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Head to head

CPT Markets vs XM

CPT Markets is licensed by FSCA in South Africa and UAE CMA in the United Arab Emirates, and also has an offshore registration. XM is licensed by CySEC in the European Union, DFSA in the United Arab Emirates (DIFC) and FSCA in South Africa. The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $500 at CPT Markets and $5 at XM. Only XM offers negative balance protection. Both offer segregated client money.

Facts last checked: CPT Markets on 20 October 2026, XM on 20 October 2026.

CPT Markets profileXM profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
CPT MarketsRegulatedRead the profile
XMStrictly regulatedRead the profile
Comparing
CPT MarketsSouth Africa
XMEuropean Union

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
2009
Headquarters
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Official websites
  • cptmarkets.com
  • cptfx.com
  • xm.com
  • trading-point.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
CPT Markets (PTY) Ltd
Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd
Regulator
FSCA
South Africa
CySEC
European Union
Regulation level
Regulated
Strictly regulated
Licence number
FSP 45954
Check the register
120/10
Check the register
Clients this company serves
South African residents, through the South African website and terms
Residents of EU and EEA countries (CySEC lists xm.com and trading-point.com as its approved domains)
All licences held
  • FSCA (South Africa)
  • Belize FSC (Belize (international clients))
  • UAE CMA (United Arab Emirates)
  • CySEC (European Union)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSCA (South Africa)
Segregated client money
Yes
Yes
Negative balance protection
No
Yes
Compensation scheme
None
ICF (Cyprus) for eligible clients of Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd; none named for XM Global Limited

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Not yet checked
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
Up to 1:1000
Up to 1:1000 (XM Global Limited); EU retail clients are limited to 1:30 on major pairs
Retail leverage by asset class
  • All accounts: Up to 1:1000
Not yet checked
Margin call level
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • CPT app
  • CPT desktop platform
  • Copy trading
  • MAM
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • XM App
Markets
Forex, indices, metals, energies, commodities, futures, stocks and crypto CFDs
Currency pairs, indices, commodities and share CFDs; real shares on the Shares account
Demo account
Yes
Yes
Copy trading
Yes
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Yes
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Withdrawal fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Inactivity fee
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Our notes

Strengths
  • CPT Markets (PTY) Ltd is authorised by the FSCA (FSP 45954), confirmed on the FSCA register
  • CPT Markets Limited is listed as active on the Belize FSC register, for trading and arranging transactions in securities
  • Says client funds are fully segregated
  • MetaTrader 4 and 5 plus its own app, copy trading and MAM accounts
  • Low minimum deposit of $5 on the Standard and Ultra Low accounts
  • Negative balance protection on all accounts, according to XM's account page
  • EU clients can contract with a CySEC-licensed company (licence 120/10)
Watch out for
  • Clients outside South Africa are likely to sign with the Belize company, which holds an offshore licence
  • The UAE company is licensed only for introduction and promotion, not for dealing
  • Its risk warning says you can lose more than your deposit; we found no negative balance protection policy
  • No minimum deposit, typical spread or commission rate is published for the Classic or ECN accounts; the Prime account starts at USD 500
  • XM's global site names XM Global Limited, which it says is regulated by the FSC of Belize (licence 8557558). We could not confirm this licence on the Belize FSC's online register on 2026-10-20, so we do not list it.
  • Leverage of up to 1:1000 on the global site magnifies losses as much as gains
  • The Standard account is marketed with deposit bonuses; read the bonus terms before you accept one
  • XM no longer holds a UK licence (the FCA register shows its passport as cancelled) and its former Australian company now trades as Trading.com Markets

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • CPT Markets: The FX and CFD contracts on our online facility are traded on a margin or leverage basis, a type of trading that carries a high degree of risk to your capital. The price of the contract you make with us may change quickly, and your profits and losses may be more than your initial investment or deposit. If you do not hold sufficient funds to meet your margin requirements, we may close your open positions immediately and without notice. It is possible to lose more than your initial deposit. Trading these products is not suitable for all investors. Make sure that you understand and accept the risks before trading on a margin or leverage basis and can sustain potential losses.
  • XM: Risk Warning: Our services involve a significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capital.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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