Which broker is better for Romania traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Romania's trading community is growing rapidly, with more retail traders entering forex and CFD markets. Choosing the right broker is critical for success, and two names stand out: Exness and IG. Exness, with a 4.8/5 score, is known for ultra-low spreads, flexible leverage, and fast withdrawals, making it a favourite among cost-conscious traders. IG, scoring 4.2/5, brings decades of experience, robust regulation, and advanced tools. For Romania traders, both brokers are regulated by ASF Romania, ensuring a secure environment. Local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Credit Card, and Skrill are supported by both, but Exness offers lower minimum deposits and faster processing. This comparison helps you decide which broker aligns with your trading style, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned investor.
| Instrument | Exness | IG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | IG |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | IG |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | IG |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | IG |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 | IG |
For Romania traders, trading costs directly impact profitability. Exness offers spreads from 0.0 pips on raw accounts with a commission of $3 per lot per side. IG's standard spreads start at 0.8 pips on EUR/USD with no commission, but raw spreads can go lower on Pro accounts. Over 100 lots per month, Exness saves approximately $1,600 in spread costs compared to IG. Exness also has no withdrawal fees, while IG charges for some bank transfers. For high-volume Romanian traders, Exness provides a clear cost advantage.
| Account Type | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Romania (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:30 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:30 |
| 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 | IG | 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 | ✗ | 1,700+ | IG |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 and 5, popular among Romania traders for their customizability and automated trading. Exness also provides a proprietary web platform with advanced charting, while IG excels with its web-based platform featuring integrated news, analysis, and trade ideas. IG's platform is ideal for traders who value research, while Exness appeals to those who prefer MT4/5. Mobile apps from both are reliable, with Exness offering one-tap trading and IG providing advanced order types.
| Factor | Exness | IG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | IG |
| 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 provides ultra-fast execution under 0.1 seconds with no requotes on most instruments, ideal for scalping. IG offers fast execution but can experience slippage during volatile markets. For Romania traders using ECN accounts, Exness's execution quality is superior, especially for news trading. IG's execution is reliable but better suited for swing trading.
| Safety Factor | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and IG are regulated by ASF Romania, ensuring compliance with local financial laws. Exness is also regulated by FSA and CySEC, while IG holds FCA and ASIC licenses. For Romania traders, ASF regulation means protection under local investor compensation schemes (up to €20,000 per client). IG's FCA regulation adds an extra layer of security, but Exness's ASF oversight is equally robust. Always verify a broker's registration on ASF's official website before trading.
| Payment Method | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 5 business days |
Romania traders can fund accounts via Bank Transfer, Credit Card (Visa/Mastercard), and Skrill. Exness supports instant deposits with Skrill and Credit Card, with no fees, and Bank Transfers processed within 1-2 days. Minimum deposit is $10 (approx. 45 RON). IG accepts the same methods but requires a minimum of $250 (approx. 1,125 RON) and Bank Transfers take 3-5 days. Exness also offers local RON deposits via Bank Transfer, while IG primarily works in EUR or USD. Withdrawals are free at Exness and processed within 24 hours; IG may charge for bank withdrawals.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | IG |
|---|---|---|
| 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 Romania Muslim traders requiring swap-free accounts, Exness offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Raw accounts with no overnight fees. Simply request via support. IG provides Islamic accounts but with restrictions: only available for certain account types and regions, and Romania traders must contact IG directly to confirm eligibility. Exness's process is more straightforward and widely accessible, making it the preferred choice for Romanian Muslim traders.
| Support Feature | Exness | IG | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✓ | ✗ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Exness |
Exness offers 24/7 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with Romanian language support available. IG provides 24/5 support (Monday to Friday) with English and some European languages, but Romanian is not directly offered. Exness's round-the-clock availability and local language support give it an edge for Romania traders who need immediate assistance.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | IG | 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 | ✗ | ✓ | IG |
| Resource | Exness | IG | 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 IG if you...
For Romania traders, Exness emerges as the superior choice due to its lower costs, flexible leverage, and local payment support including Bank Transfer, Credit Card, and Skrill. Its 4.8/5 score reflects its appeal to the growing retail trading community. IG remains a solid option for advanced traders needing extensive research and FCA regulation, but its higher minimum deposit and slower withdrawals make it less accessible. Both brokers are regulated by ASF Romania, ensuring safety. Ultimately, Exness offers better value for most Romanian traders, especially those starting out or trading high volumes.