Written by StockBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 vs XTB, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, investment options, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
Your capital is at risk.
Alongside the cost per trade, most UK online brokers also charge a monthly, quarterly, or annual management fee, which varies based on the account type and balance. Based on our thorough review, Trading 212 offers better pricing than XTB for share dealing.
Assuming a £30,000 portfolio size, here are the total annual costs for share dealing with both brokers, given different monthly activity scenarios.
5 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
12 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
36 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
120 trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £0 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
3 fund trades per year - Trading 212 would cost £1 per year, while XTB would cost £0 per year.
What type of trader are you?
New to the world of investing? See our picks for the Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners. More experienced traders should read our guide to the Best UK Trading Platforms for Active Traders.
In the UK, selecting between Trading 212 and XTB for your investing needs often comes down to the variety of options they offer. Both platforms allow users to trade shares and ETFs, while each also covers CFD trading, a popular choice for those looking to trade with leverage. However, Trading 212 offers the unique option of trading investment trusts, a feature particularly appealing to investors seeking diversified portfolios in specific sectors or regions.
While both brokers share a 4.5-star rating for investment choices from UK.StockBrokers.com, XTB edges slightly ahead in rankings, placing 13th out of 21 brokers compared to Trading 212's 16th position. Neither platform offers crypto trading, spread betting, or access to funds and bonds, so those interested in these investments might need to look elsewhere. Overall, both platforms provide compelling choices for UK investors looking to engage in share and ETF trading.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | ||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | ||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | |
| Spread Betting | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | ||
| Advisor Services | ||
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing Trading 212 and XTB for their charting tools, UK traders will find distinct features offered by each platform. Trading 212 stands out with 27 drawing tools and a substantial 106 technical indicators, providing a comprehensive suite for in-depth analysis. However, it currently lacks the option to display corporate events directly on charts, a feature that XTB includes. Both platforms facilitate the option to add notes to charts and support browser-based trading, making them accessible and user-friendly for all levels of traders.
Additionally, both Trading 212 and XTB support creating alerts for stock price updates and offer real-time market data, ensuring timely trading opportunities. Although both platforms allow users to make the most of these features, XTB, with its ability to depict corporate events on charts, may cater better to those specifically seeking this functionality. While neither offers stock or index overlays, they ensure a robust charting experience tailored to individual needs through a variety of tools and data alerts.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 39 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 20 |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | ||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
When choosing between online brokers Trading 212 and XTB, UK investors interested in retirement accounts can consider their options for ISAs and SIPPs. Trading 212 provides Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), giving UK residents a tax-efficient way to invest. Similarly, XTB also offers ISAs, allowing for a range of investment opportunities with tax benefits. However, for those looking to explore Self-Invested Personal Pensions (SIPPs), both Trading 212 and XTB currently do not provide this type of account. This comparison highlights that while both platforms offer ISAs, potential investors seeking SIPP accounts may need to explore other providers.
Dive deeper: Best SIPP Providers, Best Stocks and Shares ISA Providers.
When comparing the mobile offerings of online brokers Trading 212 and XTB for UK users, both provide apps for iPhone and Android devices, ensuring seamless accessibility on popular smartphone platforms. Trading 212 stands out with a perfect 5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, earning it the #3 spot among 21 brokers for its mobile app. In contrast, XTB holds a commendable 4.5-star rating, placing it at #6. These rankings reflect Trading 212's slight edge in user satisfaction and performance, making it a preferred choice for those prioritizing top-tier mobile trading experiences.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner investors, both Trading 212 and XTB provide solid foundations, but with some differences. Trading 212 offers comprehensive educational materials on share trading and funds, although it does not host client webinars or archive them for on-demand viewing. In contrast, XTB enhances its offerings with client webinars, while also supporting share trading education. However, neither platform currently offers education on retirement planning. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 is rated 4 stars for beginner education, ranking 13th out of 21 brokers, while XTB edges out with a 4.5-star rating and ranks 9th. UK-based investors may find XTB's slightly higher rating and additional webinar support beneficial for jumpstarting their investment journey.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | ||
| Client Webinars (Archived) | ||
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | |
| Education (Retirement) | ||
| Education |
|
|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
In comparing the market research features of Trading 212 and XTB for UK investors, both online brokers excel in providing comprehensive tools. Trading 212 and XTB each offer the capability to view portfolio allocation by asset class and deliver extensive research on shares, ETFs, and CFDs. However, for those looking for detailed research reports on funds, neither broker currently supplies this information. Research on bonds also appears absent from both Trading 212 and XTB, potentially guiding users to look elsewhere if bonds are a significant focus. Overall, both platforms present similar offerings, empowering investors with essential data to make informed decisions, although certain research areas remain unaddressed.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | ||
| Research - Funds | ||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | ||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
Which broker is better overall, Trading 212 or XTB? After collecting more than 900 data points over a 10-week period, we found Trading 212 to be a better trading platform overall.
Trading 212 offers commission-free share dealing and is a great option for those looking to simply execute share or ETF trades. Novice investors or those looking for more diversification through mutual funds may find better options elsewhere.
| Feature |
Trading 212
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XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Charges & Fees |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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Both Trading 212 and XTB offer crypto trading, making them viable options for investors interested in digital currencies.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
| Investments | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISA | Yes | Yes | |
| SIPP | |||
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | |||
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | |||
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | |||
| Investment Trusts | Yes | ||
| Spread Betting | Yes | ||
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services |
| Trading Fees | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 0-9 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 10-19 Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| Share Trading: 20+ Deals/ Month | £0 | £0 | |
| 5 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 12 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 36 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 120 trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | £0 | |
| 3 fund trades per year (£30k portfolio) | £0 | N/A | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £0 - £250,000 | £0 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £250K-£500K | £0 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £500,000 - £1m | £0 | 0 | |
| Annual Custody Fee: £1m and over | £0 | 0 | |
| Bonds - Corporate - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) - Fee | N/A | N/A | |
| ETFs - Fee | 0 | £0 | |
| Investment Trusts - Fee | 0 | N/A | |
| Telephone Dealing Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Mobile Trading Apps Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Platforms & Tools | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| iPhone App | Yes | Yes | |
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Stock Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies | 106 | 39 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools | 27 | 20 | |
| Charting - Notes | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Display Corporate Events | Yes | ||
| Charting - Stock Overlays | |||
| Charting - Index Overlays |
| Research | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | |||
| Fund Research - Research Reports | |||
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | |||
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | ||
| Education (Retirement) | |||
| Client Webinars | |||
| Client Webinars (Archived) |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | XTB | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Mobile App |
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| Website |
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| Ease of Use |
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| Education |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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