Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG 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.
IG and Exness are two prominent online brokers with key differences in their regulatory profiles. Founded in 1974, IG stands out as a publicly traded company that operates as a bank, boasting a top Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. It holds 8 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 2 trusted Tier-2 licenses, indicating a strong regulatory standing. In contrast, Exness, established in 2008, is not publicly traded and does not operate as a bank. It has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, categorizing it as a trusted broker, with 2 highly trusted Tier-1 licenses and 3 trusted Tier-2 licenses.
When choosing between IG and Exness, potential users might consider IG's long-standing presence and status as a public bank, which could offer added peace of mind for risk-averse individuals. Meanwhile, Exness provides a solid level of trust within the industry, appealing to those looking for a reliable trading platform with a slightly different regulatory focus. Both brokers offer unique advantages, catering to the diverse preferences and requirements of traders worldwide.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
IG earns 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #8 of 63, while Exness earns 4 stars and ranks #36. Both brokers offer multiple pricing models, but IG is geared more toward active and high‑volume traders, whereas Exness focuses on giving you a choice of standard (spread‑only) and pro (commission‑based) accounts.
IG’s CFD account spreads averaged about 0.69 pips during the main trading session in July 2023 (0.98 pips across the whole day, with low‑liquidity hours closer to 1.03). The big draw is IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) pricing: average EUR/USD spreads were 0.62 pips in July 2023, with an all‑in cost around 0.82 pips after commission at typical tiers. Commissions scale with volume (from roughly $60 per million at the base tier down to about $10 per million per side for very high volumes). Qualified pros can also get 10%–20% spread rebates on the CFD account, which can trim effective costs further.
Exness offers five main account types. The Standard Cent and Standard accounts are commission‑free with higher spreads. The Pro account is also commission‑free, with tighter spreads and the option of instant or market execution. The Zero Spread account uses market execution and charges a small per‑trade commission (listed as $0.05), while the Raw account uses market execution with lower spreads and up to $7 per round‑turn lot in commission. Your costs depend heavily on the account you pick: Exness’ commission accounts can be price‑friendly on spreads, but overall its fees and rankings trail IG’s for active traders seeking the lowest all‑in costs.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing IG vs Exness for range of investments, IG offers a much wider selection. IG lists 19,537 tradeable symbols, while Exness has 209. Both support forex trading as CFDs or spot, with IG offering 97 currency pairs and Exness 96. A key difference is stocks: IG lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges, while Exness does not offer exchange-traded securities.
For crypto, IG supports both actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs, whereas Exness only offers crypto CFDs. Exness does provide copy trading, which IG does not. Reflecting these differences, IG earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #56.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 209 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 96 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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.
IG and Exness both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools: each offers a free demo (paper) account, an in‑house proprietary platform, a Windows desktop download, and a web-based platform. Both let you trade directly from charts and support MetaTrader 4 (MT4). The main differences are that Exness adds MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and offers copy trading, while IG does not include MT5 or copy trading.
When it comes to third‑party reviews, ForexBrokers.com rates IG at 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks it #2 of 63 brokers, while Exness earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. Both brokers include charting tools and watch lists, though specific indicator counts and watch list field totals aren’t provided here. Your pick may hinge on whether you want MT5 and copy trading (Exness) or a higher-rated platform suite (IG).
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 107 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Exness both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, but IG takes the lead for overall experience. IG earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness holds 4 stars and ranks #26. If top-tier mobile performance, ease of use, and reliability are your priorities, IG is the stronger pick.
For features, both apps support forex and stock price alerts, trendline drawing, and advanced charting. Exness offers slightly more technical studies (35 vs. IG’s 33), which chart-focused traders may appreciate. However, IG offers watchlist syncing between the mobile app and web platform, while Exness does not, and IG automatically saves chart drawings whereas Exness does not. For traders who value seamless syncing and saved annotations across devices, IG provides a smoother workflow.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Exness both deliver daily market commentary, streaming forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and an economic calendar to track key events. Each broker also offers a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions, helping traders gauge crowd behavior and potential turning points.
The biggest differences show up in third‑party research tools. IG includes Autochartist for pattern recognition, TipRanks for analyst insights, and Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre, while Exness does not. Exness counters with Trading Central’s research suite, which IG doesn’t provide. Overall, IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Exness holds 3.5 stars and ranks #42. If you want deeper add‑on research and signal coverage, IG is the stronger pick; if you prefer Trading Central’s toolkit, Exness may fit your style.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both IG and Exness provide forex and CFD education that’s beginner-friendly, with well over 10 pieces of content each. You’ll find articles, videos, and archived webinars, plus ongoing live sessions—both brokers host at least one educational webinar per month. Each offers at least 10 videos for beginners and at least 10 for more advanced traders, so you can start with the basics and progress at your own pace.
Where they differ is in quality and recognition. According to ForexBrokers.com, IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers, while Exness scores 3.5 stars and ranks #47. In short, both brokers cover the essentials and run regular webinars, but IG is rated much higher for the depth and polish of its learning experience. If you want the strongest beginner education and a highly regarded library, IG is the better choice; if you just need solid coverage and monthly webinars, Exness can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
IG
|
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 IG is better than Exness. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #43.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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Exness
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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In the IG vs Exness comparison for cryptocurrency trading, IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Exness offers only cryptocurrency CFD trading and does not support purchasing real crypto.
Online brokers IG and Exness differ in funding methods: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (no Skrill), while Exness supports Skrill and bank wires (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either.
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 | IG | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Exness | |
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| Regulation | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 209 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 96 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | 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 | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.98 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £250.00 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 107 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | 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 | 33 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | IG | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
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