Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
AvaTrade vs Exness
Where AvaTrade and Exness differ
| Compare | AvaTrade ReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100 | $10Lower |
| Inactivity fee | $50 | $0Lower |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Options, Crypto, Bonds | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit or withdrawal fees | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Investor protection | Not confirmed | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:Unlimited |
Same on both: Stock trade fee ($0).
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Key differences
- Exness scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Minimum deposit is lower at Exness: $10 vs $100.
- Inactivity fee is lower at Exness: $0 vs $50.
- Markets: only AvaTrade offers ETFs, Options, Bonds.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
- Platforms: only AvaTrade offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, AvaTradeGO.
- Platforms: only Exness offers MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal.
- Pricing model: only Exness offers Low fees.
Our verdict on each
AvaTrade
AvaTrade is a commission-free CFD and forex broker for traders who want no deposit or withdrawal charges and free stock dealing, and who can start at a minimum deposit of $100. The catch is an inactivity fee of $50 on dormant accounts, so this suits active traders rather than occasional investors.
Exness
Exness suits beginners and day traders who want to place stock trades without a dealing charge, with a stock trade fee of $0 and an inactivity fee of $0. Regulators listed are the FCA, CySEC, the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA, with FSCS up to GBP 85,000 stated for UK clients.
Score breakdown
| Area | AvaTrade | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.7Stock dealing costs $0 with no deposit or withdrawal fees, offset by an inactivity fee of $50. | 9.3Higher |
| Offer | 9.8Higher | 9.6 |
| Trust | Not confirmed | 9.5 |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | AvaTrade | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 89 of 471 | 54 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 40 of 147 | 22 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 38 of 145 | 20 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 31 of 122 | 17 of 122 |
Sources behind this comparison
AvaTrade
- forexsuggest.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- tradingcritique.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Exness
- brokerchampion.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- brokeranalysis.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- e-trading.cn.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- exness.org: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- newyorkcityservers.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Every fact side by side
| Fact | AvaTrade | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app, Copy trading | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | Not confirmed | 2008 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | AvaTrade | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $100above the median | $10below the median | $25 |
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | $50highest quarter | $0at the median | $0 |
Median across 134 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
AvaTrade
Pros
- Stock dealing is free, with a stock trade fee of $0
- No deposit or withdrawal fees, so funding and getting money out cost nothing
- A demo account, a mobile app and copy trading are all offered
Cons
- Dormant accounts attract an inactivity fee of $50
- The minimum deposit of $100 is higher than the site median of €4.64
- Copy trading sits well below the site average of 9.6%
Exness
Pros
- A $0 stock trade fee, with the pricing model read as commission-free and low-fee.
- An inactivity fee of $0, so a dormant balance is not billed.
- Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge, so moving money costs nothing.
Cons
- Retail leverage is listed at 1:Unlimited, and 70.15% of retail accounts on this site lose money.
- Regulators listed include the FSA Seychelles and the FSCA alongside the FCA and CySEC, so the entity behind an account can differ by market.
- The market list, stocks, forex and cfds, stops short of ETFs and futures, so share investors wanting those should look elsewhere.
Who each suits
AvaTrade
Who it suits
- Traders who keep an account active and want free deposits and withdrawals
- Anyone who wants to trade forex, CFDs, options and crypto in one place
- Copy traders who want to follow other people's positions as well as run their own
Who should look elsewhere
- Investors who need a tax-sheltered investment account
- Anyone who would leave a balance sitting untouched for long periods
- CFI or Vantage suit people who want a lower starting deposit
Exness
Who it suits
- Beginners and day traders, the audiences the brand names.
- Traders who want a $0 stock trade fee and an inactivity fee of $0 on the same account.
- Desktop and mobile users who want to trade across MT4, MT5 and Exness Terminal.
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, where the minimum deposit is $0.
- Vantage, with a minimum deposit of $5.
- eToro, which also covers ETFs and futures beyond the markets listed here.
Questions about each
AvaTrade
What does it cost to trade stocks at AvaTrade?+
Stock dealing carries a stock trade fee of $0, and pricing is commission-free, so there is no separate dealing commission layered on top. Other costs are thinner too: funding an account carries no deposit fee.
What is the smallest amount needed to open an account?+
The minimum deposit is $100. That sits above the site median of €4.64 and above the lower quartile of €0, so it is a higher starting bar than many brokers on the site.
Exness
What does Exness charge to buy a stock?+
Share dealing runs at a stock trade fee of $0, and the pricing model is listed as commission-free and low-fee. On this site's stock trade fee ranking Exness sits at 1 of 161, so the per-trade cost sits at the cheap end of the brands compared. Deposits and withdrawals carry no charge either.
Does Exness charge an inactivity fee?+
The inactivity fee is $0, so a dormant account is not billed for sitting still. Exness ranks 1 of 56 on this measure, at the top of the table of brands compared. Some rivals charge for unused accounts, so this saves money for anyone who opens an account and leaves it quiet for a while.
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