This comparison pits Exness, offering MT4/MT5 and low minimums, against Plus500, which runs a proprietary platform with zero commissions and higher minimums.
Exness edges Plus500 on overall score, supported by MT4/MT5 access and no inactivity fee with raw spreads. Plus500 trails due to its proprietary platform and inactivity charges.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Exness if…
Exness: You get MT4/MT5 access and no inactivity fee. You also benefit from raw spreads and leverage up to 2000:1. Plus500: You trade on a proprietary platform with zero commissions. You access strong regulation and segregated funds, but MT4/MT5 is not supported.
Choose Plus500 if…
Exness: You get MT4/MT5 access and no inactivity fee. You also benefit from raw spreads and leverage up to 2000:1. Plus500: You trade on a proprietary platform with zero commissions. You access strong regulation and segregated funds, but MT4/MT5 is not supported.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exness offers tighter spreads from 0.30 pips vs 0.60 pips for Plus500, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.0/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 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 | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: Exness rates 4.4/5 and Plus500 rates 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.
Exness starts from 0.3 pips, tighter than Plus500's 0.6 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Exness has $1, while Plus500 requires at least $100. This makes Exness more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Exness and Plus500 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.
Exness lists maximum leverage of 2000:1, while Plus500 lists up to 30:1. 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 on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Plus500 are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Plus500 supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Exness has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Plus500 has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Equally matched; both hold top-tier regulators and segregated client funds.
Exness wins for active traders due to high leverage and raw spreads.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available, tighter spreads from 0.30 pips.
Exness wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5 availability.
Plus500 offers broader instrument variety with 2000 markets.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 3.7 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 3.9 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2008 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Haifa, Israel |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips▼ lower | 0.6 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.65 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | 30:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 3 months) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillApple Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardPayPalSkrill |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC | FCA ASIC MAS CySEC CMA |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| 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
LSE-listed providing strong institutional credibility
Zero commission on all trades
Intuitive proprietary platform with a clean mobile app
Negative balance protection across all accounts
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
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
No MT4 or MT5 support
Limited research tools and market analysis
US residents not accepted
No copy trading
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
Limited charting capabilities
No phone support
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4 / 5
Personalised recommendation
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