Exness vs IG: Complete Broker Comparison 2026

Exness and IG represent two very different approaches to retail forex brokerage. IG, founded in 1974, is one of the oldest and most established CFD and spread betting providers in the world, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Exness, founded in 2008, has grown rapidly into one of the highest-volume brokers globally, particularly popular in emerging markets across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East.

Both are legitimate, regulated brokers — but they target different types of traders. This comparison examines spreads, fees, regulation, platforms, account types, and available instruments to help you decide which broker suits your situation.

Quick Comparison Table

Data sourced from official broker websites (exness.com and ig.com) and third-party review aggregators BrokerChooser and Investopedia, accessed March 2026. Spreads are variable and represent typical conditions during liquid market hours.

Regulation and Safety

Exness Regulation

Exness holds licenses from multiple regulators across different jurisdictions:

• FCA (UK): Financial Conduct Authority — one of the world's strictest Tier 1 regulators
• CySEC (Cyprus): Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission — EU-regulated entity
• FSCA (South Africa): Financial Sector Conduct Authority
• FSA (Seychelles): Financial Services Authority — offshore entity
• FSC (Mauritius): Financial Services Commission — offshore entity

Most traders outside the UK and EU are served by Exness's Seychelles or Mauritius entities (FSA/FSC), which are offshore regulators with fewer client protection requirements than Tier 1 regulators.

Source: Exness regulatory information (exness.com/regulation/, accessed March 2026).

IG Regulation

IG Group is regulated by a wider range of top-tier regulators than almost any other retail broker:

• FCA (UK): Core entity, publicly listed
• ASIC (Australia): Australian Securities and Investments Commission
• MAS (Singapore): Monetary Authority of Singapore
• BaFin (Germany): Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
• FSCA (South Africa): Financial Sector Conduct Authority
• SEC/CFTC (US): Regulated for futures via Nadex and tastytrade subsidiaries

IG's London Stock Exchange listing (ticker: IGG) provides an additional layer of transparency. The company publishes audited annual reports and is subject to ongoing regulatory scrutiny.

Source: IG regulatory information (ig.com/en/about-us/regulation, accessed March 2026).

Verdict: Both brokers are well-regulated. IG has a broader network of Tier 1 licences and greater corporate transparency as a public company. Exness's FCA licence covers UK-based traders, but most global traders operate under its offshore entities.

Spreads and Trading Costs

Exness Pricing

Exness offers several account types with different cost structures:

• Standard Account: No commission, spreads from 0.2 pips on EUR/USD (average approximately 0.9 pips during standard hours)
• Standard Cent: Same spread structure, micro lot sizing for beginners
• Pro Account: Tighter spreads from 0.1 pips, no commission
• Raw Spread Account: Spreads from 0.0 pips + $3.50 commission per side per standard lot
• Zero Account: 0.0 pip spreads on 30 major pairs for 95% of trading hours + commission

Exness does not charge swap fees on Islamic (swap-free) accounts and offers competitive overnight financing on standard accounts.

Source: Exness account types page (exness.com/accounts/, accessed March 2026).

IG Pricing

IG's pricing structure differs by account type and region:

• Spread betting (UK/Ireland): Tax-free for UK residents; EUR/USD from 0.6 pips
• CFD Trading: EUR/USD from 0.6 pips on standard accounts
• Direct Market Access (DMA): Commission-based pricing with raw spreads, designed for high-volume traders
• Share dealing: Flat-rate commissions starting from £3 per trade (UK)

IG does not offer a commission-free raw spread equivalent of Exness's Zero account for most retail clients.

Verdict: For pure forex cost efficiency at high volumes, Exness's Raw Spread and Zero accounts are competitive. For occasional traders or those needing a breadth of instruments beyond forex, IG's commission structure may be acceptable given access to over 17,000 instruments.

Trading Platforms

Exness Platform Options

• MetaTrader 4 (MT4): Industry standard, supported for desktop, web, and mobile
• MetaTrader 5 (MT5): More indicators, timeframes, and order types than MT4
• Exness Terminal: Proprietary web-based terminal, clean interface, suitable for newer traders

Exness does not offer ProRealTime, L2 Dealer, or any advanced options trading interface. The platform offering is focused — excellent for forex and CFD traders who want MT4/MT5 reliability.

IG Platform Options

• IG Web Platform: Proprietary platform with advanced charting, news integration, and a broad range of order types
• MetaTrader 4: Available for forex-focused traders
• ProRealTime: Advanced charting platform with automated strategy building (ProOrder)
• L2 Dealer: Direct market access for professional and high-volume traders
• IG Academy: Integrated educational modules within the platform

IG's platform ecosystem is significantly broader than Exness. If you trade equities, options, or require level 2 market data, IG is the more capable choice.

Verdict: MT4/MT5 traders will find Exness fully sufficient. Traders who require advanced charting, share dealing, or options access need IG.

Available Instruments

Exness Instruments

• Forex: 100+ currency pairs
• Metals: Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium
• Energies: Crude Oil, Natural Gas, Brent
• Indices: 20+ global indices
• Stocks: Limited CFD selection
• Crypto: Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others

Exness's product range is intentionally focused on forex and core CFDs. It does not offer equity options, futures, or ETF CFDs beyond a limited selection.

IG Instruments

• Forex: 80+ currency pairs
• Stocks: 10,000+ share CFDs and direct equities
• Indices: 80+ global indices
• ETFs: Hundreds of ETF CFDs
• Commodities: Agricultural, metals, and energies
• Crypto: 10+ cryptocurrency CFDs
• Options: Vanilla options and barrier options on major instruments
• IPO Grey Market: Unique access to pre-IPO price speculation

IG's instrument range is among the broadest in the retail brokerage industry.

Verdict: If forex and core commodities are your focus, Exness covers the essentials. If you want to diversify across global equities, options, and ETFs from a single account, IG has a substantial advantage.

Account Types and Minimum Deposits

Exness Account Types

Account	Min. Deposit	Spread Type	Commission
Standard	$10	From 0.2 pips	None
Standard Cent	$10	From 0.3 pips	None
Pro	$200	From 0.1 pips	None
Raw Spread	$200	From 0.0 pips	$3.50/side/lot
Zero	$200	0.0 pips (30 major pairs)	From $0.05/side/lot

Source: Exness accounts page (exness.com/accounts/, accessed March 2026).

IG Account Types

IG account minimums and structures vary significantly by region. In the UK:

• CFD Account: No minimum deposit stated, but typically £250+ recommended
• Spread Betting Account: No minimum deposit stated (UK only, tax-free)
• ISA / Share Dealing: £250 minimum for share dealing
• Smart Portfolio: £500 minimum for managed investing

Source: IG account types (ig.com/en/trading-accounts, accessed March 2026).

Verdict: Exness is more accessible for traders with smaller capital due to its $10 minimum deposit. IG requires meaningfully more capital to trade effectively on standard accounts.

Copy Trading and Social Features

Exness offers a built-in social trading system — Exness Social — that allows traders to copy experienced strategy providers. The system shows verified performance statistics, drawdown history, and fees charged by providers.

IG does not offer a native copy trading product. UK traders can access social trading through third-party integrations, but it is not a core IG offering.

Verdict: For copy trading, Exness has a clear advantage.

Deposits and Withdrawals

Exness

• Bank wire, credit/debit cards, and an extensive range of local payment methods (M-Pesa, Airtel Money, UPI, bank transfers specific to each country)
• Most withdrawals processed instantly or within 24 hours
• No fees charged by Exness on most payment methods

IG

• Bank wire and credit/debit cards accepted
• Local payment methods vary by region
• Standard processing times apply; wire transfers may take 3-5 business days
• No deposit fees; withdrawal fees may apply depending on method and region

Verdict: Exness has a meaningfully stronger local payment infrastructure for traders in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. IG is better suited for traders in the UK, Europe, and Australia with access to standard banking infrastructure.

Who Should Choose Each Broker?

Choose Exness if you:

• Focus primarily on forex and core CFDs
• Trade on MT4 or MT5
• Prefer low minimum deposits and local payment methods
• Are based in an emerging market (Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia)
• Want built-in copy trading functionality

Choose IG if you:

• Require access to equities, ETFs, or options alongside forex
• Want the strongest possible regulatory framework (multiple Tier 1 licences + publicly listed)
• Are based in the UK and want spread betting for tax efficiency
• Need advanced professional tools (ProRealTime, L2 Dealer)
• Prefer a broker with 50+ years of market history

Final Verdict

Exness and IG are both credible, regulated brokers, but they serve different trading needs.

Exness wins on accessibility, forex-specific pricing, copy trading, and local payment methods — making it the practical choice for traders in emerging markets and those focused on forex and commodity CFDs.

IG wins on regulatory depth, instrument breadth, advanced platform tools, and suitability for professional traders — making it the better choice for experienced traders who need more than just forex access.

For traders who want a well-regulated, low-cost forex broker with strong global reach and practical payment options, Exness remains a competitive choice.

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Trading CFDs and forex involves significant risk of loss. Leverage magnifies both gains and losses. Ensure you understand the risks involved before opening an account. Regulatory coverage differs by entity and jurisdiction — verify which entity will hold your account before depositing funds.