Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs Xtrade, 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.
Trading 212, established in 2004, and Xtrade, founded in 2003, are both well-known online brokers that aren't publicly traded companies. Neither holds banking status. If you're considering trust levels, Trading 212 boasts three Tier-1 licenses, showcasing a high degree of reliability, whereas Xtrade has one, reflecting a moderate level of trust. Additionally, Xtrade possesses one Tier-2 license, whereas Trading 212 does not hold any. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 earns a Trust Score of 80, categorizing it as trusted, while Xtrade scores 74, indicating an average risk.
Both trading platforms provide comprehensive online brokerage services but differ in regulatory strength and trustworthiness. Trading 212's Trust Score suggests a trustworthy reputation bolstered by multiple top-tier licenses. Meanwhile, Xtrade presents an average risk level with a mix of Tier-1 and Tier-2 licenses. For potential investors, these distinctions play a crucial role in choosing a broker that aligns with their priorities and comfort levels in the trading world.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing Trading 212 vs Xtrade on commissions and fees: Trading 212’s CFD account requires a €10 minimum deposit and advertises commission-free trading, but you still pay the spread on each trade. The broker publishes average spreads, and in April 2025 its EUR/USD average was 2.7 pips—noticeably higher than the industry average—so active forex and CFD traders may feel the cost. (Trading 212 also has an Invest account with a €1 minimum, but the fees noted here refer to CFDs.)
Xtrade does not publish average spread data, which makes it harder to estimate typical trading costs or compare pricing to competitors. Without clear, standardized spread figures, traders must rely on live quotes and account statements to gauge what they’re paying over time.
Ratings and rankings for commissions and fees: Trading 212 is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #50 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade is rated 2.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #64 out of 63. In short, Trading 212 scores better for costs and transparency, though its EUR/USD spread is still higher than leading low-cost brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Trading 212 offers far more to trade than Xtrade: 7,868 instruments and 146 forex pairs versus Xtrade’s 482 instruments and 56 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading and let you speculate on cryptocurrencies via derivatives, but neither lets you buy real crypto. A key difference is stock access: Trading 212 lets you buy actual exchange‑traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges (like Apple or Vodafone), while Xtrade does not. Neither platform offers copy trading.
For range of investments, Trading 212 earns 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade scores 3.5 stars and ranks #50. In short, choose Trading 212 if you want a wider selection and the ability to buy real shares across U.S. and global markets; pick Xtrade if you’re focused on a smaller CFD lineup with forex and crypto derivatives.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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.
Trading 212 and Xtrade both check the key boxes for platform access and ease of practice: each offers a free demo (paper) account, an in-house proprietary platform, and a web-based trading platform. Neither provides a Windows desktop download, copy trading, or support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Both let you place trades directly from charts. Details like the number of built-in indicators, drawing tools, and watch list columns weren’t provided.
In independent ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, Trading 212 scores 4 stars and ranks #20 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #59. If you want a higher-rated platform experience, Trading 212 has the edge. If you specifically need MT4/MT5 or copy trading, however, neither broker will meet that need.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and Xtrade both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. The bigger differences show up in everyday tools: Trading 212 includes price alerts, synced watchlists that mirror your web account, and real-time quotes in watchlists, while Xtrade does not. Even though both earn 4 out of 5 stars for mobile apps, ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 at #17 out of 63 brokers and Xtrade at #54, which reflects the wider feature set on Trading 212.
Charting is also stronger on Trading 212, with 104 technical studies, the ability to draw trendlines, switch among multiple time frames (intraday, daily, weekly), and auto-save for chart drawings. Xtrade does not publish a count of technical studies and does not support trendlines, multiple time frames, or auto-saving drawings. If you want alerts, synced lists, and deeper chart analysis on the go, Trading 212 is the more capable choice; if you prefer a simpler app experience, Xtrade may suffice but offers fewer tools.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing Trading 212 vs Xtrade for market research, there are a few clear differences. Xtrade provides daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both brokers stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and include an economic calendar. Neither platform offers research from Autochartist, Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. One notable edge for Trading 212 is its sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions, which Xtrade lacks.
In terms of third-party evaluations, both Trading 212 and Xtrade earn 3.5 stars for research. However, Trading 212 ranks higher in the ForexBrokers.com Research category, coming in at #45 out of 63 brokers, compared with Xtrade at #53. If you value daily commentary, Xtrade stands out; if you want a built-in sentiment gauge, Trading 212 has the advantage.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing Trading 212 vs Xtrade for beginner education, Trading 212 offers more video learning. It provides at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos on trading topics, while Xtrade does not meet those counts. Neither broker runs monthly client webinars, and it isn’t specified whether either one maintains a searchable archive of past webinars. It’s also not confirmed whether Trading 212 or Xtrade each provide a library of 10+ forex or CFD-specific pieces, or an investor dictionary with 50+ terms.
Both Trading 212 and Xtrade are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education by ForexBrokers.com, but their rankings differ: Trading 212 sits at #21 of 63 brokers, while Xtrade is #46. For beginners who value structured video lessons, Trading 212 has more to watch. If you want ongoing webinars, neither broker offers monthly sessions. For details on forex and CFD education libraries or glossary features, check each broker’s website for the latest information.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trading 212 is better than Xtrade. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 74 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both Trading 212 and Xtrade do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 provides more diverse options for depositing or withdrawing account funds by supporting ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Xtrade offers fund transfer options via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal support.
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 | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 80 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7868 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 2.7 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 80 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
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