Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
TradeZero vs XTB
What sets them apart
| Compare |  TradeZero |  XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0 | €0 |
| Inactivity fee | $0 | €10 |
| Markets | Stocks, Options | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto |
| Regulators | AFM | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | $15 wire transfer out | Free deposits; free withdrawals above 100 EUR/USD |
| Platforms | ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile, TZ1, TradingView | XStation 5, XStation Mobile |
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5% |
| Margin rate | 9% | Not confirmed |
| Options contract fee | $0.59 | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:30 |
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 8.9.
- Regulators: only TradeZero offers AFM.
- Regulators: only XTB offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), FCA, KNF.
- Founded is lower at XTB: 2002 vs 2015.
- XTB is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Markets: only TradeZero offers Options.
- Markets: only XTB offers ETFs, Forex, CFDs.
- Platforms: only TradeZero offers ZeroPro, ZeroFree, ZeroMobile.
- Platforms: only XTB offers XStation 5, XStation Mobile.
- Support channels: only TradeZero offers Help centre.
Our verdict on each
TradeZero
TradeZero suits traders who want stocks and options on a single account without a per-trade commission, and the demo account gives beginners a place to practise. Options cost $0.59 a contract, and the account works through desktop, mobile and charting tools.
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 | TradeZero | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.1Stock trades cost $0, ranking first of 161 brands on that fee, and the inactivity fee ranks first of 56. | 9.1 |
| Offer | 9.1 | 9.3Higher |
| Trust | 8.6 | 9.6Higher |
What each covers
| Markets | TradeZero | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | No | Yes |
| Forex | No | Yes |
| CFDs | No | Yes |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Crypto | No | Yes |
Availability and regulation
| Country | TradeZero | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 259400HM2TR4U3LF5D43 |
| Netherlands | Not confirmed | |
| Poland | Not confirmed | |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed |
Where these facts come from
TradeZero
- tradezero.com: 15 facts, 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 | TradeZero | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 169 of 471 | 3 of 471 |
| Brokers for beginners | 44 of 88 | 1 of 88 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | TradeZero | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Demo account, Mobile app, CryptoCovers more |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Commission free, Low fees |
| Audience | Experienced, Beginners, Day tradersCovers more | Beginners |
| Legal entity | TradeZero Europe B.V. | XTB Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | 2015 | 2002Lower |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | TradeZero | XTB | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | Not confirmed | €0below the median | €1 |
| Account fee | Not confirmed | €0at the median | €0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | Not confirmed | 77%highest quarter | 72.05% |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0.5%above the median | 0.45% |
| Margin rate | 9%above the median | Not confirmed | 8.75% |
| Options contract fee | $0.59below the median | Not confirmed | $0.625 |
Median across 52 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
TradeZero
Pros
- Regulated in the Netherlands by AFM, with investor protection of EU ICS up to EUR 20,000.
- Margin positions run at a rate of 9%.
- A demo account and a mobile app are included, so the platform can be learned before funding.
Cons
- Support runs on chat and help centre only.
- A wire transfer out of the account costs $15 wire transfer out.
- The market range is stocks and options, so forex, crypto and metals are not covered.
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
TradeZero
Who it suits
- Traders buying stocks and options who do not want a per-trade commission.
- Beginners who want a demo account and a mobile app before putting money in.
- Day traders who work across several platforms rather than a single terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone after forex, crypto or futures, where eToro covers stocks, etfs and forex.
- Traders who want metals and CFDs beside stocks, which Vantage covers with 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
Current offers
TradeZero
Current offer
Bonus
Welcome Offer WELCOME250: 250
with a $250+ deposit during sign-up
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
TradeZero
What does TradeZero charge to trade stocks and options?+
Stock trades cost $0 per trade, and options cost $0.59 a contract. The pricing model is described as commission-free and low-fee, so the per-order cost is the main thing to compare. The inactivity fee is $0, so an idle account is not charged.
Is my money protected if something goes wrong?+
The account is provided by TradeZero Europe B.V., which is licensed by AFM in the Netherlands. Investor protection is EU ICS up to EUR 20,000, so money above that figure sits outside the scheme. Keeping larger balances elsewhere limits what is at stake.
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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