Capital.com and XM face off on regulation, costs, and platforms. The tension centers on platform type and instrument breadth, inviting scrutiny of their tradeoffs.
Capital.com and XM are closely matched, and the clearest differentiator is platform type: Capital.com uses a proprietary platform while XM offers MT4/MT5.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Capital.com if…
Choose Capital.com if you want a very low $20 minimum and a proprietary platform with AI-powered insights.
Choose XM if…
Choose XM if you want MT4/MT5 access and phone support.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Both brokers offer spreads from 0.60 pips.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
Very low $20 minimum deposit
AI-powered pattern recognition built into proprietary platform
Zero commission on all trades
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Capital.com | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Capital.com and XM share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: XM requires a lower minimum deposit.
Both Capital.com and XM start from 0.6 pips, making them equivalent on this metric. Compare commissions and account types to evaluate total trading costs.
XM has $5, while Capital.com requires at least $20. This makes XM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Capital.com and XM hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: XM requires a lower minimum deposit ($5), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Capital.com lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while XM lists up to 1000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while XM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Capital.com has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. XM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Capital.com is stronger for safety and regulation with FCA and MAS oversight.
Capital.com wins for platform choice with a proprietary platform.
Capital.com wins for instrument variety with 6,300 assets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2016 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $20 | $5▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.6 pips | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | $10/month (after 3 months) | $5/month (after 90 days)▼ lower |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPayPalApple PayGoogle Pay | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for most methods |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
Proprietary platform only, no MT4 or MT5
Limited product range for advanced traders
No phone support
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
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
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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