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 |
Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets comes out cheaper overall. It earns 5 stars for pricing and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category (and also won the top Commissions and Fees honor in the 2025 Annual Awards). ActivTrades is solid but pricier by comparison, with a 4‑star rating and a #21 ranking out of 63.
CMC Markets posts typically tight spreads around 0.61 pips on EUR/USD (Aug 2023 data) and offers two ways to trade: standard spread-only pricing or FX Active, a commission plan at $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, producing an all‑in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other major pairs. Its Price Plus Scheme can further lower costs for very high‑volume traders via spread discounts based on Trading Points. CMC’s average spreads have tended to track its advertised minimums, and its pricing is available across both MT4 and the Next Generation platform (in supported regions).
ActivTrades’ costs are competitive but generally higher: the average EUR/USD spread was 0.98 pips in May 2024. Spreads can vary by time of day (and widen around rollover), and fees depend on the asset and platform you choose. The broker offers an Individual, Professional, and Islamic account, but there’s no separate high‑volume or active‑trader discount program, and spreads remain the same across account types—another reason CMC Markets typically edges it on pure pricing.
| 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.
CMC Markets vs ActivTrades: for range of investments, CMC Markets clearly lists more to trade. CMC Markets offers 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while ActivTrades provides 1,267 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, copy trading, and cryptocurrency CFDs, and neither lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto. In independent reviews, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for range of investments (ranked 9th out of 63), compared with ActivTrades at 4 stars (ranked 25th).
If you want to buy exchange-traded stocks, CMC Markets allows direct investing in both U.S. shares (like Apple on NASDAQ) and international shares, whereas ActivTrades offers exchange-traded shares only on international markets—not U.S. exchanges. For the widest product list and more forex pairs, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you don’t need U.S. stocks and prefer a slimmer selection, ActivTrades may still 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. 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 make it easy to get started with a free demo account for practice. Each broker offers its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade in your browser or via a Windows desktop download, and both support copy trading. Charting is convenient too, with the option to place trades directly from charts.
When it comes to platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while ActivTrades earns 4 stars and ranks #26. If top-tier platform polish is your priority, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want similar platform variety including MT4/MT5 and copy trading, ActivTrades is a solid alternative.
| 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 deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, drawing trendlines on charts, and auto-saving your chart drawings. For technical studies, ActivTrades offers 30 indicators while CMC Markets includes 29—so they’re nearly identical for charting depth. A key difference is watchlist syncing: CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while ActivTrades does not, which can matter if you switch devices often.
When it comes to third-party evaluations, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and is ranked #5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. ActivTrades holds a 4-star rating and ranks #21 out of 63. If you want a high-rated app with seamless watchlist syncing, CMC Markets has the edge. If you prioritize slightly more built-in indicators, ActivTrades is a close contender.
| 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 deliver daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (think Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), sentiment tools that show long/short ratios, and an economic calendar. The big difference is tooling: CMC Markets includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental idea generation, while ActivTrades does not. Neither broker provides Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading add-ons.
These differences are reflected in independent scores: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades holds 4 stars and ranks #26. If you want built-in trade ideas and pattern scanning via Autochartist, CMC Markets has the edge. If you mainly need daily updates, reputable news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, both platforms cover the essentials.
| 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.
CMC Markets vs ActivTrades for beginner trading education: both brokers publish a sizable library focused on forex and CFDs, delivering at least 10 educational pieces plus 10+ beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos. That means new traders can find step-by-step videos that explain core topics, while experienced learners have deeper lessons to grow skills. One key difference is webinars: ActivTrades runs online educational client webinars at least once per month, while CMC Markets does not offer ongoing monthly webinars.
In independent reviews, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ActivTrades receives 4 stars and ranks #30. If you want the highest-rated, easy-to-navigate learning hub, CMC Markets has the edge. If live, recurring webinars are a must for you, ActivTrades could be the better fit.
| 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 | 81 |
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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 | 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 | 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 SCA 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 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ActivTrades Review |
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