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.
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.
For UK investors choosing between Trading 212 and XTB, it's reassuring to know that both platforms provide versatile options such as share trading, ETF trading, and CFD trading. However, neither provider offers options for crypto trading, spread betting, funds trading, or trading corporate and government bonds. Trading 212 distinguishes itself with the inclusion of investment trusts, whereas XTB does not offer this particular feature, making Trading 212 appealing for those interested in this niche investment choice.
When it comes to ratings, both Trading 212 and XTB achieve a commendable 4.5 stars from UK.StockBrokers.com for their investment choices. Despite this similar rating, XTB ranks slightly higher at #13 out of 18 brokers compared to Trading 212's #16 rank. This suggests a slightly more favourable overall impression of XTB's offerings in the competitive landscape of investment choices available to UK investors. Both platforms, however, offer strong options for those interested in shares, ETFs, and CFDs.
| 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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Professional’s Gateway to the World’s Markets.
Low-cost US and UK shares.
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 considering mobile trading apps, UK investors will find both Trading 212 and XTB offer reliable choices available on iPhone and Android devices. Trading 212 stands out with a superior rating of 5 stars for its mobile app, and ranks 3rd out of 18 brokers on UK.StockBrokers.com, highlighting its user-friendly features and seamless performance. In comparison, XTB also caters to both iPhone and Android users but scores slightly lower with a 4.5-star rating and holds the 6th position. This makes Trading 212 a more highly regarded choice among top UK brokers for those prioritizing mobile trading convenience.
Dive deeper: Best Stock Trading Apps UK.
For UK beginners seeking educational resources from online brokers, both Trading 212 and XTB offer valuable insights, particularly in share trading. While Trading 212 provides additional education in funds, it lacks archived webinars, similar to XTB. Neither broker supports educational content focused on retirement or live webinars. Despite Trading 212’s comprehensive offerings, XTB slightly outshines it with a higher rating from UK.StockBrokers.com, earning 4.5 stars compared to Trading 212's 4 stars. In terms of ranking, XTB stands at 9th place out of 18 brokers for beginner education, while Trading 212 is ranked 13th.
| 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 | No | No | |
| 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 | |
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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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