Trading 212 vs XTB Comparison – 2024

Top Reasons to Choose Trading 212 or XTB

Based on our comparative analyses, I have listed in the table below the top reasons why I think XTB is ideal for intermediate CFD traders and why Trading 212 is a good option for beginner CFD traders. I also found that both brokers offer similar products and services for stock investing, suitable for all investors:

Trading 212: Snapshot

Established in 2003, Trading 212 was one of the first brokers to introduce commission-free stock trading in Europe and the UK, revolutionizing the finance industry. Regulated by three Tier-1 financial authorities in Europe, it offers over 7,000 tradable instruments with zero commissions and competitive spreads.

Trading 212: Who is it For?

Trading 212 is ideal for beginner CFD traders seeking a simple way to trade. Since scalping is prohibited, the broker is better suited for medium to longer-term trading styles. It’s also perfect for stock investors of all levels, offering zero-commission investing accounts.

What Makes Trading 212 Stand Out?

Trading 212 stands out as a pioneer in offering zero-commission stock trading. It now offers an extensive range of products accessible via both investing and trading accounts. This includes fractional shares and an auto-invest feature.

XTB: Snapshot

Established in 2002, XTB is a publicly traded company listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and headquartered in Poland. Regulated by two Tier-1 regulators, XTB provides top-notch, in-house research for trading more than 2,100 CFD instruments through its proprietary, feature-rich web platform and mobile app.

XTB: Who is it For?

XTB is ideal for intermediate traders seeking high-quality market research, competitive spreads, and a professional trading platform. The broker is also well-suited for stock investors with zero-commission investing on thousands of global shares.

What Makes XTB Stand Out?

XTB stands out by offering zero-commission CFD trading on a wide range of financial instruments from its feature-rich proprietary trading platform. It also offers low-cost investing solutions and tools to build your own investment plan.

Trust

Trading 212 vs XTB Trust and Regulation Comparison

Trading 212 was established in 2003. It has three entities regulated by three Tier-1 European regulators, including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSC (Bulgaria). These regulators adhere to the European Securities and Markets Authority’s (ESMA) rules, leading to highly transparent information regarding fees and trading terms.

XTB, established in 2002, operates through five entities. Two of these are regulated by Tier-1 European regulators – the FCA (UK) and CySEC (Cyprus), while another two are supervised by Tier-2 European regulators – CNMV (Spain) and KNF (Poland). These entities offer a high level of transparency regarding trading fees and terms. The fifth entity is based offshore and is overseen by a Tier-3 regulator, the IFSC Belize.

Fees

Trading 212 vs XTB Spreads, Fees and Commissions Comparison

In our live fee test using the Trading 212 commission-free CFD account, we found that the spread for EUR/USD averaged 0.7 pips during the London open and 1.1 pips during the US open, generally beating the industry average of 1.0 pips. There are no inactivity, deposit, or withdrawal fees, making it suitable for beginner traders with less trading activity and smaller accounts.

Using the XTB commission-free Standard CFD account, we observed that the spread for EUR/USD averaged 0.9 pips during the London open and 0.8 pips during the US open. This beats the industry average of 1.0 pips, providing a suitable offering for intermediate traders. Most deposit and withdrawal methods are fee-free, but there is a monthly inactivity fee of $10 after a year of no trading activity.

Platforms and Tools

Trading 212 vs XTB Trading Platforms Comparison

Trading 212 provides a proprietary web platform and mobile app. The web platform features a user-friendly interface, a list of instruments categorized by asset class, 55 technical indicators, 20 drawing tools, 10 timeframes, and 5 chart types. With limited customization options, it is geared toward beginner traders. The mobile app offers the same features as the web platform but is enhanced by TradingView, offering useful tools for traders of all levels.

XTB’s proprietary xStation 5 platform is available on web, desktop, and mobile. It features 47 technical indicators, 20 drawing tools, 9 timeframes, and 5 chart types. With a fully customizable layout, price alerts, and one-click trading options, the xStation 5 platform is well-suited for intermediate and advanced traders. The xStation mobile app offers built-in market commentary, an economic calendar, and one-click trading options, but it lacks price alerts.

In case you’re looking for brokers that offer third-party platforms, check out our guides on the best MT4, MT5, and cTrader forex brokers.

Tradable Instruments

Trading 212 vs XTB Instruments Selection Comparison

Trading 212 offers over 7,000 CFD shares and ETFs from the U.S., Europe, the UK, Australia, and Asia, along with 178 currency pairs, 46 commodities, 20 indices, and 15 cryptocurrency CFDs. The range of instruments is well-suited for traders of all levels, including beginners, intermediates, and advanced.

XTB offers over 1,800 CFD shares worldwide, 100 ETFs, 27 indices, 23 commodities, and 54 currency CFDs. There are also 3,000 physical shares and ETFs from 16 global stock exchanges. This range of markets is suited to all types of traders.

Customer Support

Trading 212 vs XTB Customer Support Comparison

Trading 212 offers 24-hour support, 7 days a week. However, this is available only via email. Our live test revealed that the responses were fast, well-structured, and helpful.

XTB provides 24-hour support, 5 days a week, in multiple languages through live chat, phone, and email. Our tests revealed that the agents are knowledgeable, offering the fastest responses over the phone and longer waiting times via live chat.

Research

Trading 212 vs XTB Research Tools Comparison

Trading 212 offers limited market research and no third-party research tools. It provides an economic calendar and a dedicated news feed in the web platform and mobile app to notify traders of high-impact news announcements. The research material available is mostly suited to technical analysis traders who do not rely on fundamental analysis.

XTB provides comprehensive market research developed by its in-house team, available on its website and the xStation platform. The research encompasses breaking news, fundamental and technical analyses, and weekly, daily, and macro outlooks. The XTB platform offers supplementary research tools like sentiment analysis, leading gainers and losers, a stock and ETF scanner, and real-time heat maps. These features are tailored to all traders seeking a fundamental edge in the market.

Deposits & Withdrawals

Trading 212 vs XTB Deposit and Withdrawal Methods Comparison

Trading 212 offers deposits and withdrawals through bank wire, credit/debit card, Dotpay, Giropay, Carte Bleue, Bilk, PayPal, iDEAL, Direct eBanking, Apple/Google Pay, and Skrill. Requests are processed within 3 business days, and there are no broker fees, though third-party banking fees may apply.

XTB allows fee-free deposits through bank wire transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and Maestro. However, a 2% deposit fee applies when using Skrill. Deposits are processed immediately, except for bank wire transfers, which may take up to one business day. Withdrawals can only be made via bank wire transfer and are free for amounts exceeding $100; for smaller amounts, a $20 withdrawal fee is applied.

Account Types and Terms

Trading 212 vs XTB Account Types Comparison

Our test showed that Trading 212 offers three accounts suitable for beginner traders and investors. These include CFD and Invest accounts available worldwide and an ISA account exclusively for UK share investors. The CFD trading account requires a minimum deposit of 10 units of the base currency and offers leverage up to 1:30, but there is no swap-free Islamic account option.

XTB offers a Standard CFD Account, which requires no minimum deposit. This account can be customized into a Demo, Live, Professional, Islamic, or Corporate account. The Professional Account provides the highest leverage – up to 1:100. Additionally, the Islamic Account facilitates swap-free trading, adhering to Sharia Law principles.

Education

Trading 212 vs XTB Educational Content Comparison

Trading 212 has published over 160 educational videos on its YouTube channel. Topics are broad, covering the psychology of trading, strategies, and different asset classes, but there are no platform guides or regular webinars. A few dozen written articles from the broker mainly cover investing. The Community Forum is a standout feature, where traders can learn from each other – an ideal resource for beginners.

XTB provides educational material primarily designed for intermediate traders. Text-based articles cover various topics, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, technical analysis, CFDs, and platform guides. Live account holders can access several eBooks. Additionally, XTB offers video content featuring brief, 1-4 minute tutorials on different subjects, available on its YouTube channel.

Our Methodology

Since 2011, FX Empire has developed a detailed methodology for evaluating CFD brokers, involving over 250 variables across nine crucial categories. Our team of experts, with deep industry knowledge, conducts live testing and research by interacting with the brokers directly. We check regulations, open accounts, test spreads, account costs, platform functionality, instrument variety, customer support reliability, and the quality of research and educational content. This granular analysis helps us identify each broker’s strengths and weaknesses, keeping our comparisons current with market trends and ensuring our guides meet traders’ needs.

We strive to evaluate each broker objectively, considering how their offerings align with the diverse trading goals and preferences of our readers. Our focus is on providing a balanced overview of each broker’s strengths and weaknesses. This method ensures that our readers receive clear, insightful comparisons to aid in making well-informed trading decisions.

We employ a comprehensive rating system across nine key categories:

• Trust
• Fees
• Platforms and Tools
• Tradable Instruments
• Customer Support
• Research
• Deposits and Withdrawals
• Account Types and Terms
• Education

In each category, we conduct an in-depth analysis for both brokers, outlining features, advantages, and disadvantages and determining their suitability for different trader profiles. By blending insights from our extensive reviews with first-hand experiences and observations, we ensure each comparison is balanced, informative, and tailored to the trader’s unique needs. You can read more about our review process here.

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