Short answer
Expert Option is ahead on our score, 3.7/5 against 3.5/5 for Exnova.
Exnova fits: A full-featured platform on a small budget
Skip Exnova if: You need a licensed firm or an outside complaints route
Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone
Skip Expert Option if: You want many instruments or longer-term analysis
Score by score
Exnova 3.5/5
- Platform and apps4.2
- Costs and minimums4.0
- Payment options3.8
- Support3.6
- Licensing and openness2.0
Expert Option 3.7/5
- Platform and apps4.3
- Costs and minimums4.1
- Payment options4.2
- Support3.9
- Licensing and openness2.4
How the two sites look
Exnova and Expert Option in brief
Exnova (2021). Exnova appeared in 2021 with fixed-time options, digital options and leveraged CFDs on one platform, and an interface close to the market leaders.
Expert Option (2014). Expert Option has sold fixed-time trades since 2014. The screen is deliberately bare: one chart, a stake, a timer, up or down. Account levels add assets, higher payouts and a personal manager as deposits grow.
Licence and safetyBetter here: Expert Option
Neither Exnova nor Expert Option is authorised by a leading regulator or by any regulator in Asia. Both run through offshore companies, so there is no compensation fund and no local authority to complain to.
Official warnings and alert-list entries we found: Exnova 0, Expert Option 3.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | No. Digital Smart LLC in St Vincent and the Grenadines runs it; the Cyprus company only processes payments. | No government licence. Registered in St Vincent and the Grenadines and a member of The Financial Commission, a private dispute body. |
| Official warnings we found | – | CSA / AMF, MAS, RBI |
| Dispute body | No outside dispute body | Member of The Financial Commission (private dispute body) |
On licensing and openness Expert Option scores higher (2.4 vs 2.0).
Entry cost and chargesBetter here: Expert Option
Both ask for the same first deposit: $10. The smallest trade is $1 on Exnova and $1 on Expert Option.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest deposit | $10 | $10 |
| Lowest trade | $1 | $1 |
| Charges | One free withdrawal a month, then 2% (USD 30 cap); dormant fee | Charge on inactive accounts; no pay-in fee listed |
| Pay-out charges | First withdrawal each month free, then 2% (max. USD 30) | No platform fee reported; your payment provider may charge |
| Dormant account fee | After 90 days without activity | Dormant fee in the terms – check amount and trigger |
| Bonus | No standard deposit bonus; low-entry contests | Deposit bonuses reported; check volume conditions before accepting |
Payouts and the win rate you needLevel
Both advertise the same top payout (90%), so the break-even win rate is identical: 52.6%.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Top payout | 90% | 90% |
| Win rate to break even | 52.6% | 52.6% |
| Note | Up to about 90% on fixed-time; varies by asset and time | Reviews report 86–95% depending on account level and asset |
Top payouts apply to a few assets at the busiest hours. Look at the payout on the trade ticket before you open a trade; it is often lower.
Platform and phone appsBetter here: Expert Option
Exnova. In-house web platform plus a desktop app, with multiple charts, indicators and drawing tools; one of the most complete here and light on older computers.
Expert Option. A web platform with a clean chart, basic indicators and a feed of other users' trades. Good enough for simple trading, thin for detailed analysis.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | Browser, Desktop app, Android, iPhone | Browser, Android, iPhone |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone | Yes | Yes |
| Extras | Small minimum, In-house platform, Strong charts, Desktop app, Contests | Account levels, Trader feed, Easy layout |
Instruments and trade durations
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Instruments | 250+ | ~100 |
| Markets | Currencies, Crypto, Commodities, Shares, Indices, ETFs | Currencies, Crypto, Commodities, Shares, Indices |
| Trade durations | 1 minute – 1 hour (fixed-time); free choice on digitals | 5 seconds – 24 hours |
Paying in and cashing outBetter here: Expert Option
Exnova. Full verification required; usually 1–3 working days. User reviews repeatedly mention delayed or blocked withdrawals, so start small and test a withdrawal.
Expert Option. Verification must be complete first, and users say it can take longer than elsewhere, so finish it before you need the money.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Pay-in methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods |
| Pay-out methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods | Cards, E-wallets, Crypto, Local payment methods |
| Smallest withdrawal | $10 | $10 |
| Pay-out speed | 1–3 working days per the platform; complaints of delays | Within 2 working days according to the platform; e-wallets and crypto can be quicker |
Practice accountLevel
Both have a free practice account, so you can try the two platforms with virtual money before depositing.
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| Practice balance | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Try without signing up | – | Yes |
SupportBetter here: Expert Option
| What we compare | Exnova | Expert Option |
|---|---|---|
| How to reach support | Live chat, Email, Help pages | Live chat, Email, Help pages |
| Support | 3.6/5 | 3.9/5 |
Which markets they acceptBetter here: Exnova
Exnova accepts residents of 18 of the markets we cover, Expert Option of 17.
Only Exnova: 1 markets
Bangladesh
Strengths and weak points
Exnova
- +USD 10 deposits and trades from USD 1
- +Polished platform on web, desktop, Android and iPhone
- +Free USD 10,000 demo
- +Over 250 instruments including shares and ETFs
- −No public regulator licence
- −Short history: launched in 2021
- −Frequent complaints of delayed or blocked withdrawals
- −Fee after the first free withdrawal each month
Expert Option
- +Easy layout for complete beginners
- +Proper Android and iPhone apps
- +Financial Commission membership gives you a place to complain
- +Crypto and local payments in many countries
- −No government licence
- −Fewer instruments than the leaders
- −Better payouts reserved for bigger deposits
- −Dormant account fee after a quiet period
So, Exnova or Expert Option?
Expert Option is better in 5 of 7 categories here. Expert Option is ahead on our score, 3.7/5 against 3.5/5 for Exnova.
Our choice: Expert Option
Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone
Whichever you pick, practise on the demo first, keep the first deposit small and withdraw part of it before adding more. Binary options are high-risk and most retail accounts lose money.
Quick answers
Exnova or Expert Option: which is better?
Expert Option is ahead on our score (3.7/5 vs 3.5/5). Expert Option fits: Beginners who trade mainly on their phone. Exnova fits: A full-featured platform on a small budget.
Which needs a smaller deposit, Exnova or Expert Option?
Both ask for the same first deposit: $10.
Which pays more, Exnova or Expert Option?
Both advertise the same top payout (90%), so the break-even win rate is identical: 52.6%.
Does any regulator supervise Exnova or Expert Option?
No leading regulator and no Asian regulator licenses either of them. Both work through offshore companies, so your money has little protection.