Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs ATFX, 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.
CMC Markets, established in 1989, stands out with a high trust rating of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, a testament to its reputation as a highly trusted broker. It holds six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, ensuring a strong regulatory framework. As a publicly traded company, CMC Markets offers a level of transparency, even though it is not a bank. These attributes, combined with its long-standing presence in the industry, contribute to its appeal among investors.
In contrast, ATFX was founded more recently in 2017 and maintains a trust score of 85, categorizing it as a trusted broker. While ATFX does not have the visibility that comes with being publicly traded, it nonetheless ensures a secure environment with four Tier-1 and two Tier-2 licenses. Although newer to the scene than CMC Markets, ATFX’s regulatory backing supports its credibility among traders looking for a reliable online broker.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets stands out for low trading costs, earning 5 stars and the #1 ranking for Commissions and Fees in our 2025 Annual Awards. By contrast, ATFX holds 3 stars and ranks #61 out of 63 brokers. A key difference is transparency: CMC publishes detailed spread and pricing data, while ATFX does not provide average spread data, making side‑by‑side cost analysis more difficult for ATFX.
CMC Markets’ typical spreads beat the industry average, with an average of 0.61 pips on EUR/USD (August 2023). Its FX Active commission-based pricing charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of zero, delivering a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD and five other pairs (using August 2023 data). For example, NZD/USD is 1.5 pips on the standard account but drops to a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost with FX Active. FX Active is available on MT4 and Next Generation in select regions including Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K.
Active traders at CMC can also reduce costs via the Price Plus Scheme, which awards Trading Points based on markets traded and monthly volume (2 points per standard lot of 100,000 units); reaching Tier 4 requires about 1,250 standard lots in a month and unlocks a 20% spread discount. While it’s best practice to compare average—not minimum—spreads, CMC’s averages have historically stayed close to its advertised minimums, reinforcing its pricing leadership. Without average spread data from ATFX, CMC Markets remains the clearer choice for transparent, consistently low commissions and fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets clearly offers a wider range of investments than ATFX. CMC lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, compared with ATFX’s 150 symbols and 44 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading (CFD or spot). CMC Markets also lets clients buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international exchanges (not CFDs), while ATFX does not. Both provide copy trading. Neither broker sells actual cryptocurrency, but each offers cryptocurrency CFDs.
Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks it #9 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #58. If you want the largest selection of markets and the ability to buy real shares on major exchanges, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; ATFX suits traders who only need a focused set of markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 44 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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 ATFX both offer free demo (paper) accounts, Windows desktop and web-based platforms, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and the ability to place trades directly from charts. The big difference is that CMC Markets also provides its own in-house platform in addition to MT4/MT5, while ATFX relies on third-party platforms only.
For platform quality, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools. ATFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #63 out of 63. Choose CMC Markets if you want an in-house platform alongside MetaTrader and chart trading; pick ATFX if you prefer a MetaTrader-focused setup with copy trading on both desktop and web.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both CMC Markets and ATFX offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. On each app you can set price alerts, draw trendlines on charts, and your chart drawings auto‑save so you don’t lose your work.
The big differences are in tools and convenience. CMC Markets syncs watchlists between mobile and the web platform; ATFX does not. For charting, CMC Markets provides 29 technical studies versus 7 on ATFX, giving more ways to analyze price action on the go. Reflecting this gap, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets’ mobile app 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while ATFX earns 3.5 stars and is ranked #64. If you want richer tools and seamless syncing, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you only need the basics, ATFX can work.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and ATFX both offer daily market commentary and an economic calendar, plus technical analysis from Autochartist. Where they differ is in the extras: CMC Markets provides forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg/Reuters-style feeds and includes a trader sentiment tool showing long vs. short positioning—features ATFX does not offer. ATFX counters with Trading Central research, which CMC Markets doesn’t include. CMC Markets does not offer TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools; ATFX availability for TipRanks and Acuity Trading isn’t specified.
For overall research quality, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while ATFX earns 3 stars and ranks #55. If you want integrated premium news and sentiment data alongside chart tools, CMC Markets is a strong pick. If you value Trading Central insights with Autochartist, ATFX may fit your needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing CMC Markets and ATFX, both brokers deliver at least 10 beginner-focused videos that explain forex and CFD basics in plain language. These lessons can help you understand key ideas like order types, charts, and risk. Neither broker runs monthly client webinars, so if live, ongoing classes are important to you, that’s a gap to note.
As you advance, CMC Markets offers more depth with at least 10 videos for experienced traders, while ATFX does not meet that advanced-video threshold. That difference is reflected in independent evaluations: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, whereas ATFX earns 3 stars and ranks #28. If you want beginner material with clear room to grow, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you only need starter lessons, both can work, but CMC Markets stands out overall.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 ATFX. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
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
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
CMC Markets and ATFX are online brokers that do not offer buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both enable trading cryptocurrency CFDs instead.
Compared with ATFX, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers but not Skrill, while ATFX does not support ACH/SEPA and its support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard cards, and bank wires is not specified; Visa/Mastercard availability for CMC Markets is also not specified.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill