XM and Exness are long known as some of the best low-spread brokers in the market. But between the two, which is actually better and offers tighter spreads?

As much as the reputation and safety of a broker are important, this article will be shedding light on the fees, especially the spread of two reputable brokers in XM and Exness. In comparison, XM spreads are generally low while Exness spreads are tighter with even cheaper fees if the overall costs are calculated. How so? Let's check the full explanation below.

XM Vs Exness Spread

 

Intro to Spreads

The spread refers to the difference between the prevailing Bid and Ask prices of a specific financial instrument. The value of a spread is represented in pips as it is a term that describes the price changes occurring in an asset in the financial market. Spread can either be variable or fixed depending on the asset and the type of account opened with the broker.

Variable spreads are those that constantly change depending on market volatility and they can become narrower or wider as a result; they are also known as dynamic or floating spreads. Fixed spreads are those that remain constant more often than not which allows traders to have predictable costs of trading.

 

XM Spreads

XM is one of the largest forex brokers in the world with multiple awards to show for its impressive work and reputational operation as it has been existing for over one decade. The broker is safe and reliable having enjoyed significant success since its inception. It is regulated by reputable financial bodies that include the Cyprus Securities and Economic Commission (CySEC), the International Financial Services Commission (IFSC), and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC).

XM broker offers over 20 secure payment options and negative balance protection while also gaining the trust of over five million people across 190 countries from around the world.

The table below shows an overview of the costs (both trading and non-trading) associated with XM based on the assets and the account type.

Assets Fee Terms Fee Level
EUR/USD (representing Forex instruments) The fees are incorporated into the spread with Standard, Ultra-low, and Micro accounts. During peak trading hours, 1.7 pips is the cost of the average spread for the Standard account. For the Zero account, there is a small spread from 0.6 pips along with a commission of $3.5 per lot. Low
US Stock Fee 0.04% with a minimum of $1 but this is exclusive to those that are under the jurisdiction of the IFSC. Average
Inactivity fee A maintenance fee of $15 is charged on any account that experiences an inactivity period of 1 year. Low
Europe 50 CFD The average spread cost is 2.6 points during peak trading hours although the fees are integrated into the spread Low
S&P 500 CFD The average spread cost during peak trading hours is 0.7 with the fees built into the spread Low

From the table above, it can be seen that the fees of XM are generally low thus making the broker affordable. The spread starts from 0.6 pips and serves as the foundation for the appealing trading conditions which is something beginner traders can take advantage of to minimize trading costs and maximize potential profits.

Apart from the low spread, the broker is very transparent with all its fees as there are no hidden charges and neither do traders have to worry about paying commissions when they make withdrawals. The quality of service offered by XM provides sufficient value that corresponds to the overall trading costs paid by the trader.

 

Exness Spreads

Exness is a reputable CFD and forex broker that has been operating since 2008 and is regulated by top-tier financial bodies. Exness has become known over the years for its relatively low trading fees and commissions which have attracted many traders from around the world. It is also known for its lightning-fast order execution and funds withdrawal.

As a CFD broker, Exness product offering includes CFDs on cryptos, stocks, energy, metals, and over 120 currency pairs. Exness is a reliable broker that strives for transparency by providing a concise fee and commission structure that is dependent on the account type chosen by a trader. It should be noted that while the broker does not charge inactivity fees, it charges deposit fees and withdrawal fees that vary with the kind of payment method the trader chooses.

While it is prudent to be aware of every kind of fee attached to a live trading account, the most important fee remains the spread because it will play a critical role in determining the regular costs that will be associated with every trade made.

Exness has spreads from 0.1 pips and 0.3 pips depending on the account type. Once there is a spread on a specific type of instrument or account, there will be no commission charged but if the spread is 0, then the trader can expect to be charged a commission. The table below explains it better.

Account type Spreads Commission
Standard From 0.3 None
Standard Cent From 0.3 None
Raw Spread 0.0 Up to $3.50 for each side per lot
Zero 0.0 From $0.2 for each side per lot
Pro From 0.1 None

The significance of the spread is also aided by the low minimum deposit requirement that ranges between $10 and $50. On average, the spread offered by Exness is tight and ultra-competitive even by the standard of the forex industry. This combination of tight spreads and low minimum deposit fees make Exness an attractive broker for many traders that do not need sophisticated features or research tools but are only looking for a broker that can provide solid basic features at a minimal cost.

 

Which One is Better?

When it comes to the spread between XM and Exness, there is no large difference as they are both low-cost brokers that afford traders the chance to trade various financial assets without having a large amount of capital. It should be noted that not all traders will have a large amount of money that they can set aside for trading as some are beginners looking to test the waters and pace themselves to understand how the markets work.

Brokers like XM and Exness make it possible for beginner traders to achieve this because with the spread from 0.6 pips and 0.3 pips respectively, beginners have a chance to open substantial trading positions without having to worry about paying exorbitant fees.

While their tight spreads indicate low trading fees overall, the opposite is true for their services as both brokers offer their clients top-notch services that are reliable and safe with various tools and features to choose from. Obviously, since the spread offered by Exness is slightly tighter than the one offered by XM, it means the trading cost at Exness will be slightly cheaper than that of XM.

 

While spread can play a major role in determining the kind of broker a trader wants to work with, it should not be the only factor as traders must consider their styles or strategies to determine which broker is ideal for them.