Two brokers compete for everyday traders with similar $1 deposits but different regulatory footprints and pricing. The tension centers on regulation and cost versus instrument variety and leverage.
Exness outperforms FBS on editorial score and is the overall winner. FBS remains competitive in instrument variety.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
FBS offers tighter spreads from 0.00 pips vs 0.30 pips for Exness, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 3.9/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.5 / 5 |
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)
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Exness | FBS |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Fail |
| 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 | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Exness rates 4.4/5 versus 3.9/5 for FBS. Exness edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
FBS 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.
Both Exness and FBS require a minimum deposit of $1 to open a live trading account.
Exness holds top-tier regulation (FCA, FSCA, OJK), providing stronger investor protections. FBS may be regulated but does not hold top-tier status in our data. Verify regulatory status on each regulator's public register before depositing funds.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
Exness lists maximum leverage of 2000:1, while FBS lists up to 3000:1. 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 FBS's $20 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while FBS supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4.
Exness wins for safety & regulation due to top-tier regulators and compensation scheme.
FBS wins for active traders thanks to higher leverage and diverse account types.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: lower commission ($3.5/lot).
Exness wins for beginners with a $1 minimum deposit and simple pricing.
FBS wins for instrument variety with 550 tradable instruments.
Exness wins for platform choice with advanced charting tools.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 3.8 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2009 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Belize City, Belize |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1 | $1 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips | 0 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot▼ lower | $20/lot |
|---|
| 0.65 pips▼ lower | 2 pips |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | 3,000:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayPerfect Money |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerFasaPayPerfect Money |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC | FSCA CySEC IFSC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
Very low $1 minimum deposit on Cent accounts
MT4 and MT5 on all account types
Multiple account types including Cent, Zero Spread, and ECN
Widely available across Southeast Asia, MENA, and Africa
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
Mobile trading app available
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
Cons
Primary entity uses IFSC Belize, offshore, limited investor protection
Bonus turnover requirements are onerous
Very high leverage (3000:1) is a significant risk factor for retail clients
No top-tier regulatory licence
No investor compensation scheme
No proprietary platform
Limited charting capabilities
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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