FBS vs XM Group: Complete Comparison for Norway Traders (2025)
Which broker is better for Norway traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Choosing the right forex broker is critical for Norway traders, especially when comparing FBS and XM Group in 2025. Both brokers are well-known globally but differ significantly in regulation, trading costs, and local support. FBS, with a score of 3.7/5, appeals to beginners with its low minimum deposit ($1) and simple account structure, but its regulatory oversight is limited to offshore licenses. XM Group, scoring 4.7/5, offers stronger regulation (ASIC, CySEC) and a wider range of instruments, making it a safer choice for serious traders. For Norway-based traders, local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 are available on both platforms, though XM provides more educational resources and 24/7 support in Norwegian. This comparison will help you decide which broker aligns with your trading goals, risk tolerance, and preferred deposit methods.
| Instrument | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | XM Group |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | XM Group |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | XM Group |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | XM Group |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $1 | $5 | FBS |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Norway traders, XM Group generally offers lower spreads and commissions. On its Standard account, EUR/USD spreads start from 0.6 pips with zero commission, while FBS's Standard account starts from 0.7 pips. For higher volume traders, XM's Zero account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a $5 commission per lot, which can be more cost-effective. FBS's ECN account has spreads from 0.1 pips but with a $6 commission per lot. Over 100 trades per month, XM's lower spreads can save Norway traders around 10-15% in total costs, especially when trading major pairs like EUR/NOK or USD/JPY.
| Account Type | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✗ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $1 | $5 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Norway (offshore) | Up to 1:3000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:3000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | FBS |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | FBS |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | FBS |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | XM Group |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✓ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both FBS and XM Group offer the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms, which are widely used by Norway traders. XM also provides its own XM WebTrader and mobile apps, giving more flexibility for traders on the go. FBS's platforms are slightly more basic but still reliable for retail traders. For Norway traders who need fast execution and advanced charting tools, XM's MT5 integration with depth of market is a plus. Both platforms support automated trading via Expert Advisors (EAs), which is popular among Norwegian algorithmic traders.
| Factor | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | XM Group |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | FBS |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
XM Group uses straight-through processing (STP) with no dealing desk intervention, ensuring fast execution speeds of under 1 second on most orders. FBS also uses STP but with occasional requotes during volatile markets. For Norway traders trading major pairs like EUR/USD or USD/NOK, XM's execution is more reliable, especially during news events. XM also offers negative balance protection, which is not guaranteed at FBS. Overall, XM provides a smoother trading experience for active traders.
| Safety Factor | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | IFSC | ASIC |
| Reg number | #IFSC/60/230/TS/19 | #443670 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✗ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Regulation is a key concern for Norway traders, as neither broker is directly regulated by Finanstilsynet (the Norwegian financial regulator). FBS operates under the IFSC (Belize) and CySEC (EU), which offers basic investor protection but no compensation scheme for non-EU clients. XM Group is regulated by CySEC (EU), ASIC (Australia), and FSC (Belize), providing stronger oversight and negative balance protection. For Norway traders, XM's ASIC regulation adds an extra layer of security, though EU clients under CySEC are covered by the Investor Compensation Fund (up to €20,000). Always verify the specific entity you register with.
| Payment Method | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | 15-20 minutes for most methods; up to 48 hours for bank transfer | Visa/Mastercard and e-wallets near-instant to 1-2 business days; bank wire several days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Norway traders can deposit and withdraw funds using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20 at both FBS and XM Group. FBS supports Norwegian kroner (NOK) deposits via local bank transfers and Trustly, while XM processes all deposits in USD but accepts NOK via bank transfer with conversion. Minimum deposits are low: $1 for FBS and $5 for XM. E-wallet deposits are instant and free, while bank transfers take 1-3 business days. USDT TRC20 deposits are also instant with no fees, ideal for crypto-savvy traders. Withdrawals at XM are processed within 24 hours for e-wallets, while FBS can take up to 48 hours. Both brokers avoid deposit fees, but bank transfer withdrawals may incur a small charge.
| Islamic Account Feature | FBS | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both FBS and XM Group offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in Norway. FBS provides Islamic accounts on all its account types (Standard, Cent, ECN) with no swap fees on overnight positions. XM offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Micro accounts only, with a similar policy. However, XM's Islamic accounts have a holding period limit (usually 7-10 days) after which swap is applied, while FBS has no such restriction. Norway Muslim traders should request the account via live chat or email, and both brokers require a declaration of faith. Overall, FBS is slightly more accommodating for long-term Islamic trading.
| Support Feature | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | FBS |
XM Group provides 24/7 customer support in Norwegian, English, and 20+ other languages, with live chat, phone, and email. FBS offers 24/7 support in English and several other languages, but Norwegian is not directly available. For Norway traders, XM's local-language support is a clear advantage. Both brokers have comprehensive FAQ sections and educational resources, but XM's response times are generally faster (under 1 minute on live chat).
| Mobile Feature | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | FBS |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | FBS |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | FBS | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | FBS |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | FBS |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | FBS |
Choose FBS if you...
- Want a very low minimum deposit of $1 to start trading.
- Prefer simple account types without complex fee structures.
- Need an Islamic account with no holding period restrictions.
- Are a beginner trader looking for a low-risk entry point.
Choose XM Group if you...
After comparing FBS vs XM Group for Norway traders in 2025, XM Group is the clear winner for most retail traders due to its higher score (4.7/5), stronger regulation, and lower trading costs. For Norway traders using Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, or USDT TRC20, both brokers offer convenient options, but XM's faster withdrawals and local-language support make it more user-friendly. However, if you are a beginner with a very small budget or need a flexible Islamic account, FBS's $1 minimum deposit and simple setup are appealing. Ultimately, XM Group provides a safer, more professional environment for serious Norway traders, while FBS suits those prioritizing low barriers to entry. Always trade responsibly and check the latest terms on each broker's website.