XTB Review 2026

The basic trading model

XTB combines direct investment in real stocks and physical ETFs with leveraged trading, principally through CFDs. Real stocks and physical ETFs are unleveraged at 1:1; separate CFDs on stocks and ETFs are also available. Forex, indices and commodities are generally leveraged CFD exposure, while the form of cryptocurrency exposure depends on the account and country.

The Standard account connects these products to XTB's xStation platform. Its CFD pricing is commission-free, with most trading costs incorporated into floating spreads. Investment Plans for ETFs and individual shares can start from $1, although CFD positions require enough money to cover the relevant margin.

Important regional differences

Account eligibility, protections and leverage depend on the XTB entity serving the client. UK and EU retail clients face product-specific leverage limits, while eligible clients using XTB International may access leverage up to 1:500. Swap-free accounts are available in specific regions under XTB International and XTB MENA, but not to UK or EU residents under XTB Limited.

Trading costs

XTB uses floating spreads. The figures below are average spreads, not minimum or advertised spreads. Commission is shown as “No” for the instruments in the broker-wide commission field; the Standard account also has commission-free CFD pricing, with most trading costs incorporated into the spread.

Non-trading costs

A €10 monthly inactivity fee may apply when both conditions are met: no position has been opened or closed for 365 days, and no cash deposit has been made in the last 90 days. The fee is taken only from available funds; XTB does not charge it when the account balance is zero. XTB Stocks and Shares ISAs and Cash ISAs are exempt, and the fee generally does not apply while open positions remain.

A 0.5% currency-conversion fee applies when a trade is in a currency different from the account's base currency. Transfers between the client's own accounts in different currencies cost 0.5% on weekdays and 0.8% on weekends and public holidays. Holding leveraged CFD positions overnight can incur swap fees, applied between 23:59 and 00:01 platform time; the amount and whether it is credited or debited depend on the instrument, position direction and prevailing rates.

UK/EU bank withdrawals generally have no broker fee, while international-entity terms can differ. Deposit fees are 0% on most methods, including bank transfers and cards, although conditions can vary by entity and payment method.

Cost takeaway

The no-commission Standard CFD structure keeps the main trading charge within the spread rather than adding a separate CFD commission. Frequent cross-currency trading, overnight CFD holdings and long periods without account activity can add costs that are not captured by the quoted average spreads.

Account options

XTB's account choice in this offering is straightforward: the Standard account is the only account type, so clients do not choose between different account tiers or a raw-spread-plus-commission plan. The more consequential setup decisions are the platform, account currency and whether the intended product is a real asset or a leveraged CFD.

Platform choices

xStation 5 is XTB's proprietary platform. The native desktop version is retired, so the current platform choice is web and mobile access.

Base currency and account configuration

Base currencies include GBP, EUR and USD. Holding multiple currency sub-accounts can help avoid the 0.5% conversion charge when trading assets in a currency different from the account's base currency; internal transfers between currencies still incur a fee.

A demo account is available. Swap-free Islamic accounts are offered in specific regions under XTB International and XTB MENA, but not to residents of the UK or EU under XTB Limited. XTB may remove overnight interest on these accounts and instead charge a flat administrative fee or widen spreads. The minimum deposit for an eligible Islamic account starts at $250 or the equivalent in local currency.

UK and EU retail clients have product-specific leverage limits. Professional status may permit higher leverage, subject to qualification and jurisdiction; XTB International offers eligible retail clients leverage up to 1:500, with the exact ratio varying by instrument and local rules.

XTB's range spans direct stock and ETF investing as well as markets where exposure is generally through CFDs or similar contracts. The distinction matters: owning a real share or physical ETF is different from holding a leveraged CFD on that asset.

Options are also among XTB's tradeable asset categories. The form of crypto exposure and product availability can vary by account and country.

Order execution

For Instant orders, XTB manages allowable price movement through a deviation parameter. The setting determines the permitted deviation for that order type; traders should check it when submitting an order during fast-moving markets.

Leverage, margin and stop-out

For UK and EU retail clients, maximum leverage is up to 1:30 on major forex pairs, 1:20 on minor forex pairs, gold and major indices, 1:10 on commodities other than gold, 1:5 on individual stocks and ETFs, and 1:2 on cryptocurrencies. Real shares and physical ETFs are unleveraged at 1:1.

Professional clients who meet the relevant criteria may apply for leverage up to 1:500, depending on jurisdiction. XTB International offers non-EU clients maximum leverage up to 1:500, but the applicable ratio still varies by instrument and local rules. Clients can check an instrument's margin requirement in the xStation order window. The margin-call level is 100%, and the stop-out level is 50%.

Trading restrictions

XTB allows scalping, hedging and news trading. Automated copy trading and social trading are not available, and XTB does not currently allow API trading. Traders who rely on automated strategies or hands-free trade copying therefore cannot run those approaches through XTB's supported trading setup.

Day-to-day usability

xStation 5 is XTB's proprietary platform for web and mobile trading. It includes an economic calendar, market analysis and news tools, along with stop-loss and take-profit controls. A demo account is available for practising with the platform before trading with real funds.

1. Eligibility

XTB does not accept residents of a range of jurisdictions, including the United States, India, Pakistan and Australia. The full restriction list also includes, among others, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Russia and Turkey. Eligibility depends on the country of residence and the serving entity.

2. Registration

Applicants complete an account application and suitability assessment. XTB offers a Standard account, and a demo account is also available.

3. Verification

Live-account activation requires KYC verification. Applicants must provide proof of identity, such as a passport, national ID card or driving licence, and proof of residence, such as a recent utility bill, bank statement or council tax bill. Proof of residence is usually dated within the previous three to six months.

4. Initial funding

There is no minimum initial deposit for the cited XTB account. A deposit still needs to cover the margin required to open a particular trading position. Eligible Islamic accounts have a separate minimum deposit starting at $250 or the equivalent in local currency.

5. Getting ready to trade

After verification and funding, clients can use xStation 5 through web or mobile access. Check the account's base currency, the product's margin requirement and any currency-conversion charge before placing a trade.

Deposits

Method	Minimum	Broker Fee	Broker Processing	Expected Settlement
Wire Transfer	$0	UK entity: no broker deposit fee, other entities/payment methods may differ	same day to 1 business day	same day to 1 business day
Visa	$0	UK entity: no broker deposit fee, other entities/payment methods may differ	Instant	Instant
Mastercard	$0	UK entity: no broker deposit fee, other entities/payment methods may differ	Instant	Instant

Card and e-wallet deposits are generally immediate, while bank transfers from the UK typically take one working day. The method-specific timings above distinguish broker processing from settlement.

Withdrawals

Method	Minimum	Broker Fee	Broker Processing	Expected Settlement
Bank Transfer	No minimum withdrawal ($0)	Entity-dependent - UK/EU bank withdrawals generally no broker fee, international entity terms can differ	Same business day before 13:00 GMT, otherwise next working day	Same business day before 13:00 GMT, otherwise next working day

Withdrawal instructions received before 13:00 GMT are typically handled that day; later requests are processed on the next working day. Bank transfers typically take one to three working days to arrive, so broker processing and receipt of funds are not the same step.

Availability

XTB lists support hours as 24/7 and offers chat, email and phone contact.

How traders can get help

Clients can contact support by chat, email at [email protected] or phone at +44 20 3695 3085. Support languages include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, French, German, Italian, Polish, Czech, Slovak, Hungarian and Romanian.

Support limitations

Withdrawal issues that are difficult to resolve and unanswered messages are recurring concerns, making follow-up consistency a weakness to consider.

XTB operates under multiple regulatory jurisdictions, and the protections that apply depend on the entity holding the client's account. UK investment claims, for example, have a different compensation limit from UK bank deposits; protections should not be assumed to apply globally.

Legal entities and regulators

Client money protections

XTB segregates client funds from its operational capital. For eligible UK clients, FSCS investment protection may cover up to £85,000 per person, per firm; the £120,000 FSCS limit applies to bank deposits, not investment claims.

Negative balance protection is available to retail clients under regulated entities such as XTB Limited (FCA) and XTB Europe. It is generally not offered to clients trading under XTB International Limited, so the protection depends on the account's entity and client classification.

Company transparency

XTB was founded in 2002 and has been publicly traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange since 2016 under the ticker XTB.

Important distinction

Segregation, compensation schemes and negative balance protection concern client funds or specified liabilities if a firm fails or an account balance falls below zero. They do not protect against losses caused by market movements or unsuccessful trades.

What the headline claim suggests

A zero minimum deposit and leverage up to 1:500 can make XTB appear accessible to clients seeking either low-cost investing or high-leverage trading.

What happens in practice

The zero minimum applies to opening and funding the account, not to every trading position: a trade still requires enough funds for its margin. The 1:500 maximum is also not universal. UK and EU retail clients face lower, product-specific limits, and actual leverage depends on the entity, instrument and eligibility.

Who should care most

New clients should distinguish the amount needed to open an account from the capital required for a particular trade. Traders comparing leverage should identify their serving entity and check the margin shown for the instrument in xStation before placing an order.

Consider XTB if you...

• want to combine real stocks and ETFs with CFD markets in one platform;
• prefer commission-free Standard CFD pricing with floating spreads;
• are comfortable trading manually through xStation 5 on web or mobile.

You may want to look elsewhere if you...

• need API access or automated copy trading;
• require a native desktop platform or several platform choices;
• need support follow-up to be especially dependable when resolving withdrawal issues.

XTB's clearest proposition is a no-minimum-deposit account combining real stocks and ETFs with commission-free Standard CFD pricing. The main compromise is a concentrated platform setup without API trading or automated copying, alongside reported support concerns. Self-directed investors comfortable with xStation 5 are most likely to accept that trade-off.

Our broker-review framework considers regulatory registrations, account terms, fees, product coverage, platform capabilities, execution policies, funding conditions and client protections. Broker claims, regulator information, published account terms and customer feedback are treated as distinct forms of evidence; we do not claim personal testing unless it has taken place.

For more detail on how brokers are assessed, see our review methodology.