Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Swissquote 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 online brokers Swissquote and XM Group, there are notable differences in their establishment, structure, and levels of trust in the financial industry. Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a publicly traded company and operates as a bank, which could provide added assurance for users seeking a stable financial partner. On the other hand, XM Group, established in 2009, is not publicly traded and does not have banking status. These distinctions may weigh on investor confidence and accessibility, especially for those prioritizing transparency and a solid track record.
In terms of regulatory credentials, Swissquote holds an impressive five Tier-1 licenses, indicating a very high level of trust, alongside two Tier-2 licenses, further affirming its reputation. With ForexBrokers.com awarding Swissquote a maximum Trust Score of 99, it is considered highly trusted. Conversely, XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, earning a Trust Score of 93, which still indicates a high level of trust but falls slightly short of Swissquote’s exemplary rating. These details are crucial for potential clients evaluating reliability and regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing Swissquote and XM Group in terms of commissions and fees, each offers distinct pricing models tailored to different types of traders. Swissquote has a reputation for its Swiss banking backdrop, but this prestige comes with relatively higher trading costs. The U.K.-based accounts of Swissquote, which consist of four tiers, offer more competitive costs and lower deposit requirements compared to its Swiss and Luxembourg entities. Active traders with a minimum deposit of $10,000 may find the Elite account appealing due to its lower spreads and a $5 commission per round-turn trade. Meanwhile, the Standard account starts with spreads at 1.3 pips on the EUR/USD, making it less cost-effective than some of its counterparts. Swissquote earns a rating of 3.5 stars for its commissions and fees, and is ranked #53 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
XM Group, on the other hand, presents a different cost structure with its accounts, targeting a broader audience of traders. The XM Zero account, while lacking published average spreads, is commission-based, which adds an extra layer of consideration for traders concerned about transparency and minimum trading costs. Despite these points, XM Group manages to maintain a more favorable position than Swissquote in industry rankings, with a rating of 4 stars for commissions and fees. At #33 out of 63, it significantly outranks Swissquote in the ForexBrokers.com evaluation.
In summary, while Swissquote entices traders with its Swiss banking allure and tailored account options offering varying degrees of spreads and deposit requirements, its fees are on the higher side. XM Group, although offering less transparency in certain account structures, provides generally more competitive costs and a better overall value proposition for commission-conscious traders, according to industry rankings and ratings.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $5 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the variety of investment options, Swissquote and XM Group each offer distinct advantages. Swissquote provides trading in both CFD and spot forex, with access to an impressive 472 tradeable symbols, including 80 forex pairs. For those interested in stock markets, Swissquote allows trading in securities from both U.S. and international exchanges, covering renowned brands like Apple and Vodafone. Additionally, Swissquote supports cryptocurrency transactions both as actual assets and as derivatives, expanding its investment offerings for crypto enthusiasts. A notable feature is Swissquote's option for copy trading, which caters to those who wish to follow successful traders' strategies.
In contrast, XM Group provides an even wider selection with 1394 tradeable symbols, though it offers slightly fewer forex pairs at 55. Like Swissquote, XM Group allows trading in exchange-listed securities from major markets, enabling clients to invest in large global companies. While XM Group offers crypto derivatives, it does not provide the ability to buy cryptocurrencies directly. Copy trading is also available with XM Group, allowing investors to mimic the trades of experienced market participants. Reflecting on these offerings, ForexBrokers.com rates Swissquote with 5 stars and ranks it second out of 63 brokers for its range of investments, while XM Group holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks 24th, making both brokers strong contenders with their unique benefits.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 55 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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 Swissquote and XM Group for trading platforms and tools, both brokers provide comprehensive options to meet diverse trading needs. Swissquote stands out with its in-house developed platform, offering users a unique experience tailored to their needs, while XM Group relies on established third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and 5. Both brokers provide web-based and Windows-based desktop platforms, along with the ability to engage in copy trading. Moreover, traders can benefit from simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts from both providers. A key differentiator is the number of drawing tools available; Swissquote offers a more extensive selection with 75 options, compared to XM Group’s 15.
In terms of charting and watchlist features, Swissquote offers more flexibility with 11 watchlist columns compared to XM Group's 7. Additionally, both brokers enable users to trade directly from stock charts, elevating the overall trading experience. Swissquote gains a slight edge in its ForexBrokers.com rating, earning 4.5 stars for trading platforms and tools, whereas XM Group holds 4 stars. In platform rankings, Swissquote is placed at #12 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group ranks at #32, highlighting Swissquote's stronger standing in this competitive category.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both Swissquote and XM Group provide top-notch mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users. These apps facilitate trading with essential features like stock and forex price alerts and the capability to draw trendlines on charts. Additionally, both platforms equip traders with up to 30 technical studies for enhanced chart analysis and allow the viewing of various time frames. While both services offer the option to create watchlists with real-time quotes, only XM Group synchronizes watchlists between the mobile app and online accounts, ensuring seamless transitions.
Swissquote's app stands out by automatically saving chart drawings, an area where XM Group falls short. Consequently, Swissquote's app enjoys a slightly higher user satisfaction rating of 4.5 stars compared to XM Group's 4 stars. These distinctions are reflected in the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where Swissquote is placed at #12, a significant lead over XM Group's #30. Whether you prioritize syncing capabilities or automated savings features, both platforms provide competitive options for traders on the go.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Swissquote and XM Group for online trading research, both brokers excel in providing daily market commentary and access to top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, Swissquote distinguishes itself by offering tools from Autochartist, which are absent in XM Group's offerings. On the other hand, XM Group provides analysis tools from Trading Central, giving it an advantage in technical analytics over Swissquote.
Both brokers offer economic calendars to keep traders informed about global news events, yet XM Group stands out with additional tools such as sentiment-based trading insights. While neither broker includes research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading, XM Group receives a higher research rating, scoring five out of five stars compared to Swissquote's four. XM Group ranks #8 in research among 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, outperforming Swissquote's #16 position.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners at online brokers Swissquote and XM Group, both platforms excel in providing comprehensive educational content. Both brokers offer a wealth of resources with more than ten educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs. They also conduct monthly online webinars and maintain searchable archives of recorded sessions, making it easy for learners to access past content. Furthermore, both Swissquote and XM Group provide over ten beginner-friendly videos, specifically aimed at easing new traders into the world of trading.
Swissquote boasts an additional resource with its investor dictionary that defines over 50 investing terms, a tool that XM Group currently does not offer. Despite this, XM Group receives a higher education rating of 5 stars compared to Swissquote's 4 stars. Moreover, XM Group ranks 7th among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Swissquote stands at 21st for educational offerings. Both platforms offer worthwhile material for beginners, but XM Group edges out slightly with a higher educational ranking and rating.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Swissquote is better than XM Group. Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17.
Traders choose Swissquote for its quality research and vast multi-asset offering – as long as they are willing to pay a premium to have their brokerage account held with a Swiss bank.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Swissquote allows investors to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, while XM Group only provides options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
Swissquote and XM Group both support Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing funds, but Swissquote surpasses XM Group by also offering ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal as additional options.
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 | Swissquote | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1996 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 472 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $1000 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 75 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | No | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | Swissquote | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | XM Group Review |
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