Trading 212 and XTB are leading global Forex brokers, but which one should you trust for your Forex portfolios?
I have conducted an in-depth review of Trading 212 versus XTB to determine which broker is the better overall choice and which types of traders will benefit most from trading with each of them.
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Headquarters | Cyprus | United Kingdom |
Regulators | FCA, FSC Mauritius | N/A |
Tier 1 Regulator(s)? | ||
Owned by Public Company? | ||
Year Established | 2006 | 2002 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | Market Maker |
Minimum Deposit | $1 | $0 |
Trading Platform(s) | MetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform | Proprietary platform |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 1.9 pips ($19.00) | 0.1 pips ($1.00) |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 2.9 pips ($29.00) | 0.2 pips ($2.00) |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.04 | $0.04 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.68 | $0.36 |
Islamic Account | ||
Signals | ||
US Persons Accepted? | ||
Managed Accounts | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
A snapshot of the most notable advantages of Trading 212:
- 4.5M funded accounts with $25B+ in assets
- Automating investing with ready-made portfolios or DIY goal-oriented alternatives with thousands of ETFs and stocks
- Fractional share dealing from as little as £1.00 with 24/5 trading
- Proprietary web-based trading platform and user-friendly mobile app, ideal for casual traders
- Daily interest payments on portfolios via share lending for short sellers
A snapshot of the most notable advantages of XTB:
- A quality proprietary trading platform, also available as a mobile app
- Trading tools including simplified risk and trade management, sentiment analysis, and market commentary
- AutoInvest and Investment Plans
Features & Platforms
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MT4 | ||
MT5 | ||
cTrader | ||
Proprietary Platform | ||
Automated Trading | ||
DOM? | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Scalping | ||
Hedging | ||
One-Click Trading | ||
OCO Orders | ||
Interest on Margin | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Available Markets
| | |
Currency Pairs | N/A | |
Commodities | ||
Crude Oil | ||
Gold | ||
Metals | ||
Equity Indices | ||
Stocks (non-CFDs) | ||
Bonds | N/A | |
ETFs | ||
Futures | ||
Synthetics | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Trading 212 offers 13,000+ assets versus 7,400+ at XTB. Trading 212 has more Forex pairs, though traders benefit from a well-balanced asset selection at both. Neither broker offers cryptocurrencies.
Here is why XTB is a better choice for most traders:
- Deeper liquidity and faster order execution
- Lower fees with a volume-based rebate program
Typical Spreads & Fees
| | |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 1.9 pips ($19.00) | 0.1 pips ($1.00) |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 2.9 pips ($29.00) | 0.2 pips ($2.00) |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.04 | $0.04 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.68 | $0.36 |
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin | $46.59 | $100.00 |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Both brokers offer commission-free pricing environments, but which is cheaper?
XTB is the clear winner in this category, with minimum spreads of $1.00 versus $20.00 at Trading 212. XTB also offers volume-based rebates, increasing its cost advantage. Trading 212 fees remain unacceptably high, and traders pay a 0.50% currency conversion fee for CFDs and 0.15% for investments.
Account Types
Account Types | Trading 212 | XTB |
Commission-free Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Commission-based Accounts | No | No |
Demo Accounts | Yes | Yes |
Islamic Accounts | No | Yes |
Social / Copy Trading | No | No |
Managed Accounts | Yes | No |
Trading 212 and XTB offer commission-free accounts with minimum deposit requirements of $1 and $0, respectively. While both are beginner-friendly with demo accounts, XTB also features swap-free Islamic accounts and volume-based rebates. Neither broker supports algorithmic trading.
Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between Trading 212 vs. XTB?
Here is what stands out the most:
- Trading 212 caters better to its core client base with customized solutions
Minimum Deposit
Deposit Snapshot | Trading 212 | XTB |
Minimum Deposit | $1 | $0 |
Deposit Fees | Yes + Third-party | Third-Party |
E-wallets | Yes | Yes |
Cryptocurrencies | No | No |
Localized Methods | Yes | No |
Total Deposit Methods | 8+ | 5 |
Supported Deposit Currencies | USD, GBP, EUR, 9+ | All fiat currencies |
How Difficult Is It to Deposit at Trading 212 Vs. XTB?
The minimum deposit requirement is non-existent for both brokers. The deposit process is more user-friendly at XTB, as it lacks internal deposit fees, while Trading 212 charges 0.7% on deposits above $2,000. Third-party processing costs may apply. XTB notes a 0.5% currency conversion fee and deposit fees for non-EU/UK residents.
Minimum Withdrawal
Withdrawal Snapshot | Trading 212 | XTB |
Minimum Withdrawal | $1 | $30 |
Internal Withdrawal Fees | $0 (third-party processing fees may apply) | $0 if above $50 (third-party fees may apply) |
Internal Processing Times | Within three business days | Within one business day |
Which Withdrawal Process Is Better - Trading 212 or XTB?
Trading 212 has a lower minimum withdrawal amount than XTB, but the withdrawal processing times are lengthy. Trading 212 offers free ATM withdrawals up to $400 before charging a $1 flat fee. XTB only processes bank wires, which it processes on the same day if traders submit their requests before 13:00 GMT. Neither broker allows cryptocurrency withdrawals.
Security & Trust
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Country of the Regulator | Bulgaria, Cyprus, United Kingdom | Belize, Cyprus, Poland, United Kingdom |
Name of the Regulator | FCA, FSC Mauritius | N/A |
Regulatory License Number | 609146, 398/21, RG-03-0237 | 000302/438, 522157, 169/12, 0000217580 |
Regulatory Tier | 1, 1, 1 | 4, 1, 1, 1 |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Which Broker Is More Secure and Trustworthy?
Both brokers offer segregated accounts, separating all client deposits from corporate funds, as well as negative balance protection, and investor compensation funds if mandated by their regulators. XTB has a longer track record and is a publicly listed company in Poland, but both brokers have secure, trustworthy trading environments with a clean track record. Therefore, I rank them as equals in both categories.
XTB versus Trading 212 Verdict
Trading 212
Pros | Cons |
Market-leading currency and commodities selection | High trading costs |
Fractional share dealing and AutoInvest | |
YouTube educational channel | |
Low minimum deposits from as little as $1 |
XTB
Pros | Cons |
Outstanding trading costs, ranking among the best Forex spreads industry-wide | Absence of MT4 and no algorithmic trading |
Well-balanced asset selection with high leverage | |
Fast NDD order execution and deep liquidity | |
Quality training academy for beginner traders |
Which Forex Broker Is Better?
Trading 212 and XTB are industry-leading brokers, and I recommend traders test the trading environments in their respective demo accounts.
My Verdict
Trading 212 provides an excellent choice of equity CFDs, but the absence of MT4 and algorithmic trading are notable. Costs remain unacceptably high, but the YouTube channel and fractional share dealing appeal to beginners. XTB is a high-quality multi-asset broker for manual traders and long-term investors, where its AutoInvest and Investment Plans shine.
Trading 212 is an uncompetitive choice for traders due to unacceptably high trading fees. XTB is a reliable broker, a publicly listed company in Poland, with over 20 years of operational experience. It depends on what traders require, but brokers like RoboForex, eToro, IC Markets, Pepperstone, IG Markets, Exness, BlackBull Markets, and Plus500 offer far superior trading conditions. Trading 212 offers better custom solutions for beginners, but XTB is better due to significantly lower trading fees.FAQs
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