Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs IronFX, 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.
XM Group and IronFX are popular choices for online brokerage, each established in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. XM Group stands out with a higher Trust Score of 88, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, classifying it as trusted. IronFX holds a lower Trust Score of 83, but it is still considered trusted.
Regulation plays a critical role in the reliability of any broker. XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com deems as highly trusted, giving it an edge in regulatory strength over IronFX, which holds three Tier-1 licenses. Additionally, XM Group also possesses one Tier-2 license, whereas IronFX has none, further emphasizing XM Group's regulatory standing. Thus, for those prioritizing regulation, XM Group may appeal more, offering a slightly more trusted profile.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers, XM Group and IronFX present different profiles. XM Group is rated four out of five stars for its commissions and fees, ranking 33rd out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. The brokerage offers a Standard account with higher than average spreads and does not publish average spreads for their XM Zero account, which uses a commission-based structure.
On the other hand, IronFX, also rated four stars, is ranked 46th in the same category. The company has room for improvement in its pricing, with spreads generally exceeding the industry average. IronFX lists a typical spread of 1.8 pips for their Standard variable spread account, though these figures can change based on account type. In their zero fixed-spread account, the spread starts at zero, accompanied by a $18 per lot commission, and spreads can widen to 3 pips overnight.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 it comes to the variety of investments available, XM Group and IronFX both offer forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts, yet they diverge significantly in the range of symbols and exchange-traded securities provided. XM Group impresses with a wide selection of 1,394 tradable symbols, including 55 forex pairs. This variety extends to direct access to stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone. Meanwhile, IronFX offers a total of 340 tradable symbols, with a slightly larger selection of 83 forex pairs, but lacks direct access to exchange-traded equities.
Both XM Group and IronFX accommodate modern trading needs by providing copy trading services and the option to engage in cryptocurrency derivatives—though they do not offer actual cryptocurrency purchases. XM Group stands out with a rating of 4.5 stars for its range of investments, ranking 23rd out of 63 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IronFX receives a 3.5-star rating and holds the 51st position, marking XM Group as the preferred choice for investors seeking diverse investment opportunities.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 83 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XM Group and IronFX in terms of their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a range of features catering to the needs of modern traders. Both brokers provide free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to engage in simulated trading. However, neither broker has developed their own proprietary platform, instead offering established platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). While XM Group provides access to both MT4 and MT5, IronFX only offers MT4. Both brokers also support web-based and Windows desktop platforms, making it easy for traders to access their accounts from various devices. Copy trading is available with both brokers, although neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
Regarding charting tools, XM Group and IronFX are well-matched; each offers 15 drawing tools to enhance technical analysis. Traders using either broker can execute trades directly from stock charts, adding convenience to the trading experience. With respect to organization, both brokers provide seven columns for watch lists, aiding in tracking multiple assets. Despite these similarities, XM Group is rated slightly higher than IronFX with a 4-star rating compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. This aligns with XM Group's superior ranking, positioned at #31 out of 63 brokers for trading platforms and tools, considerably ahead of IronFX's #61 ranking.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XM Group and IronFX, both platforms provide iPhone and Android apps, making them accessible for different users. They each support stock and forex price alerts, essential for staying updated with market changes. Both apps offer a wide range of technical studies for charting, with 30 studies, and both allow users to draw trendlines and view multiple timeframes on charts. However, a standout feature for XM Group is its ability to sync watchlists between the mobile app and the online account, a convenience IronFX lacks.
In terms of chart management, IronFX has the edge in auto-saving chart drawings, something XM Group does not offer. Despite this, XM Group earns a higher user satisfaction with a mobile trading app rating of 4 stars, compared to IronFX’s 3.5 stars. This reflects in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XM Group is rated significantly higher at #29 out of 63 brokers, whereas IronFX is near the bottom at #62. Both brokers allow you to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but when choosing between them, XM Group provides a more integrated experience with its syncing features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When considering market research offerings, both XM Group and IronFX provide daily market commentary and access to crucial forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, when it comes to specialized tools, both brokers offer technical analysis from Trading Central, but neither provides tools from Autochartist or market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. IronFX falls short in sentiment-based trading tools, as it does not show a ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, unlike XM Group. Both platforms support traders with an economic calendar featuring global news events.
In the realm of research ratings, XM Group edges out IronFX with a 5-star rating compared to IronFX's 4-star rating. This difference is further emphasized in ForexBrokers.com's rankings, where XM Group secures a strong position at #8 out of 63 brokers, significantly ahead of IronFX, which is ranked at #28. This suggests that XM Group might offer a more comprehensive research experience for traders seeking robust insights and analysis to guide their trading activities.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources for beginners provided by XM Group and IronFX, both offer a variety of materials such as articles and videos focused on forex and CFDs. XM Group stands out by organizing monthly online webinars, a feature IronFX does not provide. Both brokers maintain searchable archives for these webinars, ensuring that users can access previously recorded sessions at their convenience.
In terms of video content for beginners, both XM Group and IronFX offer at least ten instructional videos. However, XM Group further distinguishes itself by also providing advanced trading videos, which IronFX lacks. While IronFX offers an investor dictionary with over 50 investing terms, XM Group does not. Overall, XM Group is highly rated for education with a 5-star rating compared to IronFX's 4-star rating, highlighting XM Group's commitment to fostering a rich learning environment for traders. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group ranks significantly higher, coming in at number 7 out of 63 brokers, whereas IronFX is ranked 44th in the education category.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than IronFX. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 |
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Both XM Group and IronFX do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XM Group and IronFX provide traders with the option to deposit or withdraw account funds using Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports ACH, SEPA transfers, or 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 | XM Group | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 83 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | XM Group | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
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