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XM Review 2024

Written By

William Berg

Written By

William Berg

William contributes to several investment websites, leveraging his experience as a consultant for IPOs in the Nordic market and background providing localization for forex trading software. William has worked as a writer and fact-checker for a long row of financial publications.

» William Berg Profile Page

Edited By

Jemma Grist

Edited By

Jemma Grist

Jemma is a writer, editor and fact-checker focused on retail trading and investing. Jemma brings a unique perspective to the forex, stock, and cryptocurrency markets and works across several investment websites as a researcher and broker analyst.

» Jemma Grist Profile Page

Fact Checked By

James Barra

Fact Checked By

James Barra

James is an investment writer with a background in financial services. As a former management consultant, he has worked on major operational transformation programmes at prominent European banks. James authors, edits and fact-checks content for a series of investing websites.

» James Barra Profile Page

Updated

Sep 13, 2024

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Overall Rating

4.4 / 5

XM is #9 in our CFD broker rankings.

Customer Reviews (22)

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Customer Reviews

Regulation & Trust

4.3 / 5

Accounts & Banking

4.5 / 5

Assets & Markets

4.3 / 5

Fees & Costs

4.3 / 5

Platforms & Tools

4 / 5

Customer Support

4.5 / 5

Minimum Deposit $5

Trading Platforms MT4, MT5

Instruments Forex, Stock CFDs, Turbo Stocks, Indices, Commodities, Precious Metals, Energies, Shares, Crypto, Futures

Regulators ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC, FSCA, CNMV, AMF, KNF

Account Currencies USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, ZAR, CHF, SGD, PLN, HUF

Payment Options Credit Card, Debit Card, Skrill, Neteller, Wire Transfer, Perfect Money, Apple Pay, Google Wallet, TransferWise, Visa, M-Pesa

Awards

• The Best Crypto CFDs 2022 - Financial Expo Egypt
• Best FX Service Provider 2022 - City of London Wealth Management Awards
• Best MT4/MT5 Broker 2021 - DayTrading.com
• Best FX Educational Broker in the MENA region 2021 - Dubai Expo Awards
• Best Trading Experience 2021 - Ultimate Fintech
• Best FX Service Provider 2021 - City of London Wealth Management Awards
• Best Broker in Customer Service 2020 - FX168
• Global Forex Broker of the Year 2020 - Global Forex Awards

Pros

• Transparent and low fees with spreads from 0.0 pips that will help protect day trading profit margins
• XM continues to deliver diverse and multilingual educational materials and offers a useful live education schedule for its webinars and insights
• 1000+ instruments are available, including recently added thematic indices, providing exposure to emerging industries

Cons

• There's $5 inactivity fee after only 3 months, though this won't affect active traders
• There is weak regulatory oversight through the global entity
• PayPal deposits are not supported

In this review of XM, we share the key findings from our tests. We evaluate, compare and rate the forex and CFD broker in key areas, from its investment offering, trading fees and accounts to its platforms, research, education and customer support.

Importantly, we also examine XM’s regulatory status and track record to determine whether they can be trusted.

Assets & Markets

XM.com offers an excellent breadth of 1000+ instruments, with trading opportunities on popular asset classes, including forex, stocks, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies.

While using XM, we were particularly impressed with the turbo stocks, which offer highly leveraged trading on a handful of popular shares. The availability of fractional shares is also a bonus, allowing traders on a budget to speculate on high-value stocks.

Additionally, XM bolstered its offering in 2024 with five thematic indices that provide short-term trading opportunities in disruptive sectors, notably artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and blockchain.

You can trade:

• Stocks – Speculate on the price of 1,200+ shares, including Apple, Disney, GSK, Rolls-Royce, and Deutsche Bank
• Turbo Stocks – Trade 7 popular underlying shares as CFDs with daily expiration times and very high leverage up to 1:200, including Google, Facebook, and BP
• Indices – Speculate on 20 cash index CFDs, including the NASDAQ, FTSE, and DAX, plus 5 thematic indices including Artificial Intelligence Giants US Index and China Internet Giants Index.
• Forex – Take positions on 50+ major, minor, and exotic currency pairs, including the EUR/USD, AUD/CAD, and GBP/JPY
• Precious Metals & Energies – Trade a modest selection of precious metals and energies, such as gold, silver and natural gas
• Commodities – Buy and sell futures contracts on 8 soft commodities, such as corn and coffee
• Cryptocurrency – Trade 5 cryptocurrencies 24/7, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple

Note, that access to instruments may vary depending on your location.

Account Types

XM offers a choice of accounts to suit different trading styles, budgets and experience levels. European and UK clients, for example, can access the Ultra Low Micro, Ultra Low Standard or XM Zero accounts. Global clients, on the other hand, can open a Micro, Standard, or XM Ultra Low account. There is also a dedicated Shares account in some locations.

We recommend the Micro account for beginners – it offers nano lots and access to a huge range of markets. The Standard account is a good option for a range of traders with a straightforward sign-up process and competitive trading conditions. We were particularly impressed with the Ultra Low/Zero account – this is best for traders looking for the tightest spreads with a low commission.

While testing XM, we were also reassured to see that Islamic-friendly solutions are available on all accounts with swap-free trading and no replacement fee.

In addition, it is one of the few brokers we have reviewed that allows clients to open up to 8 accounts, allowing users to benefit from the perks of different solutions.

Importantly, XM stands out for its $5 minimum deposit – lower than almost every broker we have reviewed. This makes the brokerage a good option for beginners and those with less starting capital. The only exception to this is the Shares profile, which requires a $10,000 minimum investment.

How To Open An XM Account

I found it easy to sign up for an XM account, although the process is quite lengthy, especially the investor profile section which is used to determine the trading products that are most appropriate. To get started:

1. In the application form, choose your country of residency from the dropdown, add your email, and choose a password
2. Select ‘Open A Real Account’ on the following page
3. Add your personal details (country of residency, name, date of birth, address, and phone number)
4. Complete your financial profile, declaring your current employment status and planned investment value
5. Input your account parameters including trading platform, account type, leverage, and base currency
6. Review and submit your application

Payment Methods

XM offers a good selection of secure and low-cost deposit options. I can fund my account with wire transfer, Visa and Mastercard credit/debit cards, and popular e-wallets, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Skrill, and Neteller. My only minor complaint is that PayPal isn’t supported.

Our tests found that e-wallets offer the fastest processing times, with funds typically available within 1 hour.

We also appreciate the choice of base currencies, which include USD, EUR and GBP (European and UK clients), and HUF, PLN and ZAR (global clients). This makes it easy to run your account and trades in a convenient currency.

Withdrawals are another strong point based on our assessment. You can withdraw as little as $5 while there is no maximum limit. Withdrawal times are also reasonable, typically taking 2 to 5 days.

How To Deposit Funds

The account funding process is simple and I can initiate a deposit in a matter of minutes. To get started:

1. Log in to the XM members area
2. From the accounts page, click on ‘Deposit Funds’
3. Choose a payment method from the list of options
4. Follow the on-screen instructions (different per method) to complete the payment

Trading Fees

XM offers some of the lowest trading fees in the industry based on our assessment.

We found that trading fees vary between asset class and account, with commission-free trading available on the Micro and Standard accounts with a floating spread from 0.6 pips – tighter than most brokers we have evaluated.

Alternatively, the Zero account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a low commission of $3.50. Again, this is cheaper than most alternatives we have reviewed and will appeal to serious traders.

Non-Trading Fees

We didn’t encounter any hidden fees when we used XM.

Overnight fees apply on cash instruments held overnight, but this is industry standard. The broker also doesn’t charge any deposit or withdrawal fees, while third-party bank charges will be reimbursed on international wire transfers over $200.

The only charge to be aware of for casual investors is the $5 monthly inactivity fee that applies after 90 days. If you want a broker with no inactivity fee, we recommend Vantage.

Trading Platforms

XM.com offers two of the best third-party trading platforms: MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). They can be downloaded to desktop devices or opened through web browsers.

MT4 and MT5 are both powerful platforms, built for multi-asset trading. They offer dozens of indicators, multiple charting styles, timeframes and order types, plus support for automated trading through expert advisors (EAs) and scripts.

With excellent customization capabilities, we are comfortable traders of all experience levels will be able to navigate the interface and open/close positions with ease.

Based on our assessment, MT4 is best for beginners with 3 chart types, 9 timeframe views, 4 pending order types, 30+ technical indicators and 23 drawing tools.

MT5 will serve experienced traders thanks to its wider range of indicators and order types, faster processing, and extras like the integrated economic calendar.

Our only minor complaint is that the look and feel of the MetaQuotes software trails alternatives we have tested, such as TradingView.

A number of other brokers also offer proprietary desktop platforms that are beginner-friendly, whereas XM only offers the MetaTrader suite.

How To Place A Trade

I find it quick and easy to make trades on MT4 and MT5, with the process similar across both platforms:

1. On the platform, select ‘File’ in the top left menu
2. Click on ‘New Chart’ and find the asset you wish to speculate on, for example, EUR/USD
3. Select ‘Insert’ from the top menu to overlay indicators, objects, and scripts
4. When you are ready to make a trade, click ‘New Order’ from the center of the top menu
5. Enter your trading parameters, including order size, buy or sell, stop loss and take profit orders
6. Confirm the trade

Mobile App

XM offers a mobile app which is available to download on iOS and Android devices.

We found the app offers seamless connection to the  MetaTrader platforms, so any trades performed in the app will be automatically reflected in your desktop client, and vice versa. It also helps that we can access full account management features, including the members area, plus deposits and withdrawals.

Overall, the mobile application works well for trading on the go, with one-tap trading functionality, access to the broker’s full suite of 1,000+ instruments and interactive charting.

Regulation & Licenses

Our team is comfortable that XM is a legitimate, trustworthy broker that is regulated by credible financial bodies. These include the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), and the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).

In the EU, the brand has outward passporting with approval from the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority of Germany (BaFIN) and the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Our experts also found important account safeguards in place during their assessment of XM, including segregated client accounts and negative balance protection.

On the downside, the broker’s offshore entity operates with less regulatory scrutiny. Traders who sign up with this branch may not receive the same degree of legal protection or safeguards.

Leverage

Leveraged trading is available at XM, ranging from 1:1 to 1:1000 – higher than most brokers we have reviewed. With that said, the amount of leverage available will depend on your location and the instrument. For example, EU, UK and Australian traders can access leverage up to 1:30.

Importantly, we do not recommend that beginners trade with high leverage – this can increase the risk of large losses. High leverage will appeal to seasoned traders with effective risk management strategies.

XM uses a dynamic model, meaning the highest leverage is only available on lower equity amounts. For example, the maximum leverage is available on trading volumes of less than $40,000.

XM has a 50% margin call and a 20% stop-out level. Our team found that requirements remain constant throughout the week and never change at weekends or nights.

Demo Account

XM offers one of the best demo accounts we have used. Up to $5,000,000 is available in virtual credit and you can test strategies risk-free on any of the broker’s trading accounts.

Another bonus for us is that the paper trading account does not expire, so you can make use of it alongside your real-money account. That said, demo accounts automatically close after 60 days if there is no activity.

How To Open A Demo Account

Registration for a practice account is quick and easy. You can sign up in the client area:

1. From the ‘Overview of My Accounts’ section, select ‘Open Additional Account’
2. Choose ‘Custom Demo Account’ from the dropdown menu
3. Select either ‘MT4’ or ‘MT5’ from the menu
4. Pick between ‘Ultra Low Standard’ or ‘XM Zero’ account conditions
5. Choose the leverage, base currency, and investment amount from the dropdown menus
6. Create a password and select ‘Complete’
7. Login credentials will be displayed on the following page and sent to your email address

Bonuses & Promotions

XM offers occasional bonuses and financial incentives for new customers. Access will vary by jurisdiction due to regulatory restrictions – EU, UK and Australian investors cannot access trading promotions for example.

Previous incentives, available to global clients, have included a $30 no-deposit bonus. Here, profits generated using the credit could be withdrawn once the account volume reaches 10 micro lots and 5 round turn trades have been completed.

Traders who sign up with the global entity will also be able to take part in various competitions that offer a range of prizes, including withdrawable cash, bonus credit, and pre-funded trading accounts. There are daily, weekly and monthly contests, offering ample opportunities.

Importantly though, experts do not recommend choosing a broker based on their bonus deals. There are more important factors, including the firm’s trading conditions, tools and safety rating.

Additional Tools

Our XM review uncovered an average selection of extra trading tools.

We found several features useful, namely the forex calculators, exclusive technical indicators and VPS hosting. Global investors can also access copy trading, where they can mirror the trades of strategy managers with performance metrics to help them find the right provider for their goals.

However, there isn’t access to excellent third-party tools like Autochartist, available at alternatives like Pepperstone.

Our other criticism is that the VPS, while offering low latency trading and 24/7 market connectivity, costs $28 per month. This is higher than other brokers we have used, with some firms offering free VPS hosting for active traders.

Education

The wealth of educational materials available is a key benefit of trading with XM in our opinion. There is a Learning Centre with regular webinars, as well as an extensive catalog of training videos, tutorials, and trading tips.

The video series in particular is comprehensive, covering everything from the basics of forex trading to trading psychology and building a successful strategy. This is a great place to start for beginners.

Research

The market research and insights at XM are another strong point. The Research Hub is home to technical summaries, podcasts, blogs, and XM TV.

The two features we found particularly useful during our review, were the Discover and Trade Ideas. These offer useful market sentiment data and insights to help inform the decision-making process.

Customer Support

XM has one of the best customer support teams we have encountered. Multilingual customer service is available in over 30 languages, including English, Chinese, Russian, Spanish and Arabic. You can contact the broker 24 hours a day by telephone, email, and live chat.

Based on our tests, the live chat is the quickest and most convenient way to get help. We can normally get through within a few minutes and customer service agents are helpful. If you have a complex query, our tip is to skip the bot assistant by typing ‘human’.

• Email –  support@xm.com
• Telephone Contact Number – ‎+357 25029933 (Cyprus), +612 8607 8385 (Australia), +30 211 7700022 (Greece)

There is also a help center with useful information on common problems, including withdrawal issues, account validation queries, and software download problems.

Trading Restrictions

We did not come across any strategy restrictions when we used XM. Scalping, hedging and automated trading are all permitted on the broker’s accounts.

Company Background

XM.com was established in 2009. Today, it is one of the most popular online brokers with over 10 million clients from more than 190 countries.

The brokerage has offices in multiple countries, including headquarters in Limassol, Cyprus. The brand is comprised of a group of online trading entities, with regulatory oversight from the likes of the CySEC, ASIC, and DFSA.

Other reassuring signs for us are the multiple industry awards and accolades. These are all promising signs for us that XM.com is a trustworthy broker.

Trading Hours

XM trading hours follow standard market opening times. The broker’s trading sessions are from Sunday 10:05 pm to Friday 9:50 pm (GMT), though this will vary between asset classes.

An economic calendar is available with a public holiday schedule and upcoming events which may cause market volatility.

Should You Trade With XM?

XM is one of the best forex and CFD brokers based on our assessment. It offers multiple accounts to suit different investors with over 1000 instruments and competitive trading conditions.

The low starting deposit, excellent education and responsive support will appeal to beginners, while seasoned traders will rate the ultra-tight spreads on the Zero account and access to two of the most reliable platforms, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

FAQ

Is XM Genuine Or A Scam?

XM is a legitimate broker. The firm is authorized by tier-one regulators, has received dozens of awards and proved itself to be a reliable forex and CFD broker during our tests. Our team also didn’t uncover reports of major scams or safety issues during their research.

Is XM Trustworthy?

We gave XM a high trust score for several reasons: it is regulated by reputable bodies, including the ASIC, CySEC and FCA, it has a long track record in the industry with millions of clients and multiple awards, plus users get important safeguards like negative balance protection and segregated client accounts.

Is XM A Good Broker For Beginners?

XM is a good broker for beginners based on our evaluation. It offers a very low deposit of $5, its educational materials are among the best we have seen, there is an unlimited demo account, plus around-the-clock customer support. Fractional shares are also available to stock traders with less starting capital.

Does XM Have Low Trading Fees?

XM offers lower fees than most brokers we have reviewed. Variable spreads start from 0.6 pips on the Standard and Micro accounts, which is competitive. Equally, the Zero account offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a low commission of $3.50. XM.com is a good option if you want a low-cost broker with transparent pricing and no hidden charges.

Is XM Good For Day Trading?

XM is one of the better brokers we have tested for day traders. We recommend the Zero account and the MetaTrader 5 platform for day trading. The Zero account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a $5 minimum deposit while MT5 offers fast processing and powerful trading tools.

Is XM A Market Maker?

Yes, XM is a market maker broker, operating with a dealing desk. This means it matches its clients’ trades using its own liquidity channels.

Does XM Offer A Reliable Trading App?

XM does not offer a proprietary mobile app, however, MT4 and MT5 have mobile app compatibility. These applications are available for free download to iOS and Android devices and offer the full functionality of the desktop solutions for mobile traders.

Top 3 Alternatives to XM

Compare XM with the top 3 similar brokers that accept traders from your location.

1. IG – Founded in 1974, IG is part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly traded (LSE: IGG) brokerage. The brand-US offers spread betting, CFD and forex trading across an almost unrivalled selection of 17,000+ markets, with a range of user-friendly platforms and investing apps. For 50 years, IG has maintained its position as an industry leader, excelling in all key areas for traders.
   Go to IG
2. Interactive Brokers – Interactive Brokers (IBKR) is a premier brokerage, providing access to 150 markets in 33 countries, along with a suite of comprehensive investment services. With over 40 years of experience, this Nasdaq-listed firm adheres to stringent regulations by the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, amongst others, and is one of the most trusted brokers for trading around the globe.
   Go to Interactive Brokers
3. FOREX.com – Founded in 1999, FOREX.com is now part of StoneX, a financial services organization serving over one million customers worldwide. Regulated in the US, UK, EU, Australia and beyond, the broker offers thousands of markets, not just forex, and provides excellent pricing on cutting-edge platforms.
   Go to FOREX.com

XM Comparison Table

Compare Trading Instruments

Compare the markets and instruments offered by XM and its competitors. Please note, some markets may only be available via CFDs or other derivatives.

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