Comparison of Markets.com and XM
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Broker Type | MM | MM |
| Dealing | B-book | B-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA | BFSC, CySEC, ASIC, DFSA |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⬊ Low |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:500 | 1:1000 |
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, PLN, ZAR, SGD, HUF |
| Funding Methods | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, FasaPay, Giropay, IDEAL, Jeton, Mobile Money, MuchBetter, Neteller, NganLuong, Paysafecard, Perfect Money, POLi, Przelewy24, Skrill, STICPAY, Trustly, China UnionPay, WebMoney |
| Inactivity Fee | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity | $15 after 12 months |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✖ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | Cyprus ICF | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
| Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✔ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✖ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✔ | ✔ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✔ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✔ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✔ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✔ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Shares, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Bonds, Cryptocurrencies | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities |
| Review | Markets.com Review | XM Review |
About Markets.com
Markets.com is a multi-asset CFD and FX broker, operating since 2008 under CySEC, FSCA and SVGFSA oversight. A modest $100 deposit opens the door to 50-plus currency pairs, stocks, ETFs, crypto and more on MT4/MT5, TradingView and the proprietary app, all backed by segregated client funds, negative-balance protection and multilingual 24/5 support. The broker best suits active retail traders who want flexible leverage (up to 1:500 outside the EU), floating spreads from 0.7 pips, copy-trading tools and frequent bonus promotions, yet still value basic regulatory safeguards. Long-term buy-and-hold investors may find the CFD-only model and $10 monthly inactivity fee less appealing.
Pros
- Multi-regulated (SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA)
- Low $100 entry threshold, no deposit/withdrawal fees
- Choice of MT4/MT5 and TradingView
- 50+ FX pairs and broad multi-asset CFD selection
- Negative-balance protection for all retail clients
Cons
- Inactivity fee after 90 days
- Only one live trading account type available
About XM
XM is a globally recognized forex and CFD broker established in 2009. Regulated by reputable financial authorities such as the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), XM provides a secure and transparent trading environment. The broker offers access to over 1000 financial instruments, including forex pairs, commodities, indices, metals, and energies, catering to both novice and experienced traders. One of XM's standout features is its commitment to client education and support. The broker provides extensive educational resources like webinars, tutorials, and market analyses to help traders make informed decisions. With multiple account types, competitive spreads, and support for popular trading platforms like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, XM aims to deliver a flexible and user-friendly trading experience tailored to individual needs.
Pros
- Regulated by reputable authorities
- Wide range of trading instruments
- Multiple account types
- Competitive spreads and leverage
- Comprehensive educational resources
- Advanced trading platforms
- Multilingual customer support
Cons
- Inactivity fees
- Restricted in certain countries
Markets.com & XM Regulation
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Companies | Markets International Ltd, Safecap Investments Limited, Markets (South Africa) Pty Limited | XM Global Limited, Trading Point Of Financial Instruments Ltd, Trading Point of Financial Instruments Pty Limited, Trading Point MENA Limited |
Countries | Saint Vincent & The Grenadines, Cyprus, South Africa | Belize, Cyprus, Australia, United Arab Emirates |
Regulators | SVGFSA, CySEC, FSCA | BFSC, CySEC, ASIC, DFSA |
Investor Protection | Cyprus ICF | Investor Compensation Fund (ICF) |
Investor Protection Size | €20 000 | €20 000 |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Account Types
| Account | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | Standard | Standard |
| Min Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | Floating | Floating |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Min Spread | 0.7 | 1.6 |
| Fee | No | No |
| Max Leverage | 1:500 | 1:1000 |
| Stop Out | 50% | 20% |
| Margin Call | 100% | 50% |
Cent Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Micro |
| Min Deposit | — | $5 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1.6 |
| Fee | — | No |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:1000 |
| Stop Out | — | 20% |
| Margin Call | — | 50% |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Funding and Fees
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, DKK, NOK, SEK, PLN, AUD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CHF, JPY, PLN, ZAR, SGD, HUF |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank wire transfers, credit/debit cards (Visa, MasterCard), Skrill, Neteller, PayPal | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, FasaPay, Giropay, IDEAL, Jeton, Mobile Money, MuchBetter, Neteller, NganLuong, Paysafecard, Perfect Money, POLi, Przelewy24, Skrill, STICPAY, Trustly, China UnionPay, WebMoney |
Inactivity fee | $10 per month after 3 months of inactivity | $15 after 12 months |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), TradingView | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) |
Execution Speed | 82 ms | 0 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | low |
Trading Assets
| Asset | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 54 | 55 |
Indices | 36 | 50 |
Stocks | 260 | 1307 |
Cryptocurrencies | 29 | 58 |
Bonds | 4 | 0 |
Metals | 8 | 3 |
Energies | 5 | 3 |
Soft Commodities | 6 | 8 |
ETFs | 68 | 0 |
Education and Analytics
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Bonuses
| Bonus | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | 20%, up to $10000 | 100%, up to $5000 |
| Details | Learn More | Learn More |
| No Deposit Bonus | ||
| Is available | ||
| Size | $1020 | — |
| Details | Learn More | — |
Contests
| Feature | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Live Contests | ||
| Is available | ||
| Contests List | — |
|
- StarterStart Balance: $500 · Prize Pool: $15000 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
- ProStart Balance: $1000 · Prize Pool: $30,000 · Period: WeeklyLearn More
Customer Support
| Contact | Markets.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
Email | support@markets.com | support@xm.com |
Phone | +27104470539 | +5012236696 |
Facebook | ||
LinkedIn | ||
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | ||
Twitter | ||
TikTok | TikTok | TikTok |
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing Markets.com and XM, XM comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.