XM vs Exness vs Pepperstone — which is best for scalping in 2026?
How this answer was verified
- Cross-checked against broker-published fact sheets, regulator licensing databases, and ESMA product intervention notices.
- Reviewed by the FX-Brokers EU editorial desks (Markets, Platforms, Regulation). Desk structure disclosed at /about/editorial-desks.
- Refreshed quarterly. The most recent verification date is shown above. Read our methodology.
Brokers mentioned in this answer
Pepperstone
9.4/10Pepperstone serves EU clients through its CySEC-regulated entity (part of a group also licensed by BaFin, the FCA and ASIC), offering razor-sharp spreads, zero minimum deposit, and excellent execution across MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
73.7% of retail CFD accounts lose money.
Exness
9.4/10Exness is a high-volume global broker with ultra-tight pricing and instant withdrawals. Holds CySEC and FCA licences but closed EU/EEA/UK retail onboarding in 2019 — available to non-EU residents only.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. A high percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
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Related
Broker review: Pepperstone
Pepperstone serves EU clients through its CySEC-regulated entity (part of a group also licensed by BaFin, the FCA and ASIC), offering razor-sharp spreads, zero minimum deposit, and excellent execution across MT4, MT5, cTrader, and TradingView.
Broker review: Exness
Exness is a high-volume global broker with ultra-tight pricing and instant withdrawals. Holds CySEC and FCA licences but closed EU/EEA/UK retail onboarding in 2019 — available to non-EU residents only.
Broker review: XM
XM is ideal for beginner EU traders, offering a $5 minimum deposit, award-winning education, multilingual support in 30+ languages, and CySEC regulation.
What is the best broker for scalping forex?
Exness leads for scalping in 2026 thanks to instant order execution, no scalping restrictions, and 0.0 pip raw spreads. Pepperstone (Razor account) and Tickmill (Pro account) are strong alternatives. All three explicitly allow scalping with no minimum holding period or profit cap.
Pepperstone vs Exness — which is better?
For EU, EEA and UK traders the comparison is settled by availability: Pepperstone onboards them under CySEC/FCA regulation (EU/EEA via CySEC, UK via FCA), while Exness closed onboarding to those residents in 2019. Outside the EU/UK, both are top-tier ECN brokers with 0.0-pip raw spreads — Exness adds instant 24/7 withdrawals and more account types, Pepperstone keeps a zero minimum deposit and stronger multi-regulator coverage.