| Feature | XM Trading | FTMO |
|---|---|---|
| Company Type | Retail Forex and CFD Broker | Proprietary Trading Firm |
| Founded | 2009 | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Prague, Czech Republic |
| Regulation | Regulated by multiple authorities, including CySEC and ASIC | Not regulated; operates as a prop trading firm |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, Shares Accounts | FTMO Account, FTMO Swing Account |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | Evaluation fee starting at €155 |
| Leverage | Up to 1:888 (varies by entity and regulatory restrictions) | Up to 1:100 for FTMO Account; up to 1:30 for FTMO Swing Account |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Metals, Energies | Forex, Indices, Commodities, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XM WebTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader, Proprietary platform |
| Spreads | As low as 0.6 pips on major pairs | Average 0.6 pips for EUR/USD |
| Commission | Zero commissions on most accounts; Shares Accounts have commissions | No commissions; profit split model |
| Deposit/Withdrawal Methods | Bank transfers, credit/debit cards, e-wallets (e.g., Skrill, Neteller) | Not applicable; profits are withdrawn as per profit split terms |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, seminars, tutorials, market research | Performance Coaches, educational tools, Free Trial |
| Customer Support | 24/5 support via live chat, email, phone | 24/7 support in 16 languages via live chat, email, Discord community |
| Promotions/Bonuses | Various promotions and bonuses (subject to regulatory restrictions) | Refundable evaluation fee upon successful completion |
| Profit Sharing | Not applicable | 80% to 90% profit share |
| Evaluation Process | Not applicable | Two-step evaluation: FTMO Challenge and Verification |
| Scaling Plan | Not applicable | Account size increases by 25% every four months upon meeting criteria |
| Free Trial | Not specified | Available |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Not specified |
| Trading Restrictions | None specified | Restrictions on weekend positions and news trading (varies by account type) |
| Processing Time for Withdrawals | Typically 24 hours | Average withdrawal processing time is 8 hours |
| Reputation | Established broker with a global presence | Recognized for operational excellence and longevity in prop trading |
| Account Currency Options | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, CHF, CZK, JPY |
| Execution Type | Market execution, No Requotes | Market execution |
| Slippage Policy | Possible during volatile market conditions | Minimal slippage, better execution due to liquidity providers |
| Stop-Out Level | 20% for Micro, Standard, and Ultra Low accounts | 10% of account balance (breach results in account loss) |
| Trailing Stop Availability | Yes | Yes |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Algorithmic Trading (EAs) | Yes, allowed | Yes, allowed |
| VPS Services | Free VPS available for eligible traders | Not provided directly |
| News Trading Allowed | Yes | Limited; FTMO restricts news trading during high-impact events |
| Weekend Trading | Available for cryptocurrencies | Limited (only on FTMO Swing Account) |
| Swap-Free Accounts | Yes (Islamic accounts) | No (traders pay swaps) |
| Trading Competitions | No | Yes, occasional trading challenges |
| Copy Trading/PAMM Services | Not available | Not available |
| Maximum Account Size | No fixed limit; varies based on leverage and deposits | Up to $400,000 (scaling plan allows growth) |
| Withdrawal Frequency | No limits | Bi-weekly (every 14 days) or customized payouts |
| Withdrawal Fees | None for most methods | None |
| Inactive Account Fee | Yes, after 90 days ($5/month) | No inactivity fees |
| Mobile Trading Apps | Yes, via MT4 & MT5 apps | Yes, via MT4, MT5, and cTrader apps |
| Risk Management Tools | Negative balance protection | Max loss limits, scaling rules, equity protection |
| Maximum Drawdown Allowed | No specific limit | Daily max loss: 5%, Total max loss: 10% |
| Community & Social Presence | Active forums, social media, educational blogs | Discord community, YouTube training videos |
| Overall Risk Level | Medium (due to market volatility) | High (due to challenge-based evaluation) |
| Market Maker or STP/ECN? | Market Maker + STP Hybrid | STP/ECN Model (uses liquidity providers) |
| Raw Spread Accounts | Available (XM Ultra Low account) | Not applicable (fixed spread model) |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No | No |
| Deposit Bonus | Yes (varies by region) | No (no deposit required) |
| Referral Program | Yes (IB & affiliate program) | No |
| Loyalty Rewards | Yes (XM Loyalty Program with redeemable points) | No |
| Profit Withdrawal Limitations | None | Profit share model (80%-90%) |
| Custom Indicator Support | Yes | Yes |
| Automated Trading Bot Support | Yes | Yes |
| Live Account Expiry | Never expires | Accounts can be terminated after violating drawdown rules |
| One-Click Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Tick Data Availability | Yes, historical tick data available | No, only real-time market data |
| Fund Security Measures | Segregated client funds, regulated protection | FTMO does not hold client funds, payout model based on trading performance |
| Trade Execution Speed | 30ms to 100ms (varies by server & liquidity) | Ultra-fast execution due to premium liquidity providers |
| Maximum Open Positions | 200 positions | No specified limit (but max risk limits apply) |
| Margin Call Level | 50% | Not applicable (prop firm, not a broker) |
| Spread Widening During News Events? | Yes, common in high volatility | Yes, but lower due to liquidity providers |
| Asset Coverage for Commodities | Gold, Silver, Oil, Natural Gas, Coffee, Cocoa, etc. | Gold, Oil, Natural Gas, selected indices |
| Crypto Trading Available? | Yes, 24/7 | Yes, but with risk limits |
| Daily Economic News Updates? | Yes, detailed market insights | Yes, FTMO Market Analysis |
| Psychological Training Support? | No direct psychological training | Yes, FTMO Performance Coach sessions |
| Refunds for Failed Accounts? | No | Yes, if challenge is passed |
| Account Replication or Multi-Account Trading? | Yes (can operate multiple live accounts) | No (each challenge account must be traded independently) |
| Fastest Withdrawal Method? | E-wallets (within hours) | Crypto or Bank Transfer (within 8 hours) |
| Maximum Trading Volume Allowed? | No specific cap | Depends on FTMO's risk limits |
| Does It Offer Proprietary Trading? | No | Yes (funded trader model) |
| Average Monthly Profit Expectation? | Depends on individual trading performance | Typically 10%-30% of funded account size (with risk rules applied) |
| Regional Restrictions? | Some countries restricted due to regulations | Some regions restricted based on financial laws |
| Maximum Capital Allocation for Pro Traders? | No fixed limit | $2M+ (via multiple funded accounts) |
| Data Fees for Live Markets? | No extra cost | No extra cost |
| Micro-Lot Trading? | Yes (from 0.01 lots) | Yes (minimum lot size varies by instrument) |
| Broker Liquidity Provider? | Multiple Tier-1 banks | Top liquidity providers via FTMO proprietary feeds |
| Trading Conditions on Weekends? | Only crypto available | Only FTMO Swing allows weekend holding |
| Are Positions Copied Across Accounts? | No | No, each challenge account must be traded separately |
| Does It Offer Any Physical Trading Floor? | No | No (remote-based prop firm) |
XM Trading is a retail Forex & CFD broker offering high leverage and diverse trading instruments, while FTMO is a proprietary trading firm providing funded accounts with strict risk management and profit-sharing models.