Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com 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.
Markets.com and Xtrade are both notable online brokers, but they differ significantly in terms of trust and regulatory backing. Founded in 1999, Markets.com is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. However, it holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, reflecting a strong regulatory foundation. With a Trust Score of 93 from ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com is categorized as highly trusted, offering peace of mind to its users.
Xtrade, established in 2003, also remains privately held and is not a bank. Although it manages to hold 1 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 license, its regulatory footprint is less extensive compared to Markets.com. Xtrade has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 74, placing it in the average risk category. While Xtrade offers a fair degree of trust, it falls short of the high level of assurance provided by Markets.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing online brokers for their commission costs and fees, Markets.com holds a slightly better position than Xtrade, despite a lack of available average spread data for both. Markets.com receives a 3.5-star rating out of five, signifying a middle-of-the-road offering where commissions and fees are considered manageable but not exceptional when stacked against its peers. In the rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com is positioned at 49th out of 62, indicating that while it is not among the top-tier brokers, it is above average in terms of affordability compared to the competition.
On the other hand, Xtrade finds itself at the lower end of the spectrum regarding commissions and fees. With a 2.5-star rating out of five, users might find their cost structure to be less appealing, potentially impacting their trading profitability. Xtrade is ranked last at 62nd out of 62 by ForexBrokers.com, which suggests that traders could find more competitive rates elsewhere if fees are their primary concern.
Overall, while both brokers come with their own set of costs without specific average spread data, Markets.com offers a slightly more favorable standing in terms of fees compared to Xtrade. Those prioritizing affordable trading might consider this relatively small difference significant, particularly when choosing the best broker to meet their financial trading strategy.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | 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.
Markets.com and Xtrade both provide forex trading through CFDs, accommodating those looking to engage in currency exchange. However, when it comes to the overall range of investments, Markets.com stands out with a substantial 2,179 symbols available for trading, vastly exceeding Xtrade's 482 symbols. Both brokers offer a similar number of forex pairs, with Markets.com providing 57 pairs compared to Xtrade's 56. Neither broker offers direct access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, meaning clients cannot purchase actual shares such as Apple or Vodafone.
For traders interested in copy trading, Markets.com is the preferable choice as it offers this feature while Xtrade does not. In terms of cryptocurrency trading, both platforms allow clients to trade cryptocurrency derivatives rather than the actual digital currencies. Evaluating the range of investments, Markets.com earns a higher rating with 4 stars and is ranked #29 by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Xtrade receives 3.5 stars and holds the #49 position. This indicates that Markets.com might cater to a wider array of investment interests compared to Xtrade.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of Markets.com and Xtrade, there are some notable differences that can influence your choice. Both brokers offer simulated (paper) trading with free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms developed in-house. Markets.com, however, sets itself apart with its variety of platform options including a Windows-based desktop download, a web-based trading platform, and integration with the popular MetaTrader 4 and 5. Xtrade, while also providing a web-based platform, does not offer a desktop download or support for MetaTrader, which could be a limiting factor for those accustomed to these tools.
In terms of additional features, Markets.com offers copy trading, an attractive option for those interested in mirroring the strategies of successful traders—not available with Xtrade. On the other hand, Xtrade offers a more extensive range of drawing tools for charting with 100 options compared to Markets.com's four. Xtrade also provides the ability to trade directly from stock charts, enhancing convenience, while Markets.com does not. Despite these differences, Markets.com is favored in the industry with a higher overall rating of four stars and a ranking of #26 for Trading Platforms and Tools by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Xtrade’s 3.5-star rating and #58 ranking. These factors together paint a comprehensive picture of the platforms' strengths and weaknesses.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of Markets.com and Xtrade, both provide options for iPhone and Android users. However, Markets.com stands out by offering stock or forex price alerts, a feature that Xtrade lacks. Markets.com also provides the convenience of watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring your watchlists remain up-to-date across both mobile and online platforms, a benefit Xtrade does not offer. While both apps lack the ability to view multiple time frames on charts, Markets.com does allow users to draw trendlines on charts, which is not possible with Xtrade.
For those interested in real-time market data, Markets.com allows the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, unlike Xtrade. Both platforms do not auto-save chart drawings, meaning users must manually save any annotations. In terms of ratings, both apps are rated four out of five stars for mobile trading. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com ranks higher at 33rd out of 62 brokers, while Xtrade is positioned at 53rd, suggesting a slight edge for Markets.com in terms of overall mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both Markets.com and Xtrade provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from well-regarded sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed about market trends and developments. While neither broker offers tools from Autochartist or Trading Central, Markets.com users can benefit from a sentiment-based trading tool, offering insight into long and short positions across various instruments—a feature not available with Xtrade. Also, both platforms include an economic calendar to help traders keep track of global events that might impact the markets.
When it comes to research quality, Markets.com takes the lead, earning a 4-star rating compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars. This is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, placing Markets.com at position #17 out of 62 brokers for research capabilities, while Xtrade is further down at #52. This indicates that Markets.com may offer a superior experience when it comes to market research, potentially giving its users an edge in making informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 for beginners, Markets.com and Xtrade both bring distinct offerings to the table. Markets.com offers a solid foundation for newcomers with a monthly online educational client webinar and a wide range of beginner and advanced educational videos. This makes it easier for users to build on their learning journey progressively. However, Markets.com lacks in providing a substantial number of articles, videos, and archived webinars focused specifically on forex or CFDs, and it does not offer a comprehensive investor dictionary. Despite these gaps, Markets.com is rated highly with 4 out of 5 stars for education and holds a respectable rank of #34 out of 62 brokers.
On the other hand, Xtrade shines in offering a variety of educational materials specifically focused on forex and CFDs, with over ten pieces available to users. However, it falls short in other areas—particularly the absence of monthly webinars and beginner-focused video content. Interestingly, Xtrade compensates for this with a comprehensive investor dictionary, featuring over 50 investing term definitions, which could be beneficial for those needing to understand trading jargon. Despite these offerings, Xtrade's educational resources receive a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars, placing it at #46 among 62 brokers. For beginners, Markets.com's diverse range of video content and webinars may be more appealing, while Xtrade might attract users looking for specific forex/CFDs education and a resourceful dictionary.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 Markets.com is better than Xtrade. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 |
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Both Markets.com and Xtrade do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
Neither Markets.com nor Xtrade offer ACH or SEPA transfers or PayPal as options for depositing or withdrawing account funds, but both platforms provide Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options for financial transactions.
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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) | |||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) | |||
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| Regulation | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 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 | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $250 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | No |
| Research | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Xtrade Review |
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