A head-to-head comparison of Exness and XTB across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exceptional value for developing-market traders - instant withdrawals, $1 minimum deposit, and ultra-competitive raw spread pricing.
Exness and XTB are extremely closely matched with scores of 4.4/5 and 4.5/5. The right choice depends on your individual trading priorities.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Exness offers tighter spreads from 0.3 pips vs 0.8 pips for XTB, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Exness has a cost edge: raw/ECN spreads, tighter spreads from 0.3 pips.
XTB offers more exclusive platform options: xStation 5, a proprietary platform.
XTB edges out Exness with a higher editorial score (4.5/5 vs 4.4/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.4/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.6 / 5▲ | 4.4 / 5 |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.3 / 5▲ | 4.2 / 5 |
| Founded | 2008 | 2002 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | Warsaw, Poland |
| Min deposit | $1 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.3 pips | 0.8 pips |
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | N/A |
| Max leverage | 2000:1 | 500:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA FSCA CySEC OJK | FCA CySEC KNF |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 MetaTrader 5 | MetaTrader 4 xStation 5 |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Exness | Visit XTB |
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
Pros
LSE- and WSE-listed with FCA, CySEC, and KNF regulation - exceptional corporate transparency
xStation 5 is one of the best proprietary platforms in retail forex
Zero-commission stock CFDs up to EUR 100,000/month
No minimum deposit on standard accounts
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
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
Not available to US residents
EU clients face significant leverage restrictions
Unlimited leverage carries extreme risk for inexperienced traders
No proprietary platform
Cons
Market maker on forex - not suited for raw ECN scalpers
Product breadth narrower than IG or Saxo
Support quality varies outside European hours
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Exness | XTB |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, XTB ranks higher with a score of 4.5/5 vs 4.4/5 for Exness. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Exness and XTB may each suit different trader profiles.
Exness offers tighter spreads starting from 0.3 pips, compared to XTB's spreads from 0.8 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
XTB has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Exness requires at least $1. This makes XTB more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Exness and XTB hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: XTB has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Exness offers maximum leverage of 2000:1, while XTB offers up to 500:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Exness charges $3.5 per lot on commission-based accounts. Commission details for the other broker are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing.
Exness supports MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and XTB offers MetaTrader 4, xStation 5; both support MetaTrader 4; Exness exclusively offers MetaTrader 5; XTB exclusively offers xStation 5.
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