Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Plus500 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.
According to ForexBrokers.com, brokers with Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted. Plus500 earns a 99/99 Trust Score (highly trusted), while Exness scores 80/99 (trusted). Both online brokers were founded in 2008.
Regulation also differs: Plus500 holds seven Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and four Tier-2 licenses (trusted); Exness holds two Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses. Plus500 is publicly traded, whereas Exness is not; neither company is a bank.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
When comparing commissions and fees, Plus500 is a bit more expensive than the industry average, with pricing that trails the best low-cost forex brokers. For example, its EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than average. Plus500 does not offer retail client discounts, though eligible Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. For commissions and fees, Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and is ranked #26 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Exness takes a more flexible approach, with costs that vary by account type. Its standard accounts are commission-free but usually have wider spreads, while its commission-based accounts can offer lower spreads and better overall trading costs for active traders. The Zero Spread account charges a small per-trade commission, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot. Exness is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and is ranked #33 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
In simple terms, Plus500 is easier to compare because its pricing is more straightforward, but it is not the cheaper choice for most traders. Exness gives traders more account options, which can help lower costs if you choose the right setup, though the final price depends on the account you use. If your main goal is lower trading costs, Exness may be worth a closer look; if you prefer simple pricing, Plus500 may feel more familiar.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Plus500 offers a much wider selection than Exness. Plus500 lists 5,500 tradeable symbols compared with 239 at Exness, and it also provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. Both brokers support forex trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but only Exness has more forex pairs on paper, with 78 compared with Plus500’s 65.
Overall, Plus500 comes out ahead for investment choice, especially for traders who want more markets beyond forex. Its Range of Investments rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars, and it ranks #16 out of 36 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com. Exness is more limited in this area, with a 3.5-star rating and a #37 ranking, making Plus500 the stronger option for traders who want broader market access.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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.
Plus500 and Exness both give traders a free demo account, a web-based platform, and their own in-house trading platform, so each makes it easy to get started without downloading extra software. Neither broker offers copy trading. For Trading Platforms and Tools, Plus500 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers, while Exness is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #15.
The key difference is depth and desktop access: Exness also offers both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus a Windows desktop platform and the ability to trade directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer MT4, MT5, or a Windows download platform, so it may appeal more to traders who want a simpler browser-based setup, while Exness is better suited to those who want more platform choice and chart-based trading tools.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Plus500 and Exness both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing so your lists stay updated across mobile and web. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, but neither one automatically saves those drawings, so you may need to add them again later if you switch devices or refresh your setup.
Where the two differ is in charting depth and overall mobile app ratings. Plus500 offers 115 technical studies in its mobile charts, compared with 100 for Exness, and it also earns a higher mobile trading apps score at 4.5 stars versus 4 stars for Exness. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, Plus500 places at #14 for mobile trading apps, while Exness comes in at #18, giving Plus500 a slight edge for traders who want more chart tools and a higher-rated app experience.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and Exness both give traders daily market commentary, access to Trading Central tools, and an economic calendar for tracking major global events. However, Exness stands out for its forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which Plus500 does not provide. Plus500, on the other hand, includes a sentiment tool that shows the share of long and short positions across markets, while Exness does not offer this feature.
When it comes to market research, Plus500 has the edge overall. It earns a 4.5-star Research rating and ranks #16 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 3.5 stars and #34. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so the main differences come down to news coverage and sentiment data.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, both Plus500 and Exness offer a solid range of learning tools. Each broker provides forex and CFDs educational content with at least 10 learning pieces, plus monthly online webinars and plenty of beginner-focused videos, as well as advanced videos for more experienced traders. That means either platform can help new users get started with the basics and keep learning as they build confidence.
Where they differ is in overall education ratings and ranking. Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 for Education and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness scores 3.5 out of 5 and ranks #20. In simple terms, Plus500 appears to offer the stronger educational experience for beginners, even though Exness places higher in the broker ranking for this category.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
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 Plus500 is better than Exness. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
Plus500 is a trusted global brand that offers an easy-to-use trading platform for online traders, alongside access to a thorough selection of CFDs. Share trading is available, but only via its Plus500 Invest product offering.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In a Plus500 vs Exness comparison for cryptocurrency access, neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) crypto, while both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Plus500 vs Exness: both do not support ACH or SEPA, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either, and only Plus500 supports PayPal while Exness does not.
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 | Plus500 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Exness | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 4 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. | 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 | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 115 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 115 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
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