Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group vs Vantage, 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, both XM Group and Vantage provide online brokerage services but differ in their regulatory standings. XM Group holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating it is highly trusted in the financial sector. Vantage, on the other hand, possesses two Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a solid level of trust as well. Additionally, both brokers maintain one Tier-2 license each, suggesting a recognized level of dependability. Despite their strong licensing, neither company is publicly traded or operates as a bank.
According to ForexBrokers.com Trust Score, XM Group scores 88, placing it within the trusted bracket, while Vantage scores 90, reaching the highly trusted range. This distinction highlights Vantage's slightly superior perceived reliability compared to XM Group. Nevertheless, both brokers have built a reputable presence in the market, supported by their compliance with stringent regulatory requirements.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When examining the commissions and fees of XM Group, it's notable that their standard account spreads are on the higher end. The lack of publicly available average spreads for the commission-based XM Zero account may deter price-conscious traders seeking transparency. Despite these issues, XM Group still garners a respectable four-star rating for commissions and fees from ForexBrokers.com, ranking #33 out of 62 brokers.
Vantage offers a more diversified approach to trading costs, with three types of accounts: the spread-only Standard STP account, and the commission-based RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts. Their Standard account lists typical EUR/USD spreads at 1.30 pips as of March 2023. The Raw account, aimed at more cost-effective trading, offers average spreads of 0.15 pips with a round-turn commission totaling 0.75 pips. Meanwhile, the PRO ECN account provides competitive pricing with a per-side commission of just $2, or $4 per round turn, though it requires specific qualifications or a minimum account funding of $10,000 depending on the regulatory entity. Rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees, Vantage ranks #19 out of 62 brokers, reflecting its competitive edge in cost structure.
For active traders, Vantage presents an appealing rebate program on its Standard account, with rebates from $2 to $8 per standard lot, depending on account balance and monthly trading volume. Yet, this rebate scheme is limited to the Standard account, which inherently carries higher spreads than its other account offerings.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.30 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 comparing the range of investments at XM Group and Vantage, both offer CFD and spot contract options for forex trading. XM Group impresses with a larger selection of 1,394 tradeable symbols, surpassing Vantage's offering of 1,000. While Vantage provides a slightly wider array of tradeable forex pairs with 61 compared to XM Group's 55, XM Group holds a distinct advantage by allowing clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international markets. In contrast, Vantage does not offer exchange-traded securities. Both platforms enable copy trading and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports actual cryptocurrency purchases.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group takes a higher spot for its range of investments, ranking #23 out of 62 brokers and receiving a rating of 4.5 stars. Vantage, while offering solid investment options, ranks lower at #50 with a rating of 3.5 stars. XM Group's inclusion of a wider array of trading instruments and access to international securities contributes significantly to its higher score, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a broader range of investment opportunities. Meanwhile, Vantage remains a competitive option, particularly for traders focused on forex pairs and certain derivatives.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 61 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
XM Group and Vantage both offer traders a comprehensive suite of platforms and tools designed for easy access and functionality. Each broker provides a free virtual demo account for simulated trading, allowing users to practice without risk. While XM Group does not offer a proprietary platform, Vantage does feature its own in-house platform, giving it an edge for those who appreciate custom-built solutions. Both brokers support popular trading tools such as MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, along with web-based and Windows desktop platforms, ensuring flexibility across different devices. Additionally, copy trading is available with both options, though only Vantage offers DupliTrade to expand the traders’ toolkit.
For traders focused on charting capabilities, both XM Group and Vantage provide 15 drawing tools and a significant number of technical indicators, allowing for detailed analysis. Trading directly from stock charts is another shared feature that enhances the user experience. Watch lists on both platforms consist of seven columns, offering clear and organized tracking of favorite instruments. Rated four stars for their platforms and tools, both brokers earn commendable scores, though Vantage ranks slightly higher at #21 out of 62 brokers, compared to XM Group's #30. This comparison highlights both brokers as strong contenders for traders seeking versatile platforms with plenty of features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both XM Group and Vantage provide feature-rich mobile trading apps available for iPhone and Android users. Whether you're trading stocks or forex, both apps support price alerts and offer the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames. When it comes to charting, they include 30 technical studies, ensuring a comprehensive analysis right at your fingertips. However, a notable difference is that XM Group’s mobile app allows watchlist symbol syncing, meaning any changes made on the app or online account update simultaneously. On the downside, XM Group does not auto-save drawings on charts, a feature available with Vantage.
Creating watchlists with real-time quotes is seamless on both platforms, enhancing your trading experience with up-to-the-moment data. Although both XM Group and Vantage receive a solid four-star rating for their mobile trading apps, Vantage edges slightly ahead with a #27 ranking by ForexBrokers.com, compared to XM Group's #28. Ultimately, both apps deliver a solid mobile trading experience, with choice perhaps hinging on your need for watchlist syncing and auto-saving chart features.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 |
| 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.
XM Group and Vantage both excel in delivering essential market insights by offering daily market commentary and updates from top-tier news sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. For traders seeking sentiment analysis, both brokers provide tools showing the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Additionally, each broker ensures that traders stay informed of crucial global economic events by providing an economic calendar. However, when comparing research tools, Vantage stands out as it includes offerings from Autochartist, while XM Group does not. Conversely, both brokers feature analysis tools from Trading Central, ensuring that traders receive high-quality technical insights.
While both XM Group and Vantage present a strong foundation for market research, XM Group takes a slight lead, being rated 5 stars for research compared to Vantage's 4 stars. Furthermore, XM Group holds the 8th position in the research category among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Vantage is ranked at 21. Though both platforms provide valuable tools for market analysis, XM Group’s higher rating suggests a more comprehensive approach to equipping traders with the information necessary for informed decision-making.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginners, both XM Group and Vantage provide a strong foundation for those new to forex and CFDs trading. Each platform offers a minimum of 10 educational pieces such as articles, videos, and webinars with a focus on forex or CFDs. They also host online educational webinars monthly, maintaining a searchable archive of past sessions to enhance learning flexibility. In terms of video content, both brokers deliver at least 10 beginner-level and 10 advanced-level videos, ensuring comprehensive coverage for both novices and seasoned traders alike.
However, there are differences in the educational tools provided by these brokers. While Vantage offers an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms, XM Group does not provide this resource. This might appeal to traders seeking readily available definitions as part of their learning journey. Despite this, XM Group stands out with a higher education rating of 5 stars and is ranked 7th out of 62 brokers for education by ForexBrokers.com, whereas Vantage receives 4 stars and ranks 24th. These ratings indicate XM Group's slight edge in educational offerings for traders looking to deepen their understanding of the market.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Vantage. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #26.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 90 |
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Both XM Group and Vantage do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
While both XM Group and Vantage offer Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options for depositing and withdrawing account funds, Vantage provides the added convenience of PayPal, unlike XM Group, and neither broker supports ACH or SEPA transfers.
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 | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Vantage Review |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 88 | 90 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | 1.30 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 0.75 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 7 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 15 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 30 | |
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Vantage Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 88 | 90 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Vantage Review |
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