Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
CFI vs Exness
What sets them apart
| Compare |  CFI |  Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0Lower | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto | Stocks, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, FCA | FCA, CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA |
| Investor protection | EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | No deposit fees | no deposit or withdrawal fee |
| Platforms | MT5, TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66% | Not confirmed |
| Maximum retail leverage | Not confirmed | 1:Unlimited |
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Key differences
- CFI scores higher overall: 9.6 vs 9.4.
- Regulators: only CFI offers Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission.
- Regulators: only Exness offers CySEC, FSA Seychelles, FSCA.
- Founded is lower at CFI: 1998 vs 2008.
- Exness is licensed in 2 more countries.
- Minimum deposit is lower at CFI: $0 vs $10.
- Markets: only CFI offers ETFs.
- Markets: only Exness offers Metals.
- Platforms: only CFI offers TradingView, CFI Multi Asset, CFI Trading App.
- Platforms: only Exness offers MT4, Exness Terminal, Exness Trade App.
Our verdict on each
CFI
CFI suits traders who want one account covering stocks, etfs and forex on a commission-free model commission free, with a minimum deposit of $0 and a Cyprus entity licensed by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA. Note that 66% of retail accounts lose money, and protection under the EU scheme is limited.
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 | CFI | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 9.3 |
| Offer | 9.6 | 9.6 |
| Trust | 9.4 | 9.5Higher |
Where they rank in our lists
| Ranking | CFI | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 34 of 490 | 45 of 490 |
| Forex brokers | 12 of 147 | 19 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 10 of 145 | 17 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 11 of 122 | 15 of 122 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | CFI | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | ||
| United Kingdom | ||
| Seychelles | Not confirmed | |
| South Africa | Not confirmed | FSCA 51024 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | CFI | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Metals | No | Yes |
Sources behind this comparison
CFI
- media.cfifinancial.com: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- play.google.com: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- dailyforex.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forex.wikibit.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
- investinglive.com: 1 fact, 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 | CFI | Exness |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile app | Not confirmed |
| Pricing model | Commission free | Commission free, Low feesCovers more |
| Audience | Not confirmed | Beginners, Day traders |
| Legal entity | Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd | Exness (SC) Ltd |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Cyprus |
| Founded | 1998Lower | 2008 |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | CFI | Exness | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | $0below the median | $10at the median | $10 |
| Stock trade fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Inactivity fee | Not confirmed | $0at the median | $0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 66%below the median | Not confirmed | 70.375% |
Median across 99 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
CFI
Pros
- No minimum deposit, at $0, and No deposit fees, so funding does not cost a fee and the account can open at any size.
- Regulated on both sides of Europe: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA, with the Cyprus entity named as Credit Financier Invest (CFI) Ltd.
- A single account covers stocks, etfs and forex rather than forcing separate apps per asset class.
Cons
- Protection caps out at EU ICS up to EUR 20,000 on the Cyprus entity, so balances above that sit outside the scheme.
- 66% of retail accounts lose money, which is the risk that matters most for anyone sizing a position.
- Leverage sits alongside shares and ETFs in stocks, etfs and forex, so a single account mixes instruments with very different risk levels.
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
CFI
Who it suits
- People who want stocks, etfs and forex held in one place instead of several broker accounts.
- Traders who prefer the commission-free model commission free and a minimum deposit of $0 over a larger entry threshold.
- Savers who want a Cyprus or UK regulated option, given Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission and FCA and the Cyprus licence 179/12.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone wanting a wider asset list, since stocks, etfs and forex runs to futures as well and CFI's list is stocks, etfs and forex.
- EU traders who want a rival with a low entry point, such as XTB at €0.
- Traders put off by losses in the retail book, where 66% lose money and the median here is 70.15%.
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
CFI
What is the minimum deposit to open a CFI account?+
The minimum deposit is $0, so an account can be opened at any size and a first deposit does not have to clear a threshold. For comparison, Vantage lists $5 and XTB €0. The median minimum across the brands ranked is €4.64, and the highest reaches €26,308.87. CFI places 1 of 213 on that measure.
Does CFI charge commission on trades?+
CFI trades on a commission-free model, commission free, so positions are opened without a per-trade commission charge. The cost of a trade therefore sits in the spread and the market rather than in a commission line. Commission-free models are common in the field, appearing for 69.8% of the brands compared. Low-fee models sit alongside them at 40.5%.
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.