- Standard is spread-only from $10 and suits most beginners
- Raw Spread and Zero advertise from 0.0 pips but add commission — calculate all-in cost
- Zero uses lower commission than Raw on many symbols but still uses market execution
- Pro is the spread-only professional alternative if you want tighter quotes without commission
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Quick Decision Framework#
Short Answer
Most beginners should start with Exness Standard: it is spread-only and listed from $10. Choose Raw Spread or Zero only after you can calculate all-in round-trip cost for your pairs and session. Zero can suit pair-focused active traders when commission plus slippage beats Standard. Raw Spread suits scalpers and EAs who need the tightest quote and will pay commission.
Detailed Explanation
Standard embeds cost in the spread and uses the lowest listed cash entry. Raw Spread and Zero generally need professional-style minimums, often from about $200 and higher in some regions. Raw commission is listed up to $3.50 per side per lot; Zero is listed from $0.05 per side per lot on selected symbols. A 0.0 pip label is not a 0.0 cost trade. Availability of each line is entity-specific. Demo all three only helps if you then compare the same symbol and size.
Example
A beginner with $50 has a realistic path on Standard and usually no realistic path on Raw or Zero if the regional floor is $200 or more. An EA user who already journals commission may still prefer Raw after a matched cost test. Copying a YouTuber's Zero screenshot onto a Standard-sized account skips the minimum and the commission math.
Common Mistake
Opening Zero or Raw on a small balance because the spread can show 0.0, then paying a high effective cost per pip after commission and a rejected funding amount.
Professional Tip
If you are unsure, fund Standard first. Add Raw or Zero only after Contract Specifications for your symbols show a lower all-in cost than Standard at your real lot size.
Short Answer#
Standard for simplicity and low entry. Raw Spread or Zero only when measured all-in cost — spread + commission + slippage + swap — wins for your actual pairs and trade frequency.
Side-by-Side Comparison#
| Feature | Standard | Raw Spread | Zero |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Spread-only | Spread + commission | Spread + commission |
| Listed minimum | From $10 | Often from ~$200; higher in some regions | Often from ~$200; higher in some regions |
| Typical spread label | From 0.2 pips | From 0.0 pips | From 0.0 pips on selected symbols |
| Commission | None | Up to $3.50/side/lot (verify live) | From $0.05/side/lot (verify live) |
| Execution | Mostly instant on Standard pages | Market execution | Market execution |
| Best for | Beginners, swing traders | Scalpers, EAs, high frequency | Pair-focused active traders |
Figures are public starting points checked August 2026. Your Personal Area and Contract Specifications prevail.
Exness Standard: When It Wins#
Detailed Explanation
Standard is the default first live account for most traders. You pay the spread; there is no separate commission line on statements. That makes risk math and P&L review simpler when you are still learning position sizing.
It fits:
- First live account after demo
- Traders who hold positions hours to days
- Anyone who does not want a spreadsheet for every trade
Example
A beginner placing three EUR/USD trades per week with 0.01 lots may never save enough on Raw commission to justify the ~$200 professional minimum.
Common Mistake
Opening Raw Spread because a screenshot showed 0.0 pips while ignoring that Standard's all-in cost was lower for infrequent size.
Professional Tip
If you are unsure, run Standard live at minimum size and Raw on demo for two weeks during your session — then compare statements, not marketing cards.
Exness Raw Spread: When It Wins#
Detailed Explanation
Raw Spread targets traders who care about the tightest bid/ask and accept commission. Exness lists commission up to $3.50 per side per lot on public Professional pages — exact symbol rates live in Contract Specifications.
It fits:
- Scalpers on major FX pairs
- Expert Advisors with high turnover
- Traders who log exact all-in cost per round trip
Market execution means fills can differ from the quoted price during volatility — budget slippage in your test.
Example
An active EUR/USD scalper doing 20 round trips per day may save more on spread than they pay in commission. A swing trader doing two trades per week may not.
Common Mistake
Choosing Raw only for the 0.0 headline without adding round-turn commission and slippage.
Professional Tip
Read our Exness scalping guide and spread comparison with XM after you have one week of live spread logs.
Exness Zero: When It Wins#
Detailed Explanation
Zero can show 0.0 spread on selected popular instruments with lower commission than Raw on many symbols (public pages cite from $0.05/side/lot). It still uses market execution and is not a "free trading" account.
Zero vs Raw is not "Zero is always cheaper." Compare your symbols during your session:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Is my symbol on the Zero list? | Zero pricing is instrument-specific |
| What is round-turn commission? | Raw and Zero differ by symbol |
| What slippage do I see at entry and exit? | Market execution adds variable cost |
Example
A trader focused on one or two majors during London hours may find Zero's commission structure beats Standard's wider spread — but only after a matched test.
Common Mistake
Assuming Zero means zero total cost.
Professional Tip
Use the official Exness calculator and our cost break-even framework before moving from Standard to Zero live.
Decision Tree#
| If you are... | Start with |
|---|---|
| New to live trading | Standard |
| Testing micro real-money size | Standard Cent where available — Cent guide |
| Experienced, want tighter spread without commission | Pro — account types overview |
| Scalping or running EAs | Raw Spread after cost test |
| Trading few majors actively | Zero after symbol-specific cost test |
| Still unsure | Demo all three during your session |
Standard vs Raw vs Zero: Cost Decision Test#
- Pick one symbol and fixed lot size you actually trade.
- Log live spreads on Standard, Raw and Zero during your session for five days.
- Add round-turn commission for Raw and Zero from Contract Specifications.
- Add average slippage if you use market orders.
- Add overnight swap if you hold past rollover.
- Pick the lowest median all-in round-trip cost — not the lowest single screenshot.
For beginners choosing their first account, see best Exness account for beginners.
Related Links#
- Exness spread guide
- Exness raw spread account
- Exness minimum deposit
- XM vs Exness professional scalpers
- Exness review 2026
Key Takeaways#
- Standard = simple, $10 entry, no commission.
- Raw and Zero need commission math — "from 0.0 pips" is not total cost.
- Zero is not universally cheaper than Raw; compare by symbol.
- Demo first, then smallest live size on the winning account type.
Glossary#
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| All-in cost | Spread + commission + slippage + swap for one round trip |
| Market execution | Order filled at available price — slippage possible |
| Round-turn commission | Entry commission plus exit commission |
| Contract Specifications | Live symbol rules inside Exness platforms |
Bottom Line#
Choose Exness Standard unless measured evidence shows Raw Spread or Zero produces lower repeatable all-in cost for your strategy. When in doubt, Standard live and Raw/Zero on demo until the math is obvious.
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