Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XTB vs Swissquote, 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.
XTB, founded in 2002, and Swissquote, founded in 1996, are both reputable online brokers that are listed on stock exchanges, bolstering their transparency. However, Swissquote operates as a bank, offering a wider scope of financial services compared to XTB. When it comes to regulatory standing, XTB holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, ultimately earning a high Trust Score of 96 from ForexBrokers.com. This implies XTB is highly trusted in the financial industry.
On the other hand, Swissquote holds a stronger regulatory position with five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, achieving the highest Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This distinction confirms that Swissquote is exceptionally trusted among brokers. For individuals prioritizing security and regulatory oversight, both brokers are strong choices, though Swissquote stands out with its higher number of top-tier licenses and status as a bank.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | Yes |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
XTB offers traders two main account types designed to suit different trading needs. The Standard account operates on a spread-only model, featuring average forex spreads of 1 pip for EUR/USD as of Q4 2023, making it a popular choice for retail forex traders. The Professional account, though phased out for most regions, was once a commission-based option reserved for EU and U.K. professionals and had similar pricing at higher volumes. For active traders, XTB provides an enticing rebate program, known as the Lower Spread Group, with rebates ranging from 5% to 30% based on trading volumes between 20 and 1000 lots per month. XTB has been awarded a commendable 4.5-star rating for commissions and fees, ranking it 11th among 62 brokers assessed by ForexBrokers.com.
Swissquote, as a distinguished Swiss banking corporation, presents a slightly premium trading cost compared to the most economical forex brokers. Depending on the branch, Swissquote accounts vary in fees and deposit requirements, with the U.K.-based accounts having the lowest costs. In the U.K., four account options are available, with the Elite account being ideal for active traders due to its competitive spreads and $5 per round-turn trade fee, contingent on a $10,000 deposit. Conversely, the Standard account begins with higher spreads of 1.3 pips for EUR/USD, while the Prime account offers a reduced minimum spread of 0.6 pips. Swissquote's fee structure results in a 3.5-star rating, placing it 52nd out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
When directly compared, XTB stands out for its competitive pricing for retail forex traders and provides an engaging rebate program, reflecting its higher ranking and star rating. Swissquote offers a premium service that aligns with its Swiss banking reputation but faces challenges matching lower fees offered elsewhere. Potential traders may prioritize XTB for cost-effectiveness, while those seeking a branded banking experience might find Swissquote appealing despite the additional expense.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 it comes to the variety of investments available, both XTB and Swissquote are strong contenders, each offering forex trading options, whether as CFDs or spot contracts. However, XTB stands out with a whopping 7,184 tradeable symbols compared to Swissquote’s 472. In terms of forex pairs, Swissquote offers slightly more with 80 pairs available in contrast to XTB’s 71. Both brokers provide access to exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone.
Despite XTB's broader range of symbols, Swissquote offers features that might sway certain investors. For example, Swissquote provides the option to engage in copy trading and the capability to purchase real cryptocurrency, not just derivatives. XTB, meanwhile, limits cryptocurrency activities to derivatives only and does not support copy trading. Both brokers have been rated five stars for their range of investments, yet Swissquote’s offerings have earned it a higher ranking, coming in at number 2 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XTB holds the number 14 spot.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 472 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 80 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | Yes |
| 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 XTB and Swissquote, both online brokers excel with high ratings of 4.5 stars for their trading platforms and tools. Both platforms provide a simulated trading environment, allowing users to practice with virtual demo accounts. XTB and Swissquote have developed proprietary platforms that feature both Windows-based desktop and web-based access, ensuring comprehensive usability. While Swissquote supports MetaTrader 4 and 5, XTB does not, which might be a key consideration for traders preferring these popular platforms. Moreover, Swissquote offers the added feature of copy trading, which XTB lacks, making Swissquote a potential favorite for those interested in social trading.
In terms of charting capabilities, Swissquote stands out with 75 drawing tools compared to XTB's 32, although both allow for trading directly from the chart. Additionally, Swissquote provides users with 11 customizable columns for watch lists, slightly more than XTB’s 8. Despite these differences, XTB secures the 9th spot in the ForexBrokers.com rankings for trading platforms and tools, slightly ahead of Swissquote, which ranks 11th. As both brokers offer comprehensive features, the choice between them may ultimately depend on preferences for trading tools and additional functionalities such as MetaTrader compatibility and copy trading.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 86 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 75 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XTB and Swissquote offer comprehensive mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, ensuring seamless access to trading platforms wherever you are. Each app provides essential features such as stock or forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts, which can be viewed across multiple time frames like daily or weekly. However, neither app currently offers watchlist symbol syncing, meaning that watchlist changes on mobile won't automatically sync with your online account.
In terms of technical studies available for charting, XTB takes a slight edge with 39 studies compared to Swissquote's 30. Both platforms allow for auto-saving of chart drawings and creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, streamlining the user experience. Consistently rated at 4.5 stars for their mobile apps, XTB and Swissquote deliver highly satisfactory experiences to their users. However, XTB ranks slightly higher in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, coming in 8th compared to Swissquote's 10th place out of 62 brokers, indicating a slight preference for XTB among industry experts.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
Both XTB and Swissquote provide traders with daily market commentary and access to forex news from renowned sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring that users stay informed on the latest financial developments. Additionally, both brokers offer an economic calendar that highlights significant global news events, aiding traders in planning their strategies around key financial announcements. However, a notable difference between the two is in their technical analysis offerings. Swissquote supports Autochartist, offering specialized tools for in-depth technical and fundamental analysis, a feature not available with XTB.
XTB excels with its unique sentiment-based trading tool, showing traders real-time ratios of long and short positions across various currency pairs, allowing them to gauge market mood quickly. Despite lacking certain research tools from TipRanks, Trading Central, and Acuity Trading that neither broker provides, XTB is rated higher at 5 stars for research compared to Swissquote's 4 stars. This higher rating is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with XTB placed at #7 out of 62 brokers, while Swissquote holds the #16 position, demonstrating XTB's stronger overall research capabilities.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| 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 comparing the educational resources available to beginners at XTB and Swissquote, both online brokers excel in providing comprehensive educational materials. XTB offers a diverse range of learning materials, including over ten educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, regular monthly webinars, and an accessible archive of past webinars. They also provide a solid collection of beginner and advanced videos, tailored to help traders of all experience levels understand trading concepts. However, XTB does not include an investor dictionary, which is an area Swissquote covers extensively.
Swissquote, like XTB, meets the benchmark with more than ten forex and CFDs educational resources and consistently hosts client webinars each month, which are also available in a searchable archive. Swissquote further distinguishes itself with a comprehensive investor dictionary featuring definitions of over fifty investing terms, supporting beginners in understanding complex jargon. While Swissquote provides comparable beginner and advanced video content, XTB slightly edges out Swissquote in overall educational offerings, reflected in its higher education rating and ranking by ForexBrokers.com. XTB earns a 5-star rating and holds the 11th position, whereas Swissquote receives 4 stars and is ranked 21st.
| Feature |
XTB
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XTB is better than Swissquote. XTB finished with an overall rank of #7, while Swissquote finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Swissquote
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
While XTB offers cryptocurrency derivatives but not the direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, Swissquote provides the option to buy both actual cryptocurrencies and cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to a wider range of investment preferences.
While both XTB and Swissquote support a variety of funding methods including PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, Swissquote stands out by also offering ACH and SEPA transfers, which XTB does not provide 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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Swissquote Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| |
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 2002 | 1996 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 5 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | 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) | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 7184 | 472 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 71 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 8 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 39 | 86 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 32 | 75 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Swissquote Review |
| Overall | XTB | Swissquote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 96 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XTB Review | Swissquote Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill