Which broker is better for United States traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For United States traders, choosing a forex broker means navigating strict regulations set by the NFA and CFTC. Both EasyMarkets and Exness are well-known globally but fail to meet US compliance standards. EasyMarkets, with a score of 3.4/5, offers fixed spreads and a simplified trading experience, while Exness (4.8/5) excels in low spreads, high leverage, and vast liquidity. However, neither broker holds a US regulatory license, making them illegal for US residents. This comparison examines why, despite their international popularity, these brokers fall short for American traders. It also highlights the payment methods—Bank Wire, ACH, Credit Card—that many US traders prefer, though these methods are of limited use when the broker itself is not legally accessible. Ultimately, US traders must prioritize NFA/CFTC oversight over any features offered by offshore firms.
| 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 |
When comparing trading costs, Exness typically provides tighter spreads starting at 0.1 pips on its Zero account with a small commission, while EasyMarkets maintains fixed spreads from 1.2 pips without commission. For US traders, these differences are irrelevant because neither broker can legally accept them. In the US, NFA-regulated brokers like OANDA offer variable spreads from 0.5 pips on active trading volumes, but with strict leverage caps of 50:1. Volume impact also varies: Exness rewards high-volume traders with lower costs, but US traders cannot access that reduction due to regulatory barriers. Therefore, the cost advantage of Exness remains academic for American audiences.
| 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 States (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 | ✓ | ✓ |
Both EasyMarkets and Exness offer MetaTrader 4 and 5, which are popular among US traders for their advanced charting, automated trading, and extensive indicators. EasyMarkets also provides a proprietary web platform with deal cancellation features tailored to beginners. Exness adds its own mobile app and WebTerminal. For United States traders, platform choice is secondary to legal access; even if these platforms excel, they cannot be used legally. US-regulated brokers support MT4/MT5 as well, often with added security features. Thus, while these platforms are robust, US residents should seek them through compliant brokers.
| 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 employs an ECN/STP hybrid model with average execution under 0.2 seconds and no requotes. EasyMarkets uses market maker execution with fixed spreads and occasional slippage during news. For US traders, execution quality is secondary to regulatory compliance. Even if Exness offers superior speed, it cannot be legally accessed. Under NFA rules, US brokers must also meet strict execution standards and best execution obligations. Therefore, while Exness has a technical edge, the execution comparison only matters for non-US traders. US residents must prioritize compliant brokers that ensure fair execution under CFTC oversight.
| Safety Factor | EasyMarkets | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | CySEC | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
EasyMarkets is regulated by CySEC (Cyprus), ASIC (Australia), and the FSA (Seychelles). Exness holds licenses from the FCA (UK), CySEC, FSA, and other authorities. Neither broker is registered with the NFA or CFTC, which is mandatory for serving US clients. For United States traders, this regulation gap means zero legal protection under US law. Deposits are not covered by SIPC or FDIC, and disputes cannot be taken to US courts. Any promise of security from offshore regulators pales in comparison to NFA/CFTC oversight. US traders must avoid both brokers and choose only those listed as RFEDs (Retail Foreign Exchange Dealers) by the NFA.
| 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 |
For US traders, deposit and withdrawal methods are a critical pain point. Both EasyMarkets and Exness accept Bank Wire, ACH, and Credit Card transfers, but US banks frequently block transactions to unregulated forex brokers. Bank wires can take 1-5 business days with fees up to $30. ACH transfers may be rejected outright. Credit card deposits are often declined due to regulatory restrictions. Even if a deposit succeeds, withdrawals might be delayed or require lengthy verification. Exness processes withdrawals within 24 hours for e-wallets, but US residents usually cannot use those. In contrast, NFA-regulated brokers offer smooth domestic ACH and wire transfers with clear processing times. For US traders, these payment friction points make EasyMarkets and Exness impractical.
| 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 |
Both EasyMarkets and Exness provide Islamic (swap-free) accounts that comply with Sharia law by waiving rollover interest. EasyMarkets offers swap-free on all accounts, while Exness restricts it based on client country and account type. For United States Muslim traders, however, these accounts are inaccessible because the brokers cannot accept US clients. Even if a US resident somehow opened an account, swap-free status might be revoked after a period of inactivity or frequent trades. US Muslim traders should explore CFTC-regulated brokers, though most do not offer Islamic accounts due to US interest rate constraints. In practice, they may need to consider offshore alternatives at their own risk, but with full awareness of the legal implications.
| 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 provides 24/5 support via live chat, email, and phone, with multilingual agents. Exness offers 24/7 support in multiple languages, including a dedicated UAE line. For United States traders, support hours and languages are less relevant when the broker itself is not legally usable. US-regulated brokers typically offer 24/5 US-based phone support during market hours. Response times for easyMarkets and Exness are generally fast, but any issue arising from regulatory non-compliance cannot be resolved through customer service. US traders should prioritize brokers with NFA oversight for meaningful support.
| 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 United States traders, the choice between EasyMarkets and Exness is a non-starter: neither broker is NFA/CFTC regulated, making them illegal to use within US jurisdiction. Despite Exness's higher global score (4.8/5) and lower spreads, or EasyMarkets's fixed-cost appeal, US residents must prioritize legal compliance above all else. Payment methods like Bank Wire, ACH, and Credit Card are standard, but they offer no benefit when the broker itself fails the first regulatory test. The stronger recommendation is to avoid both and instead choose a US-regulated broker such as FOREX.com or OANDA, which provide tight spreads, local support, and deposit methods fully integrated with the US banking system. Until EasyMarkets or Exness obtain NFA/CFTC licenses, they are not viable for the US market.