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 |
Comparing commissions and fees, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #7 of 63 at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness earns 4 stars and ranks #31 of 63. IG isn’t a discount broker, but it delivers strong value for active and high-volume traders thanks to its Forex Direct (DMA) pricing and volume-based rebates. Exness appeals to a wide range of traders with multiple account types, where pricing depends on whether you choose a commission-free or commission-based plan.
IG’s CFD account spreads averaged 0.69 pips during the main trading session in July 2023, and 0.98 pips across all sessions globally (IG US averaged 1.18 pips on EUR/USD). Spreads can widen in thin liquidity; during late hours that month, averages were about 1.03 pips. For professionals who meet EU criteria, IG’s active-trader program rebates 10% to 20% off spreads (e.g., 0.76 pips reduced to about 0.60). IG’s Forex Direct (DMA) account averaged 0.62 pips on EUR/USD in July 2023; the all-in cost depends on commission, from $60 per million at the base tier to $10 per million per side at very high volumes (about 0.82 pips all-in based on that month’s data).
Exness offers five main accounts. Standard Cent and Standard are commission-free with higher spreads and market execution. Pro is also commission-free with lower spreads and supports both instant and market execution. The two commission-based choices—Zero Spread and Raw—offer lower spreads with market execution. Zero Spread charges a fixed $0.05 per trade, while Raw charges up to $7 per round turn lot ($3.5 per side). Both allow high leverage and trigger margin calls at 30%. In short, Exness lets you pick between paying a spread or a commission, whereas IG’s edge is its DMA pricing and volume rebates—often making IG more cost-effective for heavy traders.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $10 |
| 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.
Comparing IG vs Exness on range of investments, both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, but their product lists differ a lot. IG offers 19,537 tradeable symbols and 97 forex pairs, while Exness provides 209 symbols and 96 pairs. IG also lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Exness does not offer real stock dealing. For crypto, IG supports both actual cryptocurrencies and crypto CFDs; Exness offers crypto only as CFDs. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments ratings, IG earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while Exness scores 3.5 stars and ranks #34.
If you want a very wide selection across markets—forex, stocks, and crypto—IG is the stronger pick for range of investments. If your focus is mostly forex and you value copy trading, Exness may appeal, since it offers copy trading and IG does not. Both brokers cover core forex needs, but IG’s access to exchange-traded shares and actual crypto gives it the edge for multi-asset investing.
| 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.
Comparing IG vs Exness for trading platforms and tools, both brokers check the core boxes: free demo (paper) accounts, in-house proprietary platforms, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Each offers a web-based platform and a Windows desktop download, and both let you place trades directly from a chart—helpful for quick execution and visual decision-making.
Key differences emerge in features and ratings. Exness supports copy trading, while IG does not. However, IG earns higher marks overall for platforms and tools, rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 4 stars and #15. If copy trading is a must-have, Exness is appealing; if you want top-rated platforms and tools across web and desktop with MT4/MT5 and a demo account, IG is the stronger pick.
| 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) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 107 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG vs Exness for mobile trading: both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps. If ratings matter most, IG leads with 5 stars and is ranked #1 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com for Mobile Trading Apps, while Exness holds 4 stars and ranks #18. That makes the IG mobile app the stronger pick on overall quality, with Exness still offering a solid experience.
On features, both apps support price alerts and let you draw trendlines on charts. IG’s mobile app syncs watchlists with your online account and auto-saves chart drawings, while Exness does not. For charting tools, IG includes 33 technical studies and Exness offers 35. In short, choose IG for top-tier ratings plus syncing and auto-save, or pick Exness if you value a slightly larger set of built-in studies.
| 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.
Comparing IG vs Exness for market research, both brokers cover the essentials: daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and an economic calendar for upcoming events. That means you’ll get timely updates and a clear view of what’s moving the markets with either broker.
The differences show up in their toolkits. IG includes Autochartist, TipRanks insights, and research from Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), but it does not offer Trading Central. Exness offers Trading Central, but it lacks Autochartist, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading tools. Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates IG 5 stars for Research and ranks it #2 out of 63 brokers, while Exness earns 3.5 stars and ranks #31.
| 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 make it easy for beginner traders to get started with forex and CFD education. Each broker offers an education library that meets the common benchmark of 10+ pieces of learning material, and both run client webinars at least once a month. New traders will also find plenty of video lessons: each broker provides at least 10 beginner-focused videos, and both include advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper.
Where they differ is in overall quality and depth. IG earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, signaling stronger, more polished learning pathways and live events that can help beginners progress faster. Exness, rated 3.5 stars and ranked #21, still delivers helpful education for newcomers—especially with its videos and webinars—but it doesn’t score as highly as IG. If you want the most complete learning experience, IG is the better choice; if you just need the basics with regular webinars, Exness will do the job.
| 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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| 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 (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 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 | 0.91 | 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 | $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) | Yes | 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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