Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
When comparing online brokers XTB and IronFX, both have their distinct advantages, particularly regarding their regulatory standings and trustworthiness. Founded in 2002, XTB is a publicly traded company which indicates a level of transparency and accountability. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, a marker of high trust, and also has two Tier-2 licenses, boosting its reliability with regulators. XTB's Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com is an impressive 96 out of 99, signifying it as a highly trusted broker. Additionally, XTB is not classified as a bank.
On the other hand, IronFX, which entered the market in 2010, is not listed on any stock exchange. While it is also not a bank, it holds three Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust. However, it has no Tier-2 licenses. IronFX's Trust Score is 83 out of 99, ranking it as a trusted broker but trailing behind XTB in terms of perceived trustworthiness.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When you compare commissions and fees, XTB generally looks cheaper than IronFX for most retail traders. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for pricing and ranks #12 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #47 out of 63. XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.0 pip in Q4 2023 on its spread-only Standard account, which is in line with the industry average, whereas IronFX lists a typical 1.8-pip spread for its Standard variable account—higher than average.
XTB offers a Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, though the Pro option is being phased out and is largely limited to elective professional clients in the U.K. and EU. Minimum deposits start at 250 in your base currency. For smaller trade sizes, the Standard account tends to be the better deal, and active traders can qualify for XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once you trade at least 20 lots per month (up to 1,000 lots for the largest rebate).
IronFX’s pricing varies by account type, but it generally trends higher. The Standard variable spread account typically shows 1.8 pips on EUR/USD (no date range provided). Its zero fixed-spread account starts at 0 pips but charges a $18 per lot commission, and spreads are widened to 3 pips overnight—costs that can add up for frequent traders. Taken together, XTB often provides lower all-in trading costs than IronFX, especially for smaller positions and for active traders who qualify for spread rebates.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and IronFX both support forex trading (CFD/spot) and offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker lets you buy actual crypto. XTB stands out for breadth with 7,184 tradeable symbols and access to real, exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets, while IronFX lists 340 symbols and does not offer exchange-traded stocks. IronFX counters with more currency choice, providing 83 forex pairs versus XTB’s 71. Another key difference: IronFX offers copy trading, whereas XTB does not.
For an overall range of investments, XTB earns 5 stars and ranks #15 of 63 brokers, making it a strong pick if you want a wide lineup that includes real stocks alongside CFDs. IronFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #52, but its 83 forex pairs can appeal to currency-focused traders. Both brokers cover crypto via CFDs only.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 83 |
| 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 IronFX both provide free demo (paper) accounts, along with web-based and Windows desktop platforms. XTB stands out with its in-house proprietary platform, while IronFX relies on third-party options. Copy trading is available at IronFX but not at XTB. For MetaTrader fans, IronFX supports MT4 whereas XTB does not; neither broker offers MT5. Both brokers let you place orders directly from a chart, which can speed up execution.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates XTB 4.5 out of 5 and ranks it 9th out of 63 brokers. IronFX earns 3.5 out of 5 and ranks 62nd out of 63. If you prefer a proprietary platform, XTB is appealing; if you want MT4 and access to copy trading, IronFX may fit better.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and IronFX both offer iPhone and Android trading apps, along with price alerts. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts and will auto-save your drawings for later. One notable omission for both brokers is watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made on mobile won’t sync with your web account.
For charting depth, XTB provides 39 technical studies compared with IronFX’s 30. That edge shows up in reviews: XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #63. If you prioritize stronger chart tools and higher-rated mobile performance, XTB is the clearer pick.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB and IronFX both deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones or similar), and an economic calendar. Neither broker offers Autochartist. IronFX stands out by adding Trading Central, while XTB provides a built-in sentiment tool to see the ratio of long vs. short positions. XTB does not integrate TipRanks or Acuity Trading; IronFX’s support for TipRanks and Acuity isn’t specified.
For research quality, XTB is rated 5 stars and ranks 7th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while IronFX earns 4 stars and ranks 29th. Choose XTB if you want top-rated research with a handy sentiment gauge; pick IronFX if Trading Central’s analysis is a priority alongside daily commentary and real-time news.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB stands out for beginner-focused forex and CFD education thanks to monthly client webinars and a large video library. It offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so newcomers can learn the basics and keep building skills over time. XTB’s education earns 5 stars and is ranked 11th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
IronFX delivers at least 10 beginner videos that cover trading basics, but it does not run monthly educational webinars and does not provide at least 10 advanced videos. Its education is rated 4 stars, with a 44th-place ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. If you want live sessions and more advanced lessons, XTB may fit better; if you prefer on-demand beginner videos without frequent webinars, IronFX is a simpler pick.
| Feature |
XTB
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
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 IronFX. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
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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IronFX
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 |
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XTB vs IronFX: both online brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies, but each provides cryptocurrency trading via CFDs.
Comparing online brokers XTB and IronFX for deposit and withdrawal methods: neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers, both offer Skrill and bank wire transfers, XTB supports PayPal while IronFX does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either platform.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | IronFX | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | |||
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 83 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | XTB | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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