XTB vs EC Markets : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

XTB

EC Markets

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Market maker

STP broker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2002

2011

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

2 Million

No information

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FCA, KNF, CySEC, DFSA, BaFin, FSCA, and FSC.

FSA,FCA, FSC

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Best for low cost ISA 2025, Best CFD Broker of 2025, Europe's fastest growing company 2025, Highly Recommended Finder Awards 2024,

Best Trading Liquidity Award, Best Customer Awards

Security Measures

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

11400+ trading instruments, including an investment plan

150+

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Futures

Bonds

Mutual Funds

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Equities

Yes

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

Yes

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

X station

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes except Mac

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Standarad, Professional

Standard and ECN accounts

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Yes

Minimum Deposit

$10

Leverage Available

1:2 to 1:500

200:1 to 500:1

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

Unlimited

Commission (per account type)

$0 for standard account, $5 per lot per side for ECN account

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Both beginners and experienced traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

bank transfers, credit and debit cards, e-wallets

Union Pay, OCT 365, Swift wire transfer, Indonesia bank ATM, Bank Transfer Malaysia, THAI QR payment,e-wallets

Withdrawal Methods

bank transfers, credit and debit cards, e-wallets

Union Pay, OCT 365, Swift wire transfer, Indonesia bank ATM, Bank Transfer Malaysia, THAI QR payment, e-wallets

Other E-Wallets Supported

Skrill, Neteller

VN pay, PoLi.

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Educational Articles and Market Articles

Trading Education, Market Analysis, Webinars, eBooks and Guides, Video Tutorials, MT4 Indicator Plugin

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Spread 0.1 to 0.8 pips, Stock transfer fee- USD 25, ETF commission- 0.2%

Spread for Std account: Starts from 1.0 pip, Spread for ECN accounts: Starts from 0.0 pips

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Variable

Per Lot Fees

0.08% per lot, or 0.16% per round turn

Options Contract Fees

Futures Contract Fees

Markup Fees on Spread

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Maximum Leverage

(1:500)

500:1

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

Charges apply 12 months of inactivity

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

Advisory Fees

0% advisory fee for cash-enhanced portfolio, 0.30% annual advisory fee for market-focused portfolio, 0.75-0.85% annual advisory fee for personal advice

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Yes

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

Deposit Fee

$0- Bank transfer, Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro, 2% fee for deposits via Skrill.

Currency Conversion Fee

0.50%

Withdrawal Fee

$0 - above $50, £5 or $20 fee for withdrawals below £50 or $50

$0 bank fees may apply

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

22:00 on Sunday to 21:00 on Friday GMT.

Varies by asset type

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

(24/5)

24/5

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Phone: +48 222 739 976, Live chat, E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: +248 422 4099, E-mail: [email protected], Live chat

Support Languages

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Poland

3rd Floor, 30 City Road, London, United Kingdom, EC1Y 2AY.

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

Both XTB and EC Markets offer affordable fee structures, but XTB generally edges out with no inactivity fees and lower commissions on standard trades, whereas EC Markets shines with bundled research and platform access.

New users will likely find XTB sign-up process more intuitive. Meanwhile, EC Markets takes a more regulated path to onboarding, which could benefit traders seeking high capital limits and detailed agreements.

New traders may find XTB interface more welcoming, while EC Markets appeals to experienced users looking for tools like heatmaps, screeners, and market sentiment overlays.

For market veterans, XTB brings the tools they need. New investors might find EC Markets more approachable and cost-effective.

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