Which broker is better for China traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Chinese traders seeking international forex exposure face a critical choice between Exness (score 4.8/5) and FP Markets (score 4.7/5), two of the most popular offshore brokers serving the China market. Both brokers accept Chinese clients via international licenses and support local payment methods like USDT (Tether) and international bank transfers, making them accessible despite China’s capital controls. Exness, founded in 2008, has grown to become the world’s largest retail forex broker by trading volume, offering ultra-low spreads and high leverage up to 1:2000. FP Markets, established in 2005, is an Australian broker known for its extensive product range (over 10,000 instruments) and strong MetaTrader platform ecosystem. For Chinese traders, both brokers provide a way to trade major forex pairs, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies without CSRC oversight, but they differ significantly in cost structure, execution speed, and account flexibility. This comparison focuses on what matters most to Chinese traders: local deposit methods, regulatory safety, trading costs in CNY terms, and platform accessibility.
| Instrument | Exness | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | FP Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | FP Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | FP Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | FP Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 | Tie |
When comparing trading costs for Chinese traders, Exness offers a slight edge on spreads, particularly on its Zero account which starts from 0.0 pips with a $3 commission per lot per side. FP Markets’ Raw account also starts from 0.0 pips but with a $3 commission, making them nearly identical for high-volume traders. However, Exness’s Standard account (spreads from 0.3 pips, no commission) is more cost-effective for smaller traders who trade less than 10 lots per month. For Chinese traders converting CNY to USD, the spread difference of 0.1–0.2 pips on EUR/USD can save approximately $10–$20 per 100 lots traded, which is significant for frequent scalpers. FP Markets offers tighter spreads on exotic pairs like USD/CNH, which may appeal to traders focusing on Chinese yuan pairs. Overall, Exness is cheaper for high-frequency trading, while FP Markets provides better value for diversified portfolio traders.
| Account Type | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $100 |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| China (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 |
| Asset Class | Exness | FP Markets | 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 | ✗ | 1,700+ | FP Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✓ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | ✓ | ✓ |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | ✓ | ✓ |
| cTrader | ✗ | ✓ |
| TradingView | ✗ | ✓ |
| Expert Advisors (EAs) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hedging allowed | ✓ | ✓ |
Both brokers offer MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), the platforms most preferred by Chinese traders for their familiarity and advanced charting tools. Exness also provides its proprietary Exness Terminal (web-based) and mobile apps with one-click trading and social trading features. FP Markets stands out with cTrader, a platform popular among ECN traders for its depth of market view and fast execution. For Chinese traders, FP Markets’ cTrader supports automated trading via C# and Python, which is a plus for algo traders. Exness’s mobile app has a stronger focus on Chinese user experience with WeChat integration for alerts. Both brokers offer demo accounts with virtual funds, allowing Chinese traders to test strategies without risk. Exness’s web terminal is faster to load from China, while FP Markets’ MT5 integration with TradingView is a bonus for chartists.
| Factor | Exness | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | FP Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | Exness |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Exness offers ultra-fast execution with an average speed of 0.1 seconds, using a combination of STP and ECN models. FP Markets also provides fast execution (0.2 seconds) through its Raw ECN account. For Chinese traders, Exness’s execution is more consistent during high-volatility events like Chinese economic data releases, with minimal requotes. FP Markets has slightly higher slippage during news events but offers better depth of market on cTrader. Both brokers have no dealing desk intervention, ensuring fair execution.
| Safety Factor | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | ASIC |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Neither Exness nor FP Markets is regulated by the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), which means Chinese traders must rely on international regulatory protections. Exness holds licenses from the FCA (UK), CySEC (Cyprus), and FSA (Seychelles), with client funds held in segregated accounts and negative balance protection on FCA-regulated entities. FP Markets is regulated by ASIC (Australia) and CySEC, offering similar protections. For Chinese traders, the key difference is that Exness’s FCA license provides up to £85,000 compensation under the FSCS, while FP Markets’ ASIC license offers no compensation scheme but mandates strict capital adequacy requirements. Both brokers are considered safe for offshore trading, but Chinese traders should note that CSRC does not oversee these entities, so disputes must be resolved through international arbitration. Exness has a stronger track record with Chinese clients due to longer presence in the market.
| Payment Method | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✓ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✓ | ✓ |
| Withdrawal time | crypto takes 30–60 minutes, and bank cards or wires take 1 to 5 business days | 24 hours |
For Chinese traders, deposit and withdrawal methods are crucial due to capital controls. Exness supports USDT (Tether) deposits via TRC20 (cheapest) and ERC20 networks, with instant processing and no fees for USDT deposits. International bank transfers (SWIFT) are also accepted, taking 1-3 business days with fees around $10-$30 per transfer. Exness also offers local Chinese bank transfers through third-party processors like Alipay (via partner networks) for CNY deposits. FP Markets similarly supports USDT deposits (TRC20/ERC20) and international bank wires, but does not have direct local Chinese bank transfer options. Withdrawals at both brokers are processed within 24 hours for USDT and 1-3 days for bank transfers. Exness has a lower minimum deposit ($10 vs $100 for FP Markets), making it more accessible for small traders. Both brokers require identity verification (KYC) before withdrawals, which is straightforward for Chinese citizens with a passport. USDT remains the fastest and cheapest method for both brokers.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | FP Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Both Exness and FP Markets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for Muslim traders in China, in compliance with Sharia law that prohibits earning interest on overnight positions. Exness provides Islamic accounts across all account types (Standard, Zero, Raw) with no additional fees or restrictions, and they are available on request during account opening. FP Markets offers Islamic accounts on Standard and Raw accounts, but they require a written request and approval, which can take up to 24 hours. For Chinese Muslim traders, Exness’s immediate availability is a convenience. Both brokers ensure that no swap fees are charged on overnight positions, but Exness may apply a small administration fee for holding positions beyond a certain period (e.g., 10 days). FP Markets has a similar policy but is more transparent about the conditions. Neither broker restricts trading instruments on Islamic accounts, allowing full access to forex, indices, and commodities.
| Support Feature | Exness | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✓ | ✗ | Exness |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | Exness |
Exness offers 24/7 multilingual customer support with a dedicated Chinese-speaking team available via live chat, email, and phone. Their WeChat and QQ support channels are particularly convenient for Chinese traders. FP Markets also provides 24/7 support but with a smaller Chinese-speaking team, primarily through live chat and email. Exness’s support response time is faster (under 1 minute for live chat), while FP Markets may take 2-3 minutes. Both brokers have comprehensive Chinese-language FAQ sections. For urgent issues, Exness’s phone support is more reliable for Chinese clients.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | Exness |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | Exness |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✓ | FP Markets |
| Resource | Exness | FP Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Exness |
Choose Exness if you...
Choose FP Markets if you...
For Chinese traders seeking international forex exposure, Exness edges out FP Markets with a 4.8 vs 4.7 score, primarily due to its lower spreads, higher leverage, and better support for Chinese payment methods like USDT and local bank transfers. Exness’s instant USDT deposits with no minimum and faster withdrawals make it ideal for smaller traders, while its ultra-low spreads benefit high-volume scalpers. FP Markets remains a strong choice for traders needing a broader product range (stocks, ETFs) and advanced platforms like cTrader. Both brokers are safe and reliable for offshore trading, but Chinese traders must accept the lack of CSRC oversight. Ultimately, Exness is better for cost-conscious traders focused on forex, while FP Markets suits those wanting diversification. We recommend Exness for most Chinese traders due to its superior local payment support and lower trading costs.