Both score well and are regulated, but they diverge on platform ecosystems and costs, creating a tense choice for different trading styles.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose if…
Choose Exness if you want MT4/MT5 access and 24/5 live chat.
Choose if…
Choose tastytrade if you prefer a proprietary platform and option-focused trading.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.3/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.5 / 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 | tastytrade |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Fail |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Pass | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Pass |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Fail | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Fail |
The scores are close: Exness rates 4.4/5 and tastytrade rates 4.3/5. 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. Current spread data is not available for tastytrade. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date pricing.
tastytrade has no minimum deposit, while Exness requires at least $1. This makes tastytrade more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Exness and tastytrade 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: tastytrade has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and Exness provides negative balance protection, capping losses at your deposit amount. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
Exness lists maximum leverage of 2000:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
tastytrade charges $1 per lot, lower than Exness's $3.5 per lot. Lower commissions benefit active traders who execute many trades per day.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while tastytrade supports Proprietary Web/Mobile. Exness has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. tastytrade has exclusive access to Proprietary Web/Mobile.
Exness offers spreads from 0.30 pips.
Exness is stronger on safety and regulation with multiple top-tier regulators and segregated client funds.
tastytrade wins for active derivatives traders, with capped options commissions and a platform built for multi-leg strategies.
Exness is better suited for scalpers: raw/ECN spreads available.
Exness wins for platform choice with MT4/MT5 availability; tastytrade offers a single proprietary platform.
tastytrade wins for instrument variety with roughly 10,000 instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.7 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.0 / 5 |
|---|
| Founded | 2008 | 2017 |
|---|
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
|---|
| Min Deposit | $1 | No minimum▼ lower |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.3 pips | N/A |
|---|
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | $1/lot▼ lower |
|---|
| 0.65 pips | N/A |
| Max Leverage | 2,000:1 | N/A |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferWire transferACH |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | CySEC OJK FCA FSCA | CFTC NFA |
|---|
| 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
Options commissions capped at $10/leg, major cost advantage for traders who size up
$0 to open options trades; $1/contract to close
Platform built natively for options: IVR, Greeks, curve tool, and multi-leg management all first-class
Futures and futures options on the same account as equity derivatives
No PFOF on options, exchange-routed for best execution
Part of IG Group (LSE-listed), institutional governance and financial stability
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Cons
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
Cons
US-only, no international accounts
Options-first interface has a steep learning curve for equity-focused traders
No live chat support, phone and email only
Minimal fundamental research tools; no stock screener or analyst reports
Mobile app less appropriate for entering complex multi-leg strategies than the desktop platform
No negative balance protection
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Support available in limited languages
Exness offers MT4/MT5 and 24/5 live chat. Tastytrade relies on a proprietary platform.
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.3 / 5
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