Which broker is better for North Macedonia traders in 2026? Expert analysis across 12 categories.
For North Macedonia traders looking to trade forex and CFDs, choosing the right broker is critical. Exness and Oanda are two well-known brokers, but they cater to different needs. Exness, with a stellar 4.8/5 rating, is favored for its low spreads, flexible leverage up to 1:2000, and support for local payment methods like Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Oanda, rated 3.6/5, is a US-based broker known for its strong regulatory framework and advanced trading tools, but it lacks the local payment options and competitive pricing that North Macedonia traders often need. This comparison focuses on factors relevant to you as a retail trader in North Macedonia, including deposit methods, regulation, and trading costs.
| Instrument | Exness | Oanda | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | Oanda |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | Oanda |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | Oanda |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | Oanda |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 | Oanda |
Exness offers tighter spreads, starting from 0.0 pips on major pairs like EUR/USD with the Raw Spread account, and no commission on standard accounts. For a North Macedonia trader executing 100 lots per month, this can save hundreds of dollars compared to Oanda, where spreads start from 1.0 pips and commissions apply on certain account types. Oanda's spreads are fixed but wider, making Exness more cost-effective for frequent traders. Additionally, Exness has no hidden fees for deposits via Skrill or Neteller, while Oanda may charge conversion fees for non-USD deposits.
| Account Type | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✓ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✗ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Entity / Asset | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| North Macedonia (offshore) | Up to 1:2000 | Up to 1:100 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:2000 | 1:100 |
| 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 | Oanda | 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 | ✗ | ✗ | Oanda |
| ETFs | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Platform | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| 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), which are popular among North Macedonia traders for their advanced charting and automated trading capabilities. Exness also provides its own web and mobile platforms with one-click trading and social trading features. Oanda offers the proprietary fxTrade platform, which is user-friendly but less customizable. For North Macedonia traders who prefer mobile trading, Exness's app is optimized for local internet speeds and supports USDT TRC20 deposits directly from the app.
| Factor | Exness | Oanda | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | Oanda |
| 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 uses straight-through processing (STP) with an average execution speed of 0.1 seconds, ensuring minimal slippage even during high volatility. Oanda uses a market maker model with execution speeds around 0.3 seconds. For North Macedonia traders who rely on scalping or news trading, Exness's faster execution and no requotes provide a clear edge.
| Safety Factor | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| Primary regulator | FCA | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Exness is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK and the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), ensuring client fund segregation and negative balance protection. Oanda is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in the US and the FCA. For North Macedonia traders, this means both brokers offer a high level of security, but Exness's regulation under CySEC (MiFID II) provides additional investor compensation schemes. The local financial regulator in North Macedonia does not directly oversee forex brokers, so relying on reputable international regulators is crucial.
| Payment Method | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 1 to 5 business days |
Exness supports multiple deposit methods tailored for North Macedonia: Bank Transfer (1-3 days), Skrill (instant), Neteller (instant), and USDT TRC20 (instant). Minimum deposit is just $10, and there are no fees. Withdrawals are processed within 24 hours, and USDT TRC20 deposits are particularly useful for traders who prefer cryptocurrency. Oanda only accepts Bank Transfer and credit/debit cards, with a minimum deposit of $250 and withdrawal processing time of 2-5 days. For North Macedonia traders, Exness clearly offers more convenience and speed, especially with Skrill and Neteller widely used locally.
| Islamic Account Feature | Exness | Oanda |
|---|---|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Exness provides Islamic (swap-free) accounts for all account types, available upon request to North Macedonia Muslim traders. These accounts comply with Sharia law by not charging or paying overnight swap fees. Oanda does not offer Islamic accounts, which is a significant limitation for the Muslim population in North Macedonia. Exness also ensures that swap-free status applies to all instruments, including forex, indices, and commodities.
| Support Feature | Exness | Oanda | 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 customer support in multiple languages, including English and Macedonian, via live chat, email, and phone. Oanda provides 24/5 support with limited language options. For North Macedonia traders, Exness's round-the-clock support is a major advantage, especially during local trading hours or weekends when Oanda's support is unavailable.
| Mobile Feature | Exness | Oanda | 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 | ✗ | ✓ | Oanda |
| Resource | Exness | Oanda | 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 Oanda if you...
For North Macedonia traders, Exness is the clear winner due to its higher rating, lower costs, and local payment support including Bank Transfer, Skrill, Neteller, and USDT TRC20. Oanda remains a reliable choice for those prioritizing US regulation and a simple platform, but its lack of Islamic accounts and limited deposit methods make it less suitable for the local market. Exness's compliance with CySEC and FCA regulations, combined with 24/7 support in Macedonian, ensures a secure and convenient trading experience. We recommend Exness for most retail traders in North Macedonia, especially those who trade frequently or require swap-free accounts.