Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of XM Group 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.
When comparing XM Group and Exness, two well-known online brokers, it's essential to look at their regulatory standings and overall trust ratings. XM Group was established in 2009, while Exness has been around since 2008. Neither of these brokers is publicly traded, nor do they operate as banks. XM Group stands out with four Tier-1 licenses, making it a highly trusted option according to ForexBrokers.com. Additionally, it holds one Tier-2 license. Exness, on the other hand, has two Tier-1 licenses, and three Tier-2 licenses, which earn it a trusted rating.
In terms of overall reliability, XM Group boasts a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93 out of 99, placing it in the highly trusted category. In comparison, Exness has a Trust Score of 81, indicating it is a trusted option for traders. Both brokers have established a solid regulatory foundation, but XM Group edges ahead with higher trust ratings and more Tier-1 licenses, which are considered the most reliable by industry standards.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
For commissions and fees, both XM Group and Exness earn 4 out of 5 stars from ForexBrokers.com. In the Commissions and Fees category, Exness is ranked #31 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group is ranked #34 out of 63. That slight edge goes to Exness, thanks to its broader range of pricing plans that can suit different trading budgets.
XM Group’s pricing is straightforward but not especially cheap. Standard account spreads are on the expensive side, and XM doesn’t publish average spreads for the commission-based XM Zero account, which makes it harder to estimate typical all-in costs (spread plus commission) ahead of time.
Exness bases its costs on the account type you choose. The commission-free accounts (Standard Cent and Standard) have higher spreads, while the Pro account offers lower spreads and lets you choose instant or market execution. The commission-based options aim for tighter spreads: the Zero Spread account charges a $0.05 per-trade commission with market execution, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round-turn lot ($3.5 per side) with market execution. For these commission accounts, margin calls trigger at 30%, and there are no stated limits on leverage or stop-out levels.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
XM Group vs Exness for range of investments: XM Group lists 1,394 tradeable symbols, while Exness offers 209. If your focus is forex, Exness has 96 currency pairs compared to XM Group’s 55. Both brokers support forex trading (CFDs/spot) and offer copy trading. For crypto, each provides cryptocurrency CFDs but not the ability to buy and hold actual coins. A major difference is access to real shares: XM Group lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, whereas Exness does not.
According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group earns 4.5/5 stars and ranks 19th out of 63 for Range of Investments, while Exness scores 3.5/5 stars and ranks 34th. Choose XM Group if you want a wider selection across asset classes and the option to buy real stocks; pick Exness if a larger list of forex pairs is your priority.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 209 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 96 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
XM Group and Exness both cover the essentials traders expect: free demo (paper) accounts, Windows desktop downloads, web-based platforms, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). A key difference is that Exness also offers a proprietary, in-house platform, while XM Group focuses on third-party options. If you prefer a broker’s own interface and extras, Exness has that option; if you want a classic MetaTrader setup, both deliver across web and desktop.
For trading platforms and tools, both brokers earned 4 out of 5 stars at ForexBrokers.com, with Exness ranked 15th out of 63 brokers and XM Group ranked 27th. Indicator selections and watchlist customization can vary by the specific platform you choose, so your setup may differ. In short, choose Exness if having a proprietary platform matters to you, or pick either broker if MetaTrader is your priority.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 107 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and Exness both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with forex and stock price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Each app holds a 4-star mobile rating. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, Exness is ranked #18 out of 63 brokers, while XM Group is ranked #26.
If syncing your watchlist between your mobile app and online account matters, XM Group has the edge, as Exness does not support watchlist syncing. For charting studies, Exness offers a bit more (35 technical indicators) compared with XM Group (30). In short, pick XM Group for seamless watchlist syncing across devices, or choose Exness if you want a few more built-in technical studies in your mobile trading app.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
XM Group and Exness both check the key boxes for market research: daily market commentary, an economic calendar, sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Each also integrates Trading Central for technical and fundamental insights. That said, their scores differ: XM Group earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness holds 3.5 stars and ranks #31, signaling a clearer edge for XM Group if research quality is a top priority.
Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). Even so, with Trading Central analytics, sentiment data, and timely news flow, both platforms cover the essentials for traders who want actionable updates. Based on the ratings and rankings, XM Group stands out for a more polished and comprehensive research experience, whereas Exness delivers a capable—but more basic—set of tools.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
XM Group and Exness both offer beginner-friendly forex and CFD education with at least ten pieces of content, spanning articles, video lessons, and archived webinars. Each broker hosts live client webinars at least once a month, and both libraries include 10+ beginner videos to cover the basics along with 10+ advanced videos for growing skills over time.
For overall quality, XM Group stands out in this head-to-head. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Exness also supports new traders with ongoing webinars and sizable video libraries, but it carries a 3.5-star Education rating and ranks #21 out of 63, suggesting XM Group’s education is rated higher for beginners seeking structured learning.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
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 XM Group is better than Exness. XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
XM Group is a MetaTrader-only broker that offers a strong selection of high-quality educational content and market research.
| Feature |
XM Group
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Exness
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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XM Group vs Exness: neither broker offers buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
XM Group vs Exness: both online brokers do not support ACH/SEPA transfers or PayPal, both support Skrill and bank wire transfers, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | XM Group | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | XM Group | Exness | |
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| Regulation | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 2009 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 4 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | 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) | No | 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) | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 209 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 96 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| Trading Platforms | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 107 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | No | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | XM Group Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | XM Group | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | XM Group Review | Exness Review |
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