| Feature | XM Trading | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| Year Established | 2009 | 2008 |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize | FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FMA, FSCA, MAS |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $100 |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary WebTrader |
| Available Instruments | 1,000+ including Forex, CFDs, Stocks, Commodities, Energies, Precious Metals, Equity Indices | 2,000+ including CFDs on Forex, Indices, Shares, Commodities, Options, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies (in limited jurisdictions) |
| Spreads | From 0.0 pips | Varies; EUR/USD average spread 1.5 pips |
| Commission | None on Standard and Micro accounts; $3.5 per lot per side on Zero accounts | None |
| Leverage | Up to 1:888 (1:30 for EU/UK clients) | Up to 1:30 |
| Deposit/Withdrawal Fees | None | None |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 monthly after 90 days of inactivity | $10 monthly after 90 days of inactivity |
| Trading Tools | Trading Central, VPS services, Educational webinars | Economic calendar, +Insights analytics tool |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone; multilingual support | 24/7 via live chat, email; no phone support |
| Educational Resources | Extensive webinars, tutorials, real-time trading sessions | Limited educational materials |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Zero | Single account type |
| Mobile Trading Apps | Yes, for iOS and Android | Yes, for iOS and Android |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Protection | Yes, up to €20,000 | Yes, up to £85,000 |
| Social/Copy Trading | Yes, via MetaTrader signals | No |
| Automated Trading | Yes, via MetaTrader EAs | No |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | No |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | No | Yes |
| Islamic Account | Yes | Yes |
| Account Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, CZK |
| Bonuses/Promotions | Up to $5,000 forex bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus | None |
| Research Resources | Daily market analysis, Trading Central integration | Limited research content |
| Account Opening Time | Approximately 1 business day | 1–2 business days |
| Available Cryptocurrencies | Not available | Available in limited jurisdictions |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary WebTrader platform |
| Research and Analysis Tools | Extensive, including daily market analysis, Trading Central integration | Limited research content |
| Educational Resources | Comprehensive, including webinars, tutorials, real-time trading sessions | Limited educational materials |
| Customer Support Availability | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone; multilingual support | 24/7 via live chat, email; no phone support |
| Regulatory Oversight | Regulated by ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize | Regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FMA, FSCA, MAS |
| Investor Protection | Up to €20,000 | Up to £85,000 |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Social/Copy Trading Features | Available via MetaTrader signals | Not available |
| Automated Trading Support | Supported through MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs) | Not supported |
| Scalping and Hedging Policies | Both allowed | Both not allowed |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders | Not available | Available |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Available | Available |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, CZK |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Up to $5,000 forex bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus | None |
| Research Resources | Daily market analysis, Trading Central integration | Limited research content |
| Account Opening Time | Approximately 1 business day | 1–2 business days |
| Available Cryptocurrencies | Not available | Available in limited jurisdictions |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 | Proprietary WebTrader platform |
| Research and Analysis Tools | Extensive, including daily market analysis, Trading Central integration | Limited research content |
| Educational Resources | Comprehensive, including webinars, tutorials, real-time trading sessions | Limited educational materials |
| Customer Support Availability | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone; multilingual support | 24/7 via live chat, email; no phone support |
| Regulatory Oversight | Regulated by ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize | Regulated by FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FMA, FSCA, MAS |
| Investor Protection | Up to €20,000 | Up to £85,000 |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Social/Copy Trading Features | Available via MetaTrader signals | Not available |
| Automated Trading Support | Supported through MetaTrader Expert Advisors (EAs) | Not supported |
| Scalping and Hedging Policies | Both allowed | Both not allowed |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss Orders | Not available | Available |
| Islamic (Swap-Free) Accounts | Available | Available |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CHF, AUD, HUF, PLN, RUB, SGD, ZAR | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, ZAR, CZK |
| Bonuses and Promotions | Up to $5,000 forex bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus | None |
| Research Resources | Daily market analysis, Trading Central integration | Limited research content |
XM Trading offers MetaTrader platforms, lower spreads, and extensive educational tools, while Plus500 provides a proprietary platform, more instruments, and guaranteed stop-loss. XM supports scalping and automated trading; Plus500 does not.