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.
Founded in 2008, both Plus500 and Exness have established themselves in the online brokerage landscape. Plus500 is publicly traded and boasts an impressive ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99, making it highly trusted. While it is not a bank, Plus500 holds 6 Tier-1 licenses, which are recognized as highly secure by ForexBrokers.com, along with 3 Tier-2 licenses. This credibility is reflected in its high trust rating, making it a strong contender for those prioritizing security and transparency in trading operations.
Exness, also established in 2008, is not publicly traded, yet maintains a respectable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, placing it in the trusted category. Like Plus500, it isn't a bank but holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and the same number of Tier-2 licenses as Plus500, with 3 in total. Although Exness doesn't reach the same trust score as Plus500, its range of licenses still supports a reliable trading environment for users who value trustworthiness in their brokerage choice.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Plus500 and Exness each offer unique pricing structures for traders. Plus500's average spread for EUR/USD was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is somewhat higher than the industry average. This broker does not offer retail discounts but features cash rebates for those qualifying as Professional clients, akin to an active trader program. Plus500 has earned a rating of 4.0 stars for its commissions and fees and is ranked #25 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Exness, on the other hand, provides a more diverse array of account types, including two standard and three professional accounts, along with two for social copy trading. The trading costs at Exness vary by account type, with commission-based accounts featuring lower spreads compared to their commission-free equivalents. The Pro account allows traders to choose between instant and market execution, whereas other accounts primarily utilize market execution. Notably, the Exness Zero Spread account charges a commission of $0.05 per trade, while the Raw account has a commission of up to $7 per round turn lot. Exness is rated 4 stars for commissions and fees and holds the #35 rank out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When considering the range of investments between Plus500 and Exness, both brokers cater to forex enthusiasts through contracts for difference (CFDs) and spot contracts. Plus500 boasts a more extensive array of offerings with 5,500 tradeable symbols compared to Exness, which features 227. Specifically, in the forex market, Plus500 offers 65 tradeable pairs, while Exness provides a more expansive selection with 96 pairs. Additionally, Plus500 enables clients to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing for direct investment in companies like Apple and Vodafone. In contrast, Exness does not support trading actual exchange-traded securities.
Both Plus500 and Exness offer cryptocurrency derivatives; however, neither allows for the acquisition of actual cryptocurrencies. Exness distinguishes itself by offering a copy trading feature, absent from Plus500, which may appeal to investors seeking strategy replication. In terms of ratings, Plus500 stands out with 4.5 stars for its range of investments, securing the 24th position out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Exness holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks 55th, indicating that while it has strengths in forex pairs and copy trading, Plus500 offers a broader range for investors seeking a wide variety of assets.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 227 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 96 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by Plus500 and Exness, both provide a free virtual demo account, allowing new users to dip their toes into simulated trading. Both brokers have developed their own proprietary platforms, giving them a unique touch in the trading world. However, when it comes to desktop options, Exness stands out with a Windows-based platform, an option not available with Plus500. Both brokers, however, offer web-based platforms that can be accessed via a browser. A significant difference is seen in the availability of popular MetaTrader platforms; Exness offers both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), enhancing its appeal to advanced traders, while Plus500 does not offer these platforms.
For traders interested in charting, Exness offers a more extensive selection of tools, including 87 drawing tools compared to Plus500's 22. Furthermore, Exness allows traders to execute trades directly from a stock chart, a feature that Plus500 lacks. When it comes to watch lists, Plus500 provides more variety with 10 columns, while Exness offers 7. When rated on trading platforms and tools, Plus500 receives a higher rating of 4.5 stars, ranking 14th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Exness is rated 4 stars and is ranked 26th. Despite their differences, both brokers bring unique strengths to the table, catering to various trader preferences and expertise levels.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 107 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 87 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both Plus500 and Exness offer strong options for traders using either iPhone or Android devices. Both platforms have essential features like stock and forex price alerts, allowing users to stay informed about significant market movements. They also support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, although Plus500 takes it a step further by allowing watchlist symbol syncing with the user's online account, a feature absent in Exness. This means that any changes made to watchlists on Plus500's mobile app reflect instantly on the desktop version, providing seamless integration across devices.
In terms of technical capabilities, Plus500 stands out with a significant offering of 110 technical studies for charting compared to Exness’s 35. Both apps let users draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on their charts, although neither auto-saves chart drawings. With these features, Plus500 holds a slight edge in the ratings with a score of 4.5 stars, ranking #14 out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Exness, while still highly rated with 4 stars, ranks #26 in the same category. Overall, Plus500’s mobile app is praised for its broader range of features and synchronization abilities, enhancing the trading experience for its users.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Plus500 and Exness both offer valuable tools and insights for traders seeking market research. Both platforms provide daily market commentary and feature a sentiment-based trading tool to help users gauge market trends. They also include technical analytics from Trading Central and present an economic calendar to keep traders informed of key global news events. However, a significant difference lies in their forex news offerings; Plus500 does not provide news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg or Reuters, whereas Exness does. This distinct advantage can be pivotal for those who prioritize real-time news from reputable sources in their trading strategies.
While neither Plus500 nor Exness integrates tools from companies like Autochartist or Acuity Trading, Plus500 stands out slightly with a higher research rating of 4.0 stars compared to Exness's 3.5 stars. Moreover, Plus500 ranks #19 among 62 brokers in the Research category on ForexBrokers.com, whereas Exness is positioned lower at #41. These ratings reflect Plus500's edge in certain research areas, potentially making it a more attractive option for traders focused on market research capabilities.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, Plus500 and Exness both offer a variety of materials, but their approaches differ. Plus500 provides a well-rounded educational experience for forex and CFDs beginners by offering more than ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. A standout feature is Plus500's commitment to nurturing its client's learning journey with monthly online webinars, heightened by its searchable archive for easy access to past sessions. Beginners can also benefit from Plus500's dedicated video series that covers essential trading topics, making it easier for newcomers to get started. For more experienced traders, Plus500 continues to deliver with more than ten advanced educational videos.
Exness, on the other hand, issues a diverse range of more than ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, comparable to Plus500. However, it does not conduct monthly educational webinars. Despite this, users can still access a searchable archive of past webinars, broadening the learning scope at one's convenience. Exness also provides a collection of beginner-oriented videos to guide newcomers through their trading journey but lacks a similar offering for advanced traders. One unique feature of Exness is its investor dictionary, boasting definitions of over fifty investing terms, which is an excellent tool for building foundational knowledge. Overall, Plus500 holds a slight edge in educational content, reflected in its higher rating and rank for educational offerings.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Plus500 is better than Exness. Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #43.
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 | 81 |
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Both Plus500 and Exness do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, Plus500 and Exness, notable differences in payment options include Plus500 offering PayPal while Exness does not, though both brokers support deposits and withdrawals via Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, neither provide ACH or SEPA transfer options.
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 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Plus500 | Exness | |
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| Regulation | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| 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 | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 3 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Plus500 | 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | Yes | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | Yes |
| Investments | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 227 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 65 | 96 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 - Standard | 1.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.5 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | No | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €100 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 10 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 114 | 107 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 22 | 87 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 110 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | No | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Plus500 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | Plus500 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Plus500 Review | Exness Review |
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