Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Trading 212 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.
Trading 212 (founded in 2004) and Exness (founded in 2008) are both private brokers and not banks. Neither company is listed on a stock exchange.
For regulation, Trading 212 holds 3 Tier-1 licenses and 0 Tier-2 licenses, while Exness holds 2 Tier-1 and 3 Tier-2 licenses. According to ForexBrokers.com, both brokers’ Trust Scores—82 for Trading 212 and 80 for Exness—fall in the “trusted” range (80–89). Trading 212 edges ahead slightly on score and Tier-1 oversight, while Exness offers broader Tier-2 coverage.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, Trading 212 and Exness are both rated 4 out of 5 stars, but they take different approaches to pricing. Trading 212’s CFD account advertises zero commission, yet traders still pay through the spread, and its published average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is relatively high. That means it may look simple on the surface, but its trading costs can be less competitive than some lower-cost brokers. Trading 212 is ranked #27 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Exness also earns 4 out of 5 stars, but it gives traders more account choices, which can make a difference in what they pay. Its standard accounts do not charge separate commissions, while its commission-based Zero Spread and Raw accounts offer tighter spreads in exchange for a per-trade fee. For example, the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot, while the Zero Spread account charges a $0.05 per trade commission. Exness is ranked #31 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, Trading 212 may appeal to traders who want a straightforward commission-free setup, but its spreads can be wider than expected. Exness gives more flexibility, letting traders choose between spread-only and commission-based pricing depending on their style. If lower spreads are the priority, Exness’s higher-tier accounts may be more attractive, while Trading 212’s pricing may suit those who prefer a simpler fee structure.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to range of investments, Trading 212 offers a wider choice than Exness. Trading 212 gives access to 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with Exness’s 239 symbols and 78 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs. However, Trading 212 goes further by also offering actual cryptocurrency, while Exness does not.
Trading 212 also stands out for share investing, with access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. Exness does not offer these non-CFD stock investments. Neither broker offers copy trading. Based on range of investments, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars and ranked #15 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #34.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 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.
Trading 212 and Exness both give traders a web-based platform and a free demo account for paper trading, so beginners can try out ideas without risking real money. Both also let you trade directly from charts, which makes placing orders quicker and easier. In ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, showing that each offers a solid experience for everyday trading needs.
The biggest difference is in platform choice. Exness has more built-in options, including its own proprietary platform, plus desktop downloads for Windows and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Trading 212 does not offer these extras, but it still covers the basics well through its browser platform and chart trading tools. On ForexBrokers.com, Exness ranks higher at #15 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 is #19 out of 36, giving Exness a slight edge overall for trading platforms and tools.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Trading 212 and Exness both give mobile traders the basics they are likely looking for, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, making it easier to track market moves on the go. In ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, both brokers are rated 4 out of 5 stars, so they are closely matched overall.
When it comes to charting tools, Trading 212 has a small edge with 104 technical studies in its mobile app compared with 100 at Exness. Trading 212 also auto saves chart drawings, which can be helpful if you switch between devices or return to a chart later. Based on ForexBrokers.com rankings, Trading 212 places just ahead of Exness for mobile trading apps, at #17 out of 36 brokers versus Exness at #18.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 104 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Trading 212 and Exness both provide forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, and each includes an economic calendar to help traders track upcoming global events. Both brokers also do not offer Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so their market research setups are fairly similar in those areas. Trading 212 stands out with a sentiment tool that shows the share of long and short positions across instruments, while Exness does not offer this feature.
The main difference is that Exness offers daily market commentary and Trading Central tools, such as technical analytics, while Trading 212 does not. Even so, both brokers receive the same research rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars. In ForexBrokers.com’s research rankings, Exness is placed slightly ahead at #31 out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212 at #32.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to learning support for beginners, Trading 212 and Exness are fairly close overall. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, and each is rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Education by ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 also provides a solid range of forex or CFDs learning material, with at least 10 educational pieces focused on those topics, while Exness meets the same standard as well.
The main difference is that Exness offers online educational client webinars at least once a month, while Trading 212 does not. In the ForexBrokers.com Education ranking, Trading 212 places slightly ahead at #20 out of 36 brokers, compared with Exness at #21. For beginners who want video lessons, both are useful choices, but Exness has the edge for live learning through webinars.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 Trading 212 is better than Exness. Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
Best known for its mobile trading app, Trading 212 offers an easy-to-use trading platform suite for CFD and share trading, as well as a large variety of forex pairs. However, despite its well-designed platform and wide range of symbols, its lack of advanced trading tools and flat research offerings hamper Trading 212’s bid to be considered a top broker.
| Feature |
Trading 212
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 |
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In the Trading 212 vs Exness comparison, Trading 212 allows buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency and trading cryptocurrency CFDs, whereas Exness supports crypto CFDs only and does not offer purchases of real, delivered coins.
In a head-to-head comparison of deposit and withdrawal methods, Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA and bank wire transfers but not PayPal or Skrill, while Exness supports Skrill and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Trading 212 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Exness | |
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| Regulation | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 2004 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 0 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 13000 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 180 | 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 | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 2.7 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 2.7 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | €1 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | No | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | No | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | No | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 102 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Trading 212 | 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 | 104 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | No | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
| Overall | Trading 212 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
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