Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs ATFX, 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.
XM Group and ATFX are two online brokers that offer trading services without being publicly traded or functioning as banks. Founded in 2009, XM Group holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, which contributes to its Trust Score rating of 88 out of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the trusted category. Similarly, ATFX, which started in 2017, also holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses. However, its Trust Score is slightly lower at 85, though it still falls within the trusted range. Both companies are well-regulated, but XM Group has a marginally higher trust rating.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When considering online brokers based on their commissions and fees, XM Group and ATFX offer different experiences. XM Group has standard accounts with relatively expensive spreads, and their average spread data for the XM Zero account, which follows a commission-based system, isn't publicized. This lack of transparency could be a consideration for users aiming for lower fees.
In contrast, ATFX does not provide average spread data either, which means users may find it challenging to predict their trading costs effectively. This lack of information could lead traders to weigh other factors more heavily when choosing a broker.
In terms of ratings, XM Group scores slightly higher with 4 out of 5 stars, reflecting moderately favorable conditions for fees and commissions. It ranks #33 out of 62 brokers in this category, according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, ATFX receives 3 out of 5 stars and is ranked #59 out of the same group, suggesting room for improvement relative to competitors.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 comparing XM Group and ATFX for investment options, XM Group stands out with a significantly larger array of tradable symbols and forex pairs. XM Group offers an impressive 1,394 tradeable symbols, including 55 forex pairs, while ATFX provides a more limited selection of 150 symbols with 44 forex pairs. A major advantage for XM Group clients is access to exchange-traded securities both in the U.S. and on international exchanges, allowing direct investments in companies like Apple and Vodafone. On the other hand, ATFX does not offer such direct stock trading opportunities, focusing more on CFD products.
Both XM Group and ATFX support forex trading as CFDs and provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives. Additionally, they incorporate copy trading features to help diversify investments. When it comes to ratings, XM Group is rated higher for its range of investments with 4.5 stars, while ATFX holds a 3.5-star rating. The impressive offering from XM Group also reflects in its industry ranking of 23rd out of 62 brokers, whereas ATFX is positioned at 57th, emphasizing XM Group's broader investment choices for potential and current investors.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, both XM Group and ATFX offer a range of options designed to enhance the trading experience for users. Both brokers give you the chance to practice with a simulated trading environment via a demo account, supporting MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, but neither provides a proprietary platform. Regardless of whether you prefer using a Windows desktop application or trading through a web browser, both brokers cater to your needs. Additionally, features like copy trading and the ability to trade directly from a stock chart are available with both XM Group and ATFX.
For those who value technical analysis, both brokers provide 15 drawing tools, although specific numbers on technical indicators aren't mentioned. When it comes to organizing your trades, both offer watch lists with seven fields for customization. Although similarities abound in their offerings, XM Group edges ahead with a 4-star rating for platforms and tools, compared to ATFX's 3.5 stars. This is further reflected in their ForexBrokers.com rankings, with XM Group holding the 30th position out of 62 brokers, while ATFX lands at 61st place.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When considering mobile trading apps, both XM Group and ATFX provide comprehensive options for iPhone and Android users, allowing for flexibility in trading on the go. XM Group stands out with its advanced features like stock and forex price alerts, a watchlist symbol syncing capability that ensures synchronization across devices, and a remarkable offering of 30 technical studies for detailed charting. In contrast, ATFX offers only 7 technical studies, although it compensates with the ability to auto-save drawings on charts, which can be a time-saving feature for many traders. Both brokers allow users to draw trend lines and view multiple time frames on their charts, providing a versatile trading experience. They also support creating watchlists with real-time quotes.
Overall, XM Group edges out ATFX in mobile app performance, evidenced by its 4-star rating compared to ATFX's 3.5-star rating. This is further reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where XM Group places at #27, a significant leap ahead of ATFX, which is ranked at #62. For traders who prioritize seamless syncing and a broader range of technical tools, XM Group’s app may be the more appealing choice. Meanwhile, those who value auto-save features might prefer ATFX’s app despite its lower overall rating and fewer advanced technical features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing XM Group and ATFX in terms of market research, XM Group clearly provides a more comprehensive suite of services. Both brokerages offer daily market commentary and maintain an economic calendar for global news events, ensuring traders stay informed. However, XM Group stands out by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and features a sentiment-based trading tool. These offerings are not available with ATFX. Furthermore, both brokers utilize Trading Central's tools, but ATFX has an advantage with Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis where XM Group does not. Still, neither broker incorporates offerings from TipRanks or Acuity Trading in their research tools.
In terms of ratings, XM Group receives a high mark with 5 stars for research, placing it as one of the top-rated brokers at 8th out of 62, as reviewed by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ATFX earns a 3-star rating, ranking 54th, highlighting a significant gap in their research capabilities compared to XM Group. This discrepancy reflects XM Group's broader array of resources and tools that cater to the needs of traders looking for in-depth market insight and analysis.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing educational resources available for beginners between XM Group and ATFX, both brokers offer an array of materials such as articles, videos, and webinars on forex and CFDs. XM Group stands out by hosting monthly online educational webinars and providing a searchable archive of past sessions. In contrast, ATFX does not provide regular live webinars but does maintain a searchable archive of recorded sessions. Both brokers cater to new traders with over ten beginner-specific educational videos, though ATFX falls short when it comes to advanced trading videos, which XM Group offers in abundance.
For those interested in comprehensive trading terminology, ATFX provides an investor dictionary with definitions of over fifty terms, whereas XM Group does not. Overall, XM Group excels in delivering a more complete educational experience, earning a five-star rating and a #7 rank out of 62 brokers for education by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ATFX, with its three-star rating and a #28 ranking, still offers valuable educational content but lacks the depth and diversity that XM Group presents, especially in advanced trader education.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XM Group is better than ATFX. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 85 |
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Both XM Group and ATFX do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they both offer cryptocurrency derivatives for trading.
Both XM Group and ATFX facilitate account fund transactions through Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal for deposits or withdrawals.
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 | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | ATFX | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | XM Group | ATFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
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