Two brokers collide over regulation, pricing, and platform reach. Traders weigh instrument breadth against cost transparency and investor protections.
Exness edges ACY Securities as the editorial winner. It posts a higher score and offers an investor compensation scheme along with a strong regulator mix.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose ACY Securities if…
Choose ACY Securities if you value broad instrument access and raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips with $7 round-turn.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you prefer a $1 minimum deposit and instant withdrawals 24/7.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
ACY Securities offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.30 pips for Exness, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.0/ 5 | 4.4/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 5 |
Pros
2,200+ instruments including share CFDs and ETF CFDs
TradingView integration for browser-based chart execution
ASIC regulated with Tier 1 investor protections
Raw ECN spreads from 0.0 pips at $7 round-turn commission
Client funds held in segregated accounts
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | ACY Securities | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Fail | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Pass |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Fail |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: ACY Securities rates 4/5 and Exness rates 4.4/5. Exness has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
ACY Securities starts from 0 pips, tighter than Exness's 0.3 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Exness has $1, while ACY Securities requires at least $50. This makes Exness more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both ACY Securities and Exness hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: Exness requires a lower minimum deposit ($1), lowering the barrier to entry, and both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
ACY Securities lists maximum leverage of 500:1, while Exness lists up to 2000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
Exness charges $3.5 per lot, lower than ACY Securities's $7 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
ACY Securities supports MetaTrader 5, TradingView, MetaTrader 4, while Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. ACY Securities has exclusive access to TradingView.
Exness holds FCA, CySEC, FSCA, and OJK licenses with investor protections.
Exness targets active traders with a 2000:1 leverage and high liquidity.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($3.5/lot).
ACY Securities offers MT4, MT5, and TradingView for browser-based charting.
Exness provides a $1 minimum deposit and quick withdrawals for new traders.
ACY delivers 2,200+ instruments including share and ETF CFDs.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 3.9 / 5 | 4.3 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 2011 | 2008 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia | Limassol, Cyprus |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $50 | $1▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0 pips▼ lower | 0.3 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $7/lot | $3.5/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.7 pips | 0.65 pips▼ lower |
| Max Leverage | 500:1▲ higher | 2,000:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | ASIC FSA Seychelles | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 TradingView MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Pros
Near-unlimited leverage on offshore entity
Extremely low $1 minimum deposit on Standard account
Instant withdrawals available 24/7 including weekends
One of the world's highest-volume retail FX brokers
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
$200 minimum for ECN Ultra account
Less established brand than IC Markets or Pepperstone in Australia
Limited proprietary tools
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Cons
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
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