Betterment
XM
BrokerDataNet earns affiliate commission from brokers listed on this site. This does not affect our ratings or editorial independence.
Overview
Betterment was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in USA, while XM was established in 2009 and is based in Cyprus. Betterment holds licences including Unregulated, while XM is regulated by International Financial Services Commission(IFSC) among others. Betterment serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; XM has 3,500,000+. The minimum deposit is $0 at Betterment and $5 at XM.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Regulation | Unregulated | International Financial Services Commission(IFSC), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) |
| Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
| Country | USA | Cyprus |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 3,500,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between Betterment and XM, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Betterment has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $0 (vs $5 at XM). Betterment charges withdrawal fees while XM does not, a notable advantage for frequent withdrawers. XM applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Betterment does not. The two brokers are broadly comparable on fee structure.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | No |
| Inactivity Fees | No | Yes |
| Deposit Fees | No | No |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
Betterment offers MT5, cTrader, while XM supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Both brokers support copy or social trading, catering to less hands-on investors. XM edges ahead on platform breadth and functionality in our scoring.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | No | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Mac,iPhone,iPad,WEB,Desktop | MT4, MT5, Mac, Web Trader, Tablet & Mobile apps |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how Betterment and XM compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | No | No |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. Betterment accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while XM supports 3 (bank transfer, credit/debit card, Neteller). XM uniquely supports Neteller among the two brokers. XM scores higher on deposit and withdrawal flexibility.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | Yes |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both Betterment and XM offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. Betterment supports 2 languages and XM supports 20, giving XM broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | Betterment | XM |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, and Chinese | Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, and Turkish |