| Feature | XM Trading | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2004 |
| Regulation | ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus) | FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSC (Bulgaria) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $1 |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary platform (web and mobile) |
| Available Instruments | 1,000+ instruments including Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Commodities, Indices | 8,025 instruments including Forex, CFDs, Stocks, ETFs, Commodities, Indices |
| Forex Pairs | 55 | 146 |
| Spreads | EUR/USD average spread: 1.6 pips | EUR/USD average spread: 1.9 pips |
| Commission on Stocks/ETFs | Varies by account type | $0 |
| Leverage | Up to 30:1 | Up to 30:1 |
| Deposit Methods | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, Skrill, Neteller | Bank transfer, Credit/Debit cards, PayPal, Google Pay |
| Withdrawal Fee | None | None |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading App | Yes (supports MT4/MT5) | Yes (proprietary app) |
| Educational Resources | Extensive webinars, videos, live sessions | Educational videos, tutorials |
| Customer Support | Email, Phone, Live Chat | Live Chat, Email |
| Copy Trading | Yes (via MT4/MT5) | No |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Yes (via CFDs) | No |
| Investor Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Account Opening Time | Approximately 1 business day | 1-2 business days |
| Types of Accounts | Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, Shares Account | CFD Account, Invest Account, ISA Account (UK residents) |
| Order Execution Type | Market execution | Market execution |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | No |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | No |
| Stop-Loss and Take-Profit Orders | Yes, customizable | Yes, customizable |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic Account (Swap-Free) | Yes | No |
| Fractional Shares | No | Yes |
| ETF Trading | Limited (via CFDs) | Yes (Invest & ISA accounts) |
| Direct Market Access (DMA) | No | No |
| Social Trading Integration | No | No |
| Algo Trading Support | Yes (via Expert Advisors on MT4/MT5) | No |
| Trade Execution Speed | ~85ms | ~150ms |
| Number of Base Currencies Supported | 11 (including USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY) | 9 (including USD, GBP, EUR) |
| Trailing Stop Orders | Yes | Yes |
| One-Click Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Charting Tools | Yes (MT4/MT5 indicators, add-ons) | Limited (proprietary platform) |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | Instant for most methods |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 24 hours | 1-3 business days |
| Best for | Forex and CFD traders, scalpers, algorithmic traders, high-leverage users | Long-term stock and ETF investors, beginners, low-cost traders |
| Margin Call Level | 50% | 45% |
| Stop-Out Level | 20% | 20% |
| Account Verification Time | 1 business day | 1-2 business days |
| Market Coverage | Global, including emerging markets | Primarily US, UK, and European markets |
| Fixed Spread Option | No | No |
| Floating Spread Option | Yes | Yes |
| Execution Policy | No re-quotes, ultra-fast execution | No re-quotes, standard execution |
| Trading Hours | 24/5 for Forex & CFDs | 24/5 for Forex & CFDs, 24/7 for some ETFs/stocks |
| Custom Indicators | Yes (via MT4/MT5) | No |
| Trading Signals | Yes (via MQL5, Trading Central) | No |
| Risk Management Tools | Stop-loss, take-profit, negative balance protection | Stop-loss, take-profit, negative balance protection |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No | No |
| Deposit Fees | None | None |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, Skrill, Neteller, Crypto Wallets (limited) | Bank Transfer, Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal |
| Spread Betting | No | No |
| Interest on Cash Balances | No | No |
| Dividend Payments on Stocks/ETFs | Yes (for CFDs) | Yes (for real stocks/ETFs) |
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | Yes | No |
| Regulatory Compensation Scheme | Yes (varies by jurisdiction) | Yes (up to £85,000 under FSCS UK) |
| VIP/Professional Account | Yes (higher leverage, premium services) | No |
| Multilingual Support | Yes (20+ languages) | Yes (10+ languages) |
| API Trading | Yes (MT4/MT5 API) | No |
| Mobile App Features | Full MT4/MT5 functionality | Simple, beginner-friendly UI, limited advanced tools |
| Web Trading Platform | Yes (MT4/MT5 WebTrader) | Yes (proprietary web platform) |
| Dark Mode in Platform | Yes (MT4/MT5) | Yes (Web & Mobile app) |
| Referral Program | Yes | No |
| Bonuses & Promotions | Yes (varies by jurisdiction) | No |
| Investor Sentiment Indicators | No | Yes |
| Real-Time News Feed | Yes | Yes |
| Number of Active Users | 5+ million | 2+ million |
| Best Suited for | Professional traders, high-volume traders, algo traders, forex traders | Long-term investors, beginners, ETF & stock traders |
XM Trading is best for forex and CFD traders who need MT4/MT5, algo trading, and high leverage, while Trading 212 is ideal for beginners and stock/ETF investors with a commission-free model.