XM Account Types Compared: Standard vs Ultra Low vs Shares

XM offers several trading account types, each with its own distinct features and advantages. Choosing the right account to match your trading style is absolutely crucial. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of every XM account type, analyses the needs of different traders, and recommends the best account for your specific situation.

XM’s bonuses and promotions vary depending on your account type. Standard and Standard Micro accounts are eligible for all bonuses and promotions. Ultra Low and Ultra Low Micro accounts cannot receive deposit bonuses. The Shares account is not eligible for any bonuses, promotions, or the XM Traders Club.

The latest XM bonus promotions are explained in full detail in the article below. Even a quick read-through will help you make the most of every XM promotion available to you.

The lot size per trade varies depending on your XM account type. Standard and Ultra Low accounts use 1 lot = 100,000 units, while Micro accounts use 1 lot = 1,000 units. The minimum trade size for standard accounts is 0.01 lots (1,000 units), and for Micro accounts it is 0.1 lots (100 units). For the Shares account — a dedicated stock trading account — 1 lot equals 1 share.

Spreads at XM vary by account type. The tightest spreads are found on the Ultra Low and Ultra Low Micro accounts. The table below provides the latest average spread comparison between the Standard and Ultra Low accounts. Trading commissions apply only to the Shares account, meaning the average spreads shown represent the full trading cost for Standard and Ultra Low accounts.

Trading commissions for the XM Shares account differ for US, UK, and German stocks, and minimum commission thresholds apply. For full details, please refer to XM Shares Account Trading Commissions.

XM’s Ultra Low and Ultra Low Micro accounts offer Free Swap on major currency pairs, Gold, and Silver — meaning no swap points are incurred on these instruments when holding overnight. This sets them apart from the Standard account. The table below compares the latest swap points and their USD-converted values for the Standard and Ultra Low accounts.

On the MT4/MT5 platform, instrument names differ depending on your XM account type. Standard accounts display the plain symbol (EURUSD), Standard Micro accounts use a “micro” suffix (EURUSDmicro), Ultra Low accounts use a “#” suffix (EURUSD#), and Ultra Low Micro accounts use “m#” (EURUSDm#).

For traders working with a smaller budget, the Standard Micro account is the most effective option available. This account type is designed for both beginners and experienced traders who want to trade Forex efficiently with limited capital.

The Standard Micro account offers features specifically designed for traders with limited capital. To start, you can use the $30 Trading Bonus to begin trading without any real deposit, giving you a risk-free introduction to XM. Additionally, the deposit bonus helps grow your trading capital even when funds are tight, enabling you to open more positions. Every trade also earns XMC (XM Coins) through the XM Traders Club, which are converted back into additional bonuses — one of the account’s most compelling benefits.

The standout feature of the Standard Micro account is the ability to trade from just 100 currency units, enabling precise capital management even with a small balance. For example, when trading EURUSD at 0.1 lots, a 1 pip move results in a profit or loss of just $0.10 USD. This level of granular risk control is an invaluable opportunity for less experienced traders to build real market skills without excessive exposure.

If you want to start trading Forex effectively while keeping your risk to a minimum with limited capital, the Standard Micro account is well worth considering.

For intermediate to advanced traders who want to trade with maximum efficiency, the Ultra Low account is the ideal choice. Spreads are a direct trading cost that has a significant impact on profitability — particularly for short-term and high-frequency traders, where even marginal spread differences can compound into substantial gains or losses over time.

The defining feature of the Ultra Low account is, as the name suggests, exceptionally tight spreads. For major currency pairs, spreads are approximately half those of the Standard account. While this may seem like a small difference, frequent traders will find that it translates into meaningful cost savings over the long run.

Furthermore, the XM Ultra Low account charges no trading commissions whatsoever. Many brokers offset tight spreads by charging per-volume commissions, but at XM the spread is your only trading cost — making fee calculation straightforward and the overall trading environment highly transparent.

For traders with sufficient capital who don’t rely on bonuses to top up their margin, the Ultra Low account offers the best value if low-cost, efficient trading is your priority. Give it serious consideration.

For traders interested in algorithmic strategies using Expert Advisors (EAs), the Ultra Low Micro account is the optimal choice. EAs perform at their best when parameters are precisely tuned and the trading environment is well-suited to the strategy.

Two key factors are essential for EAs to operate at peak efficiency. The first is tight spreads. EAs typically capitalise on small price movements and execute trades frequently, meaning even minor spread differences have a significant cumulative impact on profitability. The Ultra Low Micro account offers some of the tightest spreads in the industry — roughly half those of a standard account — creating an ideal environment for EA trading.

The second is risk management flexibility. The ability to trade in very small lot sizes is particularly important when testing an EA strategy. It is prudent to verify the EA’s behaviour in live market conditions whilst minimising the risk of large losses. The Ultra Low Micro account allows trading from as little as 100 currency units, enabling you to assess your EA’s performance with minimal risk exposure.

In addition, this account type offers Free Swap on major currency pairs, Gold, and Silver — a significant advantage for those considering EA strategies that involve holding positions overnight or over extended periods.

Successful EA trading demands thorough testing and refinement in the right environment. The XM Ultra Low Micro account is the most sensible choice for traders looking to develop and optimise EA strategies with low costs and tightly controlled risk.

For investors who hold positions from a medium-to-long-term perspective, the Standard account is the most suitable option. There are three key reasons why this account type is well-matched to long-term trading strategies.

The Standard account generates swap points on all currency pairs. In contrast, the Ultra Low account offers Free Swap on major pairs and precious metals, which makes it less suitable for Carry Trade strategies that specifically target positive swap income.

You can open positions of up to 50 lots per order, giving you the scale to execute high-conviction long-term strategies with adequate trading volume when you have a strong directional view on the market.

In particular, the Standard account’s key benefit is the $30 Trading Bonus and a deposit bonus of up to $10,500 USD, which helps boost your starting capital and provides a cushion against temporary drawdowns.

For traders with limited capital who want to open larger positions in pursuit of significant profits, the Standard or Ultra Low account is the most appropriate choice. These account types offer leverage of up to 1,000x, enabling you to hold substantially sized positions with a relatively modest margin requirement.

At XM, you can hold a position as large as 10 lots (1,000,000 currency units) with a margin requirement of just approximately $1,100 USD. If the market moves in your favour by just 100 pips, you could realise a profit of $10,000 USD.

Furthermore, XM employs a “Zero Cut” system, which guarantees that your losses can never exceed the funds in your account. In a worst-case scenario, your losses are capped at your deposited balance. This safety net allows you to pursue high returns whilst keeping your downside risk firmly controlled.

It is important to understand, however, that trading with high leverage increases the risk of a margin call (forced position closure) from adverse price movements. Sound money management, accurate position sizing, and thorough market analysis are the cornerstones of success. Please ensure you fully understand your personal risk tolerance before using high leverage to its full extent.

Opening an additional account at XM takes just a few minutes via the XM Members Area. When setting up an additional account, you can customise the account type, trading platform (MT4 or MT5), base currency, and leverage level.