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 |
For commissions and fees, XM Group edges out Swissquote on our scorecard. XM Group earns 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks 34th out of 63 brokers for pricing, while Swissquote earns 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks 54th out of 63. Swissquote’s appeal is its Swiss banking pedigree, but that premium shows up in its trading costs, which generally run higher than many low-cost forex brokers.
Swissquote’s pricing varies by entity. In the U.K., active traders who deposit at least $10,000 can choose the Elite account with lower spreads plus a $5 commission per round-turn; the Standard account starts at 1.3 pips on EUR/USD, and the Prime account advertises minimum spreads from 0.6 pips (note: minimums are not averages). In Luxembourg, the Standard account ($1,000 minimum) starts from 1.5 pips, while the Prime account ($50,000 minimum) starts from 0.8 pips. In Switzerland, forex accounts start at $1,000 with spreads from 1.7 pips (Standard), drop to 1.4 pips with a $10,000 deposit (Premium), and to 1.1 pips with a $50,000 deposit (Prime); custom, volume-based pricing can be negotiated.
XM Group’s fee story is mixed but still rates better overall. Its Standard account spreads are on the pricey side, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account. Even so, XM Group’s 4.0/5 rating and #34 ranking in the Commissions and Fees category place it ahead of Swissquote’s 3.5/5 rating and #54 ranking, suggesting XM Group may be the more cost-friendly choice for many traders.
| 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.
Swissquote and XM Group both support forex trading as CFDs and as spot contracts. Swissquote lists 472 tradeable symbols with 80 forex pairs, while XM Group offers 1,394 symbols with 55 forex pairs. Both brokers let you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. markets (like Apple) and international markets (like Vodafone), and both offer copy trading.
For crypto, Swissquote lets you buy actual coins as well as crypto derivatives; XM Group offers crypto derivatives but not actual cryptocurrency. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, Swissquote earns 5 stars and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group earns 4.5 stars and ranks #25. Choose Swissquote if you want more forex pairs and access to real crypto, or look at XM Group if you want a larger overall lineup of instruments.
| 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.
Swissquote and XM Group both make it easy to get started with a free demo account and they each offer Windows desktop and web-based trading platforms. Both brokers support MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Where they differ: Swissquote also provides its own in-house platform, while XM Group relies on MT4/MT5 rather than a proprietary option.
On the tools side, both brokers enable trading directly from charts and support copy trading; neither offers ZuluTrade. Watchlists are more flexible at Swissquote (up to 11 columns) compared with XM Group (7 columns). According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks #12 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, while XM Group holds 4/5 stars and ranks #33. In short, Swissquote edges ahead for platform choice and tools depth, while XM Group covers the essentials on both desktop and web.
| Feature |
Swissquote
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 86 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Swissquote vs. XM Group: both brokers offer iPhone and Android trading apps with real-time watchlists and price alerts. Charting features are similar, with 30 technical studies, trendline drawing, and multiple time frames for stock and forex charts. These tools make it easy to analyze markets and place trades on the go.
Key differences: Swissquote auto-saves your chart drawings, while XM Group does not. XM Group syncs watchlist symbols between mobile and the web platform, while Swissquote lacks this syncing. According to ForexBrokers.com, Swissquote scores 4.5/5 stars and ranks #12 out of 63 for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with XM Group’s 4/5 stars and #31 ranking. Choose Swissquote if saved chart work and a higher rating matter most; pick XM Group if cross-device watchlist syncing is a priority.
| 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 |
| Client sentiment data | No | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Swissquote and XM Group both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education. Each broker offers more than 10 learning pieces, frequent online webinars (at least monthly), and a searchable library of recorded sessions. New traders will also find at least 10 beginner videos at both firms, plus advanced video lessons for when skills grow.
The key difference is extras and recognition. Swissquote includes an investor dictionary with 50+ terms, which makes it easy to look up concepts as you study—something XM Group does not provide. However, XM Group’s education earns higher marks overall, with a 5-star rating and a #7 ranking out of 63 brokers, compared with Swissquote’s 4-star rating and #20 ranking. In short: pick XM Group if you want one of the highest-rated learning hubs, or choose Swissquote if having a built-in glossary matters to you alongside a broad set of lessons.
| 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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Swissquote | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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, FSRA, or SCA 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 Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | |||
| 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) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Swissquote Review | XM Group Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill