| Feature | XM Trading | InstaForex |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus, Australia, Belize | Cyprus |
| Regulation | ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (Dubai), IFSC (Belize) | CySEC (Cyprus), IFSC (Belize), FSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $1 |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Shares, Islamic (Swap-Free) | Standard, Cent, Islamic (Swap-Free), PAMM |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, XM WebTrader | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, MultiTerminal |
| Tradable Instruments | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies | Forex, Commodities, Stocks, Indices, Cryptocurrencies, Metals |
| Number of Assets | Over 1,000 | Over 300 |
| Spreads | From 0.6 pips | From 0.7 pips |
| Commission | None on most accounts; $3.50 per lot per trade on Zero accounts | None on most accounts; 0.03%–0.07% on Eurica accounts |
| Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:1000 |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, WebMoney, Western Union | Credit/Debit Card, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin, PayCo |
| Withdrawal Methods | Same as deposit methods; no fees except $15 for bank transfers below $200 | Same as deposit methods; no fees |
| Inactivity Fee | $15 after 1 year of inactivity, then $5 monthly | None |
| Education | Webinars, Seminars, Video Tutorials, Demo Account | Webinars, Video Tutorials, Demo Account |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via Live Chat, Phone, Email | 24/7 via Live Chat, Phone, Email |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Deposit bonuses up to $5,000 | 100% first deposit bonus, 30% on subsequent deposits |
| Copy Trading | Yes, via proprietary platform | Yes, via ForexCopy system |
| Islamic Accounts | Available | Available |
| Scalping and Hedging | Allowed | Allowed |
| Automated Trading (EAs) | Supported | Supported |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, PLN, CZK |
| Trading Instruments | Over 1,000 instruments including CFDs on stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, forex, indices | Over 300 instruments including CFDs on stocks, commodities, cryptocurrencies, forex, indices |
| Cryptocurrency Trading | Offers trading on multiple cryptocurrencies | Offers trading on a dozen cryptocurrencies |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, seminars, video tutorials, demo account | Webinars, video tutorials, demo account |
| Customer Support Languages | Available in multiple languages | Support in 17 languages |
| Regulatory Authorities | ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (Dubai), IFSC (Belize) | CySEC (Cyprus), IFSC (Belize), FSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Deposit and Withdrawal Fees | No fees, except for bank transfers below $200 which incur a $15 fee | No deposit or withdrawal fees |
| Inactivity Fee | $15 after 1 year of inactivity, then $5 monthly | None |
| Copy Trading | Yes, via proprietary platform | Yes, via ForexCopy system |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Available | Available |
| Scalping and Hedging | Allowed | Allowed |
| Automated Trading (EAs) | Supported | Supported |
| Order Execution Speed | 99.35% of trades executed in less than 1 second | High execution speed |
| VPS Hosting | Free VPS service available for clients maintaining a minimum balance of $5,000 | Free VPS service |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Compensation Fund | Member of the Investor Compensation Fund (ICF), providing coverage up to €20,000 | Not specified |
| Trading Contests | Periodic contests and promotions with various prizes | Regular contests and competitions for traders |
| Affiliate Program | Multi-tier affiliate program with competitive commission structures | Partnership programs with various commission plans |
| Research Tools | Daily market analysis, trading signals, economic calendar | Forex analysis, news, and forecasts |
| Mobile Trading | XM app available for iOS and Android devices | Mobile trading supported via MetaTrader apps |
| Social Trading | Not specified | ForexCopy system allows copying trades of successful traders |
| PAMM Accounts | Not available | Available for investors to allocate funds to experienced traders |
| Deposit Bonuses | 50% bonus up to $500 and 20% bonus up to $5,000 | 100% first deposit bonus, 30% on subsequent deposits |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | Same-day for e-wallets; 2-5 business days for bank transfers | Typically processed within 1-3 hours |
| Customer Support Availability | 24/5 via live chat, phone, and email | 24/7 via live chat, phone, and email |
| Languages Supported | Over 25 languages | Support in multiple languages |
| Regulatory Authorities | ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), DFSA (Dubai), IFSC (Belize) | CySEC (Cyprus), IFSC (Belize), FSA (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) |
XM Trading offers a diverse range of assets, low spreads, and strong regulatory oversight, while InstaForex provides flexible leverage, extensive promotions, and PAMM accounts for investors. Both brokers support MetaTrader platforms and cater to different trading needs.