Which broker is better for United Kingdom traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Choosing between EasyMarkets and Exness as a United Kingdom trader requires careful consideration of spreads, regulation, and payment convenience. EasyMarkets, rated 3.4/5, is an FCA-regulated broker that has served UK clients since 2001, offering fixed spreads and a proprietary web platform. Exness, rated 4.8/5, also holds FCA authorisation and has grown rapidly, known for its variable spreads, ultra-fast execution, and multi-asset coverage. Both brokers accept GBP deposits and support local payment methods like Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments. However, Exness delivers significantly better trading conditions for most UK retail and professional traders, with lower costs, faster withdrawals, and a more extensive product range. This comparison examines key factors relevant to the United Kingdom market to help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, whether you prioritise fixed costs or variable spreads with tighter pricing.
| Instrument | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Exness |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Exness |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Exness |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Exness |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 | Exness |
For UK traders, trading costs are a decisive factor. EasyMarkets charges fixed spreads on major forex pairs; for example, GBP/USD spreads start at around 1.2 pips, while EUR/USD is typically 0.9 pips. Exness offers variable spreads that can dip as low as 0.1 pips on its Zero account (with a small commission) and 0.3 pips on Standard accounts (commission-free). A UK trader executing 10 standard lots per month on EUR/USD would pay approximately £900 in spreads with EasyMarkets versus roughly £100–300 with Exness, depending on account type. Exness also has lower swap rates, which benefits position traders. For high-volume traders, Exness is clearly more cost-effective. Additionally, Exness does not charge deposit fees, while EasyMarkets may incur intermediary bank charges on larger wire transfers.
| Account Type | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $25 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:2000 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:2000 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Asset Class | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | EasyMarkets |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | EasyMarkets |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | EasyMarkets |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Exness |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✗ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✗ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets provides its own web-based platform and mobile app, which are user-friendly with built-in risk management tools like deal cancellation and guaranteed stop-loss. It also offers MetaTrader 4 and 5 for traders who prefer advanced charting. Exness primarily supports MetaTrader 4 and 5, plus its WebTerminal for quick access. For UK traders, Exness’s MT4/MT5 integration is stronger, with faster execution and more custom indicators. EasyMarkets’ proprietary platform is simpler but lacks advanced charting. Both offer demo accounts, but Exness allows unlimited demo use, which is beneficial for UK beginners. Overall, Exness suits traders who need powerful analysis tools, while EasyMarkets is better for those who value simplicity and built-in protection.
| Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Exness |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | EasyMarkets |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
Exness uses a no-dealing-desk (NDD) STP/ECN model, ensuring direct market access and fast execution with minimal requotes. Average execution speed is under 0.1 seconds, which is critical for UK scalpers and algorithmic traders. EasyMarkets operates as a market maker, executing trades internally with fixed spreads and guaranteed stop-losses, but execution can be slower during high volatility. Exness also offers negative balance protection and zero slippage policies on certain accounts. For UK traders prioritising speed and transparency, Exness is superior.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers are fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, ensuring client fund segregation, negative balance protection, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) and Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per client. EasyMarkets operates under FCA reference number 468274 (as Easy Forex Trading Ltd), while Exness (UK) Ltd holds FCA reference number 730729. This means UK traders enjoy the highest level of regulatory protection with either broker. However, Exness also holds additional licences from CySEC and the FSA, providing further oversight for international clients. For UK residents specifically, both are safe choices, but Exness’s operational transparency and regular audit reports offer extra confidence.
| Payment Method | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | Cards 1-2 business days; e-wallets instant-1 business day; bank wire 3-10 business days; overall back-office processing within 1 business day (24h) | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days |
United Kingdom traders can fund accounts using Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments at both brokers. Faster Payments is especially convenient for instant GBP deposits without fees. EasyMarkets processes withdrawals typically within 1–2 business days for bank transfers and within 24 hours for e-wallets. Exness offers faster processing: Skrill and PayPal withdrawals are often completed in under 24 hours, and bank transfers via Faster Payments are also rapid. Both brokers do not charge internal deposit fees, but third-party bank charges may apply. EasyMarkets has a minimum deposit of £100, while Exness has a minimum of £10 (or equivalent) for most payment methods, making Exness more accessible for UK beginners. Additionally, Exness supports multi-currency accounts (GBP, EUR, USD), while EasyMarkets primarily operates in GBP for UK clients.
| Islamic Account Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
For Muslim traders in the United Kingdom, both EasyMarkets and Exness offer swap-free Islamic accounts that comply with Sharia law. EasyMarkets provides an automatic swap-free status upon request, applicable to all account types. Exness allows clients to request swap-free accounts after account verification; the process is straightforward but may require supporting documentation. Exness also waives swap fees on all instruments, not just major pairs, which is beneficial for UK traders who diversify into indices or commodities. EasyMarkets’ Islamic account has no extra conditions, while Exness may restrict swap-free to certain account types (e.g., Standard) and might charge administrative fees if held for extended periods. Overall, both cater well to UK Muslim traders, but Exness offers broader instrument coverage without swap charges.
| Support Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✓ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | EasyMarkets |
EasyMarkets offers 24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone, with UK-based agents available during London trading hours. Exness provides 24/7 support in multiple languages, including English, with faster response times on live chat. For UK traders, Exness’s 24/7 support is more convenient for out-of-hours queries, especially given the volatility of forex markets. EasyMarkets also has a comprehensive FAQ section and personalised account managers for professional clients. Overall, Exness edges ahead in responsiveness and availability.
| Mobile Feature | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | EasyMarkets |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | EasyMarkets | Exness | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | ✗ | EasyMarkets |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | EasyMarkets |
Choose EasyMarkets if you...
Choose Exness if you...
For the majority of United Kingdom traders, Exness is the superior choice. Its FCA regulation, combined with lower variable spreads, faster execution, and flexible payment methods (including Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments), makes it ideal for both retail and professional traders. Exness’s 4.8/5 rating reflects strong client satisfaction and transparent operations. EasyMarkets (3.4/5) remains a viable option for UK traders who prefer fixed spreads, built-in risk management, and a simpler platform, but its higher costs and market maker model limit its appeal. Ultimately, if you prioritise cost efficiency and speed, go with Exness; if you value predictability and ease of use, EasyMarkets may suit you, but be prepared for wider spreads and slower execution.