Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
FXCM vs XTB
What sets them apart
| Compare |  FXCM |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $50 | €0 |
| Markets | Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, CryptoCovers more |
| Regulators | FCA | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNFCovers more |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 63% | 77% |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Not confirmed | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | Not confirmed | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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Key differences
- XTB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 8.7.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), KNF.
- XTB is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only XTB offers Stocks, ETFs.
Our verdict on each
FXCM
FXCM suits UK traders who want a single regulated account for forex, CFDs and crypto, opening from a minimum deposit of $50 with client money covered by FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The licence is a known name, which matters more than a bargain headline, since 63% of retail accounts lose money.
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 | FXCM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Entry starts at $50 against a €4.64 site median, with dealing limited to forex, cfds and crypto. | 9.1Higher |
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.6Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | FXCM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | FCA 217689 | |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 |
| Poland | Not confirmed |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | FXCM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | No | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
Where these facts come from
FXCM
- brokerchooser.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexsuggest.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- fxcmaffiliates.com: 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
How they place
| Ranking | FXCM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Forex brokers | 83 of 147 | 2 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 81 of 145 | 2 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 69 of 122 | 2 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | FXCM | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Demo account, Mobile app, Crypto |
| Pricing model | Not confirmed | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Stratos Markets Limited | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | FXCM | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10above the median | €2.45 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 63%lowest quarter | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
FXCM
Pros
- FCA regulation with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 protection standing behind client money.
- forex, cfds and crypto markets sit in the same account, so CFD and crypto trades stay under the same licence.
- A named UK operator, Stratos Markets Limited, sits behind the brand and the FCA licence 217689.
Cons
- The $50 minimum deposit is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5.
- The market list stops at forex, cfds and crypto, so no shares, ETFs or futures dealing sits alongside currency and crypto.
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
FXCM
Who it suits
- UK retail traders who want forex, CFDs and crypto under a single FCA licence rather than several brokers.
- Traders who check the operator before depositing: Stratos Markets Limited and licence 217689.
- Anyone prepared for leverage, with 63% of retail accounts losing money.
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you also want shares, ETFs and futures, since it lists stocks, etfs and forex.
- CFI, if you want to start without committing cash, since its minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, if a smaller starting deposit matters, since Vantage asks $5.
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
FXCM
What do I need to deposit to open an FXCM account?+
The published minimum deposit is $50, higher than the €4.64 median across brokers on the site. For comparison, CFI lists a minimum deposit of $0 and Vantage $5. Beyond that floor the account size is yours to set, and it shapes position sizing rather than the trading fee.
Who regulates FXCM in the UK?+
FXCM is regulated in the UK by the FCA, the sole regulator listed for the brand, and the FCA licence number is 217689. UK clients therefore sit inside the UK regulatory perimeter, with rules on how the firm holds money and treats clients. Anyone outside the UK would need to check their own regulator before opening.
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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