Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of IG vs Exness, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Comparing online brokers IG and Exness: IG was founded in 1974 and is publicly traded, while Exness launched in 2008 and is not publicly traded. ForexBrokers.com rates broker trust from 0–99, where 90–99 means highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted at all. IG has a Trust Score of 99 (highly trusted) and is a bank; Exness has a Trust Score of 80 (trusted) and is not a bank.
Regulatory coverage also differs. IG holds 8 Tier-1 licenses (considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com) and 2 Tier-2 licenses (trusted). Exness holds 2 Tier-1 licenses and 3 Tier-2 licenses. In short, IG has broader top-tier oversight, while Exness still maintains multiple trusted licenses.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | Yes | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
IG generally comes out ahead on commissions and fees compared with Exness, especially for active traders. IG is rated 5 stars and ranked #7 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees by ForexBrokers.com. Its pricing is not the cheapest in the market, but its Forex Direct DMA account can be cost-effective for larger traders, with EUR/USD average spreads around 0.62 pips in July 2023 and an all-in cost near 0.82 pips after commission. IG also offers active trader rebates on its CFD pricing, which can lower costs further for high-volume clients.
Exness is also competitive, but its overall fee structure is more mixed. It is rated 4 stars and ranked #31 out of 36 for Commissions and Fees. Exness offers several account types, including commission-free options and lower-spread commission-based accounts like Zero Spread and Raw. That gives traders flexibility, but the best pricing is usually tied to selecting the right account type and meeting the account’s trading conditions.
In simple terms, IG is the better pick if you want stronger overall pricing quality, especially for active or high-volume trading, while Exness may suit traders who want more account choices and are comfortable comparing spreads and commissions carefully. Both brokers can offer good value, but IG has the edge for commissions and fees based on its rating, ranking, and lower effective trading costs on key accounts.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
IG offers a much wider range of investments than Exness, making it the better choice for traders who want more variety in one account. IG supports forex trading as both CFDs and spot contracts, and it offers 19,537 tradeable symbols, including 97 forex pairs. It also lets clients buy real shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, buy actual cryptocurrency, and trade cryptocurrency CFDs. Exness also offers forex as CFDs or spot contracts, but its selection is far smaller, with 239 tradeable symbols and 78 forex pairs, and it does not offer exchange-traded securities or actual cryptocurrency.
When it comes to range of investments, the difference is clear in both ratings and rankings. IG is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers for this category on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #34. Neither broker offers copy trading, but IG stands out for giving investors far more market access overall.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
IG and Exness both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for practice, their own in-house platforms, web-based access, and Windows desktop downloads. Each broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let you trade directly from charts. One notable difference is that neither broker offers copy trading, so traders looking for that feature will need to look elsewhere.
When it comes to trading tools, IG has the edge overall. It is rated 5 out of 5 for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #1 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 4 out of 5 and ranks #15. For traders comparing IG vs Exness, both platforms cover the essentials well, but IG appears to offer the stronger overall experience for platform quality and tools.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
IG and Exness both offer iPhone and Android apps, along with stock or forex price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Each app also lets you draw trendlines on charts, making it easy to track price moves on the go. For everyday mobile trading needs, both brokers cover the basics well and give users a smooth way to monitor markets from a phone.
Where IG stands out is in its overall mobile experience. IG’s app has 33 technical studies, auto-saves chart drawings, and is rated 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, ranking #1 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Exness offers more chart studies at 100, but its app does not auto-save drawings and is rated 4 stars, with a rank of #18. If you want the stronger all-around mobile app, IG has the edge, while Exness may appeal to traders who want a wider set of chart indicators.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
IG and Exness both give traders daily market commentary, news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, and an economic calendar to track upcoming events. That said, IG stands out for its wider set of research tools, including Autochartist, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, TipRanks, and Acuity Trading resources such as Signal Centre. These extra features make IG a stronger choice for traders who want more market insight in one place.
Exness also covers the basics well and offers Trading Central tools, which IG does not. However, Exness does not match IG’s overall range of research features. This gap is reflected in their ratings and rankings for research, with IG earning 5 stars and a #2 spot out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, while Exness receives 3.5 stars and ranks #31.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | Yes | No |
| Acuity Trading | Yes | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing IG and Exness for beginner education, both brokers give new traders plenty of learning support. Each offers at least 10 forex or CFD education pieces, regular online client webinars, 10 or more beginner videos, and 10 or more advanced videos, so either platform can help users learn the basics and keep building skills over time. That said, IG stands out as the stronger choice for education overall, especially for beginners who want a wider range of learning tools and a more polished education experience.
IG is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #7 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #21. In simple terms, both brokers provide useful educational content, but IG offers the better learning environment for beginners who want more depth, more structure, and a more trusted education setup.
| Feature |
IG
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that IG is better than Exness. IG finished with an overall rank of #1, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
IG offers the ultimate comprehensive trading package, featuring excellent trading and research tools, industry-leading education, and an extensive range of tradeable markets.
| Feature |
IG
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Exness
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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In the IG vs Exness comparison for cryptocurrency trading, IG lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Exness offers only cryptocurrency CFD trading and does not support purchasing real crypto.
Online brokers IG and Exness differ in funding methods: IG supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (no Skrill), while Exness supports Skrill and bank wires (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | IG | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | IG | Exness | |
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| Regulation | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1974 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 8 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 2 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 19537 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 97 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 0.91 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.82 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | £1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 33 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 33 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | Yes | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | IG | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | IG | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | IG Review | Exness Review |
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