Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 and Xtrade are two online brokers that, while distinct in some aspects, can be compared in terms of their regulatory frameworks and trust scores. Trading 212, founded in 2004, operates with two Tier-1 licenses, which indicates a high level of trust according to ForexBrokers.com. It holds a trust score of 79, placing it in the average risk category. Meanwhile, Xtrade started operations in 2003 and has one Tier-1 license as well as a Tier-2 license, signifying reliability. However, Xtrade holds a slightly lower trust score of 74, also placing it in the same average risk category.
Neither Trading 212 nor Xtrade is publicly traded, nor do they operate as banks, which may factor into how potential users evaluate security and stability. Both firms have carved out their niches in the competitive online trading market, with Trading 212 obtaining a slight edge in trust ratings due to its additional Tier-1 license. For those deciding between these two brokers, understanding these regulatory and trust score nuances can aid in making a more informed choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to comparing Trading 212 and Xtrade for commissions and fees, both brokers offer distinct advantages and drawbacks. Trading 212 provides a CFD account with a competitive minimum deposit of 10 euros. Although they advertise zero-commission trading, traders should be aware of the spreads that apply to forex and CFD trading. Notably, Trading 212 published a spread for the popular EUR/USD pair averaging 1.9 pips in January 2024, which is above the industry's average. This positions Trading 212 lower than some of the best brokers in terms of cost-effectiveness.
Xtrade, on the other hand, provides limited transparency in this area, as there is no available data for the average spreads on their platform. This lack of information makes it challenging to assess Xtrade's cost competitiveness directly. While both brokers offer their unique selling points, traders may lean towards the broker providing more transparent cost information to make a more informed decision.
In terms of ratings, Trading 212 scores a solid 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, while Xtrade is rated lower at 2.5 stars. Among a pool of 62 brokers, Trading 212 is ranked 43rd by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Xtrade holds the 62nd position, indicating significant room for improvement in fee structures for Xtrade compared to Trading 212.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $250 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing Trading 212 and Xtrade, Trading 212 stands out with a much more extensive range of investment options. Offering 8025 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs, it gives investors a wider array of choices. In contrast, Xtrade provides 482 tradeable symbols and 56 forex pairs, which may be limiting for some investors seeking variety. Both platforms allow for forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither supports buying actual cryptocurrency directly.
A significant advantage of Trading 212 is the ability to trade exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, such as shares of Apple and Vodafone, which Xtrade does not offer. This feature contributes to Trading 212's impressive 5-star rating for its range of investments, ranking it 15th out of 62 brokers. Xtrade, with a 3.5-star rating and a ranking of 49th, may appeal to investors with simpler needs, but it lacks some of the diversity and options provided by Trading 212.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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.
Trading 212 and Xtrade provide a range of features tailored for online trading, both offering free virtual demo accounts and their own proprietary platforms. However, neither supports a Windows-based desktop platform or popular third-party platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. They each have web-based platforms allowing users to trade directly from stock charts, making them accessible for those who prefer browser trading. Despite these similarities, Trading 212 scores slightly higher for its trading platforms and tools, earning a 4-star rating compared to Xtrade's 3.5 stars.
When it comes to trading tools, Xtrade offers an extensive selection with 100 drawing tools for charting, significantly more than Trading 212’s 20. Additionally, Xtrade provides a more detailed view for organizing watch lists with nine columns, versus the five available with Trading 212. Both platforms are devoid of copy trading features. In terms of rankings, Trading 212 is placed higher at #21, compared to Xtrade’s position at #58 by ForexBrokers.com, indicating a stronger overall offering in this category.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | N/A |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 100 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
For traders on the go, choosing a mobile trading app is crucial in today's fast-paced financial world. Both Trading 212 and Xtrade offer apps for iPhone and Android, but they come with different features and capabilities. Trading 212 leads the way with stock and forex price alerts, and the ability to sync watchlist symbols between the mobile app and online account effortlessly. It also provides an impressive selection of 104 technical studies for charting along with drawing tools and the ability to view charts in multiple time frames. On the other hand, Xtrade doesn't match up as it lacks many features including price alerts, trendlines, and watchlist syncing.
Both platforms have received a four-star rating for their mobile trading apps, indicating a satisfactory user experience. However, Trading 212's app stands out with higher functionality and features that cater to both novice and experienced traders. Its ranking as the 17th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, compared to Xtrade's 53rd place, further highlights Trading 212's edge in mobile trading. Whether you're interested in technical analysis or just want real-time updates on market movements, Trading 212 offers a comprehensive experience to keep you connected and in control.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research offerings, Trading 212 and Xtrade both have a few strengths and areas they could improve upon. Trading 212 provides users with access to forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, giving investors reliable information. They also feature a sentiment-based trading tool that allows users to see the ratio of long or short positions in currency pairs and other instruments. Additionally, Trading 212 includes an economic calendar that helps users stay informed about global news events that could impact markets. However, they lack daily market commentary and do not partner with firms like Autochartist or Trading Central for additional analysis tools.
Xtrade, on the other hand, offers daily market commentary, which can be useful for users looking for regular insights. Like Trading 212, Xtrade provides forex news from top-tier sources and includes an economic calendar. However, Xtrade does not offer a sentiment-based trading tool and also does not collaborate with Autochartist or Trading Central for enhanced research tools. When rated for research, both brokers receive 3.5 stars, but in terms of rankings, Trading 212 is slight ahead at #46 compared to Xtrade’s #52, according to ForexBrokers.com. This comparison highlights a fairly close competition in terms of research capabilities between the two platforms.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 comparing the educational resources provided by Trading 212 and Xtrade for beginners, Trading 212 stands out as a more comprehensive choice. Both platforms offer more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring ample learning opportunities for beginners. However, Trading 212 takes a step further by hosting at least one online webinar every month, supplemented by a searchable archive of past sessions. This feature allows users to revisit and learn at their own pace, which is absent from Xtrade's offerings.
Additionally, Trading 212 provides at least ten beginner educational videos tailored specifically for newcomers, alongside a suite of advanced videos for more seasoned traders. This contrasts with Xtrade, which lacks a similar commitment to video content for beginners. Both brokers offer an investor dictionary to build foundational knowledge, featuring over 50 terms. Despite having equal education ratings of 3.5 stars, Trading 212 is positioned higher in the ForexBrokers.com rankings at 20th place, compared to Xtrade's 46th, indicating a broader acceptance of Trading 212’s educational efforts in the trading community.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Trading 212 is better than Xtrade. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #59.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
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| Trust Score | 79 | 74 |
| Range of Investments |
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Both Trading 212 and Xtrade do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Trading 212 provides more diverse options for depositing or withdrawing account funds by supporting ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Xtrade offers fund transfer options via Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires but lacks ACH, SEPA, and PayPal support.
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 | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 79 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 2 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | 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) | Yes | 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) | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 8025 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 146 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.9 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €10 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 5 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 54 | N/A | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 20 | 100 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 79 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Xtrade Review |
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