Two established forex brokers are compared on trust, costs, and platforms to see where each firm shines. The contrast hinges on regulation breadth and pricing structures.
XM wins on editorial score, thanks to broader regulator coverage and higher leverage compared with Windsor Brokers.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Windsor Brokers if…
Choose Windsor Brokers if you want no inactivity fee. You access raw spreads from 0 pips with a $8 per lot commission.
Choose XM if…
Choose XM if you want top-tier regulator coverage. You access 1,400 instruments and advanced charting tools.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Windsor Brokers offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.60 pips for XM, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
Pros
35+ years of continuous operation, one of the longest track records in retail forex
CySEC regulated with EU investor protections
ECN Zero account from 0.0 pips + $8 commission
Islamic swap-free accounts available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Windsor Brokers | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Fail | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | 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 | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Fail | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Windsor Brokers rates 4/5 and XM rates 4.3/5. XM has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
Windsor Brokers starts from 0 pips, tighter than XM's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
XM has $5, while Windsor Brokers requires at least $100. This makes XM more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
XM holds top-tier regulation (ASIC, CySEC, ASF), providing stronger investor protections. Windsor Brokers may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
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.
Windsor Brokers lists maximum leverage of 500:1, 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.
Windsor Brokers charges $8 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for XM are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Windsor Brokers supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while XM supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
XM has broader regulator coverage with CySEC, ASIC, KNF, ASF, and FSC.
XM offers higher leverage (1000:1) than Windsor (500:1), appealing to active traders.
Windsor Brokers is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.00 pips.
XM wins for beginners with a $5 minimum deposit and educational resources.
Equally matched for platforms; both offer MT4 and MT5.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 3.8 / 5 | 4.2 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.0 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1988 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Nicosia, Cyprus | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $100 | $5▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $8/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.8 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 1,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $5/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free for most methods |
|---|
| Regulators | CySEC FSCA | ASIC CySEC ASF FSC KNF |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
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
Platform limited to MT4 and MT5, no cTrader or proprietary option
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
ECN commission slightly above IC Markets and Pepperstone
No top-tier regulatory licence
Limited charting capabilities
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 / 5
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