Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 (founded in 2004) and Exness (founded in 2008) are both private brokers and not banks. Neither company is listed on a stock exchange.
For regulation, Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 0 Tier-2 licenses, while Exness holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, both brokers’ Trust Scores—82 for Trading 212 and 80 for Exness—fall in the “trusted” range (80–89). Trading 212 edges ahead slightly on score and Tier-1 oversight, while Exness offers broader Tier-2 coverage.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
Trading 212 earns a 4-star rating and ranks #29 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its CFD account advertises zero-commission trading, but you still pay through the spread, which is the gap between the buy and sell price. Trading 212 now shares average spread data, and for April 2025 its EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips, which is higher than the industry average. That makes it a simple platform to understand, but not the cheapest choice for active forex and CFD traders.
Exness also scores 4 stars for commissions and fees, but it ranks lower at #33 out of 36 brokers. Its pricing depends on the account type you choose. The commission-free Standard and Pro accounts have wider or tighter spreads depending on the setup, while the Zero Spread and Raw accounts charge commissions in exchange for lower spreads. For example, the Zero Spread account charges a per-trade commission of $0.05, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot ($3.5 per side). This gives traders more pricing options, but the best-value account depends on how often you trade.
Overall, Trading 212 may appeal to traders who want a straightforward fee structure, while Exness offers more account choices for different trading styles. If your goal is the lowest possible trading costs, Exness may be better suited to experienced traders who can choose the right account type. Trading 212’s spread costs can be less competitive, especially for forex pairs like EUR/USD.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 2.7 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 2.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers a much wider choice than Exness. Trading 212 lists about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, while Exness offers 239 symbols and 78 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. However, Trading 212 also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, which Exness does not.
Trading 212 stands out even more because it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so users can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone directly. Exness does not offer these stock investments. Neither broker supports copy trading in this category. Overall, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #14 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 3.5 stars and #37, making Trading 212 the stronger option for investors who want more market choice.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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.
Trading 212 and Exness both give traders a web-based platform and a free demo account for paper trading, so beginners can try out ideas without risking real money. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which makes placing orders quicker and easier. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, showing that each offers a solid experience for everyday trading needs.
The biggest difference is in platform choice. Exness has more built-in options, including its own proprietary platform, plus desktop downloads for Windows and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Trading 212 does not offer these extras, but it still covers the basics well through its browser platform and chart trading tools. On ForexBrokers.com, Exness ranks higher at #15 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 is #19 out of 36, giving Exness a slight edge overall for trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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) | 102 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and Exness both give mobile traders the basics they are likely looking for, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, making it easier to track market moves on the go. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, so they are closely matched overall.
When it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 has a small edge with 104 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 100 at Exness. Trading 212 also auto saves chart drawings, which can be helpful if you switch between devices or return to a chart later. Based on ForexBrokers.com rankings, Trading 212 places just ahead of Exness for mobile trading apps, at #17 out of 36 brokers versus Exness at #18.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, Trading 212 and Exness each cover the basics well, but they differ in a few useful ways. Both brokers provide forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and both include an economic calendar for tracking major global events. Trading 212 also offers a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions, which can help traders gauge market mood. Exness, however, stands out for offering daily market commentary and Trading Central research tools, while Trading 212 does not offer either of these features. Neither broker includes Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
In overall research quality, both Trading 212 and Exness are rated 3.5 out of 5 stars, but Trading 212 ranks higher at #31 out of 36 brokers compared with Exness at #34. For traders who want daily commentary and Trading Central insights, Exness may have the edge. For those who value sentiment data alongside news and an economic calendar, Trading 212 is a solid choice. In short, both brokers offer helpful market research tools, but their strengths are different.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | 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 education, Trading 212 and Exness are fairly close overall. Trading 212 does offer at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, but it does not provide monthly educational client webinars. Exness also offers at least 10 beginner and 10 advanced videos, and it adds a useful extra for new traders with regular online educational webinars. Neither broker clearly stands out as a major leader in forex or CFD learning content, but both give beginners a solid starting point.
In terms of ratings, both Trading 212 and Exness score 3.5 out of 5 for Education, which shows they are about the same level on paper. Still, Exness holds a slight edge in ForexBrokers.com’s Education ranking, coming in at #20 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 is ranked #23. If you want a broker with more live learning opportunities, Exness has the advantage; if you mainly want video-based beginner and advanced content, both brokers offer similar support.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than Exness. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 |
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In the Trading 212 vs Exness comparison, Trading 212 allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Exness supports crypto CFDs only and does not offer purchases of real, delivered coins.
Trading 212 and Exness both support bank wire transfers for depositing and withdrawing funds, while Exness also offers Skrill, but neither broker supports PayPal or ACH/SEPA transfers, and Visa or Mastercard availability is not specified here.
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 | Trading 212 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 2.7 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | 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 | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
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