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 account | 1.6 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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 delivers a much wider lineup of markets with 1,394 tradeable symbols compared to Exness’s 209. If your focus is strictly on forex, Exness lists more currency pairs (96 vs 55), and both brokers offer forex trading as CFDs or spot. XM Group stands out for access to real exchange-traded stocks, letting clients buy U.S. and international shares, while Exness does not offer actual stocks. Both support copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy real (delivered) crypto.
Based on overall variety, XM Group earns 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #25 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while Exness scores 3.5 stars and ranks #56. Choose XM Group if you want many asset types—including U.S. and global shares—under one roof; pick Exness if you prioritize a larger 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. 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.
Choosing between XM Group and Exness for trading platforms and tools? Both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, web platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and copy trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and both let you place trades directly from charts. The main difference is that Exness also provides a proprietary platform, while XM Group focuses on MetaTrader.
In terms of platform quality, both earn 4 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools. Exness ranks #26 out of 63 brokers in this category at ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group ranks #33. Exact counts for built-in technical indicators and watch list fields aren’t disclosed, but both cover core charting and watchlist needs. If you want a proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5, Exness has the edge; if you prefer a MetaTrader-centered setup with similar ratings, XM Group is a solid pick.
| 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.
Comparing XM Group vs Exness mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Neither app auto-saves chart drawings. Each earned 4 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, with Exness ranked #26 of 63 and XM Group ranked #31 by ForexBrokers.com.
For charting, Exness includes 35 technical studies, while XM Group offers 30. XM Group supports watchlist syncing between the mobile app and your online account; Exness does not. Choose Exness if you want a few more built-in indicators, or XM Group if synced watchlists matter most. Both are solid picks for traders who want alerts and basic chart tools on the go.
| 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 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 (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 vs Exness for beginner trading education: both brokers teach forex and CFDs through videos and live sessions. Each hosts client webinars at least once a month and provides at least 10 beginner videos, plus 10 advanced videos, so newcomers can start with the basics and move into more complex strategies over time.
The standout is XM Group. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #7 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, signaling a broader, better organized learning experience with plenty of videos and archived webinars. Exness earns 3.5 stars and ranks #47, offering helpful materials—monthly webinars and beginner videos included—but with fewer learning options overall. If you want the most complete path as a beginner, XM Group is the stronger choice; if you just need fundamentals with regular webinars, Exness can still meet the need.
| 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 #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
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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 |
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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 | 1.6 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.8 | 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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