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 it comes to trading platforms and tools, both XM Group and Trading 212 shine as solid options for online trading, each with unique offerings. XM Group impresses with its availability of simulated trading through free demo accounts, allowing beginners to hone their skills without financial risk. While it doesn't offer a proprietary platform, it supports popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, providing traders with a familiar and flexible interface. Both desktop and web-based platforms are available with XM Group, alongside features such as copy trading, enabling users to duplicate the trading actions of accomplished investors. Additionally, XM Group provides seven columns for organizing watch lists and an array of drawing tools to enhance chart analysis.
On the other hand, Trading 212 stands out with its easy-to-use proprietary platform, which can be accessed through web browsers, but not via Windows-based desktop software. Like XM Group, it offers free virtual demo accounts, making it accessible to newcomers. While it lacks the in-depth versatility of MetaTrader platforms and the opportunity for copy trading, Trading 212 appeals with its 20 drawing tools and user-friendly charting interface, fostering an engaging trading experience. It also offers the capability to trade directly from stock charts, although its watch list customization is somewhat limited with five columns. Despite these differences, both brokers achieve a four-star rating for their trading platforms and tools, with Trading 212 ranked slightly higher by ForexBrokers.com at 21st compared to XM Group’s 30th position among 62 brokers.
| 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 it comes to mobile trading, both XM Group and Trading 212 offer apps for iPhone and Android, making them accessible to all mobile users. Each platform provides essential features like stock and forex price alerts, and the capability to sync watchlist symbols with the client's online account. This ensures that changes made on either the mobile app or the online account are instantly updated in both places. However, Trading 212 stands out with a wider range of technical studies for charting, offering 104 studies compared to XM Group's 30. Both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing various time frames on stock or forex charts, but Trading 212 goes a step further by auto-saving chart drawings, a feature XM Group lacks.
For those keen on creating watchlists with real-time quotes, both XM Group and Trading 212 deliver on this front. While both platforms are rated four stars for their mobile trading apps, Trading 212 ranks higher, coming in at 17th compared to XM Group's 27th among 62 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. This suggests a slight edge in user satisfaction and functionality for Trading 212's mobile app, despite both receiving positive reviews.
| 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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