Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs ActivTrades, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a well-established online broker with a solid reputation reflected in its perfect Trust Score of 99, making it highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded company, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses, known for being highly reliable. Additionally, it has 1 Tier-2 license, which further strengthens its credibility among traders. Despite not being a bank, CMC Markets offers a secure platform backed by stringent regulatory approvals.
In comparison, ActivTrades, established in 2001, is a privately held broker with a Trust Score of 81, placing it in the trusted category. It holds 2 Tier-1 licenses, offering a reliable level of trustworthiness, and 1 Tier-2 license. Like CMC Markets, ActivTrades is not a bank, but it provides a dependable trading environment for its users. While newer and not publicly listed, ActivTrades still ensures a secure trading experience through its regulatory framework.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2001 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets stands out as the lower-cost choice. It earns 5/5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees (ForexBrokers.com 2025), thanks to consistently tight spreads available to all clients. ActivTrades is solid but pricier by comparison: it receives 4/5 stars and ranks #29 out of 63, with costs that are slightly better than the industry average but not among the very lowest.
CMC Markets lists typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (August 2023) and offers two clear ways to save. Its FX Active plan charges a $2.50-per-side commission with minimum spreads from 0.0, giving an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and several other pairs), available on MT4 and Next Generation in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. High-volume traders can also use the Price Plus Scheme: you earn two Trading Points per standard lot (100,000 units); reaching Tier 4 requires 1,250 lots in a month and unlocks a 20% spread discount. Importantly, CMC’s average spreads historically track close to its minimums, supporting its low-cost reputation.
ActivTrades keeps things simple with one main Individual account (plus Professional and Islamic options), but it doesn’t offer an active trader tier or special pricing for high-volume clients; spreads are the same across account types. Actual costs vary by asset and platform, and spreads can widen at rollover. For reference, ActivTrades reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.98 pips in May 2024. Bottom line: for the leanest spreads and discount paths, CMC Markets is the value leader, while ActivTrades delivers straightforward, slightly-better-than-average pricing without commission-based tiers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.98 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets vs ActivTrades: both support forex trading as CFDs or spot, offer copy trading, and provide access to crypto derivatives (but not actual coins). Where they differ most is breadth. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 symbols and 49 pairs. For exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), CMC Markets lets clients buy U.S. stocks like Apple alongside international shares, whereas ActivTrades offers international shares but not U.S.-listed stocks.
Reflecting this range, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades scores 4 stars and ranks #32. If you want more markets, including U.S. shares and a larger list of forex pairs, CMC Markets has the wider lineup; if you’re fine with a smaller selection and international shares only, ActivTrades can fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets vs ActivTrades: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, in-house trading platforms, and Windows desktop and web-based platforms. Each also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus copy trading, though neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker, which makes trade execution fast and convenient.
For charting tools, CMC Markets lists 36 drawing tools compared with 15 at ActivTrades, while both provide 11 watchlist columns. Independent ratings reflect these differences: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ActivTrades receives 4 stars and ranks #32. If you value a larger set of charting tools, CMC Markets may appeal more; if you want a capable platform lineup with MT4/MT5 and a demo account, ActivTrades remains a solid choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and ActivTrades both provide compelling mobile trading experiences with apps available for iPhone and Android. Each app supports essential features like price alerts for stock and forex, the ability to draw trendlines, and the flexibility of viewing charts across multiple time frames. Both platforms also enable users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, although CMC Markets goes a step further by offering watchlist symbol syncing. This feature keeps watchlists updated seamlessly across devices, while ActivTrades doesn't currently support this functionality.
When it comes to technical studies, ActivTrades edges out slightly with 30 available options in its mobile app, compared to 29 offered by CMC Markets. Nonetheless, CMC Markets holds a higher rating of 5 stars for its mobile trading app, while ActivTrades earns 4 stars. This distinction is further reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets secures the #5 spot among 63 brokers, while ActivTrades is ranked at #19. Both platforms offer strong options, but CMC Markets appears to have a slight advantage in user satisfaction and ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and ActivTrades both deliver strong market research basics: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long vs. short positions, and an economic calendar covering global events. These features help traders follow market drivers and gauge crowd positioning with ease.
The key difference is that CMC Markets offers Autochartist tools for pattern and setup ideas, while ActivTrades does not. Neither broker currently integrates Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds a 5-star Research rating and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, whereas ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #31. In short, both cover the essentials, but CMC Markets provides extra analysis tools and a higher third-party research rating.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, both CMC Markets and ActivTrades ensure they meet the essential needs by providing a minimum of 10 educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, including articles, videos, and archived webinars. However, a noteworthy difference between the two is their approach to webinars. ActivTrades offers monthly online educational client webinars, making it easy for users to engage and learn in real-time, while CMC Markets does not provide this feature. Nevertheless, both platforms offer a searchable archive of recorded client webinars, allowing users to access valuable learning materials at their convenience.
Further enhancing the educational experience, both CMC Markets and ActivTrades provide more than 10 beginner-specific educational videos, and they also offer an equal number of advanced videos aimed at experienced traders. CMC Markets takes things up a notch with an investor dictionary that includes over 50 investing terms, a feature that isn't available with ActivTrades. This comprehensive educational service earns CMC Markets a higher rating of 5 stars for education resources, compared to ActivTrades' 4 stars. Additionally, CMC Markets boasts a more favorable ranking, placed at #10 by ForexBrokers.com in the Education category, while ActivTrades ranks at #38 out of 63 brokers. These distinctions underscore CMC Markets as a more recognized choice for educational offerings in the trading field.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than ActivTrades. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #33.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both CMC Markets and ActivTrades do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, making them viable choices for traders interested in speculative cryptocurrency investment without owning the actual asset.
When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and ActivTrades, CMC Markets offers more flexibility with ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as PayPal, while both brokers support Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire options, but ActivTrades provides additional accessibility with Skrill.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2001 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | ||
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.98 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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