XM South Africa Review
All you need to know before opening an account with XM South Africa
!! Regulator Warning !!
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 74.96% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Very poor customer support and the accepted payment methods are very limited.
XM was blacklisted in Singapore for illegal operations
I experienced withdrawal delays with this broker. I didnt find it funny, you guys beware
very bad customer support, been struggling to make a deposit since and it has been having issues and yet nobody from xm has even cintacted me to ask what the problem is. With my current broker (FxPro), once i try to make a deposit and it fails, they will immediately contact me through whatsapp to offer a solution.
One of the few brokers that offer micro account with no trade restrictions
They declined my card deposit for no clear reason. Its really hard to make a deposit into XM because they only support few deposit methods.
The minimum deposit for bank transfer method is too high at $30, bank transfer is the most common method we all use so why increase the minimum deposit to $30. Other payment methods should such as PayPal & Crypto should also be added
XM is a good forex broker with bad customer support
Account verification is cumbersome. They should allow you to just upload your driver's license or any other document instead of asking you to put it in front of your laptop camera. You know a broker is bad when they can't even get account opening right. Thumbs down
I used xm for a while and decided to move on because i needed lower spread. While I was with them their platforms were good and they let you trade so many asset classes. I rate them 4 stars on this one as they are not a bad broker.
I used xm for a while and decided to move on because i needed lower spread. While I was with them their platforms were good and they let you trade so many asset classes.
Their spreads are not as low as they advertise them to be. Customer support is also bad
Here in the UK, XM closed down and moved us to a new broker called Trading.com and the reason they closed down was unprofitability. However, XM still operates in other regions like Africa so the negative reviews I am seeing here must be from there. I suspect XM may be having some issues hence peoples complaints of poor service. When I was using XM (before they closed down in the UK) their service was average but not anywhere near what competition offered so i give them a 3 star for that.
XM keeps increasing their spread after I enter a trade causing my SL to be hit without price reaching it. Being a trader from Nigeria, XM customer support is not localized and they have never called me before even when I send them an email complaining about something. I just feel XM is not as customer focused as some other brokers. The only thing I liked about XM was their low minimum deposit and withdrawal. They used to offer a Micro Account but they have dis continued it.
Bad customer support and their bonus is shady. I traded with their bonus and generated some profit but after that i was unable to access my account and when I later did, the bonus was gone. I contacted them and got tossed around till i got fed up and quit.
I traded with XM but they lack good customer support. Their fees are low but there is a general lack of sophistication for me.
XM is an FSCA regulated forex broker with zero commission trading & ZAR account currency
| 👨 Broker | XM ZA (PTY) LTD |
| 👨 Trading Name | XM |
| 👨 Accepts South African Traders? | Yes |
| 📅 Year Founded | 2009 |
| ⚖ Regulators | FSCA |
| ⚖ FSCA License Type | Financial Service Provider (FSP) |
| 📈 CFD Instruments | Forex, Crypto, Stocks, Turbo Stocks, Commodities, Equity Indices, Thematic Indices, Precious Metals, Energies, Real Shares |
| 🚀Leverage | 1:1000 |
| 🔎Auditors | - |
| 💻 Platforms | MT4, MT5, XM Trading Point Mobile App |
| 📋Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra-Low Micro, Ultra-Low Standard |
| 💰 Minimum Deposit | $5 |
| 💰 Minimum Withdrawal | $5 |
| 📞Live Support | 24/7 |
| 🏖️ Inactivity Fee | $10 |
| ✅Reason To Trade | |
| ❌Reason To Avoid |
Regulation - 4/5
Is XM A Good Broker?
FSCA Regulation
Yes, XM (ZA) Pty LTD is considered safe for use in South Africa because they are regulated by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) who assigned them Financial Service Provider (FSP) license number 49976
XM in South Africa can not operate as a Market Maker or act as counterparty to your trades, because XMs FSCA license does not permit it to operate as an Over-the-counter Derivative Provider (ODP).
XM is also regulated by the Financial Service Commission (FSC) Belize with license number 000261/397.
XM Regulation Summary
| 📍Country | ⚖️Regulator | #️⃣License No. | 📅Date License Issued | 🔒Trust |
| South Africa | FSCA | 49976 | 2019 | Medium |
| Belize | FSC | 000261/397 | Low |
XM Deposit & Withdrawal -4/5
What is The Minimum Deposit For XM Broker?
XM minimum deposit in ZAR is 90 ZAR or $5 for Cards & eWallet deposits. However, if you are depositing via South African online bank transfer, the XM minimum deposit is around $30.
The XM Share Trading Account requires a $10,000 minimum deposit.
However, when it comes to XM copy trading, the minimum deposit is determined by the Strategy Provider.
XM Minimum Withdrawal
XM minimum withdrawal is $5 but withdrawals to international bank accounts can have a higher minimum withdrawal.
How Long Does it Take to Withdraw from XM Broker?
XM withdrawals are instant except you are withdrawing to an international bank account which can take a week.
XM accepts many funding methods ranging from cards, to local bank transfers, to eWallets; but first you must open an account.
Account Types - 4/5
1. XM Micro Account
The XM Micro Account is for trading small volumes, and your lot size is restricted to not more than 0.01.
2. XM Standard Account
Here full-sized trading has been unlocked & you can do large volumes meaning Standard lots of 100,000 units.
To trade Standard Lots, you will be required to place a higher margin so you will need more funds in your wallet.
3. XM Ultra-Low Account
The XM Ultra-Low Account does not charge overnight fees on major FX pairs & Gold, making it ideal for those who keep trades open till the next day.
4. XM Shares Trading Account
XM South Africa allows you trade real stocks but you must open an XM Stock Trading Account.
5. XM Demo Account
XM has a Demo Account which is meant for practicing with virtual cash only.
Account Management - 4/5
How Do I Open An Account With XM Broker?
Step 1: Register
To register with XM, go to the XM South Africa website and click on "Lets Get Started" or download the XM Mobile App & click on "Create an Account"
Choose your country of residence, enter your email address, create a password & then click on register. A verification email will be sent t you so click on the link in the email to proceed to the next step.
When you click on the verification link in your email, you will be redirected to your XM Members Area where you will notice a live MT5 trading Account & a demo account has been automatically opened for you.
Step 2: Verify Your Identity
From your XM members area, click on "verify now" to add your profile details. You will be required to enter your current South African address & phone number, then answer a question about your trading experience.
Step 3: Upload Your Means of ID
You will be required to upload your South African government ID card as a means of identification. You will also need to upload your utility bill as proof of address.
Maximum Number of Trading Accounts
You can open up to 10 XM CFD trading accounts & 1 Share trading account from your members area. However XM only allows you open Individual & Joint Accounts as corporate accounts are not offered.
Account Currency
XM offers ZAR account currency, as well as USD, GBP, EUR, JPY, CHF. HUF & PLN account currencies.
XM Wallet
The XM wallet is like an online savings account where you can warehouse funds you are not using for trading. It is ideal for money management and you can move any trading profits you make to your wallet for safekeeping.
Margin Call & Stop Out
XM Margin Call will come when your Margin Level falls to 100% and you will be Stopped Out of all your trades when your Margin Level falls to 20%.
Changing Your XM Demo Account Balance
If you decide to increase the virtual funds in your demo account, you can contact XM via live chat or email & they will effect the change for you.
Changing Leverage on XM Account
You can edit the leverage on your XM trading accounts from your members area. Login, select the account & click on edit.
Cost of Trading - 3.8/5
1. Commissions
No, XM does not charge commissions on any of their accounts. Instead they make their spreads wider to include the commission.
2. Spread
Yes, XM spreads are higher than industry averages but this is because they are a zero-commission broker.
However, during periods of low volatility the spreads can tighten.
The XM Ultra-Low Account has the lowest spreads of them all & we are talking spreads from 0.8 pips.
Other XM Accounts have spreads starting from 1.6 pips.
3. Overnight Fees
On the XM Ultra-Low Account, you don't pay overnight fees on major forex pairs & Gold.
But on other XM Accounts you pay overnight fees on every trade.
4. Inactivity Fees
XM charges a $10 inactivity fee on any accounts that have been dormant for 90 days (around 3 months)
| Account Type | ✂️Spread | 💰Commission per side | 💱Currency Conversion Fee | 🌙Overnight Fees | 😴Inactivity Fee |
| Standard Account | From 1.6 pips | $0 | Yes | Yes | $10 |
| Ultra-Low Account | From 0.8 pips | $0 | Yes | No | $10 |
Range of Markets - 4.5/5
1. Forex CFDs
At XM South Africa, you can trade 50+ Forex CFDs including the USD/ZAR pair.
2. Crypto CFDs
At XM South Africa, you can trade 59+ Crypto pairs including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Shiba, etc.
3. Indices CFDs (Cash & Futures)
XM South Africa has Nasdaq CFDs & 22 other popular indices in both spot cash & futures markets.
4. Thematic Indices
Thematic indices such as Electric Vehicle Index, Block Chain & NFT Index etc. are available at XM South Africa.
5. Stock CFDs
Over 1300+ Stock CFDs such as NVIDIA, EXXON, Ali Baba, etc. are available at XM South Africa.
6. Turbo Stock CFDs
XM South Africa has 12+ Turbo Stocks that you can trade. They include Adidas Turbo, Facebook Turbo etc.
7. Commodity CFDs
You can trade 8 Agricultural Commodities, 5 Metal Commodities(including Gold) & 3 Energy Commodities, at XM South Africa.
| 🛒CFD | #️⃣Number | 🚀Leverage | 🌙Swap Free Trading |
| Forex | 50+ | 1:1000 | Yes (major pairs) |
| Crypto | 59+ | 1:500 | No |
| Equity Indices | 20+ | 1:500 | No |
| Thematic Indices | 10+ | 1:50 | No |
| Stocks | 1300+ | 1:10 | No |
| Turbo Stocks | 10+ | 1:200 | No |
| Agric Commodities | 8+ | 1:50 | No |
| Gold & Silver | 5 | 1:1000 | Yes |
| Energies | 3 | 1:200 | No |
Trading Platforms - 3.5/5
XM MetaTrader
XM has both MT4 & MT5 trading platforms which can be installed on tablets as well as desktop/mobile phones.
XM also provides you the MT4 Multiterminal platform so you can control different trading accounts at once.
XM Trading Point Mobile App
Yes, XM has its own homegrown mobile app it calls the XM Trading Point App.
The XM mobile app has some good tools such as:
- Line Drawing Tools
- Fibonacci Retracement Tool
- OHLC Prices
- One-Click Trading
- View Open Positions from Chart
- 30+ Technical Indicators
XM Copy Trading - 4/5
XM South Africa offers copy trading and strategy providers are categorized into Best Performers, Most Invested, High Win Ratio & Low Risk categories.
You must create either a USD Investor Account or USD Strategy Manager Account with 1:500 max leverage, to begin copy trading on XM. You will also need to fund your copy account.
XM Tools - 2/5
1. Forex Calculator
XM has a forex calculator that calculates the Required Margin, Swaps & Pip Value in your account currency.
2. Economic Calendar
XM has an Economic Calendar that shows you the dates when important economic data will be released.
Customer Support - 4/5
1. Email Support
XM South Africa offers email support via dedicated email address which is open 24/7.
2. Live Chat
You can contact XM South Africa through live chat 24/7, and the hold time is around 30 seconds.
3. Education
XM offers educational resources but it is not very comprehensive. However you get video tutorials, webinars etc.
| 🎧 Live Chat Support | Yes |
| 📧 Email Support | Yes |
| 📞 Telephone Support | No |
| 📖 Help Center | Yes |
| 👨 Personal Account Manager | No |
| 👩🏫 Academy | Yes |
Final Verdict - 7.3/10
XM is on of the best forex brokers in South Africa for beginners because of the micro account and low minimum deposit.