XTB Review 2026: Fees, Safety, Platform & My Experience

XTB Review 2026 – Quick Summary

I have been using XTB for more than three years, primarily for long-term investing in ETFs and stocks. The main advantages I see are low transaction costs, the proprietary xStation platform, Czech-language customer support, and the ability to hold accounts in multiple currencies. On the other hand, you should be aware of the currency conversion fee and, for larger portfolios, the custody fee.

My experience: XTB works well for me as a long-term investor, but before opening an account, I would recommend paying particular attention to currency conversion fees and the current fee schedule. If you are interested in CFDs, options, cryptocurrencies, or other investment instruments, keep in mind that I do not personally use these products, so I cannot share first-hand experience with them.

XTB is one of the largest online brokers in Europe. The company was founded in Poland in 2002 and today operates in more than twelve countries, including the Czech Republic.

One of its key advantages (for me) is its local Czech branch and full customer support in Czech, which is not a given among brokers and can be particularly useful for less experienced investors (in natural language). You can find basic information (and support language) on the broker's 👉official website. I find XTB's website clear and modern, and the information you need can generally be found without much difficulty.

XTB is also a publicly traded company, listed on a stock exchange, which contributes to greater transparency and regulatory scrutiny. From my perspective, this can increase investor confidence in the broker's stability. However, I do not consider XTB's share price performance a key criterion when choosing a broker. The fact that XTB is publicly traded is nevertheless a positive signal in my view: it means greater transparency, stricter regulatory oversight, and regular publication of financial results. These factors can help reduce the risk of unethical practices or broker failure.

XTB Investor protection

From the perspective of client asset protection, XTB meets the standard requirements expected of a regulated and established broker. Client assets are held separately from the company's own assets (asset segregation), meaning that in the event of the broker's insolvency, they are not treated as part of the company's bankruptcy estate.

If the broker were nevertheless to fail, clients are covered by the compensation scheme operated by the Krajowy Depozyt Papierów Wartościowych (KDPW):

• 100% compensation up to EUR 3,000
• 90% of the amount above this limit, up to a maximum total compensation of EUR 22,000 (approximately CZK 535,000)

From my perspective, this represents a standard but sufficient level of protection, consistent with the size and long-standing operation of XTB. Under the Polish compensation scheme, the maximum compensation is EUR 22,000 (while under Czech regulation the limit would be slightly lower at EUR 20,000).

Available Instruments

XTB offers a very broad range of investment instruments – more than 7,400 in total (and still growing). The range easily covers the needs of both long-term investors and more active traders.

The core of the offering includes:

• Stocks – around 7,100 instruments
• ETFs – approximately 300 funds, with the selection gradually expanding
• Stock CFDs – leveraged trading based on the price movements of individual stocks

In addition, XTB offers currency pairs (Forex), cryptocurrencies, and many other derivatives. Personally, this range is more than sufficient for my needs. I have also had a positive experience with XTB's customer support. When I asked them to add a specific ETF (AVWS) to the platform, the instrument actually became available within two weeks. Whether this was the result of demand from a larger number of clients or part of XTB's own plans, I was pleased with the way the support team handled the request.

Fees

Trading Fee

As of September 2026, XTB charges a 0% commission on the purchase and sale of stocks and ETFs for monthly trading volumes of up to EUR 100,000. This limit is more than sufficient for most investors (at least in my case). Once the limit is exceeded, a 0.2% commission is charged on the transaction value, with a minimum fee of EUR 10.

For small and medium-sized investors, this is a very attractive fee structure. During the first years of investing, you can often buy stocks or ETFs without paying any trading commissions at all.

Deposit Fee

When depositing funds, it is also worth considering any potential deposit fees. If you use a bank transfer or Revolut, XTB does not charge a fee. However, you should be aware of any fees charged by your bank, particularly for international payments or foreign-currency transactions.

Be careful when depositing funds using a payment card or PayPal. In these cases, fees apply: currently 0.85% for PayPal Express payments and 0.7–0.9% for card payments, depending on the transaction currency.

For detailed and up-to-date information on deposits, it is always best to check the XTB website directly, as fees and conditions may change over time.

Currency Conversion Fee

Another fee that may affect a large number of investors is the currency conversion fee. If you invest in assets denominated in a different currency from the one you hold in your account (for example, buying USD-denominated assets with funds held in CZK), XTB automatically performs the currency conversion immediately.

This actually works out slightly better than Revolut, although it depends heavily on the banking plan and exchange rates available to me. In any case, there are ways to avoid this fee, for example by using Revolut within its EUR 1,000 monthly limit.

For many investors, this fee can therefore be seen as a price for convenience — XTB handles the currency conversion quickly and without any additional administration. The fee is clearly stated upfront and transparent. Over the long term, however, 0.5% (or 0.8%) can noticeably reduce returns when dealing with larger amounts, so it may be worth considering converting the currency yourself if you want to minimize costs. On the other hand, if you don't want to deal with unnecessarily complicated transfers or open another account, accepting the fee can make sense — your investing becomes a little simpler, and you know exactly what you are paying for.

Account Maintenance Fee

There is also a monthly account maintenance fee, more commonly referred to as an inactivity fee, which probably describes its purpose more accurately. This fee is charged only if:

• No position of any kind has been opened or closed during the previous 365 days
• No funds have been deposited into the account during the previous 90 days

An important note: simply holding purchased stocks or ETFs counts as an active position. So if you invest at least once and continue holding your positions, this fee does not apply to you. The fee is mainly aimed at inactive accounts — accounts with no activity at all. From the broker's perspective, this is a logical setup, but it is good to be aware of it and avoid unnecessarily leaving your account completely inactive.

Custody Fee

XTB also charges what is known as a custody fee, which in practice applies only to larger portfolios. Personally, I see it more as a large portfolio management fee, as this better reflects its purpose. The fee applies when the daily value of the portfolio exceeds EUR 250,000 (roughly CZK 6 million). A 0.2% fee, with a minimum of EUR 10, is then charged on the portion of the portfolio above this threshold.

Even if you exceed this threshold — for example, if you have EUR 300,000 invested — the fee would only be EUR 100 (EUR 50,000 × 0.2%). In practice, this fee therefore affects only very large portfolios. For small and medium-sized investors, the fee structure is fair and transparent and, in most cases, does not affect them at all.

Personally, I focus on euro-denominated stocks and ETFs, where XTB offers transparent and fair conditions. The only significant disadvantage is the currency conversion fee, which can be avoided by using currency sub-accounts or external services. After several years of using XTB, I have otherwise not encountered any unpleasant surprises when it comes to fees.

XTB xStation – Platform

XTB offers its own trading platform called xStation, available in three versions: a mobile app, a web-based platform, and a desktop application. XTB previously supported MetaTrader, but it has since discontinued it and now focuses entirely on its own platform.

A demo account is also available, allowing you to try out the platform without risking real money. I consider this an ideal option, especially for beginners who want to get familiar with the interface, but it can also be useful for more experienced investors testing new strategies. 

You can try the XTB demo account here  👉XTB Demo Account. If you are considering opening a live account, there is no better way to start than by trying the platform first and seeing whether it suits you.

Education and Resources

Another important area is education, where XTB offers a wide range of free multilingual  courses, webinars, guides, and tutorials covering topics from basic investing to more advanced subjects such as technical analysis and trading psychology. After years of using the investment services of a Czech bank with virtually no educational resources, I was genuinely surprised by the sheer range of educational content available from XTB. But that was primarily my own fault for not looking into it more.

This is just one example of XTB's educational offering. The broker provides many other courses and educational resources in multiple languages, as well as webinars, newsletters, YouTube content, and practical guides.

In my view, the breadth of educational materials is a significant advantage, particularly for beginner and intermediate investors. The resources are worth exploring even if you ultimately decide to use a different broker.

Currency Sub-Accounts and Fractional Shares

Another useful feature, which is not always available at every broker, is the ability to invest in fractional shares — in other words, buying fractions of shares without having to purchase a whole share. This can be particularly useful when investing smaller amounts regularly and spreading investments across multiple holdings.

Fractional shares are still relatively new (in the Czech market), and I don't actively use them myself. Nevertheless, I consider it a significant advantage that XTB offers them, as they can make getting started much easier, especially for beginners and smaller investors.

A relatively new feature at XTB, introduced in 2025, is Investment Plans. The broker is putting significant emphasis on them, which makes sense both in connection with the Long-Term Investment Product and as a simple tool for traditional long-term investing. They are another kind of "helping hand" designed to make the entire investing process as simple as possible.

Personally, I have only tested Investment Plans and don't currently use them, but they can provide clear value for many investors. The principle is simple: you create your own portfolio from selected ETFs, set their target weights, and then simply deposit money on a regular basis — ideally using a standing bank order. The minimum investment is EUR 15, and the app automatically allocates the investment according to your chosen proportions.

XTB Experience After More Than Three Years

I have been using XTB for more than three years, primarily for long-term investing in ETFs and stocks. I do not actively use CFDs or engage in short-term trading, so my experience naturally differs from that of an active trader.

During this time, I have mainly dealt with regular ETF purchases, money transfers, managing multi-currency accounts, using the xStation platform, and communicating with customer support. In my view, long-term personal experience is more important when evaluating a broker than simply looking at a list of features. Something may look good on paper, but you only really discover the quality of a service through everyday use.

XTB Review – What I Like About XTB

XTB Review - What I Don't Like About XTB

The main area that requires attention, in my opinion, is currency conversion. If you buy instruments in a different currency from the one in which you hold your funds, the cost of currency conversion can add up over time, especially if you invest regularly (a 0.5% fee, or up to 0.8% at weekends and on public holidays). It is therefore worth considering in advance which currency you will invest in and how you will fund your account.

XTB Review – My Verdict

After more than three years of using XTB, I have had an overall positive experience. It is a broker I gradually switched to, and I have no plans to leave. Not because it has no disadvantages, but because, for the way I invest, its advantages clearly outweigh the drawbacks.

Based on my experience, XTB is particularly well suited to long-term investors who regularly buy stocks or ETFs and are looking for a relatively simple and stable investment platform with low transaction costs. However, it is important to pay attention to currency conversion fees and to understand the difference between investing in actual stocks and ETFs and trading CFDs.

If your main goal is active trading or speculating through CFDs, it may also be worth comparing XTB with brokers that specialize in this type of trading. However, this is outside the scope of my personal experience.

My experience is therefore not a universal recommendation for every investor. A broker that works well for me as a long-term ETF investor may not necessarily be the right choice for someone else. When choosing a broker, I would therefore compare factors such as fees, currency conversion costs, the range of available instruments, the trading platform, client asset protection, and the services you actually plan to use.

Want to Try XTB?

If this review has helped you make your decision and you are considering opening an XTB account, you can use my affiliate link 👉 Open an XTB Account. If you open an account through this link, I may receive a commission. This does not change the terms and conditions of using XTB for you, and you may occasionally also be eligible for a bonus.

During registration, you can also use the referral code "cesta-investora.cz".

The terms and conditions of any bonuses or promotional offers may change over time, so I recommend checking the current details directly with XTB before registering.

But ultimately, everyone has to find their own path.