Forex alternatives

XTB Alternatives
| Alternative | Why consider it | What to check | Commission ($)¹ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | $0.99 | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | $3 | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | $2 | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | $6 | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View | |
| Compare forex-focused account options | Check spread plus commission | — | View |
Interactive Brokers is the best XTB alternative overall for investors and experienced traders who want broader market access, more asset classes and cheaper currency conversion. Trading 212 is the better choice for simple, low-cost stock and ETF investing, while Pepperstone is the stronger XTB alternative for traders who specifically want MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, cTrader or TradingView.
The best XTB alternative therefore depends on why you are considering leaving XTB:
- Best overall XTB alternative: Interactive Brokers
- Best for low-cost stocks and ETFs: Trading 212
- Best for MetaTrader and active forex/CFD trading: Pepperstone
- Best for copy trading: eToro
- Best for low-cost ETF investing: DEGIRO
- Best premium multi-asset alternative: Saxo
XTB itself remains competitive. Investors buying stocks and ETFs pay 0% commission up to €100,000 of monthly turnover, after which a 0.2% commission applies, subject to a minimum charge. The more obvious cost disadvantage for international investors is XTB's 0.5% currency conversion charge when a conversion is required.
Broker products, pricing and investor protections vary by country of residence. Always check the terms for the legal entity that would actually hold your account.
XTB alternatives at a glance
Interactive Brokers
- Best for
- Global investing and experienced traders
- Main advantage over XTB
- Much broader market and product access, plus very low FX conversion costs
- Main trade-off
- More complex than XTB
Trading 212
- Best for
- Low-cost stocks and ETFs
- Main advantage over XTB
- 0% trading commission and 0.15% FX conversion fee on Invest accounts
- Main trade-off
- Fewer professional trading products and tools than IBKR or Saxo
Pepperstone
- Best for
- Forex and CFD traders
- Main advantage over XTB
- MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView support
- Main trade-off
- Not a like-for-like replacement for XTB's real stock and ETF investing
eToro
- Best for
- Copy trading and social investing
- Main advantage over XTB
- CopyTrader and social-investing ecosystem
- Main trade-off
- Costs vary significantly by asset and country
DEGIRO
- Best for
- Long-term ETF portfolios
- Main advantage over XTB
- Low-cost ETF Core Selection
- Main trade-off
- Less suitable for leveraged active trading
Saxo
- Best for
- Advanced multi-asset investors
- Main advantage over XTB
- Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex and CFDs in one ecosystem
- Main trade-off
- Small trades can cost more than XTB or Trading 212
| Broker | Best for | Main advantage over XTB | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global investing and experienced traders | Much broader market and product access, plus very low FX conversion costs | More complex than XTB | |
| Trading 212 | Low-cost stocks and ETFs | 0% trading commission and 0.15% FX conversion fee on Invest accounts | Fewer professional trading products and tools than IBKR or Saxo |
| Forex and CFD traders | MT4, MT5, cTrader and TradingView support | Not a like-for-like replacement for XTB's real stock and ETF investing | |
| Copy trading and social investing | CopyTrader and social-investing ecosystem | Costs vary significantly by asset and country | |
| DEGIRO | Long-term ETF portfolios | Low-cost ETF Core Selection | Less suitable for leveraged active trading |
| Saxo | Advanced multi-asset investors | Stocks, ETFs, bonds, options, futures, forex and CFDs in one ecosystem | Small trades can cost more than XTB or Trading 212 |
There is no useful single "best broker" score here. The correct comparison is whether an alternative fixes the specific limitation that made you look beyond XTB in the first place.
Why look for an alternative to XTB?
XTB remains a strong proposition for investors who primarily want real shares, ETFs and CFDs through a relatively simple proprietary platform. XTB offers more than 7,100 stocks from 16 major exchanges, and stock and ETF transactions remain commission-free until monthly turnover exceeds €100,000.
The case for switching becomes stronger when your requirements move outside that sweet spot.
XTB's 0.5% currency conversion cost can matter
XTB applies a 0.5% currency conversion charge where an investment requires conversion between the account currency and the instrument currency.
On a €10,000 equivalent conversion, 0.5% represents €50. On €100,000, it represents €500.
That does not automatically make XTB expensive. An investor who holds the appropriate account currency or mostly buys assets denominated in the same currency may rarely incur the charge. But frequent international investors should compare total FX costs rather than looking only at headline stock commissions.
XTB does not offer MT4 or MT5 to most UK and European customers
XTB's current platform offering is centred on its proprietary platform. Its UK help centre states that MetaTrader 4 was removed from the UK offering in March 2024, while XTB's current platform documentation says MT4 and MT5 are not supported in its mainstream offering. A regional exception exists for some MENA clients with MT4 access.
That makes Pepperstone a much more obvious alternative for traders whose strategies, indicators, Expert Advisors or existing workflow depend on MetaTrader.
Some investors need a wider product range
XTB's core product range is built around real stocks and ETFs plus CFDs on assets such as shares, ETFs, indices, forex and commodities.
Interactive Brokers and Saxo explicitly offer additional direct-market products such as bonds, listed options and futures. For investors using multiple asset classes, that can matter more than saving a few euros of commission.
1. Interactive Brokers: best XTB alternative overall
Interactive Brokers clients can access stocks, options, futures, currencies, bonds and funds across more than 150 markets in 33 countries. Its simpler IBKR GlobalTrader interface also supports stocks, ETFs and options for investors who do not need the full professional platform.
That product breadth is the main reason Interactive Brokers wins this comparison.
Where Interactive Brokers beats XTB
Interactive Brokers is particularly attractive for investors who:
- trade across numerous international exchanges
- buy assets in several currencies
- want direct access to options, futures or bonds
- need more advanced order types and trading tools
- expect their investment strategy to become more sophisticated over time
Currency conversion is an especially important difference. IBKR GlobalTrader currently lists automatic FX conversion at 3 basis points, equivalent to 0.03% of the transaction value, compared with XTB's 0.5% currency conversion cost when applicable.
Using a simplified €10,000 conversion example, 0.03% is €3 while 0.5% is €50. Actual costs and currency arrangements depend on the account and transaction, but frequent cross-currency investors should pay attention to that gap.
Where XTB is better than Interactive Brokers
XTB can still be the cheaper and simpler choice for straightforward stock and ETF investing.
XTB charges no trading commission on real stocks and ETFs until monthly turnover exceeds €100,000. By comparison, IBKR GlobalTrader's European pricing currently starts at €3 or £3 for typical European stock and ETF trades, with larger transactions charged at 0.05%. US pricing starts at $0.005 per share with a $1 minimum.
If you make occasional investments in assets that match your XTB account currency, switching to Interactive Brokers purely to reduce costs may accomplish very little.
Choose Interactive Brokers over XTB if global market access, FX efficiency or advanced products matter more than absolute simplicity.
2. Trading 212: best alternative for low-cost stocks and ETFs
Trading 212 charges no trading commission or custody fee on its Invest account. Its FX conversion fee is 0.15%, compared with XTB's 0.5% where XTB currency conversion applies.
Trading 212 also supports a multi-currency Invest account with 12 currencies, including GBP, USD, EUR, PLN and CHF. Investors can hold the asset's trading currency rather than automatically converting every transaction.
Trading 212 vs XTB on fees
For a €10,000 equivalent currency conversion:
- XTB at 0.5%: approximately €50
- Trading 212 at 0.15%: approximately €15
That is a €35 difference on the conversion itself.
The comparison becomes increasingly relevant for investors repeatedly moving between currencies. Someone buying euro-denominated ETFs from a euro account, however, may avoid the issue entirely.
Who should choose Trading 212?
Trading 212 makes the most sense if you want:
- commission-free stock and ETF trading
- fractional investing
- recurring portfolio investing
- a simple mobile-first interface
- multi-currency balances
- lower FX conversion costs than XTB
Interactive Brokers remains stronger for complex products and professional trading. XTB may appeal more to users who want its integrated market analysis and proprietary trading environment.
Choose Trading 212 over XTB when your priority is uncomplicated, low-cost stock and ETF investing rather than advanced trading.
3. Pepperstone: best XTB alternative for MT4 and MT5
Pepperstone currently supports TradingView, MT4, MT5, cTrader and its own platform. XTB's mainstream UK and European offering is instead built around its proprietary platform.
This is a fundamentally different reason for switching from XTB than finding a cheaper ETF broker.
Why active traders may prefer Pepperstone
Pepperstone's Razor account offers FX CFD spreads from 0.0 points, with separate commission. Current published pricing lists commissions such as €2.60, £2.25 or $3.50 per standard FX lot per side depending on account currency. Actual spreads vary with market conditions.
Pepperstone therefore makes sense for users who rely on:
- MetaTrader Expert Advisors
- custom MT4 or MT5 indicators
- cTrader
- TradingView execution
- algorithmic forex strategies
- raw-spread pricing models
Why Pepperstone is not a universal XTB replacement
A long-term investor searching for somewhere to build a portfolio of real shares and ETFs should not automatically switch to Pepperstone simply because it is a strong trading broker.
Pepperstone belongs in this comparison because it solves XTB's platform limitation for active traders. It is not the closest substitute for XTB's long-term investment functionality.
Choose Pepperstone over XTB if your real requirement is MetaTrader, cTrader or specialist forex/CFD execution.
4. eToro: best XTB alternative for copy trading
eToro's CopyTrader feature allows users to automatically replicate another investor's positions proportionally. eToro currently charges no additional fee simply for using CopyTrader, although normal trading costs can still apply to the underlying transactions. The minimum amount to copy a trader is currently $200.
XTB does not offer an equivalent social-copying ecosystem as the centre of its proposition.
Where eToro beats XTB
eToro is worth considering if you value:
- CopyTrader
- discovering other investors and traders
- social discussion around investments
- Smart Portfolios
- a comparatively simple multi-asset interface
Where XTB may be cheaper or simpler
eToro's fee structure needs more scrutiny than its old "zero commission" reputation suggests.
eToro currently charges zero commission on ETF trades, but a $1 or $2 commission can apply when opening and closing stock positions depending on the customer's country and the exchange. Currency conversion costs also vary according to account currency, location and membership level.
For that reason, eToro should not automatically be described as "cheaper than XTB."
Choose eToro over XTB for CopyTrader and social investing, not because it is universally the lowest-cost broker.
5. DEGIRO: best XTB alternative for low-cost ETF investing
DEGIRO's ETF Core Selection currently includes more than 1,000 ETFs, ETCs and ETNs listed on Tradegate. These products carry a €1 handling fee per transaction. Outside the Core Selection, DEGIRO's published Irish pricing lists ETFs at €2 commission plus a €1 handling fee per trade. Currency and other external costs can also apply.
Why choose DEGIRO instead of XTB?
DEGIRO makes sense when you want a conventional execution-only investment broker and your strategy is dominated by:
- ETFs
- stocks
- long holding periods
- relatively infrequent transactions
- access to multiple exchanges
DEGIRO also has no inactivity fee or minimum trading amount, although connectivity fees can apply to positions or trading on certain non-home exchanges.
Where XTB wins
For investors staying below XTB's €100,000 monthly turnover threshold, XTB's 0% stock and ETF commission can beat DEGIRO's transaction charges.
DEGIRO therefore does not win simply because it is "cheap." Its appeal is the combination of investment-market access and a low-cost ETF model.
Choose DEGIRO over XTB if you want a traditional low-cost investment broker focused heavily on stocks and ETFs rather than CFDs and active trading.
6. Saxo: best premium multi-asset alternative to XTB
Saxo offers stocks, ETFs, bonds, mutual funds, listed options, futures, forex, CFDs and commodities. Saxo states that its stock coverage spans more than 50 global markets and that more than 5,200 government and corporate bonds are available through its platform.
Users can choose between SaxoInvestor for simpler portfolio management and SaxoTrader for more advanced trading and margin products.
Why choose Saxo instead of XTB?
Saxo is worth considering when you need:
- bonds
- listed options
- futures
- sophisticated multi-asset trading
- more global exchanges
- advanced portfolio and trading tools
Its ETF commissions currently start at 0.08% with minimum charges such as €3 on Deutsche Börse Xetra and £3 on the London Stock Exchange, although pricing varies by country and account tier. Saxo states that it has no platform fee, inactivity fee or minimum funding requirement on the referenced offering.
That means Saxo is not the obvious choice for someone whose only objective is buying one ETF every month as cheaply as possible.
Choose Saxo over XTB if product depth and platform capability matter more than zero-commission cash investing.
Which XTB alternative should you choose?
The easiest way to choose an XTB alternative is to identify the exact problem you are trying to solve.
| If you want... | Best choice |
|---|---|
| The strongest overall alternative | Interactive Brokers |
| Lower FX costs for simple stock/ETF investing | Trading 212 |
| More global markets and asset classes | Interactive Brokers |
| MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 | Pepperstone |
| Copy trading | eToro |
| Low-cost European ETF investing | DEGIRO |
| Bonds, options and futures in a premium platform | Saxo |
| Simple stock/ETF investing with xStation | Stay with XTB |
That last option matters.
Searching for XTB alternatives does not necessarily mean you should leave XTB.
When is XTB still the better choice?
Under those conditions, the 0% commission model is difficult to beat on straightforward price alone. XTB also combines investing, CFD trading, market analysis and portfolio tools within one proprietary platform.
Switching brokers creates little value if the alternative solves a problem you do not actually have.
For example, Interactive Brokers' large product range is irrelevant if you only buy one MSCI World ETF each month. Pepperstone's MT5 support is irrelevant if you never trade forex. eToro's CopyTrader is irrelevant if you make all investment decisions independently.
The best XTB alternative is therefore the broker that removes a real constraint, not the broker with the longest feature list.
Trading 212 vs XTB: which is better?
The largest easily quantifiable difference is FX. Trading 212's Invest account currently charges 0.15% for currency conversion, compared with XTB's 0.5% when currency conversion is required.
For an investor making frequent foreign-currency transactions, that difference can become more important than trading commission.
What is the closest alternative to XTB?
Trading 212 overlaps with XTB on accessible stock and ETF investing, fractional investing and straightforward mobile portfolio management.
Interactive Brokers is less similar to XTB, but it solves more of the reasons experienced investors eventually start looking elsewhere.
What is the best free alternative to XTB?
Trading 212 currently charges no trading commission or custody fee on Invest accounts, but a 0.15% FX fee can apply. Market spreads, exchange charges and taxes can also exist independently of broker commission.
XTB likewise charges 0% commission on stocks and ETFs only within its monthly turnover allowance and can charge 0.5% for currency conversion.
Comparing brokers solely on the phrase "zero commission" is therefore a mistake.
Final verdict: what is the best XTB alternative?
Interactive Brokers is the best XTB alternative overall in 2026. It is the strongest choice for investors who want broader global market access, more asset classes and cheaper foreign-exchange conversion than XTB.
Trading 212 is the better choice if your priority is simple, low-cost stock and ETF investing. Pepperstone is the clear alternative for traders who need MT4, MT5 or cTrader. eToro wins for copy trading, DEGIRO is compelling for ETF-focused European portfolios, and Saxo is the premium choice for sophisticated multi-asset investors.
But XTB remains highly competitive for simple stock and ETF investing. If you rarely convert currencies, remain below the €100,000 monthly commission threshold and like the XTB platform, changing brokers may solve nothing.
The right question is not "Which broker is better than XTB?"
It is "Which broker fixes the specific reason I am considering leaving XTB?"
Fees, product availability and investor protections can vary by country and change over time. Check the broker's current local pricing and legal documentation before opening or transferring an account. Investing involves risk, and leveraged CFD trading can result in rapid losses.