Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Kraken vs XTB
Kraken vs XTB: the differences
| Compare |  Kraken |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $1 | €0 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, Crypto, Futures | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop, Kraken Wallet | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Maximum retail leverage | Up to 10x | 1:30 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
Same on both: Investor protection (EU ICS up to EUR 20,000).
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Key differences
- XTB scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Conduct Authority.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- XTB is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Kraken offers Futures.
- Markets: only XTB offers CFDs.
- Platforms: only Kraken offers Kraken App, Kraken Pro, Kraken Desktop.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Features: only XTB offers Demo account.
- Pricing model: only XTB offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
Kraken
Kraken suits beginners and experienced investors who want stocks, ETFs and crypto together through app and desktop access. Stock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1 and funding terms shown as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25 for cost planning across small balance accounts.
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 | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.3HigherStock dealing is priced at $0 with entry at $1. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.0Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex accessed through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop. | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 9.3Registers cite 1010381 and 31000270997766. | 9.6Higher |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 28 of 490 | 3 of 490 |
| Brokers for beginners | 10 of 88 | 1 of 88 |
Where these facts come from
Kraken
- kraken.com: 9 facts, checked September 28, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 28, 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 | Kraken | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Crypto, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Beginners, ExperiencedCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2002 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | €10above the median | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77%highest quarter | 70.375% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.4% |
Median across 38 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Kraken
Pros
- Stock trades priced at $0 within a model shown as commission free.
- Entry at $1, below $50 at eToro for smaller starting balances.
- Coverage spans stocks, ETFs and forex, pairing stocks and ETFs with crypto and futures.
Cons
- Support runs on help centre only, without phone or live chat help found at many rivals.
- Card funding terms run Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, which adds cost next to bank transfer options.
- Entry at $1 sits above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB for tight budgets.
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
Kraken
Who it suits
- You want stocks plus crypto in stocks, ETFs and forex in a single login rather than an equity only account at XTB.
- You want app led dealing through Kraken App, Kraken Pro and Kraken Desktop with modest entry at $1 rather than higher entry at eToro at $50.
Who should look elsewhere
- You want phone or chat help rather than help centre only, consider XTB or ActivTrades for wider contact choice.
- You want the lowest cash entry rather than $1, consider ActivTrades at $0 or XTB at €0.
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
Kraken
What does Kraken charge for stock trades+
Stock dealing is priced at $0 and Kraken describes its model as commission free. Bank funding is framed separately as Free bank deposits, card 3.75% + 0.25, so card use adds cost while bank transfer terms remain distinct. Check the fee schedule before placing orders.
What is the minimum deposit to open an account+
Account entry is set at $1. That level sits below $50 at eToro, yet above $0 at ActivTrades and €0 at XTB. It keeps starting balances modest while leaving room for funding charges.
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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