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 vs Exness: FXCM launched in 1999 and is publicly traded, while Exness began in 2008 and is not listed. Neither broker is a bank. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM has a Trust Score of 95/99 (highly trusted), and Exness scores 80/99 (trusted). On this scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted.
Regulation differs between these online forex brokers. FXCM holds 4 Tier-1 licenses (the highest level) and 2 Tier-2 licenses. Exness holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. More Tier-1 approvals typically indicate tighter oversight in major financial centers, which aligns with FXCM’s higher Trust Score in this comparison.
| 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’s commissions and fees are a bit higher than average overall, but the broker can become more competitive for active traders. On its standard accounts, the EUR/USD spread averaged 0.78 pips for EU, U.K., and Australia offerings in May 2024, while its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity averaged 1.38 pips. FXCM’s commission-based accounts were cheaper on paper, with average spreads of 0.28 pips before commission, though the all-in cost came out closer to 0.74 pips once commissions were included. FXCM is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #17 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Exness gives traders more account choices, and its pricing depends heavily on which account you pick. Its standard accounts are commission-free, while the Pro account offers lower spreads and flexible execution. For traders who want tighter pricing, Exness also has the Zero Spread account, which charges a small commission, and the Raw account, which charges up to $7 per round turn lot and keeps spreads low. Exness is rated 4 stars and ranked #33 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, FXCM tends to offer more consistent overall value in this category, especially for active traders who can qualify for rebates, while Exness gives more account options but does not score as well for commissions and fees. If low trading costs are your main goal, FXCM has the edge in the overall ranking, although Exness may still appeal to traders who prefer specific account types and pricing setups.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | Starts from $50 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.8 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 let traders access forex as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker provides direct access to listed shares on U.S. or international stock exchanges, and neither allows clients to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency. Where they differ is in market selection: FXCM lists 440 tradable symbols and 46 forex pairs, while Exness offers 239 tradable symbols but a wider 78 forex pairs. FXCM also supports copy trading, which Exness does not.
For range of investments, FXCM comes out ahead overall with a 4.5-star rating and a #21 ranking out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #37 out of 36 brokers in the same category. In simple terms, Exness gives traders more forex pairs, while FXCM offers a broader mix of tradable instruments and extra features like copy trading.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 440 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 and Exness both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, and MetaTrader 4. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier. One key difference is that FXCM offers copy trading, while Exness does not; on the other hand, Exness supports MetaTrader 5, which FXCM does not.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, FXCM has the edge overall. FXCM is rated 5 out of 5 stars in this category and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 4 out of 5 stars and #15 out of 36. For traders who want a wider mix of platform features and copy trading, FXCM may be the better fit, while Exness may appeal more to those who want MT5 support alongside its other platform options.
| 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 | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FXCM and Exness both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with stock or forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That means either broker gives traders the basic mobile features most people look for when managing trades on the go. Both apps are designed to keep watchlists and alerts connected across devices, making it easier to stay on top of the market from your phone.
Where they differ is in charting and overall app ratings. Exness offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 100 compared with FXCM’s 59, which may appeal to traders who want more chart analysis tools. FXCM, however, has a slight edge in user ratings and ranking, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and placing #16 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Exness scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #18. FXCM also auto-saves chart drawings in the app, while Exness does not.
| Feature |
FXCM
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
FXCM and Exness both give traders access to daily market commentary, top-tier forex news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking important global events. Each also offers Trading Central tools for technical and fundamental research, which can help users spot possible trade ideas and market trends. Neither broker includes Autochartist or Acuity Trading tools.
Where FXCM stands out is in its extra research features. It includes a sentiment tool that shows how many traders are long or short on different instruments, along with market research from TipRanks. Exness does not offer these two features. That difference helps explain FXCM’s stronger research rating of 4.5 out of 5 and its #11 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Exness’s 3.5-star rating and #34 ranking.
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FXCM and Exness both give beginner traders a solid set of learning tools, including more than 10 forex or CFD education pieces, monthly educational webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means either broker can help new traders learn the basics and keep building their skills over time. For someone just starting out, both platforms offer enough free educational content to get oriented with trading terms, market ideas, and common strategies.
That said, FXCM has the edge in education quality and recognition. FXCM is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #13 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #20. In simple terms, both brokers support beginner learning well, but FXCM appears to offer a stronger overall education experience.
| 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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 |
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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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FXCM | Exness | |
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| Regulation | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 46 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | No | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | No | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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) - Spread-only account | 0.9 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 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 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | FXCM | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | 106 | |
| 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 Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 59 | 100 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | FXCM | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 95 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FXCM Review | Exness Review |
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