| Feature | XM Trading | IQ Option |
|---|---|---|
| Established | 2009 | 2013 |
| Regulation | CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), FCA (UK), BaFin (Germany), CNMV (Spain), FSP (New Zealand), CONSOB (Italy), IFSC (Belize) | CySEC (Cyprus) |
| Maximum Leverage | 0.73611111111111 | 0.38888888888889 |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10 |
| Trading Instruments | Forex, CFDs on Stocks, Commodities, Indices, Precious Metals, Energies, Cryptocurrencies | Forex, CFDs on Stocks, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies, Options |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, Mobile Apps | Proprietary Platform (Desktop, Web, Mobile Apps) |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, XM Ultra Low, Shares, Islamic, Demo | Standard, VIP, Demo |
| Deposit Methods | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Wire Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, UnionPay, others | Credit/Debit Cards, Bank Wire Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, WebMoney, others |
| Withdrawal Methods | Same as deposit methods | Same as deposit methods |
| Spread Type | Variable | Variable |
| Minimum Trade Size | 0.01 lots | 0.001 lots |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via Live Chat, Email, Phone | 24/7 via Live Chat, Email, Phone |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, Video Tutorials, Market Research, Educational Articles | Video Tutorials, Webinars, Market Analysis |
| Languages Supported | Multiple including English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, and more | Multiple including English, Spanish, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, and more |
| Mobile Trading Apps | Yes (iOS and Android) | Yes (iOS and Android) |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes (€10 after 90 days of inactivity) |
| Commission on Trades | No (except Shares account) | No |
| Execution Speed | <1 second | 0.6 - 1.2 seconds |
| Order Execution Type | Market execution | Market execution |
| Fractional Trading | No | Yes (for stocks) |
| Fixed vs Floating Spreads | Floating spreads only | Floating spreads only |
| Swap-Free (Islamic) Account | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| Withdrawal Fees | No (except bank wire under $200) | No (except bank wire transfers) |
| Trading Restrictions by Country | Restricted in some regions (e.g., USA, Canada, North Korea, Iran) | Restricted in some regions (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan) |
| Options Trading | No | Yes (Binary & Digital Options) |
| Stock Trading (Real Stocks) | No (Only CFDs on stocks) | Yes (for certain regions) |
| ETF Trading | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | Yes (CFDs only) | Yes (CFDs and real crypto for some regions) |
| Custom Indicators | Yes (via MT4/MT5) | No |
| Algo Trading / Bots | Yes (via MT4/MT5 Expert Advisors) | No |
| VIP/Loyalty Program | Yes (XM Loyalty Program) | Yes (VIP Account with benefits) |
| Cashback / Rebates | Yes (on certain accounts) | No |
| Contests / Tournaments | No | Yes (Trading Tournaments) |
| Deposit Processing Time | Instant for most methods | Instant for most methods |
| Withdrawal Processing Time | 1-3 business days | 1-5 business days |
| Multichart Layout | Yes (via MT4/MT5) | Yes |
| Advanced Charting Tools | Yes (MT4/MT5) | Yes |
| Regulatory Compliance for Funds Protection | Yes (Segregated Accounts, Investor Compensation Fund, Negative Balance Protection) | Yes (Investor Compensation Fund, Negative Balance Protection) |
| Audit & Transparency | Yes (Regular audits, licensed by multiple authorities) | Yes (CySEC-regulated) |
| Tick Size for Forex | 5-digit pricing (fractional pip pricing) | 5-digit pricing (fractional pip pricing) |
| Liquidity Providers | Top-tier banks and financial institutions | Not publicly disclosed |
| Margin Call Level | 50% | 50% |
| Stop Out Level | 20% | 50% |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, and more depending on region |
| PAMM / MAM Accounts | Available for professional traders | Not available |
| Trade Execution Model | No dealing desk (NDD), STP/ECN execution | Market Maker |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Stop-Loss, Take-Profit, Trailing Stop | Market, Limit, Stop, Stop-Loss, Take-Profit |
| Volatility Protection Settings | Slippage control, Order execution speed optimization | Basic stop-loss and take-profit settings |
| Number of Tradable Forex Pairs | Over 55 currency pairs | Over 30 currency pairs |
| Number of Tradable CFDs | Over 1,000 CFDs (stocks, commodities, indices, metals, energies, cryptocurrencies) | Over 300 CFDs (stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies) |
| Options Expiry | Not applicable | Fixed expiry times for binary and digital options |
| Dividend Adjustments on CFDs | Yes (applies to stock CFDs) | Yes (applies to stock CFDs) |
| Weekend Trading Availability | Cryptocurrency CFDs | Cryptocurrency CFDs, some binary options |
| Leverage Customization | Adjustable leverage per instrument | Fixed leverage based on regulations |
| Slippage Control | Minimal due to STP/ECN model | Can be significant during high volatility |
| Spread on Major Pairs (EUR/USD Example) | 0.6 pips (on Ultra Low account) | 1.0 pips (floating) |
| Interest on Account Balance | No interest on deposits | No interest on deposits |
| Affiliate/IB Program | Available with multi-tier commissions | Available with direct referrals |
| Real-Time Margin Calculation | Provided in platform | Provided in platform |
| Max Order Size (Single Trade) | 50 lots | Varies depending on asset |
| Asset Price Data Source | Interbank market prices | Proprietary price feed |
| Historical Price Data Access | Full access via MT4/MT5 | Limited access via proprietary platform |
| Micro Lot Trading | Supported | Supported |
| Tick-by-Tick Data | Available for algorithmic traders | Limited access |
| Custom Scripts and Indicators | Full support (MQL4/MQL5 programming) | Not available |
| Order Book Depth | Shallow for standard accounts, deep for ECN accounts | Not disclosed |
| Position Holding Time Limits | No limits on trade duration | Binary options expire at a fixed time |
| Short Selling Availability | Allowed on CFDs | Allowed on CFDs |
| Multiple Account Management for Traders | MAM/PAMM solutions | Not supported |
| Custom Stop-Loss in Pips or Percentage | Can be set based on pips, amount, or percentage | Limited to fixed settings |
| Custom Trading Signals | Available through MT4/MT5 marketplace | Not supported |
| Earnings Reports Trading (Stock CFDs) | Stock CFD price adjustments based on corporate earnings | Stock CFD price adjustments based on corporate earnings |
| Trading Holidays and Restrictions | Follows global forex market hours | Follows global forex market hours |
| Partial Order Closing | Can close portions of a trade | Must close full trade (except for stocks) |
| FIFO Rule Compliance (for US Traders) | Not applicable (not available in the US) | Not applicable (not available in the US) |
| Chart Timeframes | From 1 minute to 1 month | From 5 seconds to 1 month |
| AI Trading Assistance | None (manual or automated via Expert Advisors) | Some AI-assisted trade suggestions |
| Market Sentiment Indicators | Available | Available |
| Cross-Asset Correlation Tools | Available via MT5 | Not available |
| Multiple Monitor Support | Fully supported with MT4/MT5 | Limited multi-window support |
| Custom Alerts & Notifications | Price, volume, and event-based alerts | Price-based alerts only |
| VIP Features for High Net Worth Traders | Personalized account manager, lower spreads, exclusive webinars | Higher payout percentages for VIP accounts |
| Advanced Order Execution Strategies | Scalping, hedging, algorithmic trading | Scalping allowed, but no algorithmic trading |
| Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders | Not available | Not available |
| API Access for Algo Trading | Available for institutional accounts | Not available |
| Advanced Risk Management Tools | Margin monitoring, slippage settings, trailing stops | Basic stop-loss settings |
| Cross-Platform Synchronization | Seamless syncing between desktop, mobile, and web | Limited syncing |
| Time & Sales (Trade Ticker) | Available on MT5 | Not available |
| Economic Event Impact Prediction | Integrated news feed | Economic calendar with impact ratings |
| Real-Time Market Depth Analysis | Yes, via MT5 (Level II market depth) | No |
| Tax Reporting Features | Available via account statements | Basic reporting |
| Global Trading Hours | 24/5 for Forex, 24/7 for Crypto | 24/5 for most assets, 24/7 for Crypto |
| Platform Software Updates | Frequent updates to MT4/MT5 | Updates to proprietary software as needed |
XM Trading offers a wider range of assets, lower spreads, and advanced MT4/MT5 trading tools, while IQ Option excels in options trading, a user-friendly interface, and trading tournaments. The choice depends on whether you prioritize professional trading features or a beginner-friendly experience.