Which is Better: XM or Exness? Comparison for Traders

Choosing between XM and Exness can be challenging, as both are well-known forex brokers offering a wide range of trading instruments, competitive pricing, and strong trading platforms. However, there are key differences that make one broker more suitable than the other, especially for traders in Kenya.

XM is known for its welcome bonuses, educational resources, and broad market access, while Exness stands out for its low spreads, instant withdrawals (including M-Pesa), and strong local regulation under the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) in Kenya. In this comparison, we will break down trading fees, platforms, regulation, payment options, and customer support to help you determine which broker best suits your trading needs.

Company Overview: XM vs. Exness

When comparing XM and Exness, it’s essential to look at their background, regulation, trading focus, and reputation. Both brokers are well-established, but they cater to different trader preferences. Here’s how they compare:

1. XM Overview

Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Cyprus
Regulation:
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC)
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – UK
International Financial Services Commission (IFSC) – Belize
Not directly regulated in Kenya

Main Trading Instruments:

Forex (major, minor, and exotic pairs)
Stocks & Indices (Apple, Tesla, S&P 500, FTSE 100, etc.)
Commodities (Gold, Silver, Oil, Natural Gas, etc.)
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin, etc.)

Key Features:

Offers a $30 no-deposit bonus for new traders.
Multiple account types (Standard, Micro, Ultra-Low, Shares).
Wide range of educational resources (webinars, market research, and tutorials).
No hidden fees on deposits and withdrawals.
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) & MetaTrader 5 (MT5) supported.

XM is a solid choice for beginners who want a broker with educational tools, a welcome bonus, and a variety of trading instruments.

2. Exness Overview

Founded: 2008
Headquarters: Cyprus
Regulation:
Capital Markets Authority (CMA) – Kenya
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) – UK
Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) – South Africa
Seychelles Financial Services Authority (FSA)

Main Trading Instruments:

Forex (major, minor, and exotic pairs)
Stocks & Indices (Tesla, Amazon, NASDAQ, S&P 500, etc.)
Commodities (Gold, Silver, Oil, etc.)
Cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, and more)

Key Features:

Regulated in Kenya by the CMA, offering strong local protection.
Ultra-low spreads (starting from 0.0 pips).
Instant withdrawals (including M-Pesa, bank transfers, and crypto).
No commissions on Standard accounts.
Supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and Exness Terminal.
24/7 customer support, including Swahili assistance.

Exness is ideal for traders in Kenya who want lower spreads, instant withdrawals, and strong regulation under the CMA.

Trading Instruments & Market Availability

XM:

Forex (major, minor, exotic pairs).
Stocks & indices (Apple, Tesla, S&P 500, FTSE 100).
Commodities (Gold, Silver, Oil).
Cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, XRP, LTC).

Exness:

Forex (major, minor, exotic pairs).
Stocks & indices (Tesla, Amazon, NASDAQ, S&P 500).
Commodities (Gold, Silver, Oil).
Cryptocurrencies (BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, and more).

Trading Fees & Spreads

Trading Instruments & Market Availability

XM Fees:

Spreads from 1.0 pips on Standard accounts.
Low commissions on Ultra-Low accounts.
No deposit and withdrawal fees.

Exness Fees:

Spreads from 0.0 pips on Raw Spread accounts.
Zero commissions on Standard accounts.
No hidden fees on deposits & withdrawals.

Regulation & Security

XM Regulation:

Regulated by CySEC, ASIC, FCA, IFSC (Not licensed in Kenya).

Exness Regulation:

CMA (Kenya), FCA (UK), CySEC (Europe), FSCA (South Africa), FSA (Seychelles).

Payment Methods & Withdrawals (Kenya-Specific)

XM Payment Options:

Bank transfers, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller, PayPal), crypto.
No M-Pesa support.
Withdrawals take 1-3 business days.

Exness Payment Options:

M-Pesa, bank transfers, e-wallets (Skrill, Neteller), and crypto.
Instant withdrawals, even on weekends.
No withdrawal fees.

Trading Platforms & User Experience

XM Platforms:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) & MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
Mobile trading apps for Android & iOS.

Exness Platforms:

MetaTrader 4 (MT4) & MetaTrader 5 (MT5).
WebTrader & Exness Terminal for browser-based trading.
Mobile trading apps for Android & iOS.

Customer Support & User Experience

XM Support:

24/5 customer support via live chat, email, and phone.
Multilingual support (No Swahili option).

Exness Support:

24/7 customer support via live chat, email, and phone.
Supports multiple languages, including Swahili & English for Kenyan traders.

Bonuses & Promotions

XM Bonuses:

$30 no-deposit bonus for new traders.
Deposit bonuses up to 50%.
Loyalty program with trading rewards.

Exness Bonuses:

No traditional bonuses, but better trading conditions (lower fees & instant withdrawals).

Which Broker is Better for Kenyan Traders?

Choose Exness if you want:

A regulated and secure broker in Kenya (CMA licensed).
Lower trading fees and tighter spreads.
Instant withdrawals, including M-Pesa support.
Advanced trading platforms (MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal).
24/7 customer support, including Swahili assistance.

Choose XM if you want:

Welcome bonuses and deposit rewards.
A broker with global presence and strong educational resources.
A long-standing reputation in the forex market.

Comparison: Which Broker is Better?

Feature	XM	Exness
Founded	2009	2008
Regulation	CySEC, FCA, ASIC, IFSC (Not regulated in Kenya)	CMA (Kenya), FCA, CySEC, FSCA, FSA
Trading Instruments	Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto	Forex, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto
Trading Fees	Moderate spreads, low commission	Ultra-low spreads, no commissions (Standard accounts)
Deposit & Withdrawal	Bank Transfers, E-Wallets, Crypto (No M-Pesa)	M-Pesa, Bank Transfers, Crypto, Instant Withdrawals
Trading Platforms	MT4, MT5	MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal
Leverage	Up to 1:888 (regulated regions only)	Up to 1:Unlimited (for certain account types)
Security & Regulation	Global regulation, but not CMA licensed	CMA licensed (Kenya), better security for local traders
Customer Support	24/5 (No Swahili)	24/7, including Swahili

Exness is the better choice for Kenyan traders due to CMA regulation, instant withdrawals, lower fees, and M-Pesa support. XM is better suited for beginners who prefer welcome bonuses and educational tools.

Conclusion

When comparing XM and Exness, the best choice depends on your trading needs. XM is ideal for beginners, offering welcome bonuses, educational resources, and a variety of trading instruments. However, Exness is the better choice for most Kenyan traders, thanks to CMA regulation, lower trading fees, ultra-low spreads, instant withdrawals (including M-Pesa), and 24/7 customer support in Swahili.