XTB is different from the purely ECN brokers in this hub: it is a company listed on a stock exchange (in Poland), with a strong European presence, an award-winning proprietary platform and one clear differentiator — 0% commission on real stocks and ETFs (up to a monthly volume). But it has one feature that may be decisive for you: it does not use MetaTrader.
01Regulation and trust
XTB is regulated by tier-1 regulators, including the FCA (United Kingdom) and CySEC (Cyprus), plus the KNF (Poland). Being a publicly traded company adds a layer of transparency (public accounts, market scrutiny) that private brokers do not have. It is one of its strongest points.
02xStation 5 (and the absence of MetaTrader)
XTB bets on its own platform, the xStation 5, which has won awards for execution speed and usability. The problem for a lot of people: XTB no longer supports MetaTrader 4, and the focus is on xStation. That means that if your automation strategy depends on MT5 + Python or on MQL5 EAs, XTB is not the choice. Hence the low automation score on our scorecard.
Clear decision here: if you want to automate with MetaTrader (our focus with bots), XTB will not do — go with IC Markets, FP Markets or Exness. XTB makes sense for those who trade manually, value education and want to invest in stocks at 0% commission.
03Costs
In forex, XTB works with commission-free spreads on the standard account, averaging a competitive 0.7-0.8 pip on EUR/USD. The big draw is the 0% commission on real stocks and ETFs up to a monthly volume — attractive if you mix trading with long-term investing.
04Education (its strongest point)
XTB has some of the best educational content among brokers: the Trading Academy, a mentoring program, frequent market commentary and responsive support. For a beginner who values learning inside the platform, it is a real differentiator.
Pros
- Publicly listed company (transparency)
- FCA + CySEC regulation (tier-1)
- 0% commission on real stocks/ETFs
- Award-winning xStation 5
- Top-tier education
Cons
- No MetaTrader support (bad for automation)
- Only one live account (less flexible)
- Brazilian clients get an offshore account (no FGCRP protection)
Get to know XTB
Good if you trade manually and value education. Try the demo first.
Visit official site →05Frequently asked questions
Is XTB trustworthy?
It is a publicly listed broker (Poland), regulated by the FCA (UK) and CySEC, with more than 1,500 instruments and a strong educational focus. Being publicly traded adds transparency. Well regulated and accepts Brazilian clients.
Which platform does XTB use?
Mainly its own xStation 5, which has won awards for speed and usability. It no longer supports MetaTrader 4 — anyone who depends on MT4/MT5 should consider another broker.
Does XTB charge commission?
0% on real stocks and ETFs up to a certain monthly volume; in forex, commission-free spreads on the standard account, with a competitive average on EUR/USD.
Is XTB any good for running a trading bot?
It is not ideal — it does not use MetaTrader, which is the automation standard. For bots with MT5/Python, prefer IC Markets, FP Markets or Exness. XTB shines at manual trading and education.