Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com 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.
Markets.com and Xtrade are both notable online brokers, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory backing. Founded in 1999, Markets.com is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. However, it holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, reflecting a strong regulatory foundation. With a Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com is categorized as highly trusted, offering peace of mind to its users.
Xtrade, established in 2003, also remains privately held and is not a bank. Although it manages to hold 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license, its regulatory footprint is less extensive compared to Markets.com. Xtrade has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 74, placing it in the average risk category. While Xtrade offers a fair degree of trust, it falls short of the high level of assurance provided by Markets.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing Markets.com to Xtrade, it's important to consider their commissions and fees. Markets.com provides a straightforward fee structure, although detailed average spread data is not publicly available. It holds a 3.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, placing it at the 50th position out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's rankings. This suggests that while Markets.com offers a competitive environment for fees, there may still be room for improvement.
On the other hand, Xtrade appears to have a less favorable standing regarding commissions and fees. Like Markets.com, Xtrade does not provide specific data on average spreads, making direct comparisons somewhat challenging. With a 2.5-star rating for its commissions and fees, Xtrade finds itself at the bottom of ForexBrokers.com's rankings, positioned at 63 out of 63 brokers. This indicates that Xtrade could work on improving its fee transparency and overall cost-effectiveness to provide better value for its users.
In summary, while both Markets.com and Xtrade are not upfront with average spread data, Markets.com stands out as the more cost-effective option with a higher star rating and a better ranking. Users seeking lower fees might prefer Markets.com based on these factors. Meanwhile, Xtrade's lower star rating and ranking suggest that potential users should carefully consider its fee structure before committing.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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 comparing Markets.com to Xtrade in terms of available investment options, both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs. However, Markets.com stands out with a significantly larger variety of tradeable symbols, boasting 2,179 compared to Xtrade's 482. For those focused on forex markets, Markets.com provides 57 tradable forex pairs, just edging out Xtrade's offering of 56 pairs. Neither brokerage offers direct exchange-traded securities, such as U.S.-based stocks like Apple or international ones like Vodafone, and both platforms allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, but not actual cryptocurrencies.
Market diversity is further highlighted by Markets.com's provision of copy trading, a feature not available through Xtrade. Ratings indicate Markets.com ranks slightly higher with 4 stars for its range of investments, compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com is ranked #29 out of 63 for investment options, whereas Xtrade is ranked #49. This makes Markets.com an attractive choice for those seeking a broader array of trading opportunities.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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 choosing between Markets.com and Xtrade for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer some interesting features but cater to different trading preferences. Markets.com stands out with its proprietary platform that comes with a Windows-based desktop version and a web-based platform. This broker provides access to popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), enhancing its appeal to traders looking for versatile software options. For traders interested in simulated trading, both platforms offer a free virtual demo account. Moreover, Markets.com supports copy trading, allowing users to mirror the trades of experienced investors. However, Markets.com offers only four drawing tools for charting—a downside for those seeking variety in analytical options.
On the other hand, Xtrade also offers a proprietary web-based trading platform, making it accessible from any browser. While it doesn't offer desktop-based software or MT4/MT5 capabilities, it does boast 100 drawing tools for more detailed chart analyses. Xtrade enables direct trading from stock charts and offers a slightly larger number of fields in watch lists compared to Markets.com. Despite having these strengths, Xtrade doesn't support copy trading. While Markets.com is rated slightly higher with 4 stars for its trading platforms and tools and ranks 27th out of 63 brokers, Xtrade is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 58th, suggesting Markets.com may offer a more preferred experience for many traders.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
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) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Markets.com and Xtrade offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility on popular platforms. However, Markets.com edges ahead in several key areas for mobile traders. Traders can set stock or forex price alerts and enjoy the convenience of syncing watchlists between their app and online account on Markets.com, features Xtrade does not provide. Additionally, Markets.com allows drawing trendlines on charts, aiding in technical analysis, whereas Xtrade lacks this feature. However, neither app supports viewing multiple time frames or auto-saving chart drawings.
Markets.com provides the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, offering a significant advantage for active traders, while Xtrade misses out on this functionality. Despite both receiving a four-star rating for their mobile apps, Markets.com holds a higher position in industry rankings, placed at #33 compared to Xtrade's #53, according to ForexBrokers.com. This suggests Markets.com may offer a more satisfying mobile trading experience overall.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both Markets.com and Xtrade offer daily market commentary, providing regular insights to help traders stay informed. They both also deliver forex news sourced from top-tier providers such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring access to premium market information. However, neither platform currently features analytical tools from companies like Autochartist or Trading Central, indicating a shared gap in this area.
Markets.com sets itself apart with a sentiment-based trading tool that reveals the long or short position ratios for various instruments, a feature not available with Xtrade. Both platforms include an economic calendar to keep users updated on global news events. However, neither company offers research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. Despite the similarities, Markets.com's research capabilities earn it a higher rating of 4 stars in comparison to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with Markets.com positioned at #17 and Xtrade at #52 out of 63 brokers.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 offerings for beginners between Markets.com and Xtrade, there are some clear distinctions. Markets.com falls short in providing a comprehensive range of educational materials focused on forex or CFDs, lacking a minimum of 10 such resources. In contrast, Xtrade excels in this area, offering an abundant array of educational pieces for those eager to learn about forex and CFDs. However, when it comes to live educational webinars conducted each month, Markets.com steps up, as Xtrade does not offer such opportunities. Both brokers miss the mark with their lack of a searchable archive for client webinars, making it challenging to access previously recorded sessions.
Markets.com stands out with its impressive collection of beginner and advanced videos, each exceeding the minimum of 10, which are designed to elevate the learning experience for both novice and seasoned traders. However, those looking for a dictionary of investing terms will find Xtrade more accommodating, as it offers a comprehensive glossary with over 50 definitions. Given these factors, Markets.com boasts a higher education rating of 4 stars compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars and is ranked higher among 63 brokers, holding the #34 spot in the education category, while Xtrade is at #46.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Markets.com is better than Xtrade. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 |
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Both Markets.com and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Markets.com nor Xtrade offer ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal as options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but both platforms provide Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for financial transactions.
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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 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) | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | 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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | 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) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | No |
| Research | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
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