Choosing between forex brokers has never been more consequential. With trading costs, leverage structures, and platform capabilities varying significantly from one broker to the next, picking the wrong one can erode returns before a single position has had time to develop. Two brokers that regularly come up in comparisons for active retail traders are TIOmarkets and Exness. Both serve a global audience, both offer access to forex CFDs and other asset classes, and both compete on cost. But the way they are structured is meaningfully different.
This comparison covers fees, leverage, platforms, and key structural differences to help traders make an informed decision in 2026.
Company and Regulatory Overview
Both brokers operate in the offshore segment for a portion of their business, which gives them more flexibility on leverage than onshore-regulated brokers but also means the level of regulatory protection varies depending on which entity a client falls under.
Account Types and Fees
TIOmarkets offers four live account types: Standard, Raw, VIP Black, and Nano.
The Standard account has spreads from 1.1 pips and zero commission, with a minimum deposit of $20. The Raw account offers spreads from 0.0 pips with a $6 commission per round turn lot and a $250 minimum deposit. The VIP Black account sits in the middle ground: spreads from 0.3 pips, zero commission, and a $1,000 minimum deposit. The Nano account, available on MT5 only, has spreads from 0.6 pips, a $6 commission per round turn lot, and a minimum lot size of 0.001 lots, making it suited to traders who want very precise position sizing at low capital levels.
Commission on TIOmarkets’ commission-bearing accounts is charged in full when the position is opened and covers both the opening and the closing of the trade.
Exness takes a different approach. Based on the data available, the standard forex account shows $0 commission per lot per side on major pairs, with average spreads of around 0.8 pips on EURUSD, 1.0 pips on GBPUSD, and 1.0 pips on USDJPY. These are quoted as yesterday’s averages and are floating, meaning they can widen during lower liquidity conditions.
For traders choosing between the two purely on spread cost, Exness shows tighter average spreads on standard pairs with no commission. TIOmarkets’ Raw account can reach 0.0 pips but adds a $6 round turn commission. At 1.0 standard lot, the Raw account’s effective cost is the spread plus $6. At lower lot sizes, the commission scales proportionally: $0.60 at 0.1 lots, $0.06 at 0.01 lots.
Leverage
Both brokers offer high leverage, with structural differences in how it is applied.
TIOmarkets’ Standard account on MT5 offers leverage up to unlimited, using a dynamic margin structure that scales with account equity. At equity below $1,000, margin requirements are effectively zero. As equity grows, required margin increases through defined tiers, reaching 0.5% margin (equivalent to 1:200 leverage) at equity above $20,000. News event and weekend restrictions apply, and EA trading is not compatible with the unlimited leverage feature.
Other TIOmarkets accounts (Raw, VIP Black, Nano) offer leverage up to 1:500 on request.
Exness offers leverage up to 1:2000 on major forex pairs for accounts under a 0.05% margin requirement, based on the data provided. Like TIOmarkets, margin requirements adjust dynamically based on leverage, and the leverage available may vary by account and jurisdiction.
For most retail traders, the practical difference between 1:500, 1:2000, and unlimited leverage is less significant than it might appear, since responsible position sizing typically operates well below any of these ceilings. The more relevant question is how margin requirements behave as positions and equity grow.
Swap and Overnight Financing
Both brokers apply swaps daily, with a Wednesday triple swap to account for the weekend settlement period.
TIOmarkets applies swaps at 22:00 GMT daily. The Wednesday triple swap is the standard convention for most forex pairs, though the triple swap day can vary by instrument. Current rates are available inside the MT4 or MT5 platform.
Exness applies a Wednesday triple swap across all forex pairs, with one notable exception: USDCAD has its triple swap applied on Thursday rather than Wednesday. Swap values are updated daily on the Exness platform.
Both brokers offer swap-free Islamic account options. On Exness, accounts are automatically swap-free for residents of Islamic countries. On TIOmarkets, the Islamic account is available on request; traders should contact TIOmarkets directly for eligibility requirements.
Platforms
This is where the two brokers diverge most clearly.
TIOmarkets is built around MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. MT4 offers nine timeframes, 30 built-in indicators, four pending order types, and supports Expert Advisors for automated trading. MT5 extends this significantly: 21 timeframes, 38 built-in indicators, 44 graphical objects, six order types, three order fill policies, a built-in economic calendar, and multi-threaded strategy testing with real tick data. EA execution on both platforms is desktop only. Web and mobile versions support order entry and monitoring but not automated trading.
Exness offers MT5, a proprietary mobile and web app, and TradingView-integrated charting. The Exness app includes over 100 built-in indicators, 50 drawing tools, an economic calendar, and in-app account management. Notably, automated trading (EA execution) is not available on the Exness mobile or web app, which mirrors TIOmarkets’ approach. MT5 on desktop supports automated trading on both platforms.
The practical difference is that Exness provides a more polished proprietary app experience with TradingView integration and in-app live chat, while TIOmarkets focuses exclusively on the MetaTrader ecosystem. For traders already familiar with MT4 or MT5, TIOmarkets may feel more consistent. For traders who prefer a more integrated mobile-first experience, the Exness app offers more built-in tools.
TIOmarkets supports both MT4 and MT5 across Standard, Raw, and VIP Black accounts, giving traders the choice of platform. Exness has moved to MT5 as its primary platform.
Asset Coverage
Both brokers offer access to forex, indices, stocks, commodities, and cryptocurrencies from a single account. TIOmarkets lists 70+ forex pairs, 170+ stocks, 7 commodity CFDs, 25+ crypto CFDs, and a range of major index CFDs. Exness covers similar categories across forex, crypto, indices, stocks, and commodities, though exact instrument counts vary by account type and region.
Key Differences at a Glance
The fundamental difference between the two brokers comes down to structure and focus. TIOmarkets provides a multi-account ecosystem built entirely on MetaTrader, with a clear fee structure across four account types and a low minimum deposit entry point at $20. The Raw account is designed for cost-conscious traders at higher volume, while the Standard account offers simplicity at low cost.
Exness competes on spread stability and a zero-commission model on its standard offering, with a proprietary app that extends beyond what MetaTrader alone provides. The automatic swap-free feature for Islamic country residents removes friction for that segment.
Neither broker is objectively better for every trader. The choice depends on whether platform depth (MT4 plus MT5 at TIOmarkets) or a proprietary app experience (Exness) matters more, and whether a zero-commission wider spread or a tighter spread with fixed commission produces lower total cost at your typical lot size.
Conclusion
For traders who want the full MetaTrader ecosystem, multiple account tiers, and a $20 entry point, TIOmarkets offers a well-structured and transparent fee environment. For traders who prioritise a modern mobile app, TradingView integration, and automatic swap-free accounts, Exness provides a compelling alternative.
Running the numbers on your actual trading volume, holding period, and typical lot size before choosing is the most reliable way to determine which broker’s cost structure works in your favour.
