Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs GBE brokers, 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.
When comparing XTB and GBE brokers, it's clear that both companies have established themselves in the trading industry in different ways. XTB, founded in 2002, boasts a higher level of transparency by being publicly traded. It holds two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory standing, and two Tier-2 licenses, adding to its credibility. With a Trust Score of 96 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, XTB is considered highly trustworthy, giving traders peace of mind.
In contrast, GBE brokers, established in 2013, remains a privately held company. It holds one Tier-1 license and does not have any Tier-2 licenses. This results in a Trust Score of 71 out of 99, placing it in the average risk category according to ForexBrokers.com. While GBE brokers may still be a viable option for some traders, those prioritizing stricter regulation and trust might prefer XTB for its higher rating and additional licenses.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
When comparing XTB and GBE Brokers for their commissions and fees, XTB offers two account types: a spread-only Standard account and a commission-based Professional account. However, the Pro account is mainly for certain qualified clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out. XTB's pricing is considered average within the industry, with the average forex spreads for EUR/USD at 1 pip as of Q4 2023. The Standard account is generally more cost-effective for retail traders due to its simpler fee structure, especially with the Professional account's limited availability. Furthermore, XTB offers an active trader program that provides rebates from 5% to 30% of the spread, depending on trading volume, which can be a valuable benefit for high-volume traders.
In contrast, GBE Brokers lacks available data on average spread numbers, making a direct comparison somewhat challenging. While GBE Brokers might cost less for certain traders, the absence of specific spread information means potential clients may find it difficult to predict their trading costs precisely without further inquiry. GBE Brokers provides its own set of competitive pricing but is generally seen as less transparent in terms of average spread details compared to XTB.
In terms of ratings, XTB holds a 4.5 out of 5-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking 11th out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, GBE Brokers has a rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a ranking of 36th. This indicates that while both brokers are reputable, XTB appears to be more favored by experts, particularly concerning its commission and fee structures.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XTB and GBE Brokers, it's clear that XTB offers a more extensive range of investments. XTB provides clients with access to a remarkable 7,184 tradeable symbols, significantly more than GBE Brokers' 500 symbols. Both brokers share the same offering of 71 tradeable forex pairs, allowing for a solid foundation in currency trading. However, XTB distinguishes itself by giving clients the opportunity to invest in exchange traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, letting them acquire shares like Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Vodafone (VOD-GB: London Stock Exchange). Meanwhile, GBE Brokers falls short in this aspect, offering no access to such exchange traded securities.
In terms of unique features, XTB doesn't offer copy trading, whereas GBE Brokers does, which can attract those interested in mimicking successful traders. Both brokers provide avenues for engaging with cryptocurrency derivatives, yet neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. When it comes to ratings, XTB leads with a solid 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranked #14 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, GBE Brokers holds a 3.5-star rating, landing at #44 in the same category. This rating further emphasizes XTB's broader spectrum of investment options compared to GBE Brokers.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools of XTB and GBE brokers, there are several key differences that traders should consider. Both brokers offer the convenience of simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, a feature that is particularly helpful for beginners. XTB sets itself apart with a proprietary platform, which is developed in-house, tailoring unique features for its users. In contrast, GBE brokers rely on the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms, which are favored by many for their extensive customization and automated trading capabilities. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, ensuring flexibility for different computing preferences. While GBE brokers support copy trading, XTB does not, which might be a consideration for those interested in mimicking successful trades.
For charting, XTB provides 32 drawing tools, compared to GBE brokers' 15, giving traders more options for technical analysis. Both brokers allow users to trade directly from stock charts, enhancing ease of trading. XTB offers more comprehensive watch lists, with eight fields versus GBE brokers' seven. Both brokers, however, do not offer popular social trading platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. In trading platforms and tools, XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranked 9th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its strong platform offering. GBE brokers receive a slightly lower rating of 4 stars, ranked 57th, indicating room for improvement in this aspect. These differences provide clear choices based on individual trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both XTB and GBE brokers offer iPhone and Android applications that support vital trading functions such as stock and forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, neither broker provides the feature for watchlist symbol syncing between the app and web accounts. Both brokers also offer tools for drawing trendlines on charts and viewing different time frames, from daily to intraday.
While GBE brokers offer a respectable set of 30 technical studies for charting, XTB pulls ahead with 39, providing a slightly richer analytical experience. Both apps ensure that chart drawings are auto-saved, removing the hassle of redoing work. According to ForexBrokers.com, XTB's mobile app is ranked highly, coming in at #8 out of 62 brokers and earning a rating of 4.5 stars. In comparison, GBE brokers rank at #57 with a 4-star rating, making XTB the preferred choice for traders seeking a more comprehensive mobile trading solution.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When evaluating online brokers XTB and GBE Brokers for their market research offerings, a few distinctions are apparent. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and economic calendars, but XTB distinguishes itself by offering forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, unlike GBE Brokers. Both XTB and GBE Brokers include sentiment-based trading tools that allow traders to see the ratio of long and short positions, catering to strategic trading needs. However, neither broker provides technical or fundamental research tools from industry leaders like Autochartist or Trading Central, nor do they offer market insights from TipRanks or Acuity Trading's Signal Centre.
In terms of ratings, XTB emerges as the stronger contender with a research score of 5 stars, whereas GBE Brokers holds 3 stars. This superiority is further reflected in XTB's impressive ranking of #7 among 62 brokers in the research category on ForexBrokers.com, overshadowing GBE Brokers' lower position at #61. For traders valuing diverse and reliable market insights, XTB's comprehensive offerings and higher rating present a formidable advantage in the industry.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XTB provides an impressive array of educational resources for those new to forex and CFD trading. Beginners can access over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on these topics. The availability of monthly online webinars further enhances the learning experience, and a searchable archive offers easy access to previous webinar content. For novice traders, over ten videos specifically designed for beginner education are available, along with advanced videos for more experienced traders. XTB's commitment to trader education is evident in its impressive 5-star rating by ForexBrokers.com, placing it 11th out of 62 brokers in the education category.
In contrast, GBE Brokers offers fewer educational resources for beginner traders. While lacking dedicated forex or CFDs educational material, the broker does not provide weekly webinars or an archive of recorded sessions. Additionally, there are no beginner-specific educational videos from GBE Brokers. Despite these limitations, both XTB and GBE Brokers do not offer an investor dictionary. Overall, GBE Brokers received a 3-star rating in the education category, ranking 62nd out of 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com, indicating a need for significant improvement in their educational offerings for beginners.
| Feature |
XTB
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that XTB is better than GBE brokers. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #56.
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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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 71 |
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Both XTB and GBE Brokers do not provide the option to purchase actual, delivered cryptocurrency but do offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers XTB and GBE Brokers, both provide multiple options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, including PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but only GBE Brokers offers ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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| Regulation | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.00 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.00 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 39 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | XTB | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review |
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