Switch Markets vs XTB

Switch Markets or XTB – which is better for UK traders 2026? Compare Switch Markets and XTB in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Switch Markets vs XTB Comparison Table 2026
Switch Markets XTB
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4.2
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4.8
Switch Markets is ranked #43 among CFD brokers. XTB is ranked #2 among CFD brokers.
Review
Review
Switch Markets is a CFD brokerage offering diverse assets. It provides MT4 and MT5 platforms, thousands of instruments, and tools like copy trading and premium VPS hosting. Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
Pros
  • Switch Markets provides exceptional trading tools: a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar, various trading calculators, and a new AI-driven trading assistant.
  • Gain free access to MarketMovers' educational materials, market insights, and personalised coaching—benefits rarely offered by other brokers.
  • Traders can use MetaTrader's Trading Signals for copy trading, allowing them to replicate expert positions instantly.
  • Switch Markets has enhanced its portfolio with additional instruments and streamlined account structures. It provides a strong infrastructure for algorithmic traders, including a complimentary premium VPS for eligible participants.
  • XTB has improved its assets and markets offering further in 2026 with options trading in Spain and Germany, spot cryptos in some regions, and Investment Plans 2.0.
  • The xStation platform stands out with its user-friendly design and intuitive tools, such as adaptable news feeds, sentiment heatmaps, and a trader calculator. These features streamline the learning process for new traders.
  • XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
  • XTB has raised interest rates on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs (for ETFs and real shares, or 0.2% on trades over €100k) for UK clients, offering access to a wide array of markets.
  • Setting up an XTB account is straightforward and fully online, requiring only a few minutes. This simplicity eases new traders into the world of trading.
  • Top-notch customer support, available 24/5, includes a welcoming live chat with response times under two minutes during tests.
  • XTB processes withdrawals swiftly, paying within 3 business days, subject to the method and amount.
Cons
  • The global company is offshore-registered with the VFSC, a low-tier regulator offering limited client financial protections.
  • Our analysis shows that Standard account holders face average spreads of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD, which are not the most competitive.
  • The broker exclusively uses MetaTrader, lacking proprietary software or trading apps.
  • XTB lacks a raw spread account, a feature increasingly offered by competitors such as Pepperstone. This omission might not satisfy traders seeking the most competitive spreads.
  • The demo account lasts only four weeks, posing a challenge for traders wanting to fully explore the xStation platform and refine short-term strategies before investing actual money.
  • XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
  • Trading fees are competitive, with average EUR/USD spreads of about 1 pip. However, they are not as low as the most affordable brokers, such as IC Markets. Additionally, an inactivity fee applies after a year.
  • The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
  • It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
Forex, Commodities, Indices, ETFs, Shares, Crypto CFDs on shares, Indices, ETFs, Raw Materials, Forex currencies, cryptocurrencies, Real shares, Real ETFs
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
VFSC FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App
Each year, XTB's app impresses with its sleek design and clear interface. It's fast, responsive, and full of practical features like integrated sentiment data, market news, economic calendars, and educational content. The intuitive order panel below the chart simplifies trade execution, including take profit and stop loss settings.
iOS App Rating
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4.8
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4.7
Android App Rating
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4.6
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4.1
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
Margin Rate
4.5%
MetaTrader 4
Yes No
MetaTrader 5
Yes No
cTrader
No No
AlgoTrader
No No
OmniTrader
No No
TradingView
No No
Autochartist
No No
eSignal
No No
Trading Central
No No
STP Account
No Yes
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
Yes No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Switch Markets provides cost-effective copy trading through the MetaTrader platform.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
MT4 No
VPS Hosting
Yes No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No Yes
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$0 €10 per 365 days
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Copper
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Precious Metals
  • Cotton
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Cotton
  • Sugar
  • Precious Metals
  • Gasoline
  • Cocoa
  • Coffee
  • Natural Gas
  • Nickel
  • Soybeans
  • Aluminium
  • Livestock
  • Corn
  • Palladium
  • Platinum
  • Wheat
  • Zinc
  • Lean Hogs
  • Cattle
CFD
Switch Markets provides numerous CFD instruments with rapid order execution averaging 76 ms. Commissions are competitive at $7 per round turn for Pro accounts. Unique support features include over 20 trading calculators, a free journal, and coaching. XTB provides an extensive range of CFDs, including forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, subject to location. EU and UK clients have leverage up to 1:30, whereas global users and pro traders can obtain up to 1:500. XTB excels in offering valuable resources and tutorials for short-term CFD trading strategies.
Leverage
1:30 (EU), 1:1000 (Global) 1:30
FTSE Spread
1.2 1.8
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5 1.4
Oil Spread
2.0 0.03
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.2%
Forex
The offering of over 60 major, minor, and exotic currency pairs is quite competitive, particularly with Pro account spreads starting at 0 pips. Seasoned traders can utilise VPS hosting and Expert Advisors to execute algorithmic trading strategies efficiently. XTB offers over 60 currency pairs with competitive spreads, averaging 1 pip on major pairs. The xStation platform is user-friendly, featuring over 30 indicators in its charting package and a variety of order types, supporting diverse trading strategies and risk management.
Assets
60+ 70+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 1.4
EURUSD Spread
0.1 1.0
EURGBP Spread
0.6 1.4
Cryptocurrency
Switch Markets now offers over 60 crypto CFDs, a significant increase from the original 6. This expanded range includes both major cryptocurrencies and altcoins. Users can deposit and withdraw using BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, and USDTRC20, appealing to traders focused on crypto. XTB provides a robust array of over 50 cryptocurrencies, featuring competitive spreads beginning at 0.22% on Bitcoin and leverage up to 1:5. The xStation platform facilitates trading with pairs like ETH/BTC and DSH/BTC. Traders can operate round-the-clock in a secure and transparent cryptocurrency trading environment.
Spread
Variable 0.22%
Coins
  • BTC
  • BTC
  • XMR
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • ETH
  • NEAR
  • ZEC
  • LNK
  • APE
  • DOG
  • RIP
  • RIP
  • ONE
  • BNB
  • DSH
  • AVE
  • SHB
  • BCC
  • ETC
  • ADA
  • VET
  • XTZ
  • SOL
  • CHZ
  • NEO
  • BSV
  • IOTA
  • ATO
  • UNI
  • COMP
  • BAND
  • FTM
  • DOT
  • ALG
  • MEL
  • XLM
  • THT
  • POL
  • SND
  • TRX
  • SUSHI
  • QTUM
  • ICP
  • CELO
  • SNX
  • ALICE
  • KAVA
  • AVX
  • TRP
  • KSM
  • YFI
  • CKE
  • MNA
  • EOS
  • FIL
  • 1INCH
  • DEFI
  • EGLD
  • WAV
  • AXS
  • XEM
  • ENS
  • KNC
  • ADA
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • DSH
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • IOTA
  • LTC
  • NEO
  • XRP
  • XLM
  • TRX
  • XEM
  • XLM
  • XMR
  • DOGE
  • BNB
  • LINK
  • UNI
  • DOT
  • XTZ
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Switch Markets XTB
Review
Review
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 72% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money
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