Which broker is better for United Kingdom traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
Choosing between Exness and Hantec Markets is a key decision for United Kingdom traders in 2026. Both brokers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), ensuring strong investor protection and compliance with UK financial laws. Exness stands out with a top-tier Trustpilot rating of 4.8/5, ultra-low spreads from 0.0 pips, and support for local payment methods like Faster Payments, PayPal, and Skrill. Hantec Markets, with a 3.6/5 score, offers a more traditional trading experience with FCA oversight but higher spreads and fewer instruments. This comparison focuses on what matters most to UK traders: regulation, trading costs, deposit options, and account types. Whether you are a retail trader or a professional, understanding these differences will help you select the right broker for your GBP-denominated trading.
| Instrument | Exness | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Hantec Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Hantec Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Hantec Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Hantec Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $10 | Hantec Markets |
For United Kingdom traders, trading costs are a major factor. Exness offers spreads from 0.0 pips on major forex pairs like EUR/USD, with no commission on standard accounts. Hantec Markets typically starts spreads from 1.2 pips, making Exness significantly cheaper for high-volume traders. UK traders executing 10+ lots per month will save hundreds of GBP with Exness. Hantec Markets also charges higher swap rates on overnight positions. Both brokers offer competitive costs, but Exness clearly wins on spread and commission structure for UK traders.
| Account Type | Exness | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $10 |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (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 | Hantec 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+ | ✗ | Exness |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | Hantec Markets |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | Hantec 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 UK traders prefer. Exness also provides a web-based platform and mobile apps with advanced charting tools. Hantec Markets focuses on MT4 and MT5 only. For UK traders who value flexibility, Exness’s additional proprietary platform and social trading options are a bonus. Both platforms are stable and fast, but Exness offers more customisation for UK-based day traders and scalpers.
| Factor | Exness | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Hantec 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 average speeds under 50ms, ideal for UK scalpers and high-frequency traders. Hantec Markets provides reliable execution but at slightly slower speeds, averaging around 100ms. For UK traders who prioritise speed and minimal slippage, Exness is the better choice. Both brokers use No Dealing Desk (NDD) execution for most account types.
| Safety Factor | Exness | Hantec Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Both Exness and Hantec Markets are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. This means UK traders benefit from negative balance protection, segregated client funds, and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Exness holds multiple licenses globally, including FCA and CySEC, while Hantec Markets is solely FCA-regulated. For UK traders, both offer strong protection, but Exness’s additional oversight from other regulators adds an extra layer of security. Always verify the broker’s FCA register number before trading.
| Payment Method | Exness | Hantec 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 | Crypto / USDT: 1 to 3 hours (for eligible wallets)E-wallets: Within hours up to 1 dayBank / Wire Transfers: 2 to 5 business days |
United Kingdom traders can deposit and withdraw using Bank Transfer, PayPal, Skrill, and Faster Payments at both brokers. Exness supports instant deposits via Faster Payments, with withdrawals processed within 24 hours for PayPal and Skrill. Hantec Markets also supports these methods but may take 1-3 business days for PayPal withdrawals. Minimum deposits are £100 for both. Exness offers zero fees on deposits and withdrawals for UK traders, while Hantec Markets may charge a small fee on certain withdrawal methods. For speed and cost, Exness is the better option for UK traders.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | Hantec 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 Hantec Markets offer Islamic (swap-free) accounts for UK Muslim traders. Exness provides swap-free accounts across all account types, including standard and raw spread accounts, with no additional fees. Hantec Markets offers Islamic accounts but requires a formal application and may restrict them to certain account types. UK traders should confirm availability before opening an account. Exness has a more transparent and accessible Islamic account policy.
| Support Feature | Exness | Hantec 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 via live chat, email, and phone, with a dedicated UK support team. Hantec Markets provides support during UK business hours only, via email and phone. For UK traders who need round-the-clock assistance, Exness is clearly superior. Both brokers have helpful FAQ sections on their websites.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | Hantec 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 | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Resource | Exness | Hantec Markets | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | ✗ | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | Exness |
Choose Exness if you...
Choose Hantec Markets if you...
For United Kingdom traders in 2026, Exness is the clear winner over Hantec Markets. Its superior Trustpilot rating (4.8/5), tighter spreads, faster execution, and support for local payment methods like Faster Payments, PayPal, and Skrill make it ideal for both retail and professional traders. Hantec Markets remains a solid choice for those who prefer a simpler, traditional FCA-regulated broker, but it falls short on cost and features. If you trade in GBP and value low costs, instant deposits, and strong regulation, Exness is the better option. Always verify FCA registration before depositing funds.