Exness vs FP Markets: spreads, withdrawals & which fits you
Head-to-head on raw spreads, funding speed, regulation, and account types. Exness starts at $10, FP Markets at $100, see which broker suits your style.
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You're down to two names: Exness and FP Markets. Both offer 0.0‑pip raw spreads, both support MT4 and MT5, and both have swap-free Islamic accounts. The differences show up when you look at minimum deposit, withdrawal rails, and who regulates what entity you'll be trading under.
This isn't a "best broker" listicle. It's a side-by-side breakdown of spreads, account structures, funding speed, and the small details that actually matter when you're moving money in and out of a live account. By the end you'll know which one fits your deposit size, your payment method, and your regulatory comfort zone.
Account minimums and entry cost
Exness lets you open with $10. That's real, no catch, no hidden upgrade requirement. You can fund via UPI, local bank transfer in a dozen countries, or crypto, and you're trading the same day. The Standard account starts at 0.3 pips on EUR/USD with no commission; the Zero account delivers 0.0 pips with a $3.50‑per‑lot round-turn commission. If you're in India, Pakistan, or the Philippines and you want to test a new strategy without parking $100, Exness is the faster on-ramp.
FP Markets sets the floor at $100. That buys you access to the Standard account (spreads from 1.0 pip, no commission) or the Raw account (spreads from 0.0 pips, commission around $3 per lot). You also get Iress and cTrader alongside MetaTrader, so if you're a multi-platform trader or you want direct market access through Iress, the extra $90 is buying you more than just an account number.
For a $500 account, the difference is noise. For a $50 test account, Exness is the only option on this list.
Raw spreads and total trading cost
Both brokers quote "from 0.0 pips" on their tight‑spread accounts. Here's what that looks like in practice during London hours:
Exness Zero account (CySEC entity)
- EUR/USD: 0.0, 0.2 pips + $3.50 per lot
- GBP/USD: 0.1, 0.4 pips + $3.50 per lot
- USD/JPY: 0.0, 0.3 pips + $3.50 per lot
- AUD/USD: 0.2, 0.5 pips + $3.50 per lot
FP Markets Raw account (ASIC entity)
- EUR/USD: 0.0, 0.1 pips + ~$3.00 per lot
- GBP/USD: 0.2, 0.5 pips + ~$3.00 per lot
- USD/JPY: 0.1, 0.3 pips + ~$3.00 per lot
- AUD/USD: 0.1, 0.4 pips + ~$3.00 per lot
FP Markets shaves fifty cents off the commission, and spreads average slightly tighter during peak liquidity. If you're scalping 20 round-turns a day on EUR/USD, that's $10 saved per day, $200 per month. Exness spreads widen a fraction more during Asian session overlap, but the difference is usually under 0.1 pip.
For swing traders holding positions overnight, the spread gap is irrelevant. For high-frequency scalpers trading inside the spread, FP Markets has the edge on total cost, assuming you're comfortable with the $100 minimum and you prefer ASIC or CySEC regulation over Exness's mix of CySEC, FSCA, and FSA (Seychelles).
Regulation: who's watching your money
Exness operates under three main licenses: CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Seychelles). EU and South African clients trade under Tier-1 regulators with €20,000 and ZAR 50,000 compensation schemes respectively. Clients in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa typically land under the Seychelles entity, which offers 1:Unlimited leverage but no statutory compensation fund. Exness has been around since 2008 and handles billions in monthly volume, so track record is solid even if the regulator isn't top-tier for every geography.
FP Markets is licensed by ASIC (Australia), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles). Australian clients get AU$1 million AFSL coverage and 1:30 retail leverage (1:500 for professional accounts). CySEC clients see €20,000 protection and 1:30 caps. The rest of the world trades under Seychelles with higher leverage and no compensation scheme. FP Markets was founded in 2005, giving it a 21‑year history and a Trustpilot score of 4.8 out of 5 from over 10,000 reviews.
If you're in Australia or the EU and regulation is non-negotiable, both brokers offer Tier-1 entities. If you're in India, Nigeria, or the UAE and you want instant funding with no questions asked, Exness's Seychelles arm is faster and asks for less paperwork, just understand the trade-off on investor protection. For a detailed look at what each license actually covers, check our guide on how to verify a forex broker.
Funding and withdrawal speed
Exness built its reputation on same-day withdrawals. In practice that means:
- Instant withdrawals to Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, and crypto wallets (usually under 60 minutes).
- UPI and local bank transfers in India, Thailand, Vietnam, and a dozen other markets, processed within 24 hours.
- No minimum withdrawal on most methods; you can pull $5 if you want to test the rails.
FP Markets is faster than most brokers but not instant:
- Credit/debit card and e-wallet withdrawals clear in 1, 2 business days.
- Bank wire takes 2, 5 business days depending on your country.
- Minimum withdrawal varies by method; typically $50 for wire, no minimum for cards.
If you're scalping intraday and you want profit in your Skrill wallet by dinner, Exness wins. If you're withdrawing monthly and you don't mind waiting 48 hours, FP Markets is perfectly adequate. The difference matters most to traders who cycle capital between brokers or who need emergency liquidity.
Platform choice and tools
Both brokers support MT4 and MT5, so if you live in MetaTrader, you're covered. Exness stops there; you get the standard MetaQuotes platform and a clean web terminal, but no third-party integrations.
FP Markets adds cTrader and Iress. CTrader appeals to algo traders who want Level II DOM and native copy-trading without a VPS. Iress is an institutional-grade terminal popular in Australia, offering direct market access to forex, CFDs, and equities. If you're running multiple strategies or you want advanced charting beyond MT5, FP Markets gives you options. If you're happy with MT5 and a phone app, the extra platforms are just clutter.
Leverage caps by region
- Exness FSCA (South Africa): 1:500 retail, 1:2000 professional
- Exness CySEC (EU): 1:30 retail, 1:500 professional
- Exness FSA (Seychelles, rest of world): 1:Unlimited retail
- FP Markets ASIC (Australia): 1:30 retail, 1:500 professional
- FP Markets CySEC (EU): 1:30 retail
- FP Markets FSA (Seychelles, rest of world): 1:500 retail
Exness's unlimited leverage is real but requires a trade history and minimum equity threshold. For most traders the effective cap is 1:2000. FP Markets maxes out at 1:500 globally outside Australia and the EU. If you're trading a $200 account and you want 1:1000+ to control position size without tying up margin, Exness is the only game in town. If you're trading a $5,000 account and you think anything above 1:100 is reckless, the difference is academic.
Swap-free Islamic accounts
Both brokers offer swap-free accounts at no extra cost. Exness approves Islamic accounts on request, usually within 24 hours, and applies them across all account types (Standard, Pro, Zero, Raw Spread). There's no time limit on holding positions, and the swap is genuinely zero, no hidden admin fee dressed up as a spread markup.
FP Markets also provides swap-free accounts on request, available on Standard and Raw accounts. Approval is similarly fast, and the structure is clean. If you're in the UAE, Malaysia, or Indonesia and you need halal trading, both brokers tick the box. For a broader look at swap-free options across the market, see our guide to the best Islamic forex brokers.
Customer support and local presence
Exness runs 24/7 live chat in 15+ languages, including Hindi, Urdu, Thai, Vietnamese, and Bahasa Indonesia. Response time averages under two minutes, and agents can walk you through UPI deposits, account verification, and withdrawal troubleshooting in your local language. Phone support is available but slower; most traders stick to chat. Trustpilot shows 4.7 out of 5 from over 30,000 reviews, with the bulk of complaints centred on KYC delays and requotes during high volatility (common across all brokers).
FP Markets offers 24/5 live chat and email support in English, Mandarin, and a few other languages. Response quality is high, but if you're messaging at 2 a.m. On a Saturday you'll wait until Monday. Phone support is faster if you're in Australia or Southeast Asia. Trustpilot sits at 4.8 from over 10,000 reviews, slightly higher rating, smaller sample. The main gripe is slower withdrawal processing compared to instant-payout competitors.
Who each broker suits
Choose Exness if you:
- Want to start with $10, $50 and scale as you learn
- Need instant withdrawals to Skrill, crypto, or UPI
- Trade from India, Pakistan, the UAE, Vietnam, or another emerging market where local funding rails matter
- Want 1:500+ leverage without jumping through professional-client hoops
- Prefer 24/7 support in your local language
Choose FP Markets if you:
- Have $100+ to deposit and you want access to cTrader or Iress
- Prioritise slightly tighter spreads and lower commission on high-frequency trades
- Want ASIC or CySEC regulation with statutory compensation
- Don't need instant withdrawals; 1, 2 days is fine
- Trade from Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, or Indonesia and you value a 20-year track record
Neither broker is bad. Exness is faster, cheaper to enter, and better for small accounts. FP Markets is tighter on cost-per-trade, offers more platforms, and appeals to traders who want Tier-1 regulation without compromise. If you're still stuck, open demo accounts with both, test the withdrawal process with a $10 deposit on Exness and a $100 deposit on FP Markets, and see which rails fit your workflow.
For a broader view of how these two stack up against other low-deposit brokers, compare them side-by-side using our broker comparison tool. If you're brand new to forex and you want a structured learning path before you fund any account, start with our free forex academy.
Frequently asked questions
Which broker has lower spreads, Exness or FP Markets?
FP Markets typically offers tighter raw spreads and a slightly lower commission (around $3.00 per lot versus Exness's $3.50). On EUR/USD during London hours, FP Markets averages 0.0, 0.1 pips versus Exness's 0.0, 0.2 pips. For high-frequency scalpers the difference adds up; for swing traders it's negligible.
Can I withdraw funds faster with Exness or FP Markets?
Exness processes instant withdrawals to Skrill, Neteller, Perfect Money, and crypto wallets, usually within 60 minutes. FP Markets takes 1, 2 business days for e-wallets and cards, 2, 5 days for bank wires. If you need same-day liquidity, Exness is faster.
What is the minimum deposit for Exness and FP Markets?
Exness requires a $10 minimum deposit across all account types. FP Markets sets the floor at $100. Both brokers accept local payment methods including UPI, bank transfer, e-wallets, and cards depending on your country.
Do Exness and FP Markets offer Islamic swap-free accounts?
Yes. Both brokers provide swap-free Islamic accounts on request at no extra cost. Exness approves accounts within 24 hours and applies zero swap across Standard, Pro, Zero, and Raw Spread accounts. FP Markets offers the same on Standard and Raw accounts with fast approval.
Which broker is better regulated, Exness or FP Markets?
Both hold ASIC, CySEC, and FSA licenses, but the entity you trade under depends on your country. FP Markets' ASIC arm offers AU$1 million protection; Exness's FSCA entity provides ZAR 50,000 coverage. Outside Tier-1 jurisdictions, both operate under Seychelles (FSA) with no statutory compensation.
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