Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs Trading 212, 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.
Founded in 2009, XM Group stands out in the online brokerage world with a high Trust Score rating of 93 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. XM Group holds an impressive four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, indicating its strong regulatory standing. Despite not being publicly traded or classified as a bank, XM Group's regulatory credentials position it as a reliable option for investors seeking assurance.
Trading 212, established in 2004, follows closely as a trusted broker with an 80 out of 99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com. This rating places Trading 212 in the trusted category. While it holds three Tier-1 licenses, the absence of Tier-2 licenses suggests a moderate regulatory presence. Like XM Group, Trading 212 is neither publicly traded nor a bank, but its trust score and licenses provide a reasonable level of security for traders.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
Here’s a quick commissions-and-fees comparison of XM Group vs. Trading 212. Both brokers earn 4 out of 5 stars for pricing, but XM Group ranks higher (#34 of 63) than Trading 212 (#50 of 63) in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category.
XM Group’s Standard account has pricey spreads, which can make frequent trading costly. XM also offers a commission-based XM Zero account, but it does not publish average spread data for that account—making it harder to gauge your true all-in costs. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: 34/63.
Trading 212 offers two account types: Invest (shares) with a 1-euro minimum and CFD (CFDs/forex) with a 10-euro minimum. While Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, you still pay the spread on CFDs and forex. The broker now publishes average spreads; in April 2025, the EUR/USD averaged 2.7 pips—above the industry average, which can increase costs relative to top-tier pricing peers. Rating: 4/5 stars; Ranking: 50/63.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the range of investments, Trading 212 offers far more choice overall, with 7,868 tradeable symbols versus 1,394 at XM Group. Trading 212 also lists more forex pairs (146 vs. 55). Both brokers support forex trading (CFDs or spot) and provide access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international markets, so you can buy shares like Apple on NASDAQ or Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange.
For specialty features, both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs but not actual crypto purchases. XM Group supports copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. In independent ratings for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, XM Group scores 4.5/5 stars and ranks #25 of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 earns 5/5 stars and ranks #16 of 63—reflecting Trading 212’s deeper lineup, with XM Group appealing if copy trading is important to you.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
XM Group and Trading 212 both offer free demo (paper) accounts and let you place trades directly from charts. Platform-wise, XM Group does not have its own in-house platform; instead it supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), including a Windows desktop download and a web-based platform. Trading 212 goes the other direction with a proprietary platform that runs in the browser (and mobile), but it does not offer a Windows desktop download and does not support MT4 or MT5.
Tool differences matter too: XM Group offers copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. Each broker provides charting features, though specific counts for indicators and watch list fields aren’t disclosed here. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both earn 4 out of 5 stars, with Trading 212 ranked #20 of 63 brokers and XM Group ranked #33. Choose XM Group if you want MT4/MT5 and copy trading on desktop and web; pick Trading 212 if you prefer a streamlined, proprietary web platform with built-in chart trading and a free practice account.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and Trading 212 both offer iPhone and Android apps, plus essentials like price alerts and watchlist syncing with your online account, so changes carry over across devices. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts, covering the basics for on-the-go analysis.
For charting depth, Trading 212 stands out with 104 technical studies and auto-saving for drawings, while XM Group offers 30 studies and does not auto-save chart annotations. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, XM Group is #31 and Trading 212 is #17. If you want a wider range of indicators and saved chart notes, Trading 212 is the better fit; if you need core tools with alerts and syncing, XM Group will do the job.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group delivers a fuller market research package: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources, Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, a sentiment tool showing long/short ratios, and an economic calendar. It does not include Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers.
Trading 212 provides forex news from leading sources, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but it lacks daily commentary and does not offer Trading Central, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools. ForexBrokers.com rates Trading 212 at 3.5 stars for Research and ranks it #45 out of 63. If you want frequent insights and built-in technical research, XM Group is the stronger pick; if you only need news, sentiment data, and a calendar, Trading 212 covers the basics.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing education at XM Group and Trading 212, both brokers provide a sizable video library, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain trading topics in clear terms. The big difference is live learning: XM Group hosts client webinars at least once a month, giving newcomers a chance to ask questions and see concepts applied in real time, while Trading 212 does not offer recurring educational webinars.
Independent ratings back up the gap in learning support. XM Group earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #21. If you want structured guidance with live sessions to speed up your forex and CFD learning curve, XM Group stands out. If you prefer self-paced videos without webinars, Trading 212 still offers a decent starting point for beginners.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than Trading 212. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 |
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In the XM Group vs Trading 212 comparison, neither online broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
XM Group vs Trading 212 payment methods: Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal alongside bank wire transfers, while XM Group does not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal but does accept Skrill and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability for both brokers is not specified.
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 | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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) | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Trading 212 Review |
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