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 and XM Group take different approaches to pricing. Interactive Brokers uses tight market pricing plus a separate commission, while XM’s Standard account relies on wider spreads and its commission-based XM Zero account doesn’t publish average spreads. Based on available data, Interactive Brokers generally offers lower potential costs for forex, earning 5/5 stars and ranking #2 of 63 for Commissions and Fees. XM Group earns 4/5 stars and ranks #34 of 63.
At Interactive Brokers, forex commissions start at 0.00002 (0.2 basis points) per side with a $2 minimum per order ($4 round turn), comparable to $16–$40 per million round turn ($8–$20 per side). Very active traders can see rates drop to 0.08 basis points, and the minimum can fall from $2 to $1.50 per order above $1 billion in monthly volume, and to $1 at $5 billion. IBKR aggregates prices from 17 major liquidity providers and does not mark up spreads. In Q3 2024, the average EUR/USD spread we obtained was 0.19 pips; after commission, the effective all-in cost was about 0.59 pips. Example: buying then selling $100,000 of EUR/USD at IBKR equates to roughly 0.40 pips in commission plus the prevailing spread. Note: the $2 minimum makes smaller trade sizes proportionally more expensive, and IBKR Lite and Pro are not commission-free for forex.
XM Group’s Standard account spreads are on the higher side, and because average spreads aren’t published for XM Zero, it’s harder to estimate all-in costs there. The upshot: if you prioritize transparent, low-cost forex pricing—especially for larger or more active trading—Interactive Brokers is likely the better value, while XM Group may appeal more if you prefer spread-only pricing but can accept potentially higher average costs.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Interactive Brokers vs XM Group: both support forex trading as CFDs and/or spot, and both let you buy real exchange‑traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges. For sheer variety, Interactive Brokers stands out with 8,500 tradeable symbols and 90 forex pairs, compared with XM Group’s 1,394 symbols and 55 pairs. That breadth helps explain why ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars and ranks it #1 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while XM Group earns 4.5 stars and ranks #25.
Feature-wise, XM Group offers copy trading, which Interactive Brokers does not. For crypto, Interactive Brokers lets you buy actual cryptocurrency as well as trade crypto CFDs, whereas XM Group offers crypto CFDs only. If you want the widest selection and access to real stocks and crypto, Interactive Brokers is the stronger fit; if copy trading is important to you and you’re comfortable with CFDs, XM Group has that covered.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8500 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 90 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
Interactive Brokers and XM Group both provide free simulated (paper) trading via demo accounts, plus Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Interactive Brokers offers its own in-house platform, while XM Group does not have a proprietary platform and instead focuses on MetaTrader. XM supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and also offers copy trading; Interactive Brokers does not support MT4/MT5 and does not offer copy trading. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars (ranked 3rd of 63) and XM Group 4 stars (ranked 33rd of 63). Choose Interactive Brokers if you want a powerful in-house platform with chart-based trading and a seamless path from demo to live. Pick XM Group if you prefer the MetaTrader experience and want access to copy trading alongside a free demo.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Interactive Brokers and XM Group both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so your symbols stay up to date across devices and web. Both apps let you draw trendlines on stock or forex charts; however, neither app auto-saves those drawings.
Where they differ is depth of charting and overall recognition. Interactive Brokers’ mobile app includes 97 technical studies versus 30 with XM Group, giving active chart users more tools to analyze the market. Reflecting this, ForexBrokers.com rates Interactive Brokers 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #31. If you want more chart indicators and a higher-rated experience, Interactive Brokers stands out; if you need core features like alerts and synced watchlists, XM Group still covers the basics.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 | 97 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
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 (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 | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Interactive Brokers and XM Group both make it easy for beginners to get started with trading education. Each broker hosts at least one client webinar every month and offers 10 or more beginner-friendly videos that explain key trading concepts in plain language. When you’re ready to go deeper, both also provide 10+ advanced videos to help you progress.
According to ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earn 5 stars for Education. Interactive Brokers ranks #3 out of 63 in the Education category, while XM Group ranks #7. If you want the slightly higher-ranked learning experience, Interactive Brokers gets the nod; if you prefer an equally high-quality library with a comparable lineup of webinars and videos, XM Group is a strong alternative.
| Feature |
Interactive Brokers
|
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 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 enables buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas XM Group does not support buying delivered crypto but does offer crypto CFDs.
Interactive Brokers vs XM Group for deposits and withdrawals: Interactive Brokers supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers but not PayPal or Skrill, while XM Group offers bank wires and Skrill but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability for both 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 | 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 (FSA 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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.59 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | No | Yes |
| Funding | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 155 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 97 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Interactive Brokers | 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 | Interactive Brokers | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Interactive Brokers | 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 | 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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