Which broker is better for Australia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For experienced traders in Australia seeking ASIC-regulated brokers, the choice between Exness and Forex.com comes down to cost, speed, and local payment options. Exness holds a 4.8/5 rating and stands out with AUD-denominated accounts that accept BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer, and Credit Card deposits without fees. Forex.com, rated 3.4/5, is a long-established broker but has higher spreads and slower withdrawal processing for Australian clients. Both brokers are licensed by ASIC, offering strong investor protection under Australian law. However, Exness edges ahead with its flexible leverage up to 1:2000 for professionals, while Forex.com limits retail clients to 1:30 under ASIC rules. Local traders benefit from Exness's 24/7 customer support with Australian hours and raw spread accounts that reduce trading costs on AUD pairs. This comparison dives into spreads, platforms, regulation, and payment methods to help you decide which broker aligns with your trading style and local requirements.
| Instrument | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Forex.com |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Forex.com |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Forex.com |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Forex.com |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 | Tie |
For Australia traders, trading costs are critical, especially when trading AUD/USD or other pairs. Exness offers significantly lower spreads: from 0.3 pips on Standard accounts and 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts (with a small commission). Forex.com's spreads start from 0.8 pips on its Standard account. On a typical day trade of 1 lot EUR/USD, Exness can save you $30 AUD per trade compared to Forex.com. Volume impact is substantial—scalpers trading 10 lots daily will see hundreds of dollars in cost difference. Exness also charges no withdrawal fees for Australian bank transfers and BPAY, whereas Forex.com may have fees on certain methods. Overall, Exness is the cheaper option for high-volume trading.
| Account Type | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Australia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:50 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:50 |
| 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 | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | Exness |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | Exness |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | Exness |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | ✗ | Forex.com |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✗ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and Forex.com offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus proprietary platforms. For Australia traders, MT4/5 are the top choices due to custom indicators and automated trading. Exness also provides a web-based platform and mobile apps that support BPAY and POLi deposits directly within the app. Forex.com offers TradingView integration and advanced charting tools. However, Exness's mobile platform is slightly faster for order execution, which matters for local day traders. Both platforms support AUD as base currency, so no conversion fees on deposits and withdrawals.
| Factor | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Forex.com |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Exness |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
Exness offers ECN/STP execution with average order execution speed of 0.1 seconds and no requotes. Forex.com uses market execution with speeds around 0.3 seconds. For Australian traders using scalping or automated trading on high-volatility pairs like AUD/JPY, Exness's lower latency and wider liquidity pool (via multiple banks) provide better fills. Forex.com is reliable but slightly slower, which can increase slippage during Asian session news events.
| Safety Factor | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
For Australia traders, regulation by ASIC is paramount. Exness holds an ASIC Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) and is also regulated by CySEC and FCA. Forex.com is also ASIC-licensed (via GAIN Capital) with a long history. Both brokers segregate client funds in Australian trust accounts and offer negative balance protection. However, Exness is rated higher for transparency and customer dispute resolution. Under ASIC rules, retail clients are limited to 1:30 leverage, but Exness allows professional clients (with experience) to access higher leverage. Forex.com strictly follows ASIC's 1:30 cap for all retail clients. Forexperienced traders seeking flexibility, Exness offers a clear regulatory advantage.
| Payment Method | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✗ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days | 1 to 3 business days |
Australian traders have access to four key payment methods at both brokers: BPAY, POLi, Bank Transfer (local EFT), and Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard). Exness processes BPAY and POLi deposits instantly with no fees, same-day withdrawals via POLi, and bank transfers in 1-3 business days. Forex.com also supports these methods but may charge a small fee for international credit card deposits (if using non-AUD cards). Minimum deposit at Exness is $50 AUD; Forex.com requires $100 AUD. For withdrawals, Exness is faster—often within 24 hours for POLi and BPAY. Forex.com may take 3-5 days for bank transfers. Both brokers support AUD accounts, avoiding currency conversion costs. Exness also offers a dedicated Australian bank account for direct transfers.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Muslim traders in Australia seeking Sharia-compliant trading can use swap-free Islamic accounts at both Exness and Forex.com. Exness offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Raw Spread accounts with no swap fees on overnight positions, available to clients in all Australian states. Forex.com provides Islamic accounts on request, but requires a minimum deposit of $500 AUD and may restrict some instruments. Exness has more flexible conditions, including no hidden costs, and supports BPAY and POLi for Islamic account deposits. Both brokers ensure compliance with ASIC's ethical guidelines for Islamic finance.
| Support Feature | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✓ | ✗ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Exness |
Exness provides 24/7 customer support in English with dedicated Australian phone lines and live chat. Forex.com offers support 24/5 via phone and email during Sydney business hours. Exness's support team is rated faster (average 2-minute response) and helps with BPAY and POLi deposit issues. Forex.com's support is reliable but limited on weekends. For Australian traders who trade during non-market hours, Exness's round-the-clock support is a clear advantage.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Exness |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Exness |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Exness | Forex.com | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Exness |
Choose Exness if you...
Choose Forex.com if you...
For Australian traders, Exness is the clear winner overall, scoring 4.8 vs Forex.com's 3.4. It offers lower spreads, faster withdrawals via BPAY and POLi, and better support hours. Forex.com remains a solid choice for beginners who value brand history and TradingView but its higher costs and slower processing make it less competitive. Both are ASIC-regulated, but Exness's flexibility for professional clients and superior local payment integrations give it the edge. If you trade actively in AUD pairs, Exness will save you money and time. Open an Exness account to benefit from these advantages today.