- XM's official regulation page lists 8 group licenses including CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, FSC/FSA, CMA Kenya and BVI FSC entities; FXTM is regulated by CySEC, FCA, FSCA, FSC Mauritius and CMA — FXTM holds an FCA primary licence that XM does not
- XM's flagship Ultra Low spread is from 0.6 pips with no commission; FXTM Advantage uses raw spreads from 0.0 pips + variable commission
- XM's bonus offers are country-based, with $100 or $30 versions where eligible; FXTM does not run a directly comparable universal credit but has deposit-bonus structures in selected regions
- For African traders, FXTM's strong FSCA and CMA presence is a fit; for GCC traders, XM's DFSA licence is more direct
Regulated Global Broker Trusted by 20M+ traders — open your account in minutes
- Trade 1,400+ instruments
- Country-based bonus offers where eligible
- MT4 & MT5 available
- Easy deposits and withdrawals
- Leverage up to 1000:1, where available
- Copy Trading: auto-copy expert strategy managers
July 2026 XM consistency note: XM details can vary by country and legal entity. Current official XM pages list 8 group licenses, 1,400+ global assets, MT5/WebTrader/app access, and public promotions such as Refer a Friend and monthly competitions; welcome/deposit bonus tiles must be verified inside the live XM Members Area because eligibility depends on country, entity, KYC status and account type.
June 2026 field note: XM details can vary by country and legal entity. Before following this guide, compare the current signup or Members Area wording with the points below, especially account type, bonus and withdrawal conditions.
XM vs FXTM: Two Emerging-Market-Focused Brokers#
XM (founded 2009) and FXTM, also known as ForexTime (founded 2011), are both well-known retail brokers that built their growth around emerging-market clients, low minimums and active educational programmes. They overlap closely in target audience.
This comparison focuses on the practical differences that affect daily trading — regulation, account structure, costs, platforms — rather than marketing-speak.
Quick Comparison Table#
| Feature | XM | FXTM |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Cyprus / Belize | Cyprus / Mauritius |
| Regulation | CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, FSC/FSA, CMA Kenya, BVI FSC | CySEC, FCA, FSCA, FSC Mauritius, CMA Kenya |
| Min Deposit | $5 | $10 (Micro) / $200 (Advantage) |
| Flagship spread (EUR/USD) | From 0.6 pips (Ultra Low, commission-free) | From 0.0 pips + commission (Advantage) |
| Commission | None on Ultra Low | Variable on Advantage |
| Max Leverage (non-EU) | Up to 1:1000* | Up to 1:2000* (selected entities) |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, XM App, XM WebTrader | MT4, MT5, FXTM Trader app |
| Instruments | 1,400+ | 250+ |
| Islamic Account | Yes | Yes |
| Bonus | Available in eligible jurisdictions | Regional campaigns |
| Copy Trading | XM Copy Trading | FXTM Invest |
| Review | XM review | - |
Numbers reflect public terms at the time of writing; regional variations apply.
Regulation and Trust#
XM lists group licenses across CySEC, DFSA, FSCA, FSC/FSA, CMA Kenya and BVI FSC entities. Its strongest local positioning is in the GCC (DFSA), South Africa (FSCA), and Kenya (CMA), depending on the entity that onboards the client.
FXTM holds CySEC, FCA (UK), FSCA, FSC Mauritius and CMA (Kenya) licences. The FCA primary licence is a tier-1 credential XM does not currently hold. The CMA Kenya licence makes FXTM one of the most directly licensed brokers for East African clients.
For traders weighting FCA oversight, FXTM has the edge. For traders in DFSA jurisdictions (UAE), XM is the more direct match. For South African and Kenyan clients, both brokers are well-licensed locally. See: Is XM safe? and forex regulation Middle East 2026.
Account Types and Minimum Deposits#
XM accounts#
| Account | Min Deposit | Spreads | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | $5 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Standard | $5 | From 1.0 pips | None |
| Ultra Low | $5 in most regions | From 0.6 pips | None |
FXTM accounts#
| Account | Min Deposit | Spreads | Commission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Micro | $10 | From 1.5 pips | None |
| Advantage | $200 | From 0.0 pips | Variable per lot, scales with volume |
| Advantage Plus | $200 | From 1.5 pips | None (spread-embedded) |
Reading: XM's $5 entry is cheaper than FXTM's $10 Micro. FXTM's Advantage account uses a volume-scaled commission model — commission per lot decreases as your monthly volume increases — which is unusual in retail and rewards high-volume traders. For low-volume retail use, XM Ultra Low's flat commission-free model is simpler and typically cheaper per trade.
For details: XM account types complete guide and How to get the XM deposit bonus.
Spreads and All-In Costs#
| Instrument | XM Ultra Low | FXTM Advantage (all-in) |
|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.6–0.9 pips | 0.1 pip + variable commission ˜ 0.6–1.0 pips |
| GBP/USD | 0.9–1.3 pips | 0.3 pip + variable commission ˜ 0.9–1.3 pips |
| XAU/USD | 15–25 cents | 12–25 cents + commission |
| US30 | 1.5–3.0 pts | 1.5–3.0 pts |
| Review | XM review | - |
Reading: All-in costs are very close on EUR/USD and gold. FXTM Advantage's commission tiers favour traders who exceed $5–10M monthly volume; below that threshold, XM Ultra Low typically delivers comparable or slightly cheaper per-trade cost.
Platforms#
Both brokers offer MT4 and MT5 on desktop, web and mobile, with full Expert Advisor support. The proprietary apps differ:
- XM App — mobile companion for account management, deposits, withdrawals, basic trading. Not designed as a primary terminal.
- FXTM Trader — proprietary mobile trading app with simplified order entry, account management, and educational integration.
For daily charting and active trading, MT4/MT5 on both brokers is the right tool. Proprietary apps are supplementary.
See: XM MT5 download and setup.
Leverage#
- XM — up to 1:1000 on eligible international entities.
- FXTM — up to 1:2000 on selected non-EU entities and instruments.
EU and UK retail traders are capped at 1:30 on both. As always, very high leverage increases risk of rapid loss, not return — sustainable retail trading uses 1:50 to 1:200 in practice.
Bonuses and Promotions#
- XM — bonuses and loyalty offers where eligible; terms vary by country, entity, and campaign.
- FXTM — does not run a deposit bonus; runs regional deposit-bonus campaigns (varies by country) and occasional contests.
For traders who specifically want a low-barrier start, XM is the cleaner answer because of its $5 minimum and eligible promotions. For bonus seekers, both brokers require careful term checks — eligibility and value depend on your region. See: XM Promotions & Bonuses 2026.
Instruments and Markets#
- XM — 1,400+ instruments: forex, indices, commodities, metals, energies, stock CFDs, crypto CFDs.
- FXTM — ~250 instruments: forex (60+ pairs), metals, indices, energies, stock CFDs and crypto CFDs (region-dependent).
For pure catalogue breadth, XM wins by a wide margin — particularly for stock CFDs and indices.
Copy / Social Trading#
- XM Copy Trading — in-house copy trading with strategy providers visible by performance, drawdown and trade history. See: XM Copy Trading guide.
- FXTM Invest — strategy-manager / investor model where verified strategy managers run pooled accounts and investors allocate to them. Performance-fee structure with stricter manager-vetting than most in-house copy desks.
For users who specifically want a vetted strategy-manager model (closer to a managed account in spirit), FXTM Invest is the differentiator. For broader provider variety with self-service browsing, XM Copy Trading is competitive.
Education and Research#
Both brokers run extensive education programmes. FXTM is particularly notable for its regional education events in Africa and Asia, with in-person and online seminars. XM runs the largest in-house webinar programme in retail forex (multilingual, 30+ languages), with daily technical analysis from Avramis Despotis.
Customer Support#
- XM — 24/5 multilingual support in 30+ languages.
- FXTM — 24/5 multilingual support in 18+ languages, with strong regional desks in Africa and South Asia.
Both deliver solid support; XM's language coverage is broader, FXTM's regional desk model is more localised.
Withdrawal and Deposit#
Both brokers support card, bank wire, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller) and regional rails. Withdrawal processing on both is typically same-day to 1 business day internally; arrival depends on the method. AML rules return funds to the deposit source on both. See: XM minimum deposit and withdrawal.
Who Should Choose XM?#
- Beginners on a $5 budget wanting the cheapest viable start
- Traders who value eligible promotions and loyalty programmes
- Users wanting broad instrument coverage (1,400+ symbols)
- Traders in GCC benefiting from DFSA licensing
- Users who want strong daily research included with the account
Who Should Choose FXTM?#
- Traders weighting FCA primary regulation as a filter
- Users in East Africa benefiting from CMA Kenya licensing
- Active traders interested in volume-scaled commissions on Advantage
- Those who specifically want FXTM Invest's strategy-manager model
- Traders in regions where FXTM has stronger local payment rails than XM
Verdict#
Both are credible, multi-licensed brokers with strong emerging-market presence. The practical differentiators:
- XM wins on cheapest entry ($5), instrument breadth, language coverage and promotions where eligible.
- FXTM wins on FCA primary licensing, volume-scaled commission for active traders, and FXTM Invest's vetted strategy-manager model.
Holding accounts at both is also valid — many emerging-market traders use them in parallel for different campaigns and account features.
Disclaimer: Broker features, spreads, bonuses and regulatory coverage change over time and vary by region. This comparison reflects publicly available information at the time of writing and our editorial assessment — not financial advice. Always verify current terms directly with each broker before opening an account.
Education-first next step: practise on demo, calculate your risk per trade, then review the current XM account, bonus and withdrawal terms before opening or funding a live account. Check XM terms only after you understand the risks; eligibility depends on your country, legal entity and live campaign rules.
Comments 8
This confirmed a few things I suspected but wasn't sure about. Good to see it explained with actual logic rather than just opinions. That detail makes the guide feel more practical. The example is what made the point stick.
FXTM (now rebranded to Exinity in some regions) and XM have very similar account structures. The key differentiator for me was XM's loyalty program — FXTM doesn't have an equivalent points system. Over a year of active trading, I've accumulated enough XM Points for meaningful trading credit, which effectively reduces my cost per trade.
The comparison should mention that FXTM's Advantage account offers ECN-style pricing with commission, which XM doesn't have a direct equivalent to unless you count the Shares account for equity CFDs. For forex traders specifically, XM Ultra Low vs FXTM Advantage is the real comparison, and XM is slightly cheaper on majors after you factor in FXTM's commission.
Came here from a forum recommendation and wasn't disappointed. Adding this site to my regular reading list. That detail makes the guide feel more practical. The example is what made the point stick.
Switched from FXTM to XM six months ago. Platform-wise they're nearly identical since both offer MT4 and MT5. What tipped it for me was XM's webinar quality and the availability of a research team that publishes daily analysis. FXTM's educational content felt dated by comparison.
I've been using a similar approach for the past year. Nice to see it written up properly with the reasoning behind it. That detail makes the guide feel more practical. The example is what made the point stick.
Straightforward and honest. No affiliate links buried in misleading claims. Just solid information presented clearly. That detail makes the guide feel more practical. The example is what made the point stick.
The examples really help. Abstract concepts finally make sense when you see them applied to real scenarios like the ones described here. That detail makes the guide feel more practical. The example is what made the point stick.
Add a useful note for other traders. We review comments before publishing.