Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs Questrade, 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 it comes to choosing an online broker, both XTB and Questrade are noteworthy contenders, established in 2002 and 2000, respectively. Both brokers are not banks; however, XTB takes the edge by being publicly traded, while Questrade remains privately held. This distinction may appeal to investors seeking brokers with greater transparency and credibility. Evaluating their trustworthiness, XTB shines with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96, indicating it is highly trusted, whereas Questrade holds a respectable score of 86, categorizing it as trusted.
Looking at regulatory credentials, both XTB and Questrade are equipped with 2 Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust. However, XTB distinguishes itself further by holding 2 additional Tier-2 licenses, while Questrade holds none. This could be a significant factor for those prioritizing strong regulatory oversight. Ultimately, both brokers offer a secure trading platform, but XTB’s higher rating and public trading status could make it a more attractive option for discerning investors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
XTB outperforms Questrade on forex commissions and fees. XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 brokers for this category at ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade scores 3 out of 5 stars and ranks #59. On the key EUR/USD pair, XTB’s average spread was 1.0 pip (Q4 2023), versus Questrade’s target spread of 1.9 pips, which is considered expensive compared with the industry average.
XTB offers two account types: a spread-only Standard account for most clients and a commission-based Professional account that’s limited to elected professionals in the U.K. and EU and is being phased out. For typical retail traders, the Standard account is the better fit, especially for smaller trade sizes, with a minimum deposit of 250 in your base currency. High-volume traders can tap XTB’s Lower Spread Group, which rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once you trade at least 20 lots per month, scaling up to 1,000 lots for the full 30% discount. Overall, XTB’s pricing is around the industry average, though not the very cheapest.
Questrade’s commissions and fees are less competitive for forex: its EUR/USD target spread of 1.9 pips is on the high side, helping explain its lower 3-star rating and #59 ranking out of 63. If keeping trading costs tight—especially spreads on major currency pairs—is your priority, XTB is the stronger choice between the two.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | N/A |
| 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 | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XTB and Questrade both deliver a wide range of investments. Each supports forex trading as a CFD or spot contract and lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. markets (e.g., Apple) and on international exchanges (e.g., Vodafone). Neither broker provides copy trading, and neither allows buying actual cryptocurrency; however, both let you trade crypto via CFDs.
For breadth, XTB lists far more total tradeable symbols (7,184 vs 641), while Questrade offers more forex pairs (110 vs 71). Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments. In ForexBrokers.com’s category rankings out of 63 brokers, Questrade is #12 and XTB is #15. Pick XTB if you value a larger overall instrument list, or lean toward Questrade if your focus is a wider selection of currency pairs.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 641 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 110 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
XTB and Questrade both offer paper trading (free demo accounts), proprietary platforms, a downloadable Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Each lets you trade directly from charts and includes chart indicators and customizable watch lists. Neither broker offers copy trading, and MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are not supported.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while Questrade is rated 4 stars and ranks #35, per ForexBrokers.com. If you want a higher-rated platform experience, XTB has the edge; if you prefer Questrade, you still get paper trading, desktop and web access, and chart-based order entry.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 64 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Questrade both offer fully featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart annotations. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, XTB scores higher for mobile trading with a 4.5 out of 5 rating and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while Questrade earns 4 out of 5 and ranks #35. If you value a highly rated app experience, XTB has the edge.
Feature-wise, each app covers core needs, but there are key differences. Questrade supports watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not. For charting tools, Questrade offers 64 technical studies compared with XTB’s 39. In short: XTB stands out for its overall mobile app rating, whereas Questrade offers more built-in indicators and synced watchlists.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at XTB vs Questrade shows two different approaches. XTB leans into in-house coverage with daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions, an economic calendar, and forex news from top-tier sources. Questrade skips daily commentary and a sentiment gauge, but leans on well-known third-party tools: Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, plus an economic calendar. Neither broker lists research from Acuity Trading. Questrade’s access to top-tier forex news feeds isn’t specified.
For quality scores, XTB earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #52. If you want daily insights, sentiment data, and built-in news, XTB is the stronger pick. If you prefer third-party analytics like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks, Questrade may fit your style.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing XTB vs Questrade education, XTB stands out. XTB runs monthly client webinars and offers plenty of video lessons for both newcomers and more experienced traders, so it’s easier to progress from basics to advanced topics. Questrade does provide at least ten beginner videos, but it doesn’t host monthly webinars and it lacks a deep catalog of advanced videos, which can make the learning path feel limited.
These differences show up in independent ratings: ForexBrokers.com gives XTB 5 stars for Education and ranks it #11 out of 63 brokers, while Questrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #36. If you want an ongoing schedule of lessons and live sessions—especially around trading topics like forex and CFDs—XTB is the stronger pick. Questrade can help you get started with the basics, but you may need outside resources as you move beyond beginner level.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Questrade. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #32.
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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Questrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 |
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Neither XTB nor Questrade supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency; both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading instead.
Comparing XTB vs Questrade funding options: both lack ACH/SEPA but support bank wires; XTB additionally accepts PayPal and Skrill while Questrade does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Questrade | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 641 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 64 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Questrade Review |
| Overall | XTB | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Questrade Review |
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