XTB Review | Online Trading and Investing Broker

[EndaCusack]

XTB Review​

XTB is a long-established, multi-regulated trading and investing broker with over 20 years of experience and more than 1.7 million registered clients worldwide. It offers access to thousands of CFDs on forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, along with over 6,100 real stocks and ETFs for long-term investors. With competitive fees, its award-winning xStation platform, and a strong reputation for security, XTB appeals to both beginners and seasoned traders.

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Broker Overview​

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Warsaw, Poland, XTB is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, which requires regular audited financial disclosures and strengthens its credibility. The broker operates under multiple regulatory licenses, including the FCA (UK), CySEC (EU), and KNF (Poland).

Client funds are held in segregated accounts, and investor protection schemes vary by region. UK clients benefit from FSCS coverage up to £85,000, while EU clients receive up to €20,000 under the Investor Compensation Fund. Retail traders also have negative balance protection under EU, UK, and MENA rules.

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Key Advantages​

• 10,000+ instruments including CFDs across major asset classes plus over 6,100 real stocks and ETFs
• 0% commission investing on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover
• xStation 5 platform with advanced charting, sentiment tools, and fast execution
• Top-tier regulation by FCA, CySEC, and KNF with segregated client funds
• Beginner-friendly features such as demo trading, no minimum deposit, and a trading academy
• Extensive education and insights with webinars, analysis, and market commentary
• Transparency as a publicly traded company with quarterly financial reporting

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Pros and Cons​

✔ Regulated by FCA, CySEC, and KNF
✔ Zero-commission real stocks and ETFs up to monthly cap
✔ No minimum deposit requirement
✔ Proprietary platform with advanced trading tools
✔ Negative balance protection for retail clients

✖ €10 inactivity fee after 12 months without trading or 90 days without a deposit
✖ Limited leverage for retail clients under EU/UK rules
✖ Currency conversion fee (0.5%) on non-base-currency trades

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Trading Platforms and User Experience​

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xStation 5 (Web, Desktop, Mobile)​

XTB’s flagship platform delivers:

• Advanced charting with 30+ indicators and drawing tools
• One-click trading and customisable layouts
• Market sentiment and integrated trading calculator
• Real-time news and analysis directly in-platform

xStation Mobile (iOS and Android)​

The mobile app mirrors web and desktop functionality with full trading capability, real-time data, and secure login.

Usability: xStation is beginner-friendly yet powerful, offering a cleaner, more intuitive experience compared to MetaTrader 4/5 while still meeting the needs of experienced traders.

Learn more about XTB Trading and Investing

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Research and Market Insights​

XTB equips clients with:

• Daily expert analysis and market news
• Economic calendar and trading calculators
• Proprietary sentiment data to gauge trader positioning
• Integrated feeds for timely trading decisions

While most insights are proprietary, they are frequent, reliable, and accessible directly in the platform.

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Accounts and Trading Conditions​

Standard Account

• No minimum deposit
• Forex spreads from 0.5 pips (EUR/USD)
• 0% commission on real stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover, then 0.2% (min €10)
• Access to all instruments across all platforms
• Negative balance protection for EU, UK, and MENA retail clients

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Fees​

Spreads: Forex from 0.5 pips, indices from 0.9 points, gold from 0.25
Commissions: Free stock/ETF trades up to €100,000 monthly turnover, then 0.2% (min €10)
Currency Conversion Fee: 0.5% when trading in a currency different from your account base
Inactivity Fee: €10 per month after 12 months without trading or 90 days without a deposit
Withdrawals: Free above €100 (Europe) or £/$/€50 (UK & International); smaller withdrawals carry a fixed fee

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Leverage​

• Retail clients:
  • Forex: up to 1:30
  • Indices/Gold: up to 1:20
  • Commodities: up to 1:10
  • Stocks: up to 1:5
  • Crypto: up to 1:2 (not available to UK retail clients, and only for VIP Clients)
• Professional clients: Higher leverage levels available upon request.

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Customer Support​

XTB offers multilingual support via phone, email, and live chat.

Availability: 24/5 on trading days
Local Support: Region-specific numbers for UK and EU clients
Response Times: Live chat is typically instant, while email replies are returned within a business day

Accessibility and Account Opening​

Account opening is simple and fast, typically taking around 15 minutes.

1. Register online and choose account preferences
2. Verify identity with photo ID and proof of address
3. Fund the account via bank transfer, card, or e-wallet
4. Start trading on xStation

There is no minimum deposit, which lowers the barrier for new investors.

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Special Features​

Interest on Cash Balances: In some regions, XTB pays interest (up to 4.5%) on uninvested funds.
ISA Accounts (UK): XTB supports commission-free ISA accounts for UK investors.
Transparency: As a publicly listed company, XTB is subject to stricter oversight and disclosure than privately held brokers.

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Who XTB is Best For​

• Beginners: Free demo trading, structured education, and no minimum deposit.
• Long-Term Investors: Zero-commission stocks and ETFs, interest on uninvested cash, and ISA availability for UK clients.
• Active Traders: Tight spreads, advanced order types, and professional-grade charting and analysis tools.

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Comparison with Competitors​

XTB’s standout advantage is cost efficiency for ETF and stock investors. Here’s how it compares with popular alternatives for a €500 monthly ETF investment (portfolio size: €6,000 after one year):

XTB

• Account fees: €0
• ETF dealing: €0 (within cap)
• Annual cost: €0

Interactive Investor (UK)

• Platform fee: ~€59.88 annually
• Dealing charges: ~€23.88
• Total: €83.76 annually

AJ Bell

• Platform fee: ~€15 annually
• Dealing fees: ~€18 annually
• Total: €33 annually

Vanguard Investor

• Platform fee: ~€9 annually
• Dealing fees: €0
• Total: €9 annually

Hargreaves Lansdown (HL)

• Platform fee: ~€27 annually
• Dealing fees: ~€143 annually
• Total: €170 annually

Takeaway: XTB charges nothing for most investors, while competitors range from €9 to €170 annually. Over a decade, the savings can amount to hundreds or even thousands of euros.

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Restricted Countries​

XTB does not accept clients from the following countries:

India, Pakistan, Syria, Iraq, Iran, United States, Australia, Albania, American Samoa, Aruba, Bhutan, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Belgium, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Mali, Mongolia, Montserrat, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Russia, Somalia, South Korea, South Sudan, Sudan, Taiwan, Turkey, Venezuela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ethiopia, Uganda, Cuba, Yemen, Afghanistan, Laos, North Korea, Gibraltar, Guyana, Vanuatu, Mozambique, Republic of the Congo, Libya, Macao, Panama, Singapore, Bangladesh, Kenya, Palestine, and Zimbabwe.

Client acceptance depends on residency and the relevant XTB entity:​

• XTB Ltd (UK) – FCA regulated, accepts only UK residents
• XTB Cyprus (EU) – CySEC regulated, accepts EU residents
• XTB International – Accepts non-EU/UK residents (availability varies by country)
• XTB MENA Limited – Accepts residents of the MENA region
• XTB FR (France branch) – Accepts Canadian residents only

Learn more about XTB Trading and Investing