Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of AvaTrade vs XM Group, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
AvaTrade and XM Group are both long-established online brokers that are not publicly traded and are not banks. AvaTrade was founded in 2006, while XM Group started in 2009. On ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score scale, both fall in the highly trusted range: AvaTrade scores 96 out of 99 and XM Group scores 93 out of 99.
When it comes to regulation, both brokers hold 4 Tier-1 licenses, which are viewed as highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade has the edge on Tier-2 licensing with 4 licenses compared with XM Group’s 3. Overall, both brokers show strong regulatory coverage, with AvaTrade holding a slight lead in trust score and Tier-2 oversight.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
AvaTrade offers commissions and fees that are generally close to the market average, with spreads of about 0.9 pips as of June 2024. That puts it a little above the cheapest entry-level accounts at brokers like CMC Markets and Tickmill, but still competitive overall. For eligible professional traders, AvaTrade’s Professional account can be even better, with spreads around 0.6 pips, which is similar to FP Markets. AvaTrade is rated 4.5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s category ranking.
XM Group is less competitive on pricing in this area. Its Standard account spreads are considered expensive, and average spreads for the commission-based XM Zero account are not published, which makes it harder for traders to compare costs upfront. XM Group holds a 3.5-star rating for commissions and fees and is ranked #35 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Overall, AvaTrade comes out ahead of XM Group for commissions and fees, especially for traders looking for clearer pricing and tighter spreads on select accounts. If low trading costs are a priority, AvaTrade appears to be the stronger choice between the two.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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AvaTrade and XM Group both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and each also supports copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. When it comes to market variety, XM Group has the wider selection, with 1,429 tradeable symbols and 55 forex pairs, compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Neither broker lets clients buy delivered crypto, so if you want to own the actual coin rather than trade a CFD, neither platform offers that option.
The biggest difference is in exchange-traded shares. XM Group lets clients buy real U.S. and international stocks on exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone, while AvaTrade does not offer exchange-traded securities on either U.S. or international markets. That broader product list helps explain XM Group’s higher Range of Investments score of 4.5 out of 5 and its #19 ranking out of 36 brokers, versus AvaTrade’s 4 out of 5 rating and #27 ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1429 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
AvaTrade and XM Group both give traders a strong mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based trading, Windows desktop downloads, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. This makes either broker a practical option for beginners who want to practice first and for active traders who prefer familiar tools across desktop and browser access.
The main difference is that AvaTrade also offers its own in-house trading platform, while XM Group does not. That extra platform choice, along with AvaTrade’s higher Trading Platforms and Tools rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars and its #13 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, gives it an edge over XM Group’s 4-star rating and #28 ranking. For traders comparing online brokers on platforms and tools, AvaTrade comes out ahead, while XM Group still covers the key features most traders expect.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
AvaTrade and XM Group both make it easy to trade on the go with mobile apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings, so traders may need to reapply them when returning to a chart. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well and offer a familiar user experience on both major phone platforms.
Where AvaTrade pulls ahead is in charting and overall mobile app ratings. Its app offers 73 technical studies, compared with 30 for XM Group, giving traders more tools for mobile analysis. AvaTrade also earns a stronger mobile trading apps score at 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. If mobile chart tools matter to you, AvaTrade has the edge, though both brokers offer solid apps for managing trades from a phone.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
AvaTrade and XM Group both give traders access to forex news from top sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, as well as Trading Central tools, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Neither broker offers daily market commentary, Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so their research lineups are similar in several key areas.
The main difference is that XM Group adds daily market commentary, which can be helpful for traders who want a quick view of current market moves. This extra coverage helps XM Group earn a higher Research score, with 5 stars and a #8 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with AvaTrade’s 4 stars and #29 ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking to learn the basics, both AvaTrade and XM Group offer a wide range of forex and CFD education, with at least 10 learning pieces each that focus on these trading topics. Each broker also runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and both provide 10 or more beginner videos as well as 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning over time. This means either platform gives new traders plenty of material to start with and room to build their skills.
When comparing overall education quality, XM Group has the edge in ratings, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade is still a strong choice, with 4 out of 5 stars and a higher category ranking of #2 out of 36. In simple terms, AvaTrade and XM Group both give beginners plenty of useful learning tools, but XM Group scores better on overall education quality, while AvaTrade stands out in its category ranking.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that AvaTrade is better than XM Group. AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #15, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
AvaTrade is a trusted global brand best known for offering an extensive selection of trading platforms for forex and CFD traders, along with strong educational resources and copy trading support.
| Feature |
AvaTrade
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XM Group
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 |
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In the AvaTrade vs XM Group comparison, neither broker allows buying real (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
Online brokers AvaTrade and XM Group both support Skrill and bank wire transfers and do not support ACH or SEPA for deposits or withdrawals, but only AvaTrade offers PayPal, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 2006 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1260 | 1429 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 53 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.93 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.61 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 80 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 73 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
| Overall | AvaTrade | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 96 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | AvaTrade Review | XM Group Review |
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