Interactive Brokers 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.
Interactive Brokers and XM Group are both prominent players in the online trading space, each offering unique advantages. Founded in 1977, Interactive Brokers is a veteran in the industry and is publicly traded, reflecting a high level of transparency and investor confidence. In contrast, XM Group, established in 2009, operates as a private entity. While neither firm is a bank, Interactive Brokers holds an edge in regulatory standing with an impressive nine Tier-1 licenses, signifying a strong foundation of trust and reliability. XM Group, meanwhile, holds four Tier-1 licenses, which is still commendable but trails behind Interactive Brokers.
When considering their overall trustworthiness, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers at a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99, appealing to those seeking a highly reliable trading partner. XM Group is not far behind with a Trust Score of 93, indicating a solid degree of trustworthiness. Furthermore, Interactive Brokers also holds two Tier-2 licenses, broadening its regulatory scope compared to XM Group's single Tier-2 license. For traders evaluating these brokers, the regulatory credentials and Trust Scores are pivotal in making an informed choice between these two well-regarded institutions.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Interactive Brokers stands out for its competitively low trading costs, particularly in the forex market. Forex traders can expect commissions starting as low as 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) of the U.S. dollar trade value, with a minimum of $2 per order. This can decrease to 0.08 basis points for more active traders, making it an appealing option for high-volume forex enthusiasts. However, trading smaller lots becomes relatively pricier due to the minimum charge. Interactive Brokers pools rates from 17 global interbank forex dealers, offering a commission ranging from $16 to $40 per million round turn. These features contribute to their high rating of 5 stars and rank them at #2 in ForexBrokers.com's Commissions and Fees category.
On the other hand, XM Group offers a slightly less competitive fee structure, earning them a 4-star rating in commissions and fees. They don't specifically publish average spreads for their XM Zero account, which is based on commissions. For those using a standard account, the spreads are comparatively higher, impacting its appeal to cost-sensitive traders. XM Group is positioned at #33 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com for the Commissions and Fees category.
In summary, if you're a trader prioritizing low commissions, Interactive Brokers provides a more attractive structure thanks to their per-trade commission model and volume-based discounts. However, if you are looking for a straightforward pricing plan, XM Group has its merits, though it may not be as cost-effective for every trading style compared to Interactive Brokers.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and XM Group are two prominent online brokers offering a wide range of investment options, each with its strengths and specializations. Interactive Brokers stands out with an impressive 8,500 tradeable symbols, including 90 forex pairs, making it an ideal choice for those who value variety. It also provides the ability to purchase securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to acquire shares in popular companies like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, Interactive Brokers offers both CFDs and spot contracts for forex trading, along with unique access to actual delivered cryptocurrencies, contributing to its top-tier rating for investment range.
In comparison, XM Group offers a diverse, though more limited, selection with 1,394 tradeable symbols, including 55 forex pairs. Though smaller in scale, XM Group caters to traders interested in a blend of forex and CFDs, and it allows buying securities on U.S. and international exchanges. However, it does not offer actual cryptocurrencies but provides cryptocurrency derivatives. XM Group makes up for its shorter list of tradeable assets with the availability of copy trading, which is absent from Interactive Brokers' offerings. With these options, XM Group earns a commendable rating, though it ranks lower than Interactive Brokers in the Range of Investments category.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 55 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 Interactive Brokers and XM Group, several key differences emerge. Both brokers provide a free virtual demo account for simulated trading, allowing users to practice without financial risk. Interactive Brokers stands out with its proprietary platform, developed in-house, while XM Group relies on third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Both offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, ensuring flexibility for diverse trading preferences. However, when it comes to copy trading, XM Group offers this feature while Interactive Brokers does not. Charting capabilities vary significantly, with Interactive Brokers offering an impressive 85 drawing tools, compared to XM Group's 15.
The power of customization and access to trading information is another area where Interactive Brokers excels, with a staggering 659 fields for watch lists compared to XM Group's 7. Both offer the convenience of trading directly from stock charts, but Interactive Brokers receives a 5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, ranking 3rd among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. XM Group, while still competitive with a 4-star rating, stands at 32nd in the same category. These distinctions make Interactive Brokers a compelling choice for traders seeking a rich array of tools and a highly customizable trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Interactive Brokers and XM Group, both offer apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices. They provide essential features like stock or forex price alerts and watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that changes made in either the app or online account are reflected seamlessly. However, when delving into charting capabilities, Interactive Brokers stands out with 97 technical studies available, significantly more than XM Group's 30. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames, but neither auto-saves chart drawings. For real-time market information, users can create watchlists with up-to-date quotes on both platforms.
In terms of user ratings and rankings, Interactive Brokers shines brighter with a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, while XM Group holds a respectable 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers is ranked 4th out of 63 brokers for its mobile app, highlighting its strong performance and user satisfaction. In contrast, XM Group is ranked 30th, indicating room for improvement in the competitive landscape of mobile trading applications. Overall, both apps offer reliable tools for traders, but Interactive Brokers provides a more comprehensive and highly esteemed mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings between Interactive Brokers and XM Group, both platforms provide daily market commentary and offer news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Both brokers use tools from Trading Central for technical analysis, enabling their clients to make more informed decisions. Additionally, Interactive Brokers stands out by providing exclusive access to sentiment-based trading tools and market research from TipRanks, setting itself apart from XM Group, which does not offer these features. Moreover, Interactive Brokers includes research tools from Acuity Trading, such as the Signal Centre, which XM Group lacks. Both brokers offer an economic calendar to help traders keep abreast of global financial events.
In terms of research quality, both Interactive Brokers and XM Group have earned a solid reputation, each garnering a 5-star rating. However, when ranked by ForexBrokers.com, Interactive Brokers has a slight edge, securing the 3rd position out of 63 brokers, while XM Group ranks 8th. This indicates that while both brokers excel, Interactive Brokers has a more comprehensive suite of research tools that could give users an upper hand in their trading strategies.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both Interactive Brokers and XM Group shine brightly. They each provide a wide variety of learning materials specifically geared towards new traders. Both platforms offer more than 10 educational pieces, covering the essentials of forex and CFDs through articles, videos, and webinars. They also host monthly webinars and maintain a comprehensive archive of past webinars that users can access at any time. Additionally, Interactive Brokers and XM Group provide over 10 beginner videos on trading, offering a structured path for those just starting out.
For traders looking to deepen their understanding, both brokers cater to advanced learners with educational videos targeted at experienced traders. One notable difference is that Interactive Brokers includes an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investing terms, a feature not available with XM Group. This distinction may appeal to new investors wanting to become familiar with industry terminology. Despite this, both brokers maintain a stellar reputation for education, each earning a 5-star rating. However, Interactive Brokers edges slightly ahead in rankings, holding the #3 spot compared to XM Group's #7, as rated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Interactive Brokers is better than XM Group. Interactive Brokers finished with an overall rank of #2, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17.
Interactive Brokers is a highly trusted multi-asset broker with an extensive offering of tradeable global markets. It delivers competitive fees and high-quality research and education, as well as a modern, institutional-grade trading platform suite.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
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XM Group
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Interactive Brokers allows users to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency, as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, while XM Group only provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives and does not offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrency.
In comparing the deposit and withdrawal options of Interactive Brokers and XM Group, Interactive Brokers supports ACH, SEPA, and bank wire transfers but does not offer PayPal, Skrill, Visa, or Mastercard, while XM Group does not offer ACH or SEPA, but supports Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers; neither broker provides the option to use PayPal.
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 | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1977 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 9 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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) | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.59 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 659 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 85 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Interactive Brokers Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Interactive Brokers Review | XM Group Review |
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