Head to head
IFC Markets vs XM
IFC Markets is licensed by Labuan FSA in Labuan, Malaysia, 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 $15 at IFC Markets (the Classic Standard (fixed spread) account needs $1,000) and $5 at XM. Both offer negative balance protection. Only XM offers segregated client money.
Facts last checked: IFC Markets on 20 October 2026, XM on 20 October 2026.
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
Comparing
IFC MarketsClassic Standard (fixed spread) account · British Virgin Islands
XMEuropean Union
Overview
Founded
2006
2009
Headquarters
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Official websites
- ifcmarkets.com
- ifcmarkets.co.in
- ifcmarkets.ae
- ifcmarkets.hk
- xm.com
- trading-point.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026
Regulation and protection
Company you would contract with
IFCMARKETS. CORP.
Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd
Regulation level
Offshore registration only
Strictly regulated
Clients this company serves
International clients (not residents of the US, Russia or the BVI)
Residents of EU and EEA countries (CySEC lists xm.com and trading-point.com as its approved domains)
All licences held
- BVI FSC (British Virgin Islands)
- Labuan FSA (Labuan, Malaysia)
- CySEC (European Union)
- DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
- FSCA (South Africa)
None
ICF (Cyprus) for eligible clients of Trading Point of Financial Instruments Ltd; none named for XM Global Limited
Costs
Your monthly cost
$180$18 per lot × 10 lots
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
Leverage and margin
1:400 on Micro and Nano accounts; 1:200 on Standard accounts
Up to 1:1000 (XM Global Limited); EU retail clients are limited to 1:30 on major pairs
Retail leverage by asset class
- All instruments, Standard accounts: Up to 1:200
- All instruments, Micro and Nano accounts: Up to 1:400
Not yet checked
Stop-out level
10%
Not yet checked
Account
Minimum deposit (this account)
$1,000
No accounts listed
Platforms and features
Platforms
- NetTradeX
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- Web terminal
- Mobile apps
- MetaTrader 4
- MetaTrader 5
- XM App
Markets
650+ CFDs on forex, metals, indices, stocks, commodities, ETFs and cryptocurrencies, plus self-built synthetic instruments
Currency pairs, indices, commodities and share CFDs; real shares on the Shares account
Copy trading
Not yet checked
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
- Bank transfer
- Bank card
- Cryptocurrency
- Open Banking
- Local bank (Africa)
- Mobile money
- WebMoney
Not yet checked
Withdrawal fee
Bank wire at your bank's fee; card, crypto and e-wallet withdrawals carry fees that vary by method (for example 3% for Open Banking)
Not yet checked
Inactivity fee
Up to $10 a month after 12 months without trading, only while the balance is positive
Not yet checked
Support
Customer support
24/7 online support
Not yet checked
Our notes
Strengths
- Fixed 1.8-pip EUR/USD spread on Classic accounts, so costs are known in advance
- Micro and Nano accounts from $15
- Choice of NetTradeX, MT4 and MT5, with hedging or netting on MT5 and NetTradeX
- 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
- Licensed only in the BVI (offshore) and Labuan; no FCA, ASIC, CySEC or similar licence
- Stop-out level of only 10%, so positions are closed late and losses can run far
- Monthly inactivity fee of up to $10 after 12 months without trading
- Standard accounts need a $1,000 first deposit
- 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
Choose at least one broker above to start comparing.
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:
- IFC Markets: Your capital is at risk. Leveraged products may not be suitable for everyone.
- XM: Risk Warning: Our services involve a significant risk and can result in the loss of your invested capital.
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- Inveslo vs XM
- Investizo vs XM
- ITBFX vs XM
- LiteFinance (LiteForex) vs XM
- Markets4you vs XM
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- OneRoyal vs XM
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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.