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 |
XM Group and Exness both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, XM Group is ranked #34 out of 63 brokers, while Exness is ranked #36. XM Group’s Standard account spreads are on the expensive side, and the broker does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, which makes it harder to gauge your all-in trading costs there.
Exness offers more pricing choices across multiple account types. The commission-free Standard Cent and Standard accounts carry wider spreads and use market execution, while the Pro account features tighter spreads and lets you choose between instant and market execution. For lower spreads with a commission, the Zero Spread account charges $0.05 per trade and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round-turn lot ($3.5 per side); both use market execution, have no leverage or stop-out restrictions, and trigger margin calls at 30%. Exness also provides Social Standard and Social Pro accounts for copy trading, each with its own pricing conditions.
If your goal is the lowest spreads and you’re comfortable paying a commission, Exness’ Zero Spread or Raw accounts can be cost-effective. If you prefer commission-free pricing, weigh Exness’ Standard options against XM Group’s Standard account—keeping in mind that XM Group’s Standard spreads are relatively high and that its XM Zero account lacks published average spread data. Both brokers are rated 4/5 stars, with XM Group holding a slightly higher category ranking (#34) than Exness (#36).
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.6 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | No | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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.
XM Group and Exness both support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts. XM Group lists 1,394 tradeable symbols versus Exness with 209. However, Exness leads in currency coverage with 96 forex pairs compared with XM Group’s 55. Both brokers provide copy trading and access to cryptocurrency as derivatives, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For exchange-traded securities, XM Group stands out: clients can buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple or Vodafone), while Exness does not offer real stock trading. Reflecting these differences, XM Group earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 25th out of 63 brokers, while Exness scores 3.5 stars and ranks 56th. Choose XM Group for broader market access, or Exness if you prioritize a deep list of forex pairs.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 1394 | 209 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 55 | 96 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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.
Comparing XM Group vs Exness for trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Each provides web-based platforms and Windows desktop downloads, plus MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). The key difference is that Exness also has its own proprietary platform, while XM Group sticks to third-party options like MetaTrader.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com give both brokers 4 out of 5 stars for platforms and tools, with Exness ranked #26 out of 63 brokers and XM Group at #33. If you want an in-house platform alongside MT4/MT5, Exness is the pick. If you prefer a straightforward MetaTrader setup across devices, XM Group is a solid choice. Either way, demo accounts and chart-based trading make it easy to test strategies before going live.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 107 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
XM Group and Exness both deliver capable mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, multiple chart time frames, and drawing tools like trendlines. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings. For built-in indicators, Exness offers 35 technical studies while XM Group includes 30, giving Exness a slight edge for traders who like more chart options.
One key difference is watchlist syncing: XM Group syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while Exness does not. Both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings out of 63 brokers, Exness places #26 and XM Group ranks #31. Choose XM Group if seamless watchlist syncing matters most; pick Exness if you want a few more indicators in your charts.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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.
XM Group and Exness both check the key boxes for forex market research. Each provides daily market commentary, top-tier news from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Trading Central tools, a sentiment indicator showing long/short ratios, and an economic calendar. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). In practice, that means you’ll get timely news, trading signals from Trading Central, and sentiment data at both brokers.
Where they differ is in quality ratings. According to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #8 out of 63 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #42. If you prefer a higher-rated research experience, XM Group has the edge. If you mainly need core news, sentiment, and an events calendar with Trading Central, Exness covers those essentials.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing XM Group vs Exness for beginner trading education: both brokers provide at least 10 beginner-focused videos on forex and CFD topics, plus monthly client webinars. Each also offers 10 or more advanced videos for when you’re ready to go deeper. That said, our data does not confirm whether either broker meets a 10-piece minimum for article-based education or offers a searchable archive of recorded webinars, and we don’t have confirmation of an investor dictionary with 50+ terms for either brand.
On independent ratings, XM Group stands out with 5 stars and a #7 education ranking out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness holds 3.5 stars and ranks #47. For beginners seeking structured learning through videos and live sessions, XM Group is likely the stronger pick, though Exness still provides useful videos and monthly webinars. Check each broker’s site for details on article libraries, recorded webinar archives, and glossaries.
| Feature |
XM Group
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 #17, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #43.
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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 81 |
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Both XM Group and Exness provide the capability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives but do not facilitate the purchase of actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
When comparing the online brokers XM Group and Exness for depositing or withdrawing funds, both do not support ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal, but they offer similar options with Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires available for transactions.
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 (SFC 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | 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). | 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 | 1.6 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | 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 | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 30 | 107 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 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 | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | Yes | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | XM Group | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| Major Forex Pairs | XM Group | 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 | 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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