Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Exness, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
FXCM and Exness are popular online brokers that cater to traders around the globe. Established in 1999, FXCM stands out as a publicly traded company, while Exness, founded in 2008, remains privately held. Neither of these brokers operates as a bank. A key difference between them lies in their regulatory credentials. FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses, which ForexBrokers.com considers highly trusted, along with two Tier-2 licenses. Exness, on the other hand, has secured two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, showcasing a solid regulatory stance.
When it comes to trust, FXCM boasts a Trust Score of 95 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, categorizing it as highly trusted. Exness has a Trust Score of 81, falling into the trusted category. Both brokers have established a reliable presence in the online trading industry, yet FXCM holds a slight edge in terms of trust and regulatory licenses. Choosing between them would depend on individual preferences and specific trading needs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
FXCM and Exness both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but their value stacks up differently: FXCM ranks #17 out of 63 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness ranks #31 out of 63. FXCM’s forex pricing is slightly above the industry average on standard accounts, whereas Exness leans on varied account types to tailor costs, with its commission-based options typically offering the tightest spreads.
At FXCM, time-weighted average EUR/USD spreads in May 2024 were 0.78 pips for EU, U.K., and Australia, and 1.38 pips for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity. Its commission-based accounts averaged 0.28 pips (excluding commissions), with an effective spread closer to about 0.74 pips after factoring a 0.50-pip round-turn commission equivalent. Active traders can lower costs via FXCM’s five-tier rebate program (not available in the U.K. or EU), which pays $5–$25 per million traded when you trade at least $10 million monthly. In the U.K., a $25,000 balance and $50 million in monthly volume can reduce commission to $2.50 per side ($5 round turn). As with any broker, spreads can widen during rollover or fast markets.
Exness bases pricing on account choice. The commission-free Standard Cent and Standard accounts carry wider spreads, while the commission-free Pro account narrows spreads and lets you choose instant or market execution. For the tightest pricing, the Zero Spread account uses market execution and charges a $0.05 per-trade commission, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot ($3.50 per side) with lower spreads; both have a 30% margin call level and no restrictions on leverage or stop-out. In short, FXCM offers competitive rebates for high-volume traders, whereas Exness gives you multiple ways to control your costs by picking the spread-and-commission mix that fits your style.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FXCM and Exness both support forex trading (as CFDs or spot), but their catalogs differ. FXCM lists 440 tradeable symbols, while Exness offers 209. When it comes to currency pairs, Exness leads with 96 forex pairs compared with FXCM’s 46. Both earn 3.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, with FXCM ranked #21 and Exness ranked #34 by ForexBrokers.com. In short, FXCM suits traders who want more overall markets, while Exness appeals to those who value a wider choice of forex pairs.
Neither broker provides access to exchange-traded stocks in the U.S. or abroad, and neither lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto. Both do offer cryptocurrency CFDs and support copy trading. If you’re deciding between the two, look to FXCM for a larger list of non-forex CFDs and to Exness if your focus is on a bigger set of forex pairs.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 209 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 96 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
FXCM vs Exness: both brokers deliver strong trading platforms and tools. Each offers a free demo account, a proprietary in-house platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place orders directly from charts. The standout difference is MetaTrader 5 (MT5): Exness supports MT5, while FXCM does not.
According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, whereas Exness earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #15. If MT5 is a must-have, Exness is the choice; if third-party testing and ratings are your guide, FXCM holds the edge. Both are solid picks for traders who want copy trading, MT4, and a demo account to get started.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 107 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Exness both offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts for fast updates. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #16 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Exness scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #18. If you use multiple devices, note that FXCM syncs your mobile watchlists with your online account, whereas Exness does not.
For charting, FXCM provides 59 technical studies versus 35 with Exness. Both apps let you draw trendlines, but only FXCM auto-saves your drawings so they’re there the next time you open a chart. In short, FXCM is better if you want deeper chart tools and synced watchlists, while Exness covers the essentials with fewer indicators and no cross-device watchlist syncing.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and Exness both deliver daily market commentary and stream forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each broker offers Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental insights, a sentiment gauge that shows the long/short split across instruments, and an economic calendar for upcoming events. Neither broker integrates Autochartist or Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre. One key difference: FXCM adds TipRanks research, while Exness does not.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM earned 4.5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranked 11th out of 63 brokers, while Exness scored 3.5 stars and ranked 31st. If you want broader third‑party research and extra ways to analyze the market, FXCM comes out ahead—especially with TipRanks. If you mainly need daily commentary, top-tier news, Trading Central, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, Exness covers those essentials.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Exness both deliver forex and CFD education that clears the bar of at least 10 educational pieces. Each runs ongoing client webinars (at least monthly) and offers a full set of video tutorials, with 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos to help you progress from the basics to more complex strategies. In short, both brokers provide a clear learning path for new traders who want structured content and regular live sessions.
Where they differ is in depth and quality scores. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #13 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #21. So, while Exness offers solid education for beginners, FXCM stands out as the stronger pick if you want a wider, higher-rated learning experience with webinars and step-by-step videos.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than Exness. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #10, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.
| Feature |
FXCM
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Exness
|
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 |
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Comparing online brokers FXCM vs Exness for cryptocurrency trading: neither offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both provide cryptocurrency CFD trading.
FXCM vs Exness: For deposits and withdrawals, FXCM supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal (not available with Exness), while both brokers offer Skrill and bank wire transfers.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | FXCM | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Exness | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 209 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 96 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 107 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
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