Two regulated brokers face off on cost, platforms, and market reach. The tension centers on instrument breadth versus platform access.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose tastytrade if you prefer no inactivity fee and a proprietary platform built for options.
Choose if…
Choose XM if you value MT4/MT5 access and multilingual support.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.5 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | tastytrade | 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) | 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 | Fail | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Fail | Pass |
tastytrade and XM share the same editorial score of 4.3/5. One concrete differentiator: tastytrade requires a lower minimum deposit.
XM starts from 0.6 pips. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
tastytrade has no minimum deposit, while XM requires at least $5. This makes tastytrade more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both tastytrade 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: tastytrade has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and XM provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
XM lists maximum leverage of 1000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for XM are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile, while XM supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5. tastytrade has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile. XM has exclusive access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.
XM offers spreads from 0.60 pips.
Equally matched; both are regulated by respected authorities with segregated funds and compensation schemes.
Tastytrade wins for active traders due to broad instrument access and an options-focused platform.
XM wins for platform choice thanks to MT4/MT5 availability.
Tastytrade wins for beginners due to zero minimum deposit and focus education.
Tastytrade wins for instrument variety with about 10,000 tradable instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.8 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.7 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum▼ lower | $5 |
|---|
| Spreads From | N/A | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $1/lot | N/A |
|---|
| N/A | N/A |
| Max Leverage | N/A | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $5/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferWire transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferWire transferACH | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for most methods |
|---|
| Regulators | CFTC NFA | ASIC CySEC KNF FSC ASF |
|---|
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
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
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
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
tastytrade and XM are closely matched overall, with the stark contrast in instrument breadth as the clearest differentiator.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
Score 4.3 / 5
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