Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FBS vs XTB
FBS vs XTB: the differences
| Compare |  FBS |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $5 | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Account fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Metals | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43% | 77% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings.
Key differences
- XTB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.1.
- Regulators: only FBS offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- Founded is lower at XTB: 2002 vs 2009.
- XTB is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only FBS offers Metals.
- Markets: only XTB offers Crypto.
- Platforms: only FBS offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Support channels: only FBS offers Help centre.
Our verdict on each
FBS
Fbs Partners suits readers who want a plain, low cost picture from a firm regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: the account fee is $0 and the stock trade fee is $0. The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% and the retail loss rate of 66.43% are the figures to weigh before funding.
XTB
XTB suits retail traders who want to hold stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto under one Cyprus-based account without a monthly charge. The account fee is €0, deposits cost nothing, and CySEC, FCA and KNF authorisations sit behind a legal entity founded in 2002.
Score breakdown
| Area | FBS | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3Higher | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.3 | 9.3 |
| Trust | 8.8 | 9.6Higher |
Licences and countries
| Country | FBS | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 | |
| Poland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | FBS | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 110 of 471 | 3 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 47 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 45 of 145 | 2 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 37 of 122 | 2 of 122 |
| Brokers for beginners | 33 of 88 | 1 of 88 |
Where these facts come from
FBS
- investing.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- fbs.eu: 7 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- en.wikipedia.org: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
XTB
- xtb.com: 10 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- hello-brokers.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- eupersonalfinance.eu: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- linkedin.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FBS | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Tradestone Limited | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Cyprus |
| Founded | 2009 | 2002Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Phone, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FBS | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66.43%below the median | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.5%below the median | Not confirmed | 0.65% |
Median across 47 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FBS
Pros
- An account regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses Tradestone Limited under 331/17, so the contract has a named entity behind it.
- The stock trade fee is $0 on a commission free model, so dealing in the shares and ETFs inside stocks, etfs and forex carries no ticket charge.
- The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant balance is not quietly drained by account charges.
Cons
- The EUR/USD spread of 0.5% is the charge that lands on every forex and CFD trade, so currency traders feel it more than the flat fees suggest.
- The minimum deposit of $5 sits above CFI's $0, so readers who want the smallest opening balance have a lower floor elsewhere.
- The market list stocks, etfs and forex leaves out crypto and futures, which eToro covers in stocks, etfs and forex.
XTB
Pros
- Account fee of €0 on the standard account, and stock trades cost €0.
- Minimum deposit of €0, so the account opens without a funding floor.
- Regulated by CySEC, the FCA and KNF across Cyprus, the UK and Poland.
Cons
- An inactivity fee of €10 applies, unlike eToro, which has no such charge.
- Forex and CFD trading is not cost free: fx trading costs 0.5%.
- CFDs carry a high proportion of losing retail accounts, and XTB's own figure is 77%.
Who each suits
FBS
Who it suits
- Beginners opening a new trading account: the minimum deposit is $5 and the account fee is $0.
- Readers who hold shares and ETFs alongside forex: stocks, etfs and forex covers that mix on the same account.
- European readers who want a Cyprus regulated firm: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission licenses the entity behind the brand.
Who should look elsewhere
- Readers who want the smallest possible opening balance: CFI takes $0.
- Readers who need crypto or futures in the same account: eToro lists stocks, etfs and forex, and those lines sit outside stocks, etfs and forex.
- Readers who want crypto added to a forex, CFD, stock, ETF and metals mix: Vantage covers forex, cfds and stocks.
XTB
Who it suits
- Retail traders in the UK and Europe who want stocks, ETFs, forex, CFDs and crypto in one account
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before committing money
- Cost conscious traders who will not hold a balance large enough to trigger the inactivity fee
Who should look elsewhere
- Vantage, if a small minimum deposit of $5 suits a smaller starting balance better
- CFI, for traders who want forex and CFDs without paying an fx charge of 0.5%
- Anyone who plans to hold an idle balance for a long period, given the inactivity fee of €10
Questions about each
FBS
What does it cost to run an account at Fbs Partners?+
The account fee is $0, the stock trade fee is $0 and the inactivity fee is $0, so nothing is charged for holding the account, dealing in shares or leaving a balance idle. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either. What remains on a forex or CFD trade is the spread, quoted at 0.5% on EUR/USD.
How much does the EUR/USD spread cost in practice?+
The EUR/USD spread is 0.5%. On a currency pair that spread is the dealer's charge for opening and closing, so it lands on every position rather than on a ticket line. The stock trade fee of $0 and the account fee of $0 sit alongside it, which makes the spread the number to size positions around.
XTB
What does XTB charge to open and hold an account?+
The account fee is €0, so there is no monthly or annual cost to keeping the account open. A stock trade costs €0 on the same account. The only recurring charge to watch is an inactivity fee of €10 for traders whose balance sits idle.
Is there a minimum deposit at XTB?+
The minimum deposit is €0, which means the account can be opened and funded with a small amount. It is a lower floor than the $5 asked by Vantage, so it suits a trader testing the platform before scaling up.
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