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.
Comparing online brokers Plus500 and XM Group: Plus500 was founded in 2008 and is publicly traded, while XM Group started in 2009 and is privately held. Neither broker is a bank.
On regulation and safety, Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 4 Tier-2 licenses; XM Group holds 4 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, Plus500 earns a Trust Score of 99/99 and XM Group scores 93/99—both fall in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 comes out ahead of XM Group overall, though it is still not among the cheapest online brokers. Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average, and its active trader costs are not as competitive as top rivals like IG or Saxo. For retail clients, there are no discount tiers, but qualifying Professional clients may receive cash rebates. Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #25 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
XM Group is less competitive in this category, especially for its Standard account, where spreads are considered expensive. XM does offer a commission-based Zero account, but average spreads for that account are not published, which makes direct cost comparison harder. XM Group is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #35 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
For traders focused on keeping costs down, Plus500 generally offers the better value between the two, mainly because XM Group’s standard pricing is pricier. Still, neither broker is a clear low-cost leader, so active traders may want to compare spreads and account types carefully before opening an account.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | 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.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 and XM Group both give traders access to forex trading, U.S. and international exchange-traded shares, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither platform lets you buy real, delivered crypto, but both do offer crypto CFD trading. Each broker also supports forex as a CFD or spot contract, so traders can choose a market style that fits their preferences.
Plus500 stands out for sheer variety, with 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, compared with XM Group’s 1,429 symbols and 55 forex pairs. XM Group does have one extra feature that Plus500 lacks: copy trading. Even so, both brokers are rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, with Plus500 ranked #16 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and XM Group ranked #19.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1429 |
| 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.
When comparing Plus500 and XM Group for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give beginners a simple way to practice with free demo accounts and each offers a web-based platform that runs in your browser. Plus500 stands out for its own in-house platform, which is designed to be straightforward and easy to use, while XM Group supports a wider range of platform choices, including a Windows desktop app, MetaTrader 4, and MetaTrader 5. If you want a broker with copy trading, XM Group has that option too, while Plus500 does not.
For charting and trade execution, XM Group has an edge because it lets you place trades directly from charts, which can make fast decision-making easier. Plus500, on the other hand, is rated higher overall for trading platforms and tools, with 4.5 out of 5 stars compared with XM Group’s 4 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking out of 36 brokers, Plus500 places at #14, while XM Group comes in at #28, suggesting Plus500 has the stronger overall platform experience, even though XM Group offers more advanced tools and more platform variety.
| 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.
When comparing Plus500 and XM Group for mobile trading, both brokers give traders the basics they expect in a trading app. Each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings, so users will need to redo them if they are not saved manually. For everyday trading on the go, both platforms cover the core features well.
The biggest difference is in charting and overall app ratings. Plus500 offers 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at XM Group, giving Plus500 a wider set of tools for chart analysis. Plus500 is also rated higher for Mobile Trading Apps at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group holds a 4-star rating and ranks #26. Based on these numbers, Plus500 has the edge for traders who want more charting tools and a stronger mobile app rating.
| 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.
Plus500 and XM Group both give traders useful market research features, including daily market commentary, Trading Central tools, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with global news events. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools. The biggest difference is in news coverage: XM Group provides forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not.
When it comes to overall research quality, XM Group has the edge. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Plus500’s 4.5-star rating and #16 ranking. For traders who want a wider mix of market news and stronger research coverage, XM Group comes out ahead, though Plus500 still offers a solid set of basic research tools.
| 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.
When it comes to beginner education, both Plus500 and XM Group give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex or CFD learning material, regular online educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos covering trading topics. That means beginners can find basic guides, live learning sessions, and deeper lessons as they build confidence and skills.
Still, XM Group stands out as the stronger choice for education overall. It earns a 5-star education rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for the Education category, while Plus500 scores 4.5 stars and ranks #26. For beginners comparing these two online brokers, both are educationally useful, but XM Group offers the better learning experience.
| 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 #16.
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 | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| 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) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Plus500 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1429 | |
| 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 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A | |
| 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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