Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs Trading 212, 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.
Founded in 2009, XM Group is an online broker that holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. Although it is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank, XM Group has earned a Trust Score rating of 88, falling within the 'trusted' category of 80-89. Additionally, XM Group holds one Tier-2 license, further cementing its credibility in the online brokerage realm.
On the other hand, Trading 212 was established in 2004 and holds two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting an average risk trustworthiness as per ForexBrokers.com standards. Like XM Group, it is neither publicly traded nor a bank. However, Trading 212 has been assigned a Trust Score of 79, placing it in the 'average risk' category. Unlike XM Group, Trading 212 does not have any Tier-2 licenses. Both brokers offer unique strengths, but regulatory trust may vary depending on the number of licenses and Trust Scores.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When it comes to comparing XM Group and Trading 212 on commissions and fees, both brokers present unique features that traders should consider. XM Group offers a standard account with spreads that tend to be on the more expensive side, however, the average spreads for their commission-based XM Zero account haven't been made public. Despite this, XM Group is rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, and is ranked 33rd out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, Trading 212 provides two different types of accounts: The Invest account, for trading shares with a minimum deposit of just 1 euro, and the CFD account, which requires a 10 euro deposit and is designed for trading CFDs. While Trading 212 promotes zero-commission trading, traders should be aware that spreads still apply to CFD and forex trades. Notably, Trading 212 has started sharing average spread data, with January 2024 figures showing an average spread of 1.9 pips for the EUR/USD pair. This average is higher than the industry norm and may disadvantage traders looking for the best prices in CFD and forex. Trading 212 also achieves a 4-star rating for commissions and fees and is placed 43rd on ForexBrokers.com's list.
Ultimately, choosing between XM Group and Trading 212 will depend on your trading priorities, such as spread costs and transparency. Both receive similar ratings, but XM Group has a higher ranking for commissions and fees. Keep in mind the spread data and fee structures as you decide which broker aligns better with your investment strategy.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | €10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment offerings of XM Group and Trading 212, both brokerages provide opportunities for forex trading as CFDs. However, Trading 212 offers a significantly larger selection of tradeable symbols, boasting 8,025 options compared to XM Group's 1,394. In terms of forex pairs, Trading 212 also leads with 146 pairs, while XM Group provides 55. Both platforms allow users to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, letting clients purchase shares like Apple and Vodafone without CFDs.
In the area of innovative features, XM Group offers copy trading, a service not available at Trading 212. For cryptocurrency investments, both brokers provide access to derivatives but not the actual cryptocurrencies. Despite XM Group's diverse offerings, trading 212 scores slightly higher for Range of Investments, earning 5 stars compared to XM Group's 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 is ranked 15th out of 62 brokers in this category, while XM Group holds the 23rd position.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 8025 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 XM Group and Trading 212, both brokers provide the option of simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, making it convenient for users to practice without risking real money. XM Group stands out with its diverse platform offerings, including Windows-based desktop downloads and popular MetaTrader platforms like MT4 and MT5. In contrast, Trading 212 prides itself on its proprietary platform for a unique trading experience, accessible via web browsers. Both brokers provide web-based trading platforms, but XM Group further distinguishes itself with copy trading capabilities, which Trading 212 does not offer. Additionally, XM Group offers the ability to trade directly from stock charts, matching Trading 212 in this regard.
When it comes to charting, Trading 212 takes the lead with 20 drawing tools compared to XM Group's 15, although the specific number of technical indicators each broker offers is not specified. For watch lists, XM Group provides 7 columns, allowing more detailed tracking compared to Trading 212's 5 columns. Both brokers are rated at 4 stars for their trading platforms and tools. However, Trading 212 is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, securing the 20th position out of 62 brokers, while XM Group is positioned at 30th place. While both brokers have their strengths, the choice ultimately depends on the user's platform preference and specific trading needs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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) | 30 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of XM Group and Trading 212, both brokers provide apps for iPhone and Android, ensuring easy access for most smartphone users. Each app supports stock or forex price alerts and allows watchlist synchronization, enabling seamless tracking and updating between the mobile app and clients' online accounts. Both brokers enable users to draw trendlines on charts and offer multiple time frames for viewing market data, such as daily, weekly, or intraday.
However, there are some differences worth noting. While XM Group offers 30 technical studies for charting, Trading 212 provides a more extensive range with 104 technical studies, giving traders more tools for analysis. Additionally, Trading 212's app automatically saves chart drawings, whereas XM Group does not. Despite these differences, both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and are rated four out of five stars for mobile trading. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, Trading 212 stands out at the 17th position compared to XM Group's 28th out of 62, suggesting a slightly stronger reputation among industry experts.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 |
| 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 the market research offerings of XM Group and Trading 212, distinct differences emerge in the resources available for investors. XM Group excels with daily market commentary, providing traders with timely insights on the financial landscape. In addition, XM Group gives access to essential technical analysis tools from Trading Central, allowing users to make informed decisions based on expert insights. Both platforms feature forex news from top-tier sources and provide a sentiment-based trading tool, enabling traders to gauge market moods. Furthermore, both XM Group and Trading 212 offer an economic calendar to track global economic events. However, XM Group holds an advantage with a more comprehensive set of research tools that cater to diverse trading strategies.
The effectiveness of XM Group's research capabilities is reflected in its higher rating and ranking by ForexBrokers.com, earning 5 stars and placing 8th out of 62 brokers. In contrast, Trading 212 has a lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 46th for research. The absence of research tools from companies like Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading is uniform across both brokers, but XM Group's inclusion of Trading Central offerings positions it as a more robust choice in market analysis.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | 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.
When evaluating educational resources for beginners, both XM Group and Trading 212 offer a comprehensive foundation for those new to forex and CFDs. XM Group and Trading 212 meet the basic requirement of providing at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and webinars, that focus on forex or CFDs. For those interested in interactive learning, both platforms provide monthly online educational webinars and maintain searchable archives of past sessions. Beginners can access over 10 educational videos specifically designed for newcomers on both platforms. Additionally, XM Group offers a suite of advanced educational videos for more experienced traders, mirroring Trading 212's offerings in this regard.
However, there are some notable differences to consider. Trading 212 supports new investors with an investor dictionary containing definitions for over 50 investment terms, a feature absent from XM Group's offerings. Despite this advantage, XM Group outshines in overall educational rankings. It boasts a 5-star rating and is ranked 7th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared to Trading 212's 3.5-star rating and 20th position. This suggests that while both brokers provide valuable educational materials, XM Group has the edge in offering a more highly rated educational experience.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XM Group is better than Trading 212. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 79 |
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Neither XM Group nor Trading 212 offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing XM Group and Trading 212 for depositing or withdrawing account funds, Trading 212 supports ACH and SEPA transfers as well as PayPal, unlike XM Group, which instead offers Skrill, while both brokers accept Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transfers, providing flexible options for diverse user preferences.
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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 8025 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 1.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | €10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | 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 | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 20 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 104 | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Trading 212 Review |
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