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 |
Trading 212 and Exness both earn 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, but they take different approaches to pricing. Trading 212’s CFD account advertises zero commission, yet traders still pay the spread, and its average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips in April 2025. That is higher than the industry average, which can make Trading 212 more expensive for frequent forex and CFD trading. ForexBrokers.com ranks Trading 212 #28 out of 36 brokers in this category.
Exness also scores 4 out of 5 stars, but its costs vary more depending on the account you choose. Its Standard and Standard Cent accounts are commission-free, while the Pro account offers lower spreads and the Zero Spread and Raw accounts use commission-based pricing. For example, the Zero Spread account charges a per-trade commission of $0.05, and the Raw account charges up to $7 per round turn lot. This flexible setup can help traders pick an account that matches their style and budget, though costs still depend on spread, commission, and execution type. ForexBrokers.com ranks Exness #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In short, Trading 212 may appeal to beginners looking for simple zero-commission messaging, but its spread costs are worth watching. Exness offers more account choices and potentially lower trading costs for some users, especially those willing to use its commission-based accounts. Both brokers are rated equally by stars, but Trading 212 places slightly higher in the commissions and fees ranking.
| 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.
Join 239,000+ traders worldwide.
When it comes to investment choice, Trading 212 offers a much wider range than Exness. Trading 212 gives access to 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, while Exness offers 239 symbols and 78 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, and both let clients trade cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker offers copy trading.
Trading 212 also stands out for its access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so investors can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone rather than only CFDs. It also allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrency, which Exness does not. Reflecting this difference, Trading 212 is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #15 out of 36 brokers, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #35 out of 36.
| 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.
When comparing Trading 212 vs Exness for market research, both brokers give traders access to forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking key global events. Neither broker offers Autochartist, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so neither stands out for those extras. Both are also rated 3.5 out of 5 stars for Research by ForexBrokers.com, showing a similar overall level of support for market analysis.
The main difference is in the research features each platform does provide. Exness offers daily market commentary and Trading Central tools, which may help traders looking for more guided analysis. Trading 212 does not offer daily commentary or Trading Central, but it does include a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions across instruments, which Exness does not. In ForexBrokers.com’s research rankings, Exness is slightly ahead at #32 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 is #33.
| 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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | Trading 212 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 82 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | Trading 212 Review | Exness Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill