Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs IronFX, 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 IronFX are popular choices for online brokerage, each established in 2009 and 2010, respectively. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded or operates as a bank. XM Group stands out with a higher Trust Score of 88, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, classifying it as trusted. IronFX holds a lower Trust Score of 83, but it is still considered trusted.
Regulation plays a critical role in the reliability of any broker. XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com deems as highly trusted, giving it an edge in regulatory strength over IronFX, which holds three Tier-1 licenses. Additionally, XM Group also possesses one Tier-2 license, whereas IronFX has none, further emphasizing XM Group's regulatory standing. Thus, for those prioritizing regulation, XM Group may appeal more, offering a slightly more trusted profile.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
XM Group offers a range of account types with varying fees, but potential clients should be aware that standard account spreads are considered expensive. Although XM Group provides a commission-based XM Zero account, they do not publish the average spreads for this account type. Despite these drawbacks, XM Group still receives a commendable rating of 4 out of 5 stars in the commissions and fees category and ranks 33rd out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
IronFX, on the other hand, shows room for improvement when it comes to pricing. The standard variable spread account has a typical spread of 1.8 pips, though this may vary since no specific date range is provided. Additionally, IronFX offers a zero fixed-spread account with spreads starting at zero and a $18 per lot commission, while overnight spreads can widen to 3 pips. Like XM Group, IronFX also has a 4-star rating for commissions and fees, but ranks lower at 47th among 62 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| 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 the range of investment options at XM Group and IronFX, both brokers provide forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts. XM Group distinguishes itself with a significantly larger selection of tradeable symbols, offering 1,394 compared to IronFX's 340. Despite having fewer forex pairs—55 for XM Group versus IronFX's 83—XM Group offers the added advantage of providing exchange-traded securities from both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to purchase shares in companies like Apple and Vodafone. IronFX, however, does not offer this service, focusing solely on CFD trading for these assets.
Both XM Group and IronFX offer opportunities for cryptocurrency derivative trading and copy trading. However, they do not facilitate the purchase of actual, delivered cryptocurrencies. Ranked by ForexBrokers.com, XM Group stands at #23 out of 62 brokers for its range of investments, receiving a rating of 4.5 stars, while IronFX is ranked #51, with a rating of 3.5 stars. This highlights XM Group's broader appeal and more versatile investment offerings compared to IronFX.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 340 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 83 |
| 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 comparing XM Group and IronFX in terms of trading platforms and tools, both brokers present similar offerings with some distinct differences. Both provide demo accounts for practice trading, allowing users to enhance their trading skills without financial risk. Both XM Group and IronFX do not offer proprietary platforms, relying instead on third-party solutions. They each provide a Windows-based desktop platform and a web-based trading platform for convenient access. Additionally, both brokers support MetaTrader 4, but XM Group goes a step further by also offering MetaTrader 5, giving traders access to a broader range of features.
For those interested in copy trading, XM Group and IronFX both have this feature available. However, neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. When it comes to charting, both brokers provide 15 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts, ensuring a comprehensive trading experience. For managing watch lists, both offer seven columns. In terms of performance ratings, XM Group scores 4 stars for trading platforms and tools, compared to IronFX's 3.5 stars. Furthermore, XM Group holds a higher ranking with ForexBrokers.com at #30, while IronFX is ranked at #60 out of 62 brokers surveyed. This positions XM Group as a slightly more favorable option based on overall tools and platform capabilities.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of XM Group and IronFX, both platforms offer apps for iPhone and Android devices, providing extensive access to the stock and forex markets while on the go. Users can receive stock or forex price alerts and create watchlists with real-time quotes. However, XM Group provides an advantage with watchlist symbol syncing, allowing users to keep their mobile and online account watchlists in sync—a feature not available with IronFX. Both apps offer users the capability to draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames, alongside 30 technical studies for insightful market analysis.
Despite these similarities, XM Group and IronFX differ in user ratings and additional features. XM Group's app is rated four out of five stars, while IronFX's garners a 3.5-star rating. The apps' charting tools still leave some room for improvement, such as XM Group's lack of auto-saving for chart drawings—a feature IronFX provides. In terms of ranking by ForexBrokers.com, XM Group comes in at #27, significantly ahead of IronFX, which is ranked #61 out of 62 brokers. This comparison might guide users in selecting the app that aligns best with their trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 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 IronFX for their market research offerings, both brokers provide valuable insights through daily market commentary and report forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. They each supply technical analysis tools by collaborating with Trading Central, which assists traders with informed decision-making. However, a key difference is that XM Group has an additional sentiment-based trading tool, giving insight into market trends by displaying the ratio of long to short positions. This feature sets XM Group apart from IronFX, which lacks a similar tool.
Both XM Group and IronFX offer traders access to economic calendars, highlighting significant current and upcoming global events that could affect the markets. Neither broker provides research tools from Acuity Trading or TipRanks. Nevertheless, in the Research category, XM Group outshines IronFX with a rating of 5 stars, compared to IronFX's 4 stars. Furthermore, XM Group is more highly ranked by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 8th spot out of 62 brokers, whereas IronFX holds the 28th position. This distinction in rankings and ratings illustrates XM Group's stronger reputation and capabilities in research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| 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 it comes to educational resources, beginners will find both XM Group and IronFX offer comprehensive materials on forex and CFDs. Each provides a minimum of ten educational pieces, ranging from articles and videos to archived webinars, ensuring new traders have ample learning content. However, XM Group surpasses IronFX by offering online educational webinars each month, a valuable feature not available with IronFX, which could make a significant difference for those who prefer live learning experiences.
For video content tailored specifically to beginners, both XM Group and IronFX deliver more than ten beginner-focused videos. Yet, XM Group extends its educational offerings further with advanced videos for experienced traders, an area where IronFX falls short. Additionally, IronFX provides an investor dictionary with over 50 investing term definitions, which XM Group does not. In terms of overall education ranking, XM Group takes a higher position, earning 5 stars and ranking 7th out of 62 brokers, while IronFX receives a 4-star rating and ranks 44th. These differences highlight XM Group as the slightly superior choice for beginners seeking diverse and advanced educational tools.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IronFX. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while IronFX finished with an overall rank of #48.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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IronFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 |
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Both XM Group and IronFX do not offer the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both XM Group and IronFX provide traders with the option to deposit or withdraw account funds using Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither supports ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal.
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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | IronFX | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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) | 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 340 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 83 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IronFX | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 83 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review |
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