FBS launched in 2009 and grew into one of the largest Forex brokers globally, with 23+ million traders from 150+ countries and 410,000+ partners. With a minimum deposit of only $1, three trading platforms, six trading accounts, maximum leverage of 1:3000, and a competitive cost structure, FBS offers a highly competitive trading environment.
XM serves 5M+ traders from 190 countries and offers traders one of the most efficient order execution environments, with 2.4 billion trades executed without requotes or rejections. XM maintains the MT4/MT5 trading platforms, a broad-based asset selection, and competitive trading costs.
Both brokers offer traders generous bonuses, research, and education, but XM adds higher-quality trading tools.
We have conducted an in-depth review of FBS and XM to determine which one presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.
- Features and Platforms
- Available Markets
- Typical Spreads and Fees
- Security and Trust
- FBS versus XM- Verdict
 |  | |
Headquarters | Cyprus | Belize |
Regulators | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize | ASIC, CySEC, FSC Belize |
Tier 1 Regulator(s)? | ||
Owned by Public Company? | ||
Year Established | 2009 | 2009 |
Execution Type(s) | Market Maker | ECN/STP |
Minimum Deposit | $5 | $5 |
Negative Balance Protection | N/A | |
Trading Platform(s) | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform | Other, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5+ |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.1 pips | $11.00 |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 0.2 pips | $14.00 |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.05 | $0.05 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.19 | $0.31 |
Retail Loss Rate | N/A | 69.21% |
Minimum Raw Spreads | N/A | Not applicable |
Minimum Standard Spreads | N/A | 0.7 pips |
Minimum Commission for Forex | N/A | Commission-free |
Islamic Account | ||
Signals | ||
US Persons Accepted? | ||
Managed Accounts | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Features and Platforms
| | |
MT4 | ||
MT5 | ||
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons | N/A | |
cTrader | ||
Proprietary Platform | ||
Automated Trading | ||
Social/Copy Trading | N/A | |
DOM? | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Scalping | ||
Hedging | ||
One-Click Trading | ||
OCO Orders | ||
Interest on Margin | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Noteworthy:
FBS developed an in-house copy trading service and is home to one of the largest trading communities in the industry. XM maintains a broader choice of trading instruments and lower trading costs.
Available Markets
| | |
Currency Pairs | ||
Cryptocurrencies | ||
Commodities | ||
Crude Oil | ||
Gold | ||
Metals | ||
Equity Indices | ||
Stocks (non-CFDs) | ||
Bonds | N/A | |
ETFs | ||
Options | N/A | |
Futures | ||
Synthetics | ||
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
FBS only offers 37 currency pairs versus 57 at XM. While neither broker offers an in-depth choice, XM supports better diversification. The roles reverse for cryptocurrency traders, where FBS maintains 30 cryptocurrencies and XM only lists five. The XM asset selection is notably broader, appealing to more trading strategies and providing cross-asset exposure..
Typical Spreads and Fees
| | |
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD | 0.1 pips | $11.00 |
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD | 0.2 pips | $14.00 |
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil | $0.05 | $0.05 |
Average Trading Cost Gold | $0.19 | $0.31 |
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin | N/A | $20.00 |
Minimum Raw Spreads | N/A | Not applicable |
Minimum Standard Spreads | N/A | 0.7 pips |
Minimum Commission for Forex | N/A | Commission-free |
Deposit Fee | N/A | |
Withdrawal Fee | N/A | |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
FBS offers a highly competitive core pricing environment, with minimum commission-free costs of $5.00 per 1 standard lot versus $6.00 at XM. The FBS commission-based alternative lists a negative spread on the EUR/USD. XM has lower swap rates on leveraged overnight positions, making overall long-term trading costs cheaper for most trading strategies.
Security and Trust
| | |
Country of the Regulator | United Arab Emirates, Australia, The Bahamas, Belize, Cyprus, United Kingdom, United States | Australia, Belize, Cyprus |
Name of the Regulator | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC Belize | ASIC, CySEC, FSC Belize |
Regulatory License Number | 705428, 120/10, 443670, 000261/397, F003484, SIA-F201, 0516820 | 000102/6, 331/17, 426359 |
Regulatory Tier | 1,1,1,4,2,4,1 | 4, 1, 1 |
| Visit Website | Visit Website |
Both brokers segregate client deposits, offer negative balance protection, and have clean regulatory records. The UK and Cyprus subsidiaries offer an investor compensation fund, but the Belize brokerage maintains the most competitive trading conditions. FBS and XM have well-established operating histories and rank among the most trusted and secure brokers in the industry.
XM vs FBS – Verdict
FBS
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Low Forex trading costs from $5.00 per 1 standard lot | Limited overall asset selection |
| Competitive choice of cryptocurrencies | |
| Proprietary copy trading service and one of the largest trading communities | |
| Minimum deposit of $1 with maximum leverage of 1:3000 |
XM
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Well balanced overall asset selection | Limited cryptocurrency selection |
| Upgraded MT4/MT5 trading accounts with excellent order execution statistics | |
| Low minimum deposit of $5 and maximum leverage of 1:888 | |
| Competitive commission-free trading costs from $5.00 per 1 standard lot |
FBS and XM offer Forex traders low trading costs. XM is ahead overall due to lower swap rates on leveraged overnight positions and its loyalty program, which decreases costs for high-volume traders. Beginner traders get quality education at both brokers, but XM provides superior research. The asset selection at XM is notably broader, except for cryptocurrencies, where FBS takes the lead, while both offer generous bonuses.
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FAQs
Is FBS a good Forex broker?
FBS is a quality broker, ideal for beginner traders, scalpers, and cryptocurrency traders.
What broker is better than XM?
XM ranks among the most competitive broker, catering to all traders with a quality trading environment.
Is XM a good Forex broker?
XM established itself as a quality broker with a trading environment most brokers cannot match, making it a leading choice for demanding traders.
Why is XM the best broker?
XM offers low trading costs, a well-balanced asset selection, high leverage, excellent order execution statistics, upgraded MT4/MT5 trading platforms, quality research, and education.