Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs ACY Securities, 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and ACY Securities, several factors related to their regulatory standing and trusted status come into play. Established in 1989 and publicly traded, CMC Markets boasts a Trust Score of 99, making it highly trusted according to ForexBrokers.com. The company holds six Tier-1 licenses, which are the most highly regarded, along with one Tier-2 license.
On the other hand, ACY Securities, founded in 2011, is not publicly traded and carries a Trust Score of 75, categorizing it as an average risk. The firm holds only one Tier-1 license and lacks any Tier-2 licenses. Neither company functions as a bank, but their licensure and trust scores provide a clear picture of their regulatory standings and perceived reliability in the financial markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2011 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets is the clear pricing leader in this matchup, rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees in the 2025 Annual Awards. Typical EUR/USD spreads are about 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active commission plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, delivering about a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD and several other majors, and is available on MT4 and Next Generation in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. CMC’s average spreads have historically stayed close to its quoted minimums, which helps keep real-world trading costs low.
ACY Securities earns 4.5 stars and ranks #22 of 63. It offers three accounts: the Standard account is commission‑free with an average EUR/USD spread of 1.2 pips (Sep 2021) and a $50 minimum deposit. The ProZero and Bespoke accounts use commission-based pricing with average spreads around 0.25 pips (same period); commissions are $6 and $5 per round turn, respectively. For Australian residents, the ProZero commission drops to $3 per round turn, bringing the effective EUR/USD cost to about 0.55 pips, which is competitive with many top-tier brokers.
Both brokers also discount for high-volume traders. CMC Markets’ Price Plus Scheme awards Trading Points (2 points per standard lot); at 1,250 lots in a month, Tier 4 unlocks a 20% spread discount. ACY Securities runs a 10‑tier active trader program that can reduce costs by 0.5 pips per lot once you exceed 50 standard lots monthly. Bottom line: if you want consistently low, transparent pricing across account types, CMC Markets has the edge; if you prefer low-deposit access and can qualify for regional or volume-based discounts, ACY’s ProZero can be appealing. Always compare average spreads—not just minimums—when evaluating fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.85 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing the range of investments, CMC Markets offers far more choice than ACY Securities. CMC lists 12,029 tradeable instruments versus ACY’s 2,200, and 141 forex pairs compared with ACY’s 66. Both brokers offer forex trading available as CFDs or spot contracts, as well as copy trading. For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both provide cryptocurrency derivatives. A key difference is stock access: CMC Markets lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London), while ACY Securities does not offer exchange-traded stocks.
These differences show up in third-party scores: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities holds 4 stars and ranks 31st. If you want the widest selection—especially for stocks alongside CFDs and forex—CMC Markets stands out; if you mainly need a smaller lineup with forex, CFDs, and copy trading, ACY Securities can still fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 2200 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 66 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| 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 and ACY Securities both cover the bases: each offers a free demo account for practice, a proprietary in-house platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), plus web-based and Windows desktop platforms. Copy trading is available at both brokers, and you can place trades directly from charts. Neither integrates DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting and workspace tools, CMC Markets stands out with 36 drawing tools and 11 watchlist columns, compared with ACY’s 15 drawing tools and 7 watchlist columns. While indicator counts aren’t specified here, independent ratings reflect the gap: ForexBrokers.com scores CMC Markets 5/5 stars and ranks it #4 of 63 for Trading Platforms and Tools, versus ACY Securities at 4/5 stars and #42. If you value richer built-in tools and more customization, CMC Markets has the edge; if you simply need MT4/MT5 plus a straightforward web and desktop setup, ACY Securities delivers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and ACY Securities both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts and watchlists that show real-time quotes. A key difference is watchlist syncing: CMC Markets syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while ACY Securities does not, which can matter if you switch between devices during the day.
For charting, each app supports multiple time frames, trendlines, and auto-saving drawings. ACY Securities offers 30 technical studies versus 29 at CMC Markets, though CMC Markets earns the higher marks overall: it’s rated 5 stars and ranked #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, compared with ACY Securities at 4 stars and #41. Choose CMC Markets if you value seamless syncing and top-rated app quality; pick ACY Securities if you want slightly more built-in indicators and don’t mind managing watchlists separately.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 ACY Securities both publish daily market commentary and include an economic calendar covering global events. Where they diverge is in research depth: CMC Markets streams forex news from major outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, offers Autochartist tools for technical analysis, and includes a sentiment tool that shows long vs. short positioning across instruments. ACY Securities does not provide those three features. Neither broker supplies research from Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
These differences show up in independent ratings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while ACY Securities scores 3.5 stars and ranks #46. If you want premium news and built-in tools to analyze price action and crowd positioning, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need daily commentary and a calendar, ACY Securities covers the basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| 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 ACY Securities offer a solid selection, but there are differences in the depth and availability of these resources. CMC Markets shines with its rich repository of educational materials, including over ten beginner-oriented videos and a thorough dictionary with definitions of 50 investing terms. It also provides a searchable archive of recorded webinars. However, monthly online webinars are not part of its offerings. Meanwhile, ACY Securities excels by providing monthly live webinars, nurturing an interactive learning environment and also maintains a searchable archive of past webinars. However, it lacks an investor dictionary and advanced educational videos that meet the beginner's requirements CMC Markets fulfills.
In terms of ratings, CMC Markets boasts a 5-star rating for education, ranking 10th out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com. This is largely due to its comprehensive range of materials suitable for both beginner and advanced traders. ACY Securities, while offering valuable resources with a focus on regular interactive webinars, is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 43rd in the same category. This difference highlights the importance of considering both the type and accessibility of educational resources when choosing between these platforms, depending on one's learning priorities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ACY Securities
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 ACY Securities. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while ACY Securities finished with an overall rank of #41.
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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ACY Securities
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Both CMC Markets and ACY Securities do not offer the ability to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide the option to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets and ACY Securities both support ACH or SEPA transfers, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds; however, CMC Markets offers PayPal but not Skrill, whereas ACY Securities provides Skrill but not PayPal.
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 | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ACY Securities Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2011 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 2200 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.85 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| 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 | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ACY Securities Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | ACY Securities | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | ACY Securities Review |
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