Which broker is better for Italy traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.

For Italy traders in 2026, choosing between Exness and XM Group means comparing two top-rated brokers with distinct strengths. Exness holds a 4.8/5 rating and is known for ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips, unlimited leverage (for professionals), and fast execution. XM Group scores 4.7/5 and offers a vast range of platforms, including MetaTrader 4 and 5, plus extensive educational resources. Both brokers accept Italian residents and comply with CONSOB regulations, ensuring a secure trading environment. Italy traders benefit from local payment methods like SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay, making deposits and withdrawals seamless in EUR. Whether you are a day trader in Milan or a long-term investor in Rome, this comparison highlights key differences in spreads, regulation, platforms, and support to help you decide which broker fits your trading style.

| Instrument | Exness | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | XM Group |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | XM Group |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | XM Group |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | XM Group |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $10 | $5 | Exness |
| Inactivity fee | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Italy traders, Exness offers spreads from 0.0 pips on its Raw Spread account, with a commission of $3.50 per lot per side. XM Group's Ultra Low account starts from 0.6 pips with no commission, while its Standard account has spreads from 1.0 pips. For a typical Italy trader executing 10 lots per month on EUR/USD, Exness costs approximately €70 in spreads plus commissions, versus €90 with XM's Ultra Low account. Exness is more cost-effective for high-volume traders, while XM's fixed spreads on standard accounts provide predictability for beginners.
| Account Type | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✓ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| VPS trading | ✓ | ✓ |
| Min deposit | $10 | $5 |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Italy (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:500 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
| Margin call level | 80% | 80% |
| Stop out level | 50% | 50% |
| Asset Class | Exness | XM Group | 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 | ✗ | ✗ | XM Group |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Options | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Futures | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✗ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✗ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fixed spreads | ✗ | ✗ |
| Variable spreads | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and XM Group offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the most popular platforms among Italy traders. XM Group additionally provides its proprietary XM WebTrader and a mobile app with advanced charting tools. Exness focuses on MT4/MT5 with a clean interface and one-click trading, ideal for scalpers. XM's platform selection is broader, including social trading options. For Italy traders using desktop or mobile devices, both brokers ensure stable performance and local language support.
| Factor | Exness | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | XM Group |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Exness |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Dealing desk | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| News trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Exness uses a hybrid execution model combining market maker and STP, offering average execution speeds of under 50 milliseconds. XM Group employs a no-dealing-desk (NDD) model with straight-through processing, ensuring no requotes. For Italy traders executing high-frequency trades, Exness provides faster order fills, while XM's NDD model offers transparency and minimal slippage. Both brokers have strong execution reliability.
| Safety Factor | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | ASIC |
| Reg number | #730729 | #443670 |
| Verify registration | Verify ↗ | Verify ↗ |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Exness is regulated by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while XM Group is regulated by CySEC and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Both brokers comply with CONSOB requirements for operating in Italy, including negative balance protection and leverage limits of 1:30 for retail clients. For Italy traders, this means funds are segregated in EU banks, and compensation schemes (up to €20,000 under ICF) apply. Exness' additional FCA regulation offers extra security, but both are safe choices.
| Payment Method | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Deposit fee | None | None |
| Withdrawal time | 24/7 automated; 98% instant to 24hrs; mobile money often instant; bank transfer 1-3 days | Visa/Mastercard and e-wallets near-instant to 1-2 business days; bank wire several days |
| Min withdrawal | $50 | $50 |
Italy traders can fund their accounts using SEPA bank transfers, Bank Transfer, and PostePay. Exness supports PostePay deposits instantly with no fees, and SEPA transfers typically arrive within 1-2 business days. XM Group also accepts PostePay and SEPA transfers, with minimum deposits starting at €5. Withdrawals at Exness are processed within 24 hours via the same methods, while XM Group processes withdrawals within 1-3 business days. Both brokers charge no internal fees for EUR transactions, making them cost-effective for Italian clients. Exness offers faster withdrawals, while XM's lower minimum deposit is appealing for small traders.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | XM Group |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| Gold swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| Crypto swap-free | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Exness provides swap-free (Islamic) accounts on all account types, including Standard, Raw Spread, and Zero accounts, with no swap charges on overnight positions. XM Group offers Islamic accounts for its Standard and Ultra Low accounts, but requires a 14-day waiting period after account opening to activate swap-free status. Both brokers comply with Sharia law, ensuring no interest is earned or paid. For Italy's Muslim community, Exness is more flexible with immediate activation, while XM's option still meets religious requirements.
| Support Feature | Exness | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✓ | ✗ | Exness |
| 24/5 support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Exness |
Exness offers 24/7 multilingual support via live chat, email, and phone, with Italian-language assistance available. XM Group provides similar 24/5 support (weekday) with Italian-speaking agents and a comprehensive FAQ section. Exness' round-the-clock availability is advantageous for Italy traders trading during Asian or US sessions. XM's support is robust but limited to market hours.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5★ | 4.3★ | Exness |
| Google Play rating | 4.3★ | 4.2★ | Exness |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Mobile deposit/withdrawal | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Resource | Exness | XM Group | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Exness |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Exness |
| Beginner resources | Excellent | Basic | Exness |
Choose Exness if you...
Choose XM Group if you...
For Italy traders in 2026, Exness edges out XM Group with a higher overall rating (4.8 vs 4.7) and superior cost efficiency. Exness offers tighter spreads, faster withdrawals via PostePay, and 24/7 support, making it ideal for active traders. XM Group remains a strong contender with its lower minimum deposit, broader platform selection, and educational resources. Both brokers comply with CONSOB regulations and support SEPA, Bank Transfer, and PostePay in EUR. If you prioritize low costs and fast execution, choose Exness. If you value educational tools and platform variety, XM Group is a solid choice. Ultimately, your decision should align with your trading style and account size.