Demo accounts let you test a broker without risking real money. XM offers demo accounts with $100,000 virtual balance that expire after 90 days of inactivity. Exness provides demo accounts with customizable virtual balance (up to $10,000,000) that never expire. Both support MT4 and MT5 demo environments with real market data. Exness's unlimited demo validity is a significant advantage for long-term practice. XM's demo closely mirrors their live environment, and the $30 real bonus provides a natural upgrade from demo. For realistic practice, Exness demos are slightly more representative of live conditions.
For the full analysis, see our related comparison.
For the overall picture, check our complete XM vs Exness comparison, which covers regulation, spreads, platforms, and deposits in one place. Also see our beginner's guide if you are just starting out.
Demo Account Feature Comparison
| Feature | XM Demo | Exness Demo |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual balance | $100,000 (default) | $10,000 (adjustable to $100,000) |
| Expiry | 60 days of inactivity | Never expires (as long as any activity) |
| Account types | All (Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Zero) | All (Standard, Raw, Zero, Pro) |
| Multiple demos | Up to 5 simultaneously | Unlimited |
| Balance reset | Yes (via Members Area) | Yes (create new demo) |
| Real market data | Yes (live prices) | Yes (live prices) |
| Platform | MT4, MT5 | MT4, MT5, Exness Terminal |
| Mobile demo | Yes | Yes |
| KYC to open demo | No (email only) | No (email only) |
| EA testing allowed | Yes | Yes |
Key Differences That Matter
Expiry Policy
XM demos expire after 60 days of inactivity — if you do not place a trade or log in for 2 months, the demo is deleted. Exness demos never expire as long as there is any activity. For traders who practice intermittently or want a long-term testing environment, Exness's no-expiry policy is clearly better.
Demo Accuracy
Both brokers stream live market data to demo accounts, so prices are accurate. However, demo execution is always perfect — zero slippage, instant fills. In live trading, you will experience occasional slippage (especially during news events). Exness's live execution is closer to its demo execution than XM's, because Exness's real execution is simply faster (25ms vs 50ms).
Practical Use: Testing Strategies
If you want to test an Expert Advisor (EA) or a manual strategy over a long period, Exness's unlimited demos and no-expiry policy make it the better testing platform. You can run an EA for 6 months on demo without worrying about the account disappearing.
Demo Trading Best Practices
- Use realistic balance: Set your demo to match your planned live deposit. Trading $100,000 demo when you will deposit $500 teaches you nothing about proper position sizing.
- Trade with realistic lot sizes: If you plan to trade 0.01-0.05 lots live, use the same sizes on demo. Large lot sizes on demo create unrealistic profit expectations.
- Keep a trading journal: Record every demo trade (entry, exit, reasoning, result). Review weekly. This habit transfers directly to live trading.
- Set a demo "graduation" criteria: Switch to live when you are consistently profitable (positive P&L) for 4+ weeks with at least 20 trades. Do not go live on a 3-trade winning streak.
Verdict: Demo Account
Winner: Exness. No-expiry policy, unlimited demos, and the Exness Terminal (web-based) for quick access make Exness the better demo platform. XM's 60-day inactivity expiry is unnecessarily restrictive. Both provide accurate live data and support EA testing.
Ready to Start Trading?
Open a free account with either broker and test them yourself.