Switch Markets vs XTB

Switch Markets or XTB – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare Switch Markets and XTB in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

Switch Markets vs XTB Comparison Table 2025
Switch Markets XTB
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3.8
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4.8
Switch Markets is ranked #51 among CFD brokers. XTB is ranked #2 among CFD brokers.
Switch Markets is a multi-asset CFD brokerage regulated by ASIC and SVGFSA. The brand provides trading services on MT4 and MT5 platforms with leverage up to 1:500. It offers more than 2000 instruments and includes features like copy trading services and free 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. 75% 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 a good selection of trading tools, such as a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar, and VPS access. I value the variety of forex calculators available.
  • I discovered 14 easy deposit methods and 5 base currencies. With average processing times of just 1 minute and 2 seconds, traders will find this particularly appealing.
  • I am impressed by the free access to HowToTrade's educational resources, community forum, and market analysis, all without requiring a deposit.
  • Traders can utilise the MetaTrader Trading Signals to mirror the actions of seasoned traders instantly.
  • The £50 minimum initial deposit for both account types is quite competitive relative to other brands.
  • XTB offers a diverse range of over 7,000 instruments, including CFDs on shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, forex, and cryptocurrencies. The platform also provides real shares, real ETFs, share dealing, and the latest addition, Investment Plans, serving both traders seeking short-term gains and investors focused on long-term growth.
  • 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 its interest rate on uninvested funds and introduced zero-fee ISAs for UK clients, offering access to 3,000 stocks and 700 ETFs for diverse investment opportunities.
  • 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 ensures swift access to funds, providing fast withdrawals with same-day payments for requests made before 1 pm.
Cons
  • I am somewhat worried that the international firm is governed by the SVGFSA, an offshore regulator known for offering minimal financial security to clients.
  • In my view, Standard account holders face relatively high spreads, averaging 1.5 pips for EUR/USD, which are not particularly competitive.
  • 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.
Awards
  • Best Forex Broker for Beginners 2022
  • Best Customer Service 2021
  • Best Forex Broker for Low Costs 2021
  • Best Mobile App for Investing 2020
  • #1 EMEA Bloomberg spot for FX accuracy in Q2 of 2020 and Q3 of 2018
  • Best Polish Forex Broker 2019
  • Best Execution Broker 2019
FCA Regulated
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Commodities 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
ASIC FCA, CySEC, KNF, DFSA, FSC, SCA, Bappebti
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
No 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 Yes
MAM Account
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes Yes
Market Maker
Yes Yes
P2P Trading
No No
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Auto Trading
Yes - Equinix Open API
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Switch Markets provides low-cost trading services through the MetaTrader 4 platform, allowing traders to copy strategies efficiently.
Social Trading
Yes No
Trade Signals
MT4 Yes
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
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • PLN
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • 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 over 180 CFD instruments, offering leverage up to 1:500 and swift order execution in under 76 milliseconds. Commissions are competitive, at $7 per round turn for Pro account holders. XTB provides an extensive choice of over 2,100 CFDs, covering forex, indices, commodities, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies, depending on location. In the EU and UK, leverage is capped at 1:30, while global clients and professional traders can benefit from leverage up to 1:500. Renowned for its trading resources and tutorials, XTB excels in helping traders devise effective short-term strategies.
Leverage
1:500 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 competitive, particularly with Pro account spreads starting at 0 pips. Seasoned traders can utilise leverage up to 1:500 on the widely-used MT4 platform. XTB offers access to over 70 currency pairs, with competitive spreads averaging about 1 pip for major pairs. Its xStation platform is user-friendly, providing traders with top-tier charting tools, over 30 indicators, and diverse order types to support different strategies and risk management needs.
Assets
60+ 70+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 1.4
EURUSD Spread
0.1 1.0
EURGBP Spread
0.6 1.4
Cryptocurrency
Switch Markets offers just six crypto CFDs, but the available leverage of 1:3 is appealing. Additionally, deposit options include BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, and USDTRC20, which is advantageous for traders. 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
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • 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
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 75% 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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