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.
Trading 212 and XTB are two online brokers offering various investment choices, catering to UK investors interested in share trading, ETFs, and CFDs. While both platforms provide opportunities for share and CFD trading, neither offers crypto, funds, or bond trading options. Interested investors can trade ETFs with either broker; however, only Trading 212 supports investment trusts. Both brokers lack advisory services, simplifying the investment process for those who prefer self-directed trading.
Despite their common offerings, Trading 212 and XTB differ slightly in accessibility and rankings. Each broker holds a 4.5-star rating from UK.StockBrokers.com concerning investment choices, though XTB is ranked slightly higher at #13 compared to Trading 212's #16 among 21 brokers. This comparison highlights key features and offerings, allowing UK investors to make informed decisions based on their individual needs and preferences.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes |
| Crypto Trading | No | No |
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| Investment Choices |
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Low-cost US and UK shares.
Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
When comparing the trading tools of Trading 212 and XTB, UK investors will notice distinct features tailored to different trading preferences. XTB stands out with its ability to display corporate events like earnings, splits, and dividends directly on charts, a feature Trading 212 lacks. However, when it comes to chart customization, Trading 212 offers a more extensive selection of drawing tools and technical indicators, with 27 drawing tools compared to XTB's 20, and 106 technical indicators exceeding XTB's 39. Both platforms allow users to add notes to charts and provide browser-based trading platforms, accommodating various trading styles and preferences.
Both Trading 212 and XTB have limitations, such as the inability to add index or stock overlays to charts. Despite these constraints, both platforms manage to deliver essential features like real-time market data and the ability to create alerts for stock price updates, ensuring traders remain well-informed. Whether you value the detailed event tracking available with XTB or prefer the broader charting options from Trading 212, each platform provides tools geared towards enhancing your trading experience.
| 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 | No | Yes |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
When comparing online brokers Trading 212 and XTB for UK investors seeking retirement account options, it's important to note that both offer Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs), providing a tax-efficient way to save and invest. However, neither Trading 212 nor XTB offers Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP) accounts, which may be a consideration for those looking to manage their pension savings directly. For investors focused on ISAs, both platforms could serve as viable options, but those in need of a SIPP will need to explore other brokers.
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 comparing the educational resources for beginner investors between Trading 212 and XTB, both offer solid educational content, but with some differences. Trading 212 provides learning materials on share trading and funds, while XTB focuses solely on share trading education and does not cover funds. Neither platform offers webinars, live or archived, nor do they cover retirement topics. According to UK.StockBrokers.com, Trading 212 earns a 4-star rating for beginner education, ranking 13th out of 21 brokers, while XTB slightly edges ahead with a 4.5-star rating, taking the 9th spot. UK investors seeking online trading education might consider these subtleties before choosing between the two brokers.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No |
| Education |
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|
Dive deeper: Best UK Trading Platforms for Beginners.
When considering online brokers for market research features, both Trading 212 and XTB offer useful tools for UK investors. Neither platform provides research reports specifically for funds or bonds, so if this is key for you, you might need to look elsewhere. However, both Trading 212 and XTB do allow users to view their portfolio allocation by asset class, which helps in understanding your investment distribution. In terms of investment research, both platforms cover shares, ETFs, and CFDs, giving you valuable insights for these assets. Unfortunately, for those interested in funds research, neither broker offers specific information on this front. Overall, Trading 212 and XTB are similarly equipped, each providing essential research tools for shares, ETFs, and CFDs, but lacking reports on funds and bonds.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Research - Bonds | No | No |
| Research - Funds | No | No |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No |
| 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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Both Trading 212 and XTB do not offer crypto trading, making them comparable in this aspect for investors who are focusing on other financial instruments.
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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 | No | No | |
| Share Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| CFD Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Funds | No | No | |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Bonds - Corporate | No | No | |
| Bonds - Government (Gilts) | No | No | |
| Investment Trusts | Yes | No | |
| Spread Betting | No | Yes | |
| Crypto Trading | |||
| Advisor Services | No | No |
| 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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| 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 | No | Yes | |
| Charting - Stock Overlays | No | No | |
| Charting - Index Overlays | No | No |
| Research | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Research - Shares | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - CFDs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Funds | No | No | |
| Fund Research - Research Reports | No | No | |
| Research - ETFs | Yes | Yes | |
| Research - Bonds | No | No | |
| Portfolio Allocation Breakdown | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Share Trading) | Yes | Yes | |
| Education (Funds) | Yes | No | |
| Education (Retirement) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Overall Summary | Trading 212 | XTB | |
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| Investment Choices |
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| Review | Trading 212 Review | XTB Review | |
| Winner | check_circle |
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