Spread and commission are both trading costs, but they are charged in different ways. The spread is the gap between the buy and sell prices. Commission is generally based on trading volume and may be charged per lot and per side. Comparing accounts by looking at only “zero spread” or “zero commission” can give an incomplete picture.

What spread and commission mean

The spread is part of the quote. It can change with the instrument, liquidity, market volatility and trading time. Exness describes spread cost in its official calculator guidance as the amount paid to open an order, and notes that its estimate uses the previous trading day’s average spread. The amount at a live opening can be different.

Commission is a separate charge. Exness states that Zero and Raw Spread accounts apply trading commission, while Standard, Standard Cent and Pro accounts do not. The commission is published by instrument and, where applicable, is based on both the opening and closing direction of an order; the official explanation says it is charged when the order opens.

Original diagram: spread is the bid-ask gap, commission is charged per lot and per side, and total transaction cost must be estimated then checked against the instrument.

A repeatable estimation method

  1. Write down the account currency, instrument, volume and account type. Contract size, pip value and commission can vary by instrument.
  2. Record the spread shown by the platform and confirm the value of one pip in the account currency for the instrument that applies to you.
  3. If commission applies, check the per-lot, per-side amount and include both the opening and closing directions.
  4. Estimate spread cost and commission separately, then add them. If the position stays open overnight, check swap separately.

A hypothetical calculation

The figures below are illustrative only. They are not live quotes and do not describe any real account or return. Suppose a EURUSD trade has a pip value of 10 US dollars per standard lot. If a commission-free account shows a hypothetical 0.6-pip spread, the spread component is roughly 0.6 × 10 = 6 US dollars. If another account hypothetically shows a 0.1-pip spread and a 3.50 US dollar commission per lot per side, the spread component is about 1 US dollar and opening plus closing commission is about 7 US dollars, for an estimated total of 8 US dollars. Execution, conversion, slippage, volatility and contract conditions can change the actual result.

This does not mean one account is always cheaper. A lower spread may come with commission, while a wider spread may have no separate commission. Volume, trading frequency, instrument and holding time all matter. Treating a “from” or “up to” figure as a guaranteed quote would be misleading.

How to check the actual cost

Use this site’s spread cost calculator and commission calculator with your own inputs, then compare the result with the applicable Exness account, instrument specifications and trading platform. Exness notes that spreads change dynamically and account-currency conversion affects results; a calculator is an estimate, not a guaranteed amount at execution.

Risk notice

Trading involves risk of loss, and actual loss can exceed a simple spread-and-commission estimate. This guide is for education only, not investment advice, an account recommendation or a promise of returns. Rely on the official terms for your location for fees, leverage, execution, protection rules and eligibility.

Frequently asked questions