This comparison pits two regulated brokers on cost, platform choice, and instrument variety. Regulation breadth, pricing, and platform ecosystems shape the tension.
Exness edges Skilling with a higher editorial score (4.4 vs 4.1), underpinned by broader regulatory coverage and a $1 minimum deposit.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you want a $1 minimum deposit and leverage up to 2000:1 plus instant withdrawals around the clock. You also get MT4/MT5, broad regulation (FCA, CySEC, FSCA, OJK), no deposit fees, and negative balance protection.
Choose Skilling if…
Choose Skilling if you prefer a modern, user friendly Skilling Trader and access to cTrader with raw spreads from 0.0 pips. You also benefit from FCA and CySEC oversight, MT4/MT5 support, and a $100 minimum deposit on standard accounts.
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 0.70 pips for Skilling, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.3 / 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 | Skilling |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| 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 Skilling rates 4.1/5. 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 Skilling's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Exness has $1, while Skilling requires at least $100. This makes Exness more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Exness and Skilling 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 Skilling lists up to 500:1. 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 Skilling are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Skilling supports cTrader, Skilling Trader, MetaTrader 4. Both provide MetaTrader 4. Exness has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5. Skilling has exclusive access to cTrader and Skilling Trader.
Exness wins safety and regulation thanks to extra OJK oversight beyond Skilling.
Skilling wins for active traders due to raw spreads on cTrader and a modern platform.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.30 pips.
Skilling wins platform choice with Skilling Trader, cTrader, and MT4 support.
Exness is best for beginners because of the $1 minimum deposit and broad regulation.
Skilling wins instrument variety with around 1000 instruments vs Exness's 200.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5▲ | 4.3 / 5 |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.1 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2016 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Valletta, Malta |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1▼ lower | $100 |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips▼ lower | 0.7 pips |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | N/A |
|---|
| 0.65 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | 500:1▲ higher |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | $10/month (after 90 days) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA FSCA OJK CySEC | FCA FSCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | cTrader Skilling Trader 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
Clean modern Skilling Trader platform, excellent UX for new-to-intermediate traders
cTrader available with raw spreads from 0.0 pips
CySEC and FCA regulation with EU and UK investor protections
Growing Latin American presence with local-language support
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
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
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
$100 minimum deposit on standard accounts
Newer broker, less track record than IG or Pepperstone
Product range narrower than multi-asset brokers
No phone support
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.1 / 5
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