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.
Comparing online brokers IG and Exness: IG was founded in 1974 and is publicly traded, while Exness launched in 2008 and is not publicly traded. ForexBrokers.com rates broker trust from 0–99, where 90–99 means highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted at all. IG has a Trust Score of 99 (highly trusted) and is a bank; Exness has a Trust Score of 80 (trusted) and is not a bank.
Regulatory coverage also differs. IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Exness holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. In short, IG has broader top-tier oversight, while Exness still maintains multiple trusted licenses.
| 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 is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. It is not a true discount broker, but it does stand out for active traders, especially through its Forex Direct DMA account and volume-based rebates. IG’s pricing can be competitive for larger trades, with average EUR/USD spreads on Forex Direct around 0.62 pips in July 2023, which works out to an all-in cost of about 0.82 pips after commission. Its CFD pricing is also fairly tight during main trading hours, with average spreads around 0.69 pips, though costs can rise during less liquid times. For high-volume traders who qualify, IG’s rebate program can lower costs even more.
Exness is rated 4 stars and ranked #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. It offers several account types, so trading costs vary depending on the one you choose. Its standard accounts do not charge commission, but spreads are usually higher. The Pro account gives lower spreads, while the Zero Spread and Raw accounts are designed for traders who want tighter pricing and are willing to pay a commission. For example, the Zero Spread account charges a small per-trade commission, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot, or $3.50 per side.
Overall, IG is the better choice if your main focus is lower fees for active trading and larger volume, especially in forex. Exness gives traders more account variety and commission-based options, but its overall fees and rankings are not as strong as IG’s. In simple terms, IG tends to be the better-priced broker for serious traders, while Exness may appeal more to those who want flexible account choices.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | 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.
When it comes to the range of investments, IG offers a much wider choice than Exness. IG gives traders access to 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, compared with Exness’s 239 symbols and 78 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. However, IG also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, while Exness does not.
IG also stands out for share dealing, since it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. Exness does not offer these direct stock investments. Neither broker offers copy trading. Overall, IG is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #35 out of 36.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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 give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platforms, web-based access, and Windows desktop downloads. Each broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let you trade directly from charts. One notable difference is that neither broker offers copy trading, so traders looking for that feature will need to look elsewhere.
When it comes to trading tools, IG has the edge overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #15. For traders comparing IG vs Exness, both platforms cover the essentials well, but IG appears to offer the stronger overall experience for platform quality and tools.
| 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 | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Exness both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, making it easy to track price moves on the go. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well and give users a smooth way to monitor markets from a phone.
Where IG stands out is in its overall mobile experience. IG’s app has 33 technical studies, auto-saves chart drawings, and is rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Exness offers more chart studies at 100, but its app does not auto-save drawings and is rated 4 stars, with a rank of #18. If you want the stronger all-around mobile app, IG has the edge, while Exness may appeal to traders who want a wider set of chart indicators.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Exness both provide daily market commentary, forex news from major sources, and an economic calendar that tracks upcoming global events. That said, IG goes further with a wider range of market research tools. It offers Autochartist, sentiment data showing long and short positions, TipRanks insights, and Acuity Trading tools such as Signal Centre, giving traders more ways to spot ideas and follow market trends.
Exness also includes useful research features, including Trading Central tools, but it does not offer some of the extra services found at IG, such as Autochartist, sentiment analysis, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. This difference shows in independent ratings too: IG earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #2 out of 36 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #32. For traders who want more built-in market research, IG has the edge.
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IG and Exness for beginner education, both brokers give new traders plenty of learning support. Each offers at least 10 forex or CFD education pieces, regular online client webinars, 10 or more beginner videos, and 10 or more advanced videos, so either platform can help users learn the basics and keep building skills over time. That said, IG stands out as the stronger choice for education overall, especially for beginners who want a wider range of learning tools and a more polished education experience.
IG is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #21. In simple terms, both brokers provide useful educational content, but IG offers the better learning environment for beginners who want more depth, more structure, and a more trusted education setup.
| 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 #31.
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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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Exness | |
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| Regulation | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| 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 (FSA 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 CMA 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 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | 0.91 | 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 | £1 | $100 | |
| 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 | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 100 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
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