An overall comprehensive side-by-side comparison of Exness vs FXTM. Exness is a forex and CFD broker with offices in South Africa and regulation through the FSCA. With over 300,000 clients, 24/7 customer support, and trading volumes of over $2 trillion, Exness is one of the best brokers for South Africans. But how does this broker level up against another popular South African broker with some of the lowest spreads and commissions, FXTM?
- Exness vs FXTM fees and spreads comparison in South Africa
- Exness vs FXTM: Which broker is better for beginners
- Exness vs FXTM minimum deposit and account types
- Exness vs FXTM regulation and safety review in South Africa
- Exness vs FXTM trading platforms and tools
- Exness vs FXTM forex trading comparison in South Africa
🏆10 Best Forex Brokers in South Africa
| Rank | Broker | Broker Review | Regulators | Minimum Deposit | Visit Broker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🥇 |  | Read Review | ASIC, FSA, CBI, BVI, FSCA, FRSA, CySEC, ISA, JFSA | $100 | 
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| 🥈 |  | Read Review | FSCA, FCA, DFSA, FSA, CMA | $0 |
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| 🥉 |  | Read Review | CySEC, MWALI, FSCA | $25 |
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| 4 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSA, SCB | $200 |
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| 5 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSCA | $250 |
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| 6 |  | Read Review | FSA, FSC, FSCA, ASIC, CMA | $20 |
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| 7 |  | Read Review | FSC, FSCA | $50 |
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| 8 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, FSA, FSC, CMA | $100 |
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| 9 |  | Read Review | ASIC, CySEC, IFSC, DFSA, FCA | $5 |
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| 10 |  | Read Review | FSA, CySEC, FSCA, FSC | $10 |
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Which Broker Is Better for South African Traders?
| 🔎 Category |  |  |
| 💰 Fees | Spreads: Variable; Standard from ~0.2–0.3 pips; Raw/Zero from 0.0 pips (with commission). Commission: Depends on account (zero on Standard; low per‑lot on Raw/Zero). Deposit/Withdrawal: Generally no broker fees; third‑party fees possible. | Spreads: Variable; Standard 1.5+ pips, Advantage accounts can go 0.0 pips. Commission: ECN/Advantage accounts may charge $3.50/lot or similar on some accounts. Deposit/Withdrawal: Many options; some withdrawal fees and inactivity fees reported. |
| 🏛️ Regulation | CBCS, CySEC, FCA, FSA, FSC, FSCA, CMA | FCA, FSC, FSCA |
| 🖥️ Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), Exness Trader App, WebTerminal (MT) on desktop/web/mobile. | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), FXTM Trader App, available on desktop and web. |
| 📍 Typical Trader Profile | Suited for cost‑focused traders, scalpers, and high‑volume traders. Strong for experienced and active traders due to low spreads and raw pricing. Flexible leverage appeals to varied strategies. | Good for beginners and intermediate traders due to educational support and account flexibility. Structured account types help match experience level and risk profile. |
| 💰 Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
| 🚀Open an Account | 👉Open Account | 👉Open Account |
Exness vs FXTM Regulation Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| ⭐ Trust Score | 97 | 93 |
| 📅 Year founded | 2008 | 2011 |
| 📊 Publicly Traded | No | No |
| 🇿🇦 Licensed in South Africa | Yes | Yes |
| 🥇 Tier-1 Regulation | 1 | 1 |
| 🥈 Tier-2 Regulation | 2 | 2 |
| 🥉 Tier-3 Regulation | 4 | 1 |
Exness vs FXTM Assets Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📊 Forex | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Number of Forex pairs | 120 | 62 |
| 📊 CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Bonds | No | No |
| 📊 Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 ETFs | No | No |
| 📊 Treasuries | No | No |
| 📊 Indices | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Options | No | No |
| 📊 Futures | No | No |
| 📊 Precious Metals | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Energies | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Individual Shares | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 US Stock Trading | No | Yes |
| 📊 International Stock Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Cryptocurrency CFDs | Yes | No |
| 📊 Physical Crypto | No | No |
| 📊 Total Tradable Instruments | 278 | 10000 |
Exness vs FXTM Fees Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💰 Average Spread for EUR/USD | 0.0 pips | 0.0 pips |
| 💰 Commissions Charged | Yes | Yes |
| 💰 ECN Execution | Yes | Yes |
| 💰 Market Maker Execution | No | No |
| 💰 Inactivity Fee | No | Yes |
| 💰 Currency Conversion Fees | No | Yes |
| 💰 Deposit Fee | No | No |
| 💰 Withdrawal Fee | No | Yes |
Exness vs FXTM Account Types Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📒 Standard Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Cent Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Commission-Free Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 ECN Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| ☪️ Islamic/Swap-Free Account | Yes | Yes |
| 📒 Managed Accounts | No | Yes, MAM |
| 📒 Share Dealing Account | No | No |
Exness vs FXTM Trading Conditions Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📊 Hedging | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Scalping | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Dynamic Leverage | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Beginner Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Professional Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 📊 Copy/Social Trading | Yes | Yes |
Exness vs FXTM Deposit Options Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💳 Bank wire | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 MasterCard | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 PayPal | Yes | No |
| 💳 Skrill | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Neteller | Yes | Yes |
| 💳 Minimum Deposit | $10 | $200 |
Exness vs FXTM Trading Platforms Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💻 Desktop Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 📱 Mobile App | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 Social Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 MetaTrader 4 | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 MetaTrader 5 | Yes | Yes |
| 💻 cTrader | No | No |
| 💻 DupliTrade | No | No |
| 💻 ZuluTrade | No | No |
| 💻 Proprietary Platform | Yes, App | Yes, App |
Exness vs FXTM Analytical Tools Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 📅 Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Social Sentiment | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Trading Central | Yes | No |
| 📈 AutoChartist | No | No |
| 📈 Forex News Sources | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Virtual Private Server (VPS) | Yes | Yes |
| 📈 Trading View | Yes | No |
| 📈 Blog | Yes | Yes |
Exness vs FXTM Educational Resources Comparison
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 🎓 Offers education | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Webinars | No | Yes |
| ℹ️ Beginner training videos | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Advanced training videos | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ Tutorials | Yes | Yes |
| ℹ️ eBooks | No | Yes |
| ℹ️ Glossary | No | Yes |
Exness vs FXTM Forex Majors Offered Compared
| 🔍 Features | | |
| 💱 GBP/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/JPY | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 EUR/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/CHF | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 USD/CAD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 NZD/USD | Yes | Yes |
| 💱 AUD/USD | Yes | Yes |
Overview of Exness
Who Is Exness?
Exness is a global online forex and CFD (Contracts for Difference) broker founded in 2008 and headquartered in Limassol, Cyprus, with additional offices worldwide.
It provides retail and institutional traders with access to a wide range of financial markets, including forex currency pairs, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, metals, energies, stocks, and ETFs via CFDs.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated by top-tier authorities, including FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), FSCA (South Africa), and FSA (Seychelles), depending on entity.
- Segregated client funds are held at reputable banks.
- Offers negative balance protection in many jurisdictions.
- Long operational track record and transparent regulatory disclosures.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Forex: 120+ currency pairs.
- CFDs: Indices, metals, commodities, energies.
- Cryptocurrencies: Multiple crypto CFDs available.
- Stocks & ETFs: CFD access on global shares.
- No direct asset ownership (CFDs only).
Platforms & Tools
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) for desktop, web, and mobile.
- WebTerminal for MT platforms without download.
- Advanced charting, Expert Advisors (EAs), and technical indicators.
- Multi-account view and integrated risk analysis tools.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- Spreads: Ultra-low and competitive; variable based on account type.
- Commissions: Zero on standard accounts; ECN/Raw accounts have transparent commissions.
- Deposit/Withdrawal fees: No direct fees from Exness; third-party bank/wallet fees may apply.
- Currency conversion fees: Applied if trading outside the account currency.
- Swap/overnight fees: Standard for positions held overnight.
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Very low spreads and flexible pricing. | Inactivity and administrative fees can be relatively high. |
| High leverage options in some regions. | Fees can vary by payment method and currency. |
| Fast execution and multiple account types. | Advanced features may be overwhelming for absolute beginners. |
Overview of FXTM
Who is FXTM?
FXTM, also known as ForexTime, is a global forex and CFD broker founded in 2011. It provides trading in forex, commodities, indices, stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies via the MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms.
Regulation & Safety
- Regulated by multiple authorities, including CySEC (Cyprus), FCA (UK), FSCA (South Africa), and others, depending on the region.
- Client fund segregation and compliance with local jurisdiction rules.
- Offers negative balance protection for certain account types.
- Subject to regular audits and compliance reviews under each regulator’s framework.
Tradable Markets & Instruments
- Forex: 50+ currency pairs.
- CFDs: Indices, commodities, metals.
- Cryptocurrencies: Available as CFDs in select regions.
- Shares/Stocks: CFD trading available.
- ETFs: Limited CFD access depending on entity.
Platforms & Tools
- MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are supported on PC, web, and mobile.
- FXTM Trader App for smartphone trading.
- Tools include real-time quotes, advanced charting, and automated trading.
- Educational and research widgets integrated into MT platforms.
Costs, Spreads & Fees
- Spreads: Competitive variable spreads depending on account type (Standard, ECN).
- Commissions: ECN accounts may charge per-lot commission; standard accounts are usually commission-free.
- Deposit fees: Typically free; payment provider charges are possible.
- Withdrawal fees: Free or nominal depending on method and region.
- Overnight/Swap fees: Applied as standard.
Pros and Cons
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
| Strong educational resources and market analysis for traders. | Inactivity and administrative fees can be relatively high. |
| Multiple account types for beginners to advanced. | Spreads on standard accounts can be wider than ECN/Raw pricing. |
| Regulated in major jurisdictions including FSCA. | Margin and leverage conditions vary by regulation and may be restrictive in some regions. |
Conclusion
Exness and FXTM are both reputable forex and CFD brokers serving a global client base, but they differ in strengths and target traders.You might also like: Exness vs IC Markets Exness vs Pepperstone Exness vs XM
Frequently Asked Questions
Which offers better pricing – Exness or FXTM
In terms of pricing, both Exness and FXTM charge zero-pip spreads on major pairs such as EUR/USD, depending on the account type that traders use. Both Exness and FXTM have a $10 / 160 ZAR minimum deposit when South Africans register a trading account. However, Exness charges higher commission fees in addition to withdrawal fees, while FXTM has lower commission charges on trades and there are no fees charged on deposits or withdrawals. Because of this, FXTM offers better pricing.
Which broker offers more security when trading Forex and CFDs?
Both Exness and FXTM are regulated by at least one Tier-1 regulator, with more Tier-2 and Tier-3 regulations. However, Exness has a much higher trust score than FXTM (97 vs 93, respectively). This makes Exness safer to trade with than FXTM.
Which broker offers the superior trading platform?
Both Exness and FXTM offer MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and proprietary mobile applications. However, in terms of usability, features, and overall offering, FXTM offers a superior trading platform than Exness.
Do these brokers both offer MetaTrader?
Yes, both Exness and FXTM offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 on the web, desktop, and mobile devices.
How many Forex pairs can I expect from these brokers?
Exness offers over 120 forex pairs, while FXTM only offers 62 pairs. Overall, FXTM has the larger instrument portfolio with over 1,000 tradable instruments in contrast to Exness’ 278.
Is it safe to trade with Exness?
It is safe for South Africans to trade with Exness. However, traders must note that while Exness is regulated by the FSCA, the broker onboards South African traders through its Seychelles-based entity, which means that traders are not protected if there is a dispute with Exness.
Is it safe to trade with FXTM?
Although FXTM is a trusted broker, South African traders should be aware that it does not provide negative balance protection as a standard. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a technology used by FXTM's security system to provide a safe and private connection between the server and the client throughout all interactions.
Who is Exness?
As one of the world's biggest forex brokers, Exness is a major financial institution. Exness launched in 2008 and by May 2026 had 304,482 active traders and a monthly trading volume of $2.004 trillion. With over $870 million in client withdrawals and $83.3 million in partner rewards paid out in the first quarter of 2026, Exness is one of the largest and most liquid brokers in South Africa.
Who is FXTM?
FXTM, which has been in business since 2011, is supervised by several different regulatory agencies at diverse levels (Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3). FXTM has become the industry standard for developing and frontier market trading. Many new South African traders might consider FXTM. It has a low-deposit Micro Account, a top-notch copy-trading platform, and a wealth of video and textual educational resources.
Is Exness a good broker?
Yes, Exness is a good broker. Exness is advised for traders with some industry experience since this broker does not provide much "how-to" information. You can still join Exness if you are a beginner, but you will have to learn the fundamentals elsewhere because Exness offers limited education.
Is FXTM a good broker?
Yes, FXTM is a good broker. FXTM is a significant CFD broker that, depending on the account, could provide either instant execution or market execution.
Who is the Overall Winner?
Despite its limited tradable assets and limited educational material, Exness is the clear winner in terms of the overall offering, trading and non-trading fees, trading platform, and range of account types.
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