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 little more expensive than the industry average and is not among the cheapest choices for active traders. On EUR/USD, its average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than average. Plus500 does not offer retail pricing discounts, though qualifying Professional clients may receive cash rebates. For this category, Plus500 is rated 4.0 out of 5 stars and ranks #24 out of 36 brokers.
Exness takes a different approach by offering several account types, and your trading costs depend on which one you choose. Its commission-free accounts usually have wider spreads, while its commission-based accounts tend to offer lower spreads. For example, 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 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #31 out of 36 brokers.
Overall, Plus500 may be simpler for casual traders, while Exness gives more choice for traders who want to fine-tune costs based on account type. If your main goal is the lowest possible trading costs, neither broker is the clear winner for every trader, since both depend on how and how often you trade.
| Feature |
Plus500
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €50 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.3 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 more choice overall 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, including forex as CFDs, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither one allows copy trading or the purchase of actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
There are a few areas where Exness has an edge, including a larger selection of forex pairs, with 78 available versus 65 at Plus500. Even so, Plus500 scores higher for range of investments overall, with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #34. For traders looking for a wider mix of markets and stock access, Plus500 is the stronger pick.
| 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 an economic calendar, and Trading Central tools for chart and market analysis. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research. The main difference is that Exness includes forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, while Plus500 does not. On the other hand, Plus500 offers a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, and Exness does not.
Overall, Plus500 has the stronger research offering, with a 4.5-star Research rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Exness is still useful for market research, but it scores lower at 3.5 stars and ranks #31 out of 36. For traders who want more built-in research features, Plus500 has the edge, while Exness stands out for adding top-tier forex news coverage.
| 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.
When it comes to beginner-friendly education, both Plus500 and Exness give new traders plenty to work with. Each broker offers forex or CFD learning materials, runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means beginners can find basic explanations and later move on to more advanced trading topics with either platform.
Even so, Plus500 comes out ahead in overall education quality. It is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education, compared with 3.5 stars for Exness. On ForexBrokers.com’s education ranking, Exness places higher at #21 out of 36 brokers, while Plus500 ranks #26. So, if you are mainly looking at star ratings, Plus500 looks stronger; if you care more about the site’s overall ranking position, Exness has the edge.
| 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 #14, 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
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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) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| 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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