Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Saxo 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.
Saxo vs Exness: Saxo was founded in 1992 and Exness in 2008. Neither broker is publicly traded. Saxo is a bank, while Exness is not—an important distinction for some traders comparing regulation and oversight.
Regulation and trust: Per ForexBrokers.com, Saxo holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, with a Trust Score of 99/99 (90–99 = highly trusted). Exness holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses, with a Trust Score of 80/99 (80–89 = trusted). Both are internationally regulated, with Saxo carrying more top-tier licensing and the higher Trust Score.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
Saxo is rated 5 stars and ranked #8 out of 36 for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com. It offers commission-free forex trading, with costs built into the spread, and it is especially competitive for active traders, high-volume traders, and clients with larger balances. As of November 2023, average EUR/USD spreads were 1.1 pips on the Classic account, 1.0 pips on Platinum, and 0.9 pips on VIP. The Classic account now has a $0 minimum deposit for new customers, while Platinum requires $200,000 and VIP requires $1,000,000, though some traders can qualify for upgrades through Saxo’s loyalty program. One small exception: accounts trading less than 50,000 units per month pay a $3 ticket fee per side.
Exness is rated 4 stars and ranked #33 out of 36 for commissions and fees. It gives traders a choice of five main account types, including commission-free options and lower-cost commission-based accounts. The Standard Cent and Standard accounts are the simplest choices, with spreads included in the price, while the Pro account offers tighter pricing and both instant and market execution. For traders who want raw pricing, Exness offers a Zero Spread account with a small commission and a Raw account that charges up to $7 per round turn lot ($3.50 per side).
In plain terms, Saxo is the better pick for overall pricing, especially if you trade often or qualify for higher account tiers. Exness can still be a good fit for traders who want flexible account choices, but its commissions and fees score is weaker overall. If low trading costs are your top priority, Saxo has the stronger edge here.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Saxo offers a much wider range of investments than Exness, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more markets in one place. Saxo provides access to about 71,000 tradeable symbols and 192 forex pairs, while Exness offers 239 tradeable symbols and 78 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both allow cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
The biggest difference is that Saxo also offers exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so investors can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. Exness does not offer these listed shares. In ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments category, Saxo earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers, compared with Exness at 3.5 stars and #37, reflecting Saxo’s broader overall selection.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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). | 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.
Saxo and Exness both give traders a good mix of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary trading platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and easier. Neither broker offers copy trading, so this area may matter less for traders who prefer to follow others.
The main difference is that Exness supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Saxo does not. That may appeal to traders who want access to the familiar MT4/MT5 setup. Still, Saxo leads overall in trading platforms and tools, with a 5-star rating and a #3 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 4 stars and #15. In simple terms, Saxo stands out for its platform quality, while Exness is stronger for traders who want MT4 and MT5.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Saxo and Exness both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. That means you can follow the markets, keep an eye on favorite symbols, and manage trades from your phone with either broker. For everyday mobile use, both apps cover the core needs most traders look for.
Where Saxo pulls ahead is in overall app quality and chart convenience. Saxo’s mobile app includes 64 technical studies, auto-saves chart drawings, and earns a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps rating, ranking #3 out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Exness offers more technical studies at 100, but its app does not auto-save drawings, and it holds a 4-star rating with a #18 ranking. If you want a smoother all-around mobile experience, Saxo has the edge, while Exness may appeal to traders who want a wider set of chart indicators.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Saxo and Exness both provide useful market research basics, including daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar with key global events. This means traders at either broker can keep up with major market updates and news-driven moves without needing outside tools.
Where Saxo stands out is in its research depth. Saxo includes Autochartist tools and earns a 5-star Research rating, ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Exness, on the other hand, offers Trading Central tools instead of Autochartist and is rated 3.5 stars, ranking #34 out of 36. Neither broker offers sentiment tools, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | No | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Saxo and Exness both give beginners a solid starting point for learning about forex and CFDs. Each broker offers at least 10 educational pieces focused on these markets, runs online educational webinars at least once a month, and provides 10 or more beginner videos plus 10 or more advanced videos for traders who want to keep learning. That means both platforms cover the basics and beyond, making them useful for newcomers who want to build confidence step by step.
Where Saxo stands out is in its overall education rating and ranking. Saxo earns 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #12 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #20 out of 36. For beginners comparing the two, both offer plenty of learning material, but Saxo appears to have the stronger education offering overall.
| Feature |
Saxo
|
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 Saxo is better than Exness. Saxo finished with an overall rank of #3, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
Saxo is a multi-asset broker with brilliant research and a superb trading platform experience – as well as a stunning selection of over 40,000 securities.
| Feature |
Saxo
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Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the Saxo vs Exness comparison, neither broker lets you buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading, allowing you to speculate on crypto prices without owning the underlying asset.
In a Saxo vs Exness comparison of funding methods, both online brokers support bank wire deposits and withdrawals and do not offer ACH/SEPA or PayPal, while Exness additionally accepts Skrill and Saxo does not; Visa/Mastercard availability for both is not specified.
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 | Saxo | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Saxo | Exness | |
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| Regulation | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1992 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Saxo | 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) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 71000 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 192 | 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). | 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 | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.0 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 64 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 64 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | No | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Saxo | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Saxo Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | Saxo | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Saxo Review | Exness Review |
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