XTB is a Warsaw-listed broker that’s been quietly building one of the most competitive investment platforms in the UK. The headline offer for new customers in 2026 is genuinely strong: 0% commission on stocks and ETFs (up to a generous monthly volume threshold) plus a free Uber share worth around £70 for qualifying new accounts.
In this XTB UK review, we look at the platform, the fees, the safety regulations, the free share offer, and how XTB stacks up against Trading 212, Hargreaves Lansdown, and IG. We also flag the genuine risks — XTB offers CFDs alongside stocks, and CFDs aren’t suitable for most retail investors.
Key Takeaways
- XTB UK offers commission-free trading on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 of monthly turnover (0.2% above that, minimum £10).
- New customers can claim a free Uber share worth approximately £70 when they qualify under the current promotion (terms apply — see XTB site for current details).
- XTB is authorised and regulated by the FCA in the UK (firm reference 522157) and listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
- Cash held with XTB UK is protected by FSCS up to £85,000; investments are held in segregated client accounts.
- Suitable for self-directed UK investors comfortable choosing their own stocks and ETFs — not suitable for novice investors looking for advice or for those who don’t fully understand CFD leverage.
→ Open an XTB Account & Claim Free Uber Share
What Is XTB?
XTB is one of Europe’s largest listed retail brokers. The Polish parent company (X-Trade Brokers Dom Maklerski S.A.) is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and has been operating since 2002. Its UK arm, XTB Limited, is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference 522157).
XTB’s main UK product is its proprietary trading platform, xStation 5, which gives access to thousands of stocks and ETFs from the London, US and major European exchanges. It also offers CFDs (contracts for difference), but as the standard FCA risk warning makes clear, those are high-risk products where most retail accounts lose money.
For typical UK investors looking to build a long-term portfolio, the relevant XTB product is the commission-free stocks and ETFs service. That’s the part of the platform we focus on in this review.
XTB UK Fees: How the 0% Commission Really Works
XTB advertises 0% commission on stocks and ETFs, and the offer is genuine within the published limits. Here’s the detail:
- Stocks and ETFs: 0% commission on up to €100,000 of monthly turnover. Above that limit, commission is 0.2% with a £10 minimum per trade.
- Currency conversion: 0.5% applied when buying assets denominated in a different currency to your account base currency (so a US stock will incur 0.5% FX cost when bought from a GBP account).
- Account fee: No monthly or annual platform fee.
- Inactivity fee: A small fee may apply if the account is inactive for an extended period (currently 12 months) and below a balance threshold — check the XTB website for current terms.
- Withdrawal fee: Free for withdrawals over a set threshold (currently $100); below that, a small admin fee may apply.
For most UK retail investors who buy and hold a portfolio of stocks and ETFs, the 0.5% FX cost on US-denominated investments is the real fee to watch. £100 in Apple stock, for example, will cost roughly 50p in FX on the way in and another 50p on the way out. That’s competitive but not zero.
The Free Uber Share Offer
At the time of writing, XTB UK is running a promotion that gives new customers a free fractional share in Uber worth approximately £70 once they meet qualifying conditions (typically opening and funding an account, completing identity verification, and making an initial trade or deposit). The exact qualifying conditions and share value vary — check the current terms on XTB’s site before signing up.
Promotions like this come and go. The free share is genuinely valuable but should not be the only reason you choose a broker. The fundamental question is whether the platform, fees, and regulation suit your investing approach for the long term.
The xStation 5 Platform
xStation 5 is XTB’s in-house trading platform, available as a web app and mobile app for iOS and Android. It’s well-designed for active investors — with strong charting tools, real-time data feeds, and customisable watchlists — but it’s also accessible enough for buy-and-hold investors who just want to place periodic trades.
Things we like about xStation 5:
- Clean, fast interface with no aggressive upsell to higher-risk products
- Comprehensive charting (handy if you do any technical analysis)
- Built-in news and economic calendar feeds
- Mobile app is genuinely usable on a phone, not just a stripped-down version
Things to note:
- Research and fundamentals are lighter than what you’d get on Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell — XTB is more execution-focused
- No retirement (SIPP) wrappers in the UK at the time of writing — if you specifically need a SIPP, look at AJ Bell or InvestEngine instead
- The platform supports an ISA wrapper for stocks and ETFs — useful for tax-efficient UK investing
Is XTB Safe?
XTB UK is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (firm reference 522157). In practical terms for UK customers, this means three protections:
- FSCS protection on cash: Cash held in your XTB account is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 if XTB were to fail.
- Segregated client assets: Investments (stocks and ETFs) are held in segregated client accounts at major custodian banks — meaning your investments are ring-fenced from XTB’s own balance sheet.
- Conduct rules: XTB UK has to follow FCA rules on appropriateness assessments, risk warnings, and treating customers fairly — the same rules that apply to Hargreaves Lansdown or any other UK broker.
The parent company X-Trade Brokers is publicly listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, which adds a level of transparency you don’t get with private brokers — quarterly financials are published.
None of this protects you from market losses. If you buy a stock and the price falls, FSCS does not compensate you. FSCS only covers the failure of the broker itself.
XTB Pros and Cons
Pros
- 0% commission on stocks and ETFs up to €100,000 monthly turnover — very generous for typical retail investors
- FCA regulated; cash covered by FSCS up to £85,000
- Stocks and Shares ISA wrapper available for tax-efficient investing
- xStation 5 platform is fast, well-designed, and works equally well on web and mobile
- Listed parent company adds transparency vs private fintech brokers
- Active free Uber share promotion at the time of writing
Cons
- 0.5% currency conversion fee on non-GBP assets is competitive but not zero (Trading 212 is also 0.15% and InvestEngine has different structures)
- No SIPP (pension) wrapper in the UK
- Lighter on research and fundamentals than Hargreaves Lansdown or AJ Bell
- Also offers CFDs — carries the FCA-required “81% lose money” risk warning, which can put off cautious investors (though you don’t have to use CFDs to use XTB)
- Inactivity fee can apply for dormant low-balance accounts
XTB vs Trading 212 vs Hargreaves Lansdown vs IG
vs Trading 212: Both offer 0% commission stocks and a Stocks & Shares ISA. Trading 212 is even more retail-friendly with fractional shares from a smaller minimum and a slightly lower 0.15% FX fee. XTB’s xStation 5 platform is more powerful for active investors; Trading 212’s app is simpler. For absolute beginners, Trading 212. For investors who want a more capable trading platform with the same commission-free stocks, XTB.
vs Hargreaves Lansdown: Hargreaves Lansdown charges a platform fee (typically 0.45% per year on funds, capped on shares) but has unmatched UK research, plus a SIPP and broader fund range. XTB has no platform fee but no SIPP and lighter research. For a long-term ISA + SIPP combination, Hargreaves wins on completeness; for execution-focused stocks and ETFs investing in an ISA, XTB is significantly cheaper.
vs IG: IG is the long-established UK choice and offers a much wider range of products including spread betting alongside CFDs and a share dealing service. IG’s share dealing fees are higher than XTB’s. If you specifically want spread betting (a tax-efficient form of trading for UK residents), IG. For commission-free stocks and ETFs only, XTB is cheaper.
| Broker | Stocks/ETFs Commission | FX on US Stocks | Platform Fee | SIPP Available? | S&S ISA? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB UK | 0% up to €100k/month | 0.5% | None | No | Yes |
| Trading 212 | 0% (unlimited) | 0.15% | None | No | Yes |
| Hargreaves Lansdown | £11.95/trade (capped on funds) | 1% | 0.45%/yr on funds | Yes | Yes |
| IG | £3-£8/trade depending on volume | 0.5% | None | No | Yes |
Who Is XTB Best For?
XTB is a good fit for:
- Self-directed UK investors who want commission-free stocks and ETFs in a Stocks & Shares ISA wrapper
- Investors who value a more capable trading platform than the typical app-only fintech offering
- People who want a regulated, listed company rather than a private fintech
- Anyone wanting to take advantage of the current free share promotion alongside a long-term investing plan
It’s not the right choice if: you want financial advice (XTB is execution-only), you specifically need a SIPP, you want to invest mostly in active managed funds (limited fund range), or you are new to investing and would benefit from a simpler app like Trading 212 or InvestEngine first.
How to Sign Up for XTB UK
The full sign-up takes 10–15 minutes:
- Visit the XTB UK sign-up page via our link.
- Enter your details and complete the appropriateness assessment (FCA-required questions about your investing experience).
- Verify your identity with photo ID and proof of address. Verification is usually quick if your documents are in order.
- Fund your account by bank transfer or debit card. There’s no minimum deposit, but you’ll need to fund and trade to qualify for the free share promotion.
- Complete a qualifying trade or meet the promotional conditions to claim the free Uber share (current terms on the XTB site).
- Open the xStation 5 web or mobile app and start building your portfolio.
XTB Review: Our Verdict
XTB is a credible, regulated UK broker offering one of the most competitive commission structures for stocks and ETFs you’ll find. The 0% commission applies to a generous monthly turnover, the FCA regulation and FSCS coverage on cash provide standard UK investor protections, and the active free share offer makes the maths very favourable for new accounts.
For self-directed UK investors who want a capable platform without the platform fees of Hargreaves Lansdown, XTB is a real contender alongside Trading 212. The two are close on commission — the choice usually comes down to whether you prefer XTB’s more powerful xStation 5 platform or Trading 212’s simpler app.
Two honest caveats: first, XTB doesn’t offer a SIPP, so if your retirement planning needs to live with the same broker as your ISA you’ll need to look elsewhere. Second, XTB also offers CFDs — you don’t have to use them, but they exist on the platform and carry the standard “81% lose money” FCA disclosure. For straightforward stocks and ETFs investing in an ISA, that’s not a concern.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is XTB UK regulated by the FCA?
Yes. XTB Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference 522157. The parent company X-Trade Brokers is listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.
Is my money safe with XTB?
Cash held in your XTB account is protected by FSCS up to £85,000 if XTB were to fail. Investments (stocks and ETFs) are held in segregated client accounts at custodian banks, ring-fenced from XTB’s own assets. Standard market risk on the value of your investments is not covered — that risk sits with you as the investor.
What is the free Uber share offer?
XTB UK runs a promotion giving new qualifying customers a free fractional share in Uber, currently valued at approximately £70. To qualify you typically need to open an account, complete identity verification, and meet a deposit or trading requirement. Exact terms vary; check the current XTB UK promotion page before signing up.
Does XTB UK offer a Stocks and Shares ISA?
Yes. XTB UK offers a Stocks and Shares ISA wrapper, letting you hold stocks and ETFs tax-free up to your annual ISA allowance (£20,000 for the 2026/27 tax year). It does not currently offer a SIPP for pension contributions.
What’s the difference between investing in stocks and trading CFDs on XTB?
Buying stocks means you own shares of a company outright; if the price falls 30%, your loss is 30%. CFDs are leveraged contracts that mirror the price of an asset without ownership; small price moves can produce much larger gains or losses, and you can lose more than your initial deposit. The FCA requires the disclosure that 81% of retail accounts lose money trading CFDs with this provider. For long-term wealth-building, stick to actual shares and ETFs.
Can I transfer my existing ISA to XTB?
XTB UK supports ISA transfers in from other providers. You’ll need to complete a transfer form on the XTB site — the existing provider transfers your assets directly to maintain the ISA tax wrapper. Don’t withdraw and re-deposit, as that would lose the tax-free status.
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