Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB 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.
XTB and Trading 212 are both established online brokers with XTB founded in 2002 and Trading 212 in 2004. While neither XTB nor Trading 212 operates as a bank, XTB holds the distinction of being publicly traded, a factor that may influence investor confidence. Additionally, XTB holds two Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, and has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 96, placing it in the bracket of brokers deemed highly trusted.
On the other hand, Trading 212, although not publicly traded, holds an impressive three Tier-1 licenses, attesting to its credibility in the trading community. Despite holding more Tier-1 licenses, Trading 212 does not possess any Tier-2 licenses and has a Trust Score of 80, suggesting it is a trusted broker but not as highly rated as XTB in terms of trust. Both companies offer their unique strengths and considerations for potential investors.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
XTB and Trading 212 take different routes on commissions and fees. XTB’s Standard account is spread-only with a minimum deposit of 250 in your base currency (GBP/EUR/USD), while its commission-based Professional account is reserved for elected professionals in the U.K. and EU and is being phased out. Using Q4 2023 data, XTB’s average EUR/USD spread was 1.0 pip. Trading 212 advertises zero-commission CFD trading, but spreads still apply; for April 2025, its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips, which is well above the industry average. Trading 212 offers two accounts: Invest (minimum 1 euro) and CFD (minimum 10 euros), with the CFD account being the one relevant to spread-based trading.
For higher volumes, XTB’s Standard and Pro pricing can be similar, but for smaller trade sizes the Standard account tends to be cheaper—especially since the Pro option isn’t widely available anymore. XTB also runs an active trader program called the Lower Spread Group that rebates 5% to 30% of the spread once you hit monthly volume thresholds (from 20 to 1000 lots), helping cut costs further. Overall, XTB’s pricing sits around the industry average but typically comes in tighter than Trading 212 on key forex pairs like EUR/USD.
Verdict on value: XTB earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #12 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #50 of 63. If you care most about lower forex spreads and potential volume rebates, XTB has the edge; if you want tiny minimum deposits with simple, spread-only pricing, Trading 212’s CFD account is easy to start with—but expect wider spreads.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing XTB vs Trading 212 for range of investments, both platforms cover a wide menu of markets. XTB lists 7,184 tradeable symbols, while Trading 212 offers 7,868. Each supports forex trading either as CFDs or spot contracts; Trading 212 provides 146 forex pairs compared with 71 at XTB, giving Trading 212 the edge for currency variety.
For stocks, both brokers let you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. exchanges (like Apple) and international exchanges (like Vodafone). Neither platform supports copy trading. Crypto buyers can’t purchase actual coins on either broker, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. In independent evaluations of range of investments, each broker earned 5 stars; XTB is ranked #15 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, with Trading 212 close behind at #16.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 146 |
| 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). | 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 Trading 212 both offer free demo accounts for paper trading and come with proprietary platforms designed in-house. XTB provides a Windows desktop platform along with a web platform, while Trading 212 focuses on a web-based experience and does not offer a Windows download. Neither broker supports MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5.
For tools, both let you trade directly from charts, and neither offers copy trading. Independent ratings favor XTB for platforms and tools (4.5 stars, ranked #9 of 63 by ForexBrokers.com) over Trading 212 (4 stars, ranked #20 of 63). If you want a native Windows desktop app plus the browser, XTB is the better fit; if you’re happy trading in your browser with a clean setup, Trading 212 gets the job done. Both are easy to try thanks to their free demo accounts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XTB and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts to track stocks and forex. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts and automatically saves your drawings. One key difference is watchlists: Trading 212 syncs your watchlist between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not.
For charting tools, XTB includes 39 technical studies, whereas Trading 212 offers 104. Despite having fewer studies, XTB earns a higher overall mobile rating at 4.5 stars and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps (ForexBrokers.com). Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranks #17. If you want more built-in indicators and synced watchlists, Trading 212 stands out. If app quality and third-party recognition matter more, XTB is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XTB vs Trading 212 for market research: XTB delivers daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and both include a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning along with an economic calendar tracking global events. Neither platform offers research tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, and neither provides research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Ratings and rankings underline the gap: XTB earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #45. If you value frequent insights and broader in-house coverage, XTB is the stronger choice; if you mainly want news, sentiment, and a calendar without extra third‑party tool suites, Trading 212 can still do the job.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing XTB vs Trading 212 for beginner education, both brokers offer plenty of on-demand learning with at least 10 beginner-friendly videos, plus 10 or more advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. The big difference is live learning: XTB runs educational client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not. If you learn best with interactive sessions and Q&A, XTB gives you that extra support; if you prefer to study at your own pace, both have strong video libraries.
Quality scores back this up. XTB earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #11 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds 3.5 stars and ranks #21. In simple terms, beginners seeking a more guided path with live webinars may find XTB a better fit, whereas Trading 212 suits learners who want a solid set of videos without live classes.
| Feature |
XTB
|
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 XTB is better than Trading 212. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 |
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In an XTB vs Trading 212 comparison: neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing funding methods, XTB supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA, while Trading 212 offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires but not Skrill; Visa/Mastercard availability for both 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 | XTB | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Yes | 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) | XTB | 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 | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 146 | |
| 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). | 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.92 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.92 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | 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 | XTB Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | XTB | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Trading 212 Review |
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