Short answer: Start on a Standard Cent account if you have a small balance or are moving from demo to real money for the first time. Balances show in US cents and lots are 100 times smaller, so you can trade real money with very small risk. Move to a Standard (or Raw Spread) account once you've followed your plan consistently for one to two months.
FXRAID is an Exness partner (partner code 89tvrcrgn4) and may earn a commission if you open an account through our links. Your account and funds are held by Exness, not FXRAID. Trading on margin is high risk. Check current account terms and minimum deposits in your Exness Personal Area, as they can vary by region and payment method.
Why not jump straight from demo to Standard?
Demo trading has no emotional pressure. The first time real money is at risk, most traders hesitate, move stops or over-trade. On a Standard account, one miscalculated lot can cost a big share of a small balance. A cent account lets you feel real losses and gains at a size that doesn't hurt.
How a cent account works
| Standard Cent | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Balance shown in | US cents (USC) | US dollars |
| $1 deposit shows as | 100 USC | $1 |
| Smallest trade | 0.01 cent lot | 0.01 lot |
| Smallest trade in standard-lot terms | 0.0001 lot | 0.01 lot |
| Approx. value of 1 pip on EURUSD at the smallest size | $0.001 | $0.10 |
| Best for | First real-money trading, small balances, testing EAs | Growing accounts, normal position sizes |
Example: you deposit $20. Your cent account shows 2,000 USC. A trade of 0.01 cent lots on EURUSD with a 50-pip stop risks about $0.05 of real money.
On a Standard account, the smallest trade (0.01 lot) with the same 50-pip stop risks about $5, which is 25% of a $20 balance.
Risk per trade: cent vs standard
Same $50 balance, 1% risk ($0.50), EURUSD with a 25-pip stop:
| Account | Lot needed for $0.50 risk | Possible? |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 0.002 lot | No: the minimum is 0.01 lot, which risks $2.50 (5%) |
| Standard Cent | 0.20 cent lots | Yes: risks exactly 1% |
This is the main reason cent accounts exist: with a small balance, they're the only way to keep risk at a sensible percentage.
Gold on a cent account
Gold moves a lot, so small balances struggle on Standard accounts. At 0.01 standard lots, a $5 stop on XAUUSD risks $5. On a cent account, 0.01 cent lots risks about $0.05 for the same stop. That makes cent accounts useful for learning gold with real money. See our XAUUSD lot size guide for the math.
Pros and cons
Standard Cent: pros
- Real money, real emotions, tiny risk
- Proper position sizing on small balances
- Good for testing EAs and signal providers live
Standard Cent: cons
- Profits are small in dollar terms
- Not built for large balances
Standard: pros
- Normal lot sizes and dollar balances
- Easier to scale as the account grows
Standard: cons
- The 0.01 lot minimum is too big for very small balances
When to move from cent to standard
Move up when all of these are true:
- You've followed your trading plan for 30 to 60 days without breaking your risk rules.
- Your results over at least 30 to 50 trades are positive in R.
- Your next account can risk 1% per trade at 0.01 lots or more with your normal stop.
You can open a Standard or Raw Spread account from your Exness Personal Area. Our Raw Spread vs Zero vs Pro comparison helps you pick.
Using FXRAID signals on a cent account
Following FXRAID signals on a cent account is a low-risk way to test them with real execution. Log every trade in R, as we do on our public signal record. VIP access is included with a qualifying deposit of $50 or more in an Exness account opened through FXRAID.
FAQ
What is a cent account in forex?
An account where your balance is shown in cents and lot sizes are 100 times smaller than standard, so you can trade real money with very small positions.
Is profit on a cent account real money?
Yes. 100 USC is $1, and you withdraw in your normal currency.
Can I use EAs on an Exness cent account?
Yes, cent accounts are commonly used to test Expert Advisors with real money at low risk.
Is a cent account better than demo?
For learning discipline, usually yes, because real money changes how you trade. Use demo to learn the platform, then cent to learn yourself.
Risk warning: Trading forex and CFDs on margin carries a high risk of loss. Leverage magnifies both gains and losses. This is education, not personal financial advice. Updated: 24 October 2026.