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.
Compare CMC Markets vs ActivTrades on regulation and trust. CMC Markets (founded 1989) and ActivTrades (founded 2001) are both online brokers and neither is a bank. CMC Markets is publicly traded, while ActivTrades is privately held. As defined by ForexBrokers.com, Trust Scores of 90–99 are highly trusted and 80–89 are trusted; CMC Markets scores 99 (highly trusted), and ActivTrades scores 80 (trusted).
Regulatory coverage differs: CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license; ActivTrades holds two Tier-1 and one Tier-2. Tier-1 licenses are considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com, and Tier-2 are considered trusted. In plain terms, CMC Markets offers wider top-tier oversight and the highest possible Trust Score, while ActivTrades provides a trusted setup with fewer top-tier approvals.
| 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 |
CMC Markets stands out for commissions and fees, earning 5 stars and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. It is known for low spreads across all account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.61 pips based on CMC Markets’ August 2023 pricing data. For active traders, its Price Plus Scheme can lower trading costs as monthly Trading Points add up, and the FX Active pricing model can bring the all-in EUR/USD cost down to about 0.5 pips, including commission.
ActivTrades also offers pricing that is a bit better than the industry average, but it does not match the lowest-cost brokers. It earned 4 stars and ranked #22 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. ActivTrades reports target spreads by asset, and its EUR/USD average spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024. Unlike CMC Markets, it does not have a special pricing plan for active traders, so costs are more straightforward but less flexible for high-volume users.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the stronger pick if low trading costs are your top priority, especially if you trade often or want access to commission-based pricing. ActivTrades is still competitive, but its fees are generally higher than CMC Markets and it offers fewer ways to reduce trading costs over time.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.08 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets vs ActivTrades for range of investments, CMC Markets offers a much wider choice overall. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while ActivTrades offers 1,267 tradeable symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency.
For share trading, both brokers provide access to exchange traded securities on international exchanges, such as London-listed shares. However, only CMC Markets also offers exchange traded securities on U.S. exchanges, giving it a broader selection of real shares. This wider product range helps explain why CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranked #9 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with ActivTrades’ 4-star rating and #26 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1267 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 and ActivTrades both give traders a wide range of platform choices, including a free demo account for simulated trading, a proprietary in-house platform, web-based access, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users place trades directly from charts, which can make order entry quicker and more convenient for active traders. In short, either broker can suit someone who wants flexible trading platform options and the ability to practice before trading live.
Where CMC Markets stands out is in its overall rating and ranking for trading platforms and tools. CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars and is ranked #6 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades receives 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #27 out of 36. That makes CMC Markets the stronger pick for traders who want the higher-rated platform experience, although ActivTrades still covers the key tools most traders look for.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and ActivTrades both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and autosaved chart drawings. That means traders can track markets and manage charts from either phone type with either broker. CMC Markets also stands out because its mobile app syncs watchlists with the online account, so updates carry over between devices, while ActivTrades does not offer this feature.
When it comes to charting tools, ActivTrades offers 30 technical studies in its mobile app, just ahead of CMC Markets’ 29. Even so, CMC Markets comes out on top overall for mobile trading apps, earning a 5-star rating and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades is also well equipped, but it trails behind with a 4-star rating and a #21 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and ActivTrades both give traders useful market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with key global events. Each broker also covers the basics well for traders who want timely updates and a simple way to track what may move the markets.
Where CMC Markets stands out is in its research depth: it offers Autochartist tools and earns a 5-star Research rating, ranking #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades does not include Autochartist, and while it still provides solid research features, it is rated 4 stars and ranked #27 out of 36. For traders who want more built-in market analysis tools, CMC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for trading education, CMC Markets and ActivTrades both offer plenty of learning content, including at least 10 beginner videos and 10 advanced videos on trading topics. CMC Markets also provides forex and CFD education, giving new traders a wide range of articles, videos, and similar materials focused on these markets. ActivTrades also offers forex and CFD education, but CMC Markets stands out more overall for learning support, with a 5-star Education rating and a stronger #10 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com.
One key difference is live learning: ActivTrades offers online educational webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not. That may matter for beginners who like guided lessons and the chance to learn from experts in real time. Still, if you want a broker with a higher-rated education section and more top-level recognition for beginner learning, CMC Markets has the edge, while ActivTrades may appeal more to those who value regular webinars.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ActivTrades
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
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 #5, while ActivTrades finished with an overall rank of #28.
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 | 80 |
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CMC Markets vs ActivTrades: both online brokers do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but each provides cryptocurrency CFD trading to speculate on price movements without owning the underlying asset.
Comparing online brokers CMC Markets and ActivTrades for deposit and withdrawal options: CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire transfers, whereas ActivTrades does not support ACH/SEPA or PayPal but does support Skrill and bank wire transfers (card availability not specified for either broker).
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 | 80 | |
| 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 | 80 | |
| 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 | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1267 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 account | 1.3 | 1.08 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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