Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com 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.
FOREX.com vs. XM Group: According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com holds a 99/99 Trust Score and XM Group scores 93/99—both sit in the 90–99 “highly trusted” range (80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not trusted). FOREX.com was founded in 1999 and is publicly traded, while XM Group, founded in 2009, is not publicly traded; neither broker is a bank.
On regulation, FOREX.com holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 2 Tier-2 licenses (as defined by ForexBrokers.com), whereas XM Group holds 4 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. Both are overseen by multiple top-tier regulators, with FOREX.com showing a broader set of Tier-1 approvals and XM Group providing added Tier-2 coverage.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
FOREX.com comes out ahead of XM Group when it comes to commissions and fees, especially for active traders. FOREX.com offers several pricing choices, including a Standard account and a commission-based RAW account. In the U.S., the Standard account has higher spreads, with EUR/USD averaging 1.4 pips, while the RAW account can be much cheaper on spread, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.13 pips plus commission. FOREX.com also offers volume-based rebates for high-volume traders. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
XM Group is less transparent on pricing in this category, and its Standard account spreads are considered expensive. While XM also offers a commission-based Zero account, average spread data is not published, which makes it harder to compare true trading costs. XM Group is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #34 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, FOREX.com is usually the better pick if low fees matter most, especially for traders who can use the RAW account or qualify for volume discounts. XM Group may still suit some traders, but based on commissions and fees alone, it tends to be costlier and less clear than FOREX.com.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, FOREX.com gives traders a wider selection than XM Group. Both brokers support forex trading as either CFDs or spot contracts, and both let clients trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international markets. FOREX.com stands out with about 5,500 tradeable symbols and 80 forex pairs, compared with XM Group’s 1,429 symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither allows you to buy actual cryptocurrency.
There are a few differences beyond the core market list. XM Group offers copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com ratings, FOREX.com earns 5 out of 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while XM Group scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #19. For traders who want more market choice, FOREX.com has the edge overall.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1429 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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.
When comparing FOREX.com and XM Group for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give traders a strong range of options. Each offers a free demo account, Windows desktop software, a web-based platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to trade directly from charts. The main difference is that FOREX.com also provides its own in-house platform, while XM Group does not. XM Group, however, has copy trading, which FOREX.com does not offer.
In terms of platform quality, FOREX.com comes out ahead. It is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27. For traders who want a broader choice of tools and a proprietary platform, FOREX.com has the edge, while XM Group may appeal more to those looking for copy trading alongside the usual desktop, web, and MetaTrader options.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and XM Group both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts, which is helpful for basic technical analysis.
That said, FOREX.com stands out for mobile charting. Its app includes 90 technical studies, compared with 30 at XM Group, and it also auto-saves chart drawings, while XM Group does not. These differences help explain why FOREX.com earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while XM Group is rated 4 stars and ranks #26.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FOREX.com and XM Group both deliver strong market research tools for forex traders, with each broker offering daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with global events. Both also include Trading Central research tools, while neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading resources. In short, their research offerings are very similar and well suited to traders who want regular market updates and helpful analysis in one place.
When it comes to ratings, both FOREX.com and XM Group earn 5 out of 5 stars for Research, which points to a high level of quality in this area. Still, FOREX.com edges ahead slightly in ForexBrokers.com’s Research ranking, placing #7 out of 36 brokers compared with XM Group at #8. The difference is small, but FOREX.com has a slight lead overall in market research.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to learning support for beginners, both FOREX.com and XM Group offer a strong range of educational tools. Each broker provides more than 10 forex or CFDs learning pieces, monthly online webinars, at least 10 beginner videos, and at least 10 advanced videos, making both platforms helpful for new traders who want to build skills step by step. Both are also rated 5 stars for Education, showing that each offers plenty of material for traders at different levels.
If you are comparing the two on education alone, FOREX.com has a slight edge in the ForexBrokers.com rankings, placing #4 out of 36 brokers, while XM Group is ranked #5. In practical terms, the difference is small, and both brokers are well suited for beginners looking for easy-to-follow lessons, regular webinars, and video content that covers trading basics as well as more advanced topics.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com is better than XM Group. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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FOREX.com vs XM Group: neither broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Compared with XM Group, FOREX.com supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while XM Group offers Skrill and bank wires but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; 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 | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 1429 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | XM Group Review |
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