A head-to-head comparison of ADS Securities and XM across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
UAE-headquartered broker regulated by FSRA (Abu Dhabi Global Market) and FCA, providing institutional-quality execution and capital markets access to GCC institutional and high-net-worth retail traders.
ADS Securities and XM are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.3/5 and 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ADS Securities offers tighter spreads from 0.5 pips vs 0.6 pips for XM, reducing trading costs.
XM has a stronger safety profile: top-tier regulation, compensation scheme, segregated funds, negative balance protection.
ADS Securities has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.5 pips.
ADS Securities offers more exclusive platform options: Proprietary Web/Mobile, a proprietary platform.
Both brokers share the same editorial score of 4.3/5, but XM requires a lower minimum deposit ($5 vs $2000 for ADS Securities), making it more accessible for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
| Founded | 2011 | 2009 |
| Headquarters | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Limassol, Cyprus |
| Min deposit | $2,000 | $5 |
| Spreads from | 0.5 pips | 0.6 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 200:1 | 1000:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free for most methods |
| Regulators | FCA FSRA | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit ADS Securities | Visit XM |
Pros
FSRA (ADGM) and FCA dual regulation - institutional-grade UAE framework
Institutional prime brokerage liquidity for tight spreads
Multi-asset including equities and fixed income
FIX API available for algorithmic and professional clients
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Raw spread account available
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
USD 5 minimum deposit
Strong bonus program
Multilingual support
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Cons
$2,000 minimum deposit - not accessible to entry-level retail traders
Primary focus on institutional and HNW clients; limited retail tools
Less suitable for traders seeking educational support or copy trading
No negative balance protection
No investor compensation scheme
Cons
Spreads not as tight as ECN-style brokers
Not available to US clients
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No proprietary platform
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ADS Securities | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Fail | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
ADS Securities and XM share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. The right choice depends on your priorities: trading costs, platform preference, or regulatory coverage.
ADS Securities offers tighter spreads starting from 0.5 pips, compared to XM's spreads from 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
XM has a lower minimum deposit of $5, while ADS Securities requires at least $2000. This makes XM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ADS Securities and XM hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: XM has a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry; XM offers negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
ADS Securities offers maximum leverage of 200:1, while XM offers up to 1000:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
ADS Securities supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile and XM offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; both support MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5; ADS Securities exclusively offers Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Open an account directly with the broker that suits you best.
Score 4.3 / 5
Personalised recommendation
Answer 6 quick questions and we'll match you with the brokers that best fit your trading style, experience level, and country.
Find my broker