Exness

Regulatory Overview: Exness is regulated by multiple international authorities, including:

• Capital Markets Authority (CMA) of Kenya – Exness (KE) Limited (License No. 162)
• Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of the United Kingdom – Exness (UK) Ltd (Firm No. 730729)
• Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) – Exness (Cy) Ltd (Licence No. 178/12)
• Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) of South Africa – Exness ZA (Pty) Ltd (FSP No. 51024)
• Financial Services Authority (FSA) of Seychelles – Exness (SC) Ltd (Licence No. SD025)
• Financial Services Commission (FSC) of Mauritius – Exness (MU) Ltd (Licence No. GB20025294)

The CMA licence confirms Exness (KE) Limited is authorised to operate as a non‑dealing online foreign exchange broker in Kenya. This provides local regulatory oversight including fund segregation, capital requirements, and compliance audits—features not always available with offshore-only brokers.

Regulation for Kenyan Traders: Exness is fully localised in Kenya via Exness (KE) Limited. The CMA authorisation means clients benefit from onshore oversight, investor protection standards, and legal recourse under Kenyan financial law. It’s one of only a handful of brokers in Kenya regulated by the CMA.

Client Protection Measures: Through the CMA licence, Kenyan traders are assured of:

• Segregation of Funds: Client deposits are held separately from Exness’s operational capital under Kenyan banks.
• Negative Balance Protection: Clients cannot lose more than their deposited funds, even in volatile market conditions.
• Regulatory Oversight: Exness (KE) Limited must comply with CMA’s reporting requirements, AML/KYC protocols, and capital adequacy standards.

Although Exness enjoys additional licences globally (FCA, CySEC, FSCA), Kenyan clients are specifically served under the CMA‑regulated Exness (KE) entity. This provides strong local regulation and investor protection for traders in Kenya.

Kenyan traders registered under the CMA‑regulated Exness (KE) Limited can trade CFDs across a wide range of over 200 instruments, including forex, commodities, indices, stocks, cryptocurrencies, ETFs, FX options and more. Local regulation supports maximum leverage of up to 1:400 under standard conditions.

• Forex (up to 1:400): Over 100 currency pairs are available, covering majors, minors, and exotic pairs. Leverage is capped at 1:400 for Kenyan clients on CMA‑regulated accounts.
• Commodities (gold, oil, natural gas, soft commodities): Spot CFDs available with fixed margin requirements; leverage availability may vary.
• Indices (e.g. US500, FTSE 100, JPN225): Major index CFDs accessible with leverage up to 1:400 during standard trading hours.
• Shares (US, UK, EU): Trade individual stock CFDs with leverage set by Exness and subject to CMA rules.
• Cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, Litecoin and others; leveraged trades may be available but some digital instruments may not qualify for unlimited leverage.
• ETFs, Bonds & FX Options: Available where offered; leverage varies by instrument and liquidity.

Related Notes: During major economic events or on weekends, margin requirements automatically rise and the maximum available leverage may reduce (e.g. capped at 1:200 during high‑volatility periods). This is part of Exness’s risk control framework applied specifically to accounts under the Kenyan licence.

While unlimited leverage is an option for qualifying offshore clients, Kenyan traders are bound by a regulated maximum of 1:400. Higher equity, exotic instruments, or certain assets may carry lower default leverage. Always consult your Personal Area leverage settings before trading.

We found the account opening and verification process at Exness easy. Our account was verified within 48 hours, which is longer than average, but we were able to make a deposit and start trading while we waited.

Exness offers five main live account types under its Kenyan subsidiary: Standard Cent, Standard, Raw Spread, Zero, and Pro. All are accessible via Kenya Shilling (KES) base currency, supported on MT4 and MT5 platforms as well as the Exness Trade app.

Standard Cent Account: Designed for beginners and micro‑volume traders. With a minimum deposit of USD 10 (approx. KES 1,300), trades are placed in cent‑sized micro‑lots. Spreads start from around 0.3 pips and there are no commissions. Leverage can reach up to 1:2000 depending on platform and trading conditions.

Standard Account: Also commission‑free, the Standard Account offers broader instrument access and is available on MT4 and MT5. It shares the same minimum deposit (USD 10) and tight spreads. Leverage is capped at 1:400 for CMA‑regulated clients, with higher leverage possible via offshore structures.

Raw Spread Account: Targets high‑volume or algorithmic traders who prioritise low-cost entry. It requires a minimum deposit of USD 200 (approx. KES 26,000), and offers spreads from 0.0 pips combined with a flat commission of up to USD 3.50 per lot per side. Leverage is available up to 1:400.

Zero Account: Near zero spreads on the top 30 instruments for most of the trading day, charging a minimal commission of around USD 0.05–0.20 per lot per side. Leverage is capped at 1:400. This account suits traders who focus on major pairs and demand consistent pricing.

Pro Account: Combines tight floating spreads (from around 0.1 pips) with zero commission for traders seeking fast execution without trade fees. The minimum deposit is USD 200. Leverage is also up to 1:400.

Additional Features: All account types support Islamic (swap‑free) options upon request. Demo versions are available, reflecting live conditions with virtual funds. Kenya‑resident clients can open multiple accounts, choose between ZAR, USD, EUR, KES base currencies, and access local customer support via Nairobi office.

Note: While very high leverage is accessible under Exness’s offshore entities (up to unlimited/1:2000), Kenyan clients trading under the CMA‑regulated Exness (KE) Limited are subject to a maximum retail leverage limit of 1:400. Leverage levels may further vary depending on account equity and market volatility.

The Exness Trade app offers easy account creation, multi-account switching, and built-in deposit/withdrawal functionality. MT4 and MT5 account holders can manage trades and settings seamlessly.

Exness Trade (Proprietary App)

The Exness Trade app is Exness’s in‑house mobile platform, available on iOS and Android. It supports MT5 account trading and full Personal Area management—allowing users to open, trade, deposit, and withdraw directly in the app. Clients can also manage multiple MT4 and MT5 accounts and access real-time market data, news, chart analysis (Trading Central signals, FXStreet), and live 24/7 in-app chat support.

MetaTrader 5 Mobile

Available for both MT5 live and demo accounts. The MT5 mobile app includes charting with multiple timeframes, built‑in indicators and drawing tools, pending and market orders, and full account overview. It mirrors the desktop MT5 experience on mobile devices.

MetaTrader 4 Mobile

Supports MT4 account holders with the classic MT4 interface and features: real-time charting, technical indicators, automated trading (EAs), multiple chart types, and full order management. Note: MT4 accounts cannot execute trades directly via the Exness Trade app—they redirect users to the native MT4 mobile app.

Like the mobile trading apps, Exness offers MT4, MT5, and its own in-house trading platform available on both Mac and PC. For the purposes of this review, we tested all three platforms – Exness’s web trader platform, MT4, and MT5.  

Exness Terminal

The web trader platform requires no downloads or installation and is available for all devices. When you log in to your account you are immediately redirected to the platform. We found that the web trader has a clean user interface, and it is easy to navigate and search for various instruments.

Additionally, traders can set their stop levels by percentage, account currency, or even price – which makes things much simpler for beginners. The platform also comes with TradingView charts, indicators and drawing tools, providing traders with a comprehensive view of the markets.  See below:

One drawback is that the platform does not allow traders to set price alerts and notifications, but these are available on the mobile version. We were pleased to note that TradingView, one of the most popular third-party trading tools on the market, is fully integrated into the platform and provides technical insight and instant pattern recognition.

More advanced traders may prefer MT4 or MT5, both available at Exness, which allows traders to customise their indicators, has many more chart types, and has algorithmic (or automated) trading.

Metatrader 4 (MT4)

We found that, like most brokers, the Exness MT4 platform is the standard version with 23 graphical objects and 30 built-in indicators. Unlike Exness’s proprietary web trader, algorithmic trading is available, and MT4 is fully customisable.

We found that the platform’s interface is dated, but it is fully customisable. There are three chart types, including Line, Bar, and Candlestick charts, and you can access a wide selection of indicators in multiple timeframes:

Metatrader 5 (MT5)

Developed in 2010, MT5 is the newer version of its predecessor, MT4, and is available at Exness. We recommend using MT5 if you are looking for a more powerful and faster trading platform when it comes to back-testing functionality for automated trading algorithms.  Additionally, traders prefer MT5 for its depth of market display, additional technical indicators (38 as opposed to 30 on MT4), and 22 analytical tools.

Trading Tools

Exness offers a standard VPS service and Trading Central’s indicator service. Unfortunately, TradingView integration is not available at Exness.

Trading Central (TC) Indicator

One of our favourite indicators, the TC Indicator is a multilingual and customisable plugin that superimposes Trading Central’s technical analysis strategies, forecast, commentary, and key levels (support/resistance/targets/stop pivots) onto MT4 live charts for most tradable instruments.

Based on selected timeframes, TC Indicator will display the latest Trading Central articles, whether on an intraday, short-term, or mid-term basis. Traders can program and fill in orders based on the TC Indicator levels directly from their MT4 screen.

VPS Service

Exness offers a free VPS service for all traders who deposit at least 500 USD. A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a remote terminal solution that benefits from reduced latency and downtime, as it is unaffected by power cuts or computer crashes.  Even when the trading terminal is closed, the Exness VPS will keep trading.

Broker

Economic Calendar

Autochartist

Trading Central

Trading View

Free VPS

VPS services are usually offered free with a minimum trade volume, otherwise a monthly subscription fee will apply. VPS services are usually hosted by third-party companies.

Exness

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

Octa

Yes

Yes

No

No

No

AvaTrade

Yes

No

Yes

No

Yes

In line with Anti-Money Laundering policies, deposits and withdrawals at Exness cannot be made to/from third-party accounts, and all non-profit funds are returned to the original deposit source. 

Accepted Currencies: When we opened our account at Exness, we were given the choice of 4 base currencies, including KES. Most other brokers only offer 5 to 10 base currencies, so Exness really shines on this front. This is a huge advantage for Kenyans, who will likely have bank accounts denominated in KES and will have the option of avoiding conversion fees.

Funds can be deposited in several ways, including credit cards, bank wire transfers, Neteller, Skrill, and a few other online payment systems, through Exness’s payment portal.

Education & Learning Resources: Exness supports trader development through the “Essential Learning” hub:

• Video Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on platform use, trading strategies, and key technical tools suitable for all experience levels.
• Live Webinars: Hosted by market analysts, covering topics from chart analysis and fundamentals to risk management. Q&A sessions included.
• E‑books & Articles: Downloadable guides on technical and fundamental analysis, trading psychology, and market strategy available in multiple languages.

Learning Experience: Resources are designed for practical learning—beginners can start with trading basics and patterns, while more advanced traders explore strategy building and market insights. The Personal Area and Exness blog host regular market reviews, commentary, and educational insights.

Why It Matters: Although Exness doesn’t offer proprietary research nor deep institutional-grade reports, its blend of accessible analytical tools and educational content provides a solid foundation—especially for self-directed traders who value on-demand learning and real-time signals.

Analytical Tools: Exness equips traders with a blend of technical and fundamental analysis features, accessible via Personal Area or the Exness Trade app:

• Economic Calendar: Track global data releases and key economic events to anticipate market-moving developments.
• FXStreet News: Stay informed with a real-time feed of market news and commentary.
• Trading Central Signals & Technical Analysis: Receive expert trading signals and chart insights covering multiple timeframes and asset classes.

Client phone support is 24/5 in 16 languages, and 24/7 in five languages, English, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Swahili. Most brokers only offer 24/5 customer service, so this is a bonus for English-speaking traders.

Other contact forms include live chat, call-back service, phone, and emails. Support is also provided through the Exness help centre, which is frequently updated with detailed articles covering everything from trading guides to funding FAQs.

For the purposes of the review, we tested the live chat service and email. We tested Exness’s live chat and found that the customer service agents were polite and helpful.