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 comparing online brokers, XTB and Questrade both have established reputations, founded in 2002 and 2000 respectively. XTB is publicly traded, lending an additional layer of transparency, while Questrade remains privately held. Both brokers are not banks, but they demonstrate trustworthiness through their regulatory standing. XTB boasts an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96, reflecting its status as a highly trusted broker. It holds 2 Tier-1 licenses known for high trust and 2 Tier-2 licenses, further reinforcing its credibility.
Questrade, while also trusted, holds a lower Trust Score of 86, according to ForexBrokers.com. It matches XTB in Tier-1 licenses with 2, showcasing a commitment to maintaining quality standards. However, Questrade does not hold any Tier-2 licenses. For potential investors, these considerations can play a crucial role in choosing a broker that aligns with their needs for safety and transparency. Overall, both brokers are solid options, each with its distinct strengths in the investment landscape.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | |
| Bank | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
When comparing the fees and commissions of XTB and Questrade, XTB stands out as the more attractive option for traders. XTB provides two account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account, tailored for selected professionals in the UK and Europe. While XTB’s pricing aligns with the industry average, it doesn't lead the market among best brokers. The company is phasing out the Pro account, which is now mostly unavailable to new clients. With average forex spreads on the EUR/USD at 1 pip, the Standard account, with a starting deposit of 250 in your base currency, is often the preferred choice for retail forex traders.
Questrade, however, has targeted spreads on the EUR/USD at 1.9 pips, which is relatively steep when compared to industry standards. This higher cost of trading impacts its appeal to price-conscious investors. In terms of fee competitiveness, XTB offers rebates for active traders who meet certain volume thresholds, enabling discounts ranging from 5% to 30% through their Lower Spread Group program. This initiative makes it an enticing option for those trading extensively.
In terms of ratings and rankings, XTB receives 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, earning it an 11th place position out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, Questrade is rated 3 stars, placing it in the 58th spot in the same category, indicating that XTB is a more cost-effective choice for many traders.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | ||
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | ||
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Both XTB and Questrade are renowned online brokers, each offering a diverse array of investment options catering to various trading needs. XTB boasts an impressive 7,184 tradeable symbols, including 71 forex pairs available for trading as CFDs or spot contracts. This comprehensive selection is complemented by access to U.S. exchange-traded securities such as Apple shares, along with international offerings like Vodafone. Moreover, XTB provides opportunities to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, although it doesn't facilitate purchasing actual cryptocurrencies. Recognized for its extensive investment range, XTB earns a perfect 5-star rating and is ranked 14th by ForexBrokers.com.
Questrade, meanwhile, provides a more streamlined selection with 641 tradeable symbols. Despite this, it excels in forex trading with 110 available pairs, accessible as both CFDs and spot contracts. Similar to XTB, Questrade enables trading of exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets, allowing investors to diversify with companies like Apple and Vodafone. While direct cryptocurrency purchases are not an option, Questrade does offer cryptocurrency derivatives for those interested in this dynamic market. Also receiving a 5-star rating for its investment range, Questrade ranks slightly higher, at 11th, according to ForexBrokers.com evaluations.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 641 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 110 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | ||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | ||
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of XTB and Questrade, both brokers deliver essential features that cater to diverse trading needs. XTB stands out with its proprietary in-house platform and also provides a Windows-based desktop platform and web-based interface. Traders can test strategies risk-free using XTB’s free virtual demo account. In terms of charting, XTB offers a comprehensive suite of drawing tools, boasting 32 options that facilitate in-depth market analysis. Additionally, XTB allows traders to execute trades directly from stock charts. Despite an unspecified number of technical indicators, XTB achieves a high user satisfaction rating with 4.5 stars for its trading platforms and tools category, ranking 9th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com.
Questrade also impresses with its proprietary platforms, available both as a downloadable desktop version for Windows and a user-friendly browser-based option. Like XTB, Questrade offers a complimentary virtual demo account that enables traders to practice and hone their skills. While it has fewer drawing tools, with 20 available options, Questrade compensates by offering an extensive 52 columns for watch lists, which helps traders monitor and manage market positions more effectively. Additionally, Questrade users can trade from stock charts and have access to DupliTrade for strategy automation. Receiving a commendable 4-star rating, Questrade ranks 34th in the trading platforms and tools category, according to ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | ||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ||
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ||
| DupliTrade | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 64 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 52 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XTB and Questrade, both platforms deliver essential features for on-the-go traders using iPhone or Android devices. Both XTB and Questrade offer stock and forex price alerts, multiple time frame views, and tools for drawing trendlines on charts. However, Questrade holds an edge with 64 technical studies available in its app, compared to XTB's 39. On the other hand, while both offer watchlist syncing across devices, only Questrade ensures seamless synchronization without additional descriptions. Both apps also automatically save chart drawings and provide real-time quotes for watchlists.
When assessed for user satisfaction, XTB shines with a 4.5-star rating for its mobile app compared to Questrade's 4 stars. Furthermore, XTB is well-positioned in the industry, being ranked #8 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for mobile trading apps, while Questrade is placed at #34. Therefore, traders seeking a highly rated app with expansive charting capabilities may find XTB the preferable choice, whereas those interested in more technical studies can benefit from Questrade's offerings.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of XTB and Questrade, it's clear that XTB excels in daily market commentary and provides forex news from industry-leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Additionally, XTB offers a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the ratio of long or short positions across various instruments, which can provide insightful perspectives for traders. Another advantage for XTB is its high ranking for research, standing at 7th out of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, and earning a full 5-star rating. Traders who prioritize access to timely market updates and sentiment analysis tools may find XTB a more fitting choice.
On the other hand, Questrade distinguishes itself through its partnership with recognized tools like Autochartist and Trading Central, offering technical and fundamental analysis tools that support comprehensive market research. Furthermore, Questrade provides insights from TipRanks, enhancing its suite of analytic tools. It also features an economic calendar similar to XTB. Despite these offerings, Questrade holds a lower research ranking at 51st place and has a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars, which may be a consideration for those whose trading strategy heavily depends on advanced market analysis resources. However, its offerings could be more aligned with users who seek advanced technical analytics tools.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available to beginners at XTB and Questrade, there are some notable differences. Both platforms provide more than 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, offering a good selection of articles, videos, and archived webinars for beginners. However, XTB offers monthly online webinars, enhancing the learning experience with regular, live opportunities to increase trading knowledge. Moreover, both XTB and Questrade host archives of these webinars, making it easy for beginners to catch up on past lessons at their convenience.
XTB excels in offering a diverse range of educational materials, with at least 10 beginner-level videos and more than 10 advanced videos for experienced traders. On the other hand, Questrade offers a similar collection of beginner videos but does not match XTB in providing content for advanced traders. While neither platform includes an investor dictionary, XTB’s commitment to beginner and advanced education is reflected in its higher ratings and rankings: XTB is rated 5 stars and ranked 11th out of 63 brokers for education by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Questrade's 3.5 stars and 36th rank.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) |
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
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 86 |
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Both XTB and Questrade provide the capability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither broker offers the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrencies.
When comparing online brokers XTB and Questrade, XTB supports PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, whereas Questrade provides Visa/Mastercard and bank wire options only, with both lacking ACH or SEPA transfer facilities.
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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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 86 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | ||
| Bank | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| 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) | |||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | |||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | |||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | |||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | |||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | |||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | |||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 641 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | |||
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | |||
| 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). |
| Cost | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | |||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | ||
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | |||
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | |||
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | |||
| cTrader | |||
| DupliTrade | Yes | ||
| ZuluTrade |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 52 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 64 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 20 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | ||
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | ||
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | ||
| Autochartist | Yes | ||
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | ||
| TipRanks | Yes | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | ||
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | ||
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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