menuclose
ForexBrokers.com is committed to the highest ethical standards and reviews services independently. Learn How We Make Money

Plus500 vs XM Group 2026

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

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.

Plus500
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: €50 info
  • Trust Score: 99
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 5500 info
XM Group
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $5
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 1394

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.

Regulation

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 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Year Founded info 2008 2009
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 4
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 1

Fees

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 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Minimum Deposit info €50 info $5
Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account info 1.3 info 2 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.3 info N/A info
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

Plus500 vs XM Group: both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each supports exchange‑traded shares (not CFDs) on U.S. and international markets. Plus500 lists 5,500 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, while XM Group offers 1,394 symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both provide cryptocurrency CFDs but do not support buying actual crypto. For Range of Investments, both score 4.5/5 stars from ForexBrokers.com; Plus500 ranks #17 out of 63 brokers, and XM Group ranks #19.

If you want the widest selection of instruments and a few extra currency pairs, Plus500 has the edge. If copy trading matters, XM Group offers it while Plus500 does not. Either way, you get broad market access, shares trading beyond CFDs, and the option to speculate on crypto via CFDs.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 1394
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 55
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

Plus500 vs XM Group: Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts and web-based trading. Plus500 focuses on an in-house proprietary platform and does not support MetaTrader or a downloadable Windows desktop app. XM Group, by contrast, supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), offers a Windows desktop platform, and includes copy trading. XM also lets you place trades directly from charts, while Plus500 does not.

For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates Plus500 4.5/5 and ranks it #14 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group earns 4/5 and ranks #27 out of 63. In short, choose Plus500 if you want a streamlined, broker-built web platform with an easy demo to practice; pick XM if you prefer MetaTrader features, a desktop setup, copy trading, and trading from charts.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

Plus500 and XM Group both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and web, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. One limitation shared by both is that chart drawings do not auto-save, so you’ll need to reapply them when you return to a chart.

For charting depth, Plus500 stands out with 115 technical studies compared with XM Group’s 30. That difference shows up in user scores: Plus500’s mobile app is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #26. If you want more technical indicators on the go, Plus500 may be the better fit; if you prefer a simpler toolkit, XM Group still covers the essentials with price alerts, synced watchlists, and trendline drawing.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 115 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

In the Plus500 vs XM Group market research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, Trading Central tools for technical analysis, a sentiment gauge showing long/short positioning, and an economic calendar covering upcoming events. Neither platform currently integrates Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre).

The key difference is news: XM Group adds forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. That extra coverage helps XM Group earn a higher research score—5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 63 brokers—compared with Plus500’s 4.0-star rating and #17 ranking. If integrated premium news matters, XM Group has the edge; if you just need core research tools with sentiment and Trading Central, Plus500 can still fit the bill.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Acuity Trading info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

Both Plus500 and XM Group give beginners plenty of forex and CFD education. Each offers more than 10 learning pieces and runs monthly webinars. You’ll find at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos at both brokers, so you can start with basics and move into deeper topics at your own pace. Expect practical lessons through videos and webinars that help you understand how trading works and how to manage risk.

For overall quality, XM Group leads: it earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Plus500 is rated 4.0 stars and ranks #26 out of 63. If you want one of the most highly rated education suites, XM Group is the stronger pick. If you’re looking for clear, on-demand videos and regular webinars to get started, Plus500 still offers a helpful path for newcomers.

Feature Plus500 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Webinars info Yes info Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

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 logoPlus500
XM Group logoXM Group
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with Plus500 or XM Group?

Plus500 vs XM Group: neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.

What funding options does each broker offer?

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.




announcementPlease 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.

Select Brokers

×
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxActivTrades
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxAvaTrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxBlackBull Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCapital.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCharles Schwab
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCity Index
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxCMC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxEightcap
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxeToro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxExness
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFOREX.com
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFP Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFXCM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxFxPro
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHFM
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxHYCM (Henyep Capital Markets)
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIFC Markets
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIG
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxInteractive Brokers
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxIUX
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOANDA
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxOcta
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPepperstone
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxPlus500
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxQuestrade
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSaxo
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSpreadex
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxSwissquote
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTickmill
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxTrading 212
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxVantage
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXM Group
  • check_box_outline_blankcheck_boxXTB

Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating Plus500 XM Group
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review XM Group Review
Broker Screenshots Plus500 XM Group
Broker Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation Plus500 XM Group
Trust Score info 99 93
Year Founded info 2008 2009
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes
Tier-1 Licenses info 6 4
Tier-2 Licenses info 3 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) Plus500 XM Group
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info No No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (FSA Authorised) info Yes No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info Yes No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info Yes No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) Plus500 XM Group
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) info Yes info Yes
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info
Investments Plus500 XM Group
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes info Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 5500 info 1394
Forex Pairs (Total) info 65 55
U.S. Stocks (Shares) info Yes Yes
Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
Cryptocurrency (Underlying) info No No
Cryptocurrency (CFDs) info Yes info 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 info 1.3 info 2 info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 1.3 info N/A info
Inactivity Fee info Yes Yes
Order execution: Agency info No No
Order execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding Plus500 XM Group
Minimum Deposit info €50 info $5
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Non-wire bank transfer info No No
Trading Platforms Plus500 XM Group
Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform info Yes No
Desktop Platform (Windows) info No Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Copy Trading info No Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info No Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
Trading Tools Plus500 XM Group
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 30
Charting - Trade From Chart info No Yes
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading Plus500 XM Group
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Price Alerts info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] info
Mobile Watchlists - Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 115 30
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave info No No
Mobile Research - Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Research Plus500 XM Group
Daily Market Commentary (Articles) info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info No Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central info Yes Yes
TipRanks info No No
Client sentiment data info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education Plus500 XM Group
Webinars info Yes info Yes
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Major Forex Pairs Plus500 XM Group
GBP/USD [DELETED] info
USD/JPY [DELETED] info
EUR/USD info Yes info Yes
USD/CHF [DELETED] info
USD/CAD [DELETED] info
NZD/USD [DELETED] info
AUD/USD [DELETED] info
Review Plus500 Review XM Group Review
Overall Plus500 XM Group
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Fees 4.0/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Range of Investments 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trading Platforms 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.0/5 Stars 5/5 Stars
Education 4.0/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 99 93
Winner check_circle
Review Plus500 Review XM Group Review
arrow_upward

close