Exness and Trading 212 duel for stock exposure through different models: CFDs versus real shares and platform choices shape costs, access, and long-term investing potential.
Trading 212 edges Exness on the editorial score, bolstered by stronger trust/regulation and a commission-free, lower-fee stance.
Find out which stock broker best suits your investing profile.
Choose Exness if…
Choose Exness if you want short selling and advanced charting on MT4/MT5, plus 24/5 live chat support.
Choose Trading 212 if…
Choose Trading 212 if you want commission-free stock trading, fractional shares, and an ISA wrapper.
Which broker wins for each type of stock trader, based on costs, safety, features, and editorial scoring.
Trading 212 wins for low cost trading due to commission-free stock and ETF trading.
| Editorial score | 3.6/ 5 | 4.2/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Min deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Spreads from | 0.3 pips | N/A |
| Commission / lot | $3.5/lot | N/A |
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Exness | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, SEC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS, SIPC) | Pass | Pass |
| Costs | ||
| Commission-free trading | Fail | Pass |
| No deposit fee | — | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Fractional shares | Fail | Pass |
| Dividend reinvestment (DRIP) | Fail | Pass |
| Extended hours trading | Fail | Fail |
| IPO access | Fail | Fail |
| Short selling | Pass | Fail |
| Stock screener tool | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Fail |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Fail |
Trading 212 rates 4.2/5 versus 3.6/5 for Exness. Trading 212 edges ahead on our composite score, though both brokers meet a reasonable standard for most traders.
Exness starts from 0.3. Current spread data is not available for Trading 212. Check both brokers' websites for up-to-date spread and commission pricing.
Both Exness and Trading 212 require a minimum deposit of $1 to open a live trading account.
Both Exness and Trading 212 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, 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 20:1, while Trading 212 lists up to 1:5. 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 trade on commission-based accounts. Commission details for Trading 212 are not currently available. Check their website for up-to-date pricing. Stock commissions may be charged as a flat rate per trade or per share; confirm the exact structure on each broker's website.
Exness supports MetaTrader 5, MetaTrader 4, while Trading 212 supports Trading 212 App. Exness has exclusive access to MetaTrader 5 and MetaTrader 4. Trading 212 has exclusive access to Trading 212 App.
Trading 212 offers commission-free stock trading while Exness does not according to our data. Commission-free trading can reduce costs for frequent traders. Always confirm the current fee structure directly on each broker's website.
Both Exness and Trading 212 are covered by a compensation scheme according to our data, providing an additional safety net for your stock investments. Confirm the specific scheme and coverage limit that applies to your account before depositing.
Trading 212 scores higher on trust/regulation due to FCA oversight and FSCS protection.
Trading 212 offers Stocks & Shares ISA and fractional shares for long-term plans.
Exness provides advanced charting and short selling for active trading.
Trading 212's simple app and fractional shares aid beginner investing.
Exness provides five exchanges for broader global market access.
| 0.65 pips |
| N/A |
| Inactivity fee | None | None |
|---|
| Deposit fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCryptoP2P | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardApple PayGoogle Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNetellerPerfect MoneyCrypto | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardApple PayGoogle Pay |
|---|
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Commission-free | No | Yes |
|---|
| Fractional shares | No | Yes |
|---|
| Dividend reinvestment | No | Yes |
|---|
| Extended hours | No | No |
|---|
| IPO access | No | No |
|---|
| Short selling | Yes | No |
|---|
| Regulators | FSCA FCA OJK CySEC | FCA CySEC |
|---|
| Platforms | MetaTrader 5 MetaTrader 4 | Trading 212 App |
|---|
| Active bonuses | None | 2 offers |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.6 / 5
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