Which broker is better for China traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For China traders seeking international exposure, Exness and Forex.com are two popular offshore forex brokers. While China’s CSRC strictly prohibits domestic forex trading, many Chinese residents turn to these regulated international brokers. Exness (rated 4.8/5) is widely favored for its low spreads, flexible deposits including USDT, and high volume capacity. Forex.com (3.4/5) offers strong regulation from authorities like the FCA and CFTC, but its payment options are less friendly for China. Both brokers support MT4/MT5 and provide global market access, but Exness’s local payment solutions and cost efficiency make it a top choice for Chinese traders. This comparison covers spreads, platforms, deposits, and regulation to help you decide.
| 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 |
Spread costs are critical for China traders, especially those trading high volumes. Exness offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on EUR/USD with a small commission, while Forex.com standard accounts start around 1.0 pip. For scalpers and day traders, Exness is significantly cheaper. On a 10-lot trade, Exness saves you roughly $20 per round turn compared to Forex.com. Forex.com does offer lower costs on its Raw account, but it is only available in select jurisdictions. Overall, Exness provides more cost-effective trading for active China traders.
| 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 |
|---|---|---|
| China (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 brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are essential for China traders accustomed to these platforms. Exness also provides a user-friendly WebTerminal and mobile apps with full functionality. Forex.com offers its own proprietary platform alongside MT4, which may appeal to traders wanting advanced charting. However, for Chinese users who rely heavily on custom indicators and Expert Advisors, Exness’s robust MT4/MT5 support is more reliable. Exness’s mobile apps also support faster order execution, a plus for traders on the go.
| 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 uses a no-dealing desk (NDD) execution model with ECN technology, resulting in fast order execution and minimal slippage. Forex.com also offers competitive execution but has occasional requotes during volatile markets. Exness is known for stable execution even with scalping and high-frequency trading, which appeals to active China traders.
| Safety Factor | Exness | Forex.com |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Exness is regulated by top-tier authorities including the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles). Forex.com is regulated by the FCA and CFTC/NFA in the US, giving it strong oversight. However, for China traders, both brokers operate offshore and are not regulated by the CSRC. This means no local investor protection, but Exness’s multiple tier-1 licenses provide a higher safety net. Forex.com’s US regulation restricts leverage for international clients (maximum 50:1), while Exness offers up to 1:2000, which may be attractive to Chinese traders.
| 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 |
Deposits and withdrawals are a key differentiator for China traders. Exness supports USDT (TRC20 and ERC20) with instant, fee-free deposits, plus international bank transfers. This makes it easy to fund accounts without currency conversion. Forex.com only accepts bank wires and credit cards, which can be slow (2-5 days) and involve high international transfer fees. Exness also has a low minimum deposit of $10, while Forex.com requires $100. For withdrawals, Exness processes most requests within 24 hours, while Forex.com takes 1-3 business days. USDT deposits give Exness a clear advantage for Chinese users.
| 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 |
Exness offers swap-free (Islamic) accounts on all account types without extra conditions, making it ideal for Muslim traders in China. Forex.com also provides Islamic accounts, but they are limited to specific account types and require a request form; some conditions like no simultaneous hedging may apply. Exness’s policy is more straightforward and widely available. For Chinese Muslim traders seeking Sharia-compliance, Exness is the better choice.
| 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 live chat support in multiple languages, including Mandarin Chinese. Forex.com offers 24/5 support with limited Chinese-speaking agents. Exness’s round-the-clock availability is crucial for Chinese traders operating in different time zones. Both brokers have extensive FAQ sections, but Exness’s response times are faster based on user reviews.
| 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 China traders, Exness is the definitive winner. It offers lower spreads, flexible USDT deposits, 24/7 Chinese support, and Islamic accounts with no extra hassle. Forex.com is a reputable broker but fails to match Exness in cost efficiency and local payment options. While both operate offshore and outside CSRC oversight, Exness provides a more trader-friendly experience for Chinese residents. If you trade forex from China, Exness (4.8/5) should be your first choice.