Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
When comparing Plus500 and XM Group, both established online brokers, there are notable differences in their regulatory standings and trust ratings. Plus500, founded in 2008, is publicly traded and boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, highlighting its reputation for safety and reliability. On the other hand, XM Group was founded a year later, in 2009, and while it holds a commendable Trust Score of 93, it is not a publicly traded company.
Plus500 and XM Group are not banks, but both hold multiple licenses that ensure compliance with industry standards. Plus500 has a total of six Tier-1 licenses, indicative of its well-established regulatory status, as well as three Tier-2 licenses. Meanwhile, XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, affirming its dedication to trust and regulation in the financial market space. Both brokers provide secure platforms for traders, but Plus500's higher Trust Score and greater number of top-tier licenses may offer an added level of confidence for potential investors.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
Plus500 vs. XM Group on commissions and fees: Plus500 earns 4.0/5 stars and ranks #24 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, while XM Group scores 4/5 stars and ranks #34 out of 63. Both land in the middle of the pack, but Plus500 edges XM in this specific ranking.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average and trails the best choices for active traders (such as IG or Saxo). In April 2024, the average EUR/USD spread at Plus500 was 1.5 pips, which is higher than the industry average. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts; only clients classified as Professional may qualify for cash rebates similar to an active trader program.
XM Group’s Standard account spreads are described as expensive, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account—making all-in cost comparisons harder. If you want published spread data, Plus500 provides clearer figures, whereas cost-focused, high-volume traders may wish to compare both brokers against the lowest-cost leaders before deciding.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 |
| 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.
Plus500 and XM Group both deliver broad market access, but Plus500 covers more ground. Plus500 lists about 5,500 tradeable symbols versus XM Group’s 1,394. In forex, Plus500 offers 65 pairs while XM Group provides 55, and both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. Beyond CFDs, each broker lets clients buy real exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets (such as Apple) and on international exchanges (such as Vodafone). For crypto, both allow trading via CFDs but do not support buying actual coins.
Feature-wise, XM Group offers copy trading, while Plus500 does not. Despite their differences, both earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com. In that same category, Plus500 ranks #22 out of 63 brokers, with XM Group close behind at #25. If you value the widest selection of instruments, Plus500 has the edge; if copy trading matters, XM Group is the better fit.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
If you want a trading platform that’s easy to access in a browser and comes with a free demo, both Plus500 and XM Group fit the bill. Plus500 runs on a proprietary, in-house platform and offers a web-based experience but no Windows desktop software, and it does not support MT4 or MT5. XM Group takes the opposite approach: there’s no in-house platform, but you can use MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on Windows and online. XM also allows copy trading and lets you place orders directly from charts, while Plus500 does not. Counts for technical indicators and watch list columns were not specified for either broker.
In testing of trading platforms and tools, Plus500 earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked 14th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group scored 4 stars and ranked 33rd. In short, choose Plus500 if you prefer a streamlined, web-first platform with a free demo; pick XM Group if you want MetaTrader access, a Windows desktop download, copy trading, and trade-from-chart functionality—also with a free demo.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Plus500 and XM Group offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so your symbols stay aligned between mobile and web. Both platforms let you draw trendlines on charts; however, neither app auto-saves your drawings, meaning you may need to redraw annotations if you leave a chart.
Charting depth is a key difference: Plus500 provides 115 technical studies, while XM Group offers 30. In third-party testing, Plus500’s mobile app earned 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranked #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with XM Group’s 4 stars and #31 ranking. If you want a wider set of indicators and higher-rated mobile experience, Plus500 may fit better; if you just need core tools on iOS or Android with alerts and synced watchlists, XM Group also gets the job done.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 | 115 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research features, both Plus500 and XM Group deliver daily market commentary and provide tools that offer sentiment-based trading insights, allowing traders to see the balance of long and short positions on various instruments. However, XM Group stands out by providing forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not include this feature in its offerings. Additionally, both platforms provide technical analysis tools from Trading Central, but neither supports tools from Autochartist or research inputs from Acuity Trading or TipRanks.
In terms of added value, both brokers offer an economic calendar to track global economic events. Despite similarities, XM Group is rated higher for its market research capabilities, earning a solid 5-star rating compared to Plus500's 4-star rating. ForexBrokers.com ranks XM Group at number 8 out of 63 brokers, a significant step up from Plus500, which holds the 19th spot in the Research category. XM Group's access to premium news sources and higher overall ranking make it a preferable choice for traders seeking comprehensive market insights.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both Plus500 and XM Group deliver forex and CFDs education that meets the standard of at least 10 dedicated learning pieces. Each broker runs client webinars at least once a month and offers a sizable library of videos, including 10+ beginner lessons and 10+ advanced modules. That means new traders can get ongoing guidance through live sessions and build skills at their own pace with on-demand content.
For overall quality, XM Group takes the edge. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a 4.0-star rating and ranks #31. If you want a deeper curriculum and more polish for beginner learning, XM Group is the stronger pick. If you prefer straightforward education with regular webinars and plenty of videos, Plus500 also fits the bill.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than XM Group. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
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XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Plus500 vs XM Group: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
In a Plus500 vs XM Group funding comparison, neither supports ACH or SEPA, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, only Plus500 supports PayPal, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Plus500 | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 0.8 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | 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 | 115 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | 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 | Plus500 Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | XM Group Review |
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