Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs AvaTrade, 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-regarded online broker that stands out due to its strong regulatory framework and public trading status. It holds an impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com, signifying it as highly reliable. CMC Markets operates with five Tier-1 licenses, ensuring top-tier regulatory compliance, along with one Tier-2 license in its portfolio. Although it is not a bank, CMC Markets has established trust through its listing on the stock exchange, providing an added layer of transparency for its clients.
AvaTrade, founded in 2006, also maintains a solid reputation in the world of online trading. With a Trust Score of 94 out of 99, it is deemed a highly trusted broker by ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade holds four Tier-1 licenses, offering significant regulatory assurance, and three additional Tier-2 licenses. Despite not being publicly traded or a bank, AvaTrade's strong regulatory credentials have helped it build trust among users since its inception.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers CMC Markets and AvaTrade, CMC Markets stands out with its top-tier offerings. In the 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets achieved the number one spot in the Commissions and Fees category. The broker is known for its consistently low spread offering, applicable to all customer segments and account types. For example, average spreads on the EUR/USD pair are a competitive 0.61 pips as of August 2023. Their active trader program, the Price Plus Scheme, provides discounts on trading costs based on Trading Points, which can significantly reduce spreads for high-volume traders. Commission-based pricing through the FX Active plan offers a highly competitive all-in cost of 0.5 pips, reinforcing CMC Markets' 5-star rating in this category.
In contrast, AvaTrade's spreads are slightly above those of entry-level accounts at CMC Markets, averaging just under one pip (0.9 pips as of June 2024). While this is in line with the industry average, it does not match the low spreads offered by CMC Markets. For professional traders, AvaTrade offers a competitive spread of 0.6 pips on its Professional account, which is comparable to brokers like FP Markets. However, AvaTrade's overall offering places it lower in the rankings, coming in at number 12 in the Commissions and Fees category out of 63 brokers, with a 4.5-star rating.
In summary, CMC Markets is a leader in the industry with its aggressive pricing strategies and innovative active trader program, achieving the first rank in commissions and fees. AvaTrade, while offering competitive spreads for professional accounts, remains slightly behind, securing the 12th rank. Traders looking for the most cost-effective options may find CMC Markets' comprehensive pricing models more appealing.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to the range of investments offered by online brokers, CMC Markets and AvaTrade present distinct portfolios that cater to various trading needs. CMC Markets significantly outshines AvaTrade in terms of sheer variety, boasting an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols compared to AvaTrade's 1,260. For those interested in forex trading, CMC Markets offers 156 tradable forex pairs, a notable increase over AvaTrade’s 53 pairs. While both brokers provide forex trading as a CFD or spot contract and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, neither allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Investors looking to buy exchange-traded securities will find CMC Markets a more versatile choice. Unlike AvaTrade, CMC Markets enables clients to purchase shares not only on U.S. exchanges but also on international platforms, offering access to global giants like Apple and Vodafone. Both brokers support copy trading, yet CMC Markets secures a top-tier reputation with a 5-star rating for its investment range versus AvaTrade’s 4 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks 9th among 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, while AvaTrade comes in at 32nd, reinforcing CMC Markets' superior standing in offering a wider array of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 53 |
| 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.
When choosing between CMC Markets and AvaTrade for trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer strong options for traders. CMC Markets and AvaTrade provide simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice their strategies without risk. Both brokers have developed proprietary platforms, alongside offering Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms for flexible trading. For traders keen on MetaTrader, both MT4 and MT5 are supported by each broker. Copy trading is available on both platforms, but AvaTrade extends its features with DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, while CMC Markets does not. When it comes to charting, CMC Markets supplies 40 drawing tools compared to AvaTrade's 13, along with the capability to trade directly from stock charts for both brokers. For those interested in keeping detailed watch lists, CMC Markets provides 11 columns, slightly more than AvaTrade's seven.
Performance ratings give CMC Markets a slight edge, with a perfect 5-star rating for trading platforms and tools, compared to AvaTrade’s 4.5 stars. Reflecting these ratings, CMC Markets is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers in this category by ForexBrokers.com, while AvaTrade holds the #13 spot. These differences highlight CMC Markets as a top choice for traders who demand comprehensive tools and charting capabilities, although AvaTrade's integration with third-party platforms like DupliTrade and ZuluTrade makes it appealing for those interested in advanced copy trading features.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 13 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and AvaTrade cater to iPhone and Android users efficiently. They offer features like stock and forex price alerts, and the ability for watchlists to sync seamlessly with clients' online accounts, ensuring you stay updated on the go. While both apps support drawing trendlines and viewing multiple time frames on charts, CMC Markets allows these drawings to be saved automatically, a feature not available with AvaTrade. Additionally, both platforms facilitate the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, making it simple to keep track of your favorite stocks or currency pairs.
In terms of charting capabilities, AvaTrade takes the lead by offering an impressive 73 technical studies compared to CMC Markets' 29. However, CMC Markets garners a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, whereas AvaTrade follows closely with a 4.5-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, among 63 brokers evaluated, CMC Markets ranks 5th in the Mobile Trading Apps category, outperforming AvaTrade, which sits at 13th. This distinction highlights some nuanced differences in user experience and features that traders may consider when choosing between these two platforms.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Catering to traders looking for comprehensive market analysis, CMC Markets excels by providing daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. It stands out further by offering tools from Autochartist, which enable in-depth technical and fundamental analysis. In addition, with sentiment-based trading tools and an extensive economic calendar, CMC Markets delivers well-rounded market insights, earning it a stellar five-star rating in the research category. It's no surprise that it ranks sixth among 63 brokers for research on ForexBrokers.com.
On the other hand, AvaTrade also serves its users with high-quality forex news from leading global sources and offers technical analysis tools from Trading Central. Like CMC Markets, it provides a sentiment-based trading tool and a comprehensive economic calendar. Despite these features, AvaTrade falls slightly behind, lacking daily market commentary and Autochartist tools, resulting in a respectable four-star rating and placing it 34th in research rankings by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 AvaTrade provide plenty of opportunities to learn about forex and CFDs. Each broker offers a range of over ten educational materials like articles, videos, and webinars focused on these subjects. For those who enjoy learning through videos, both platforms have beginner-friendly video content covering trading basics. Additionally, they both provide advanced video lessons for traders looking to deepen their understanding. An investor dictionary with over 50 investment terms is also available through each broker, making it easier for novice traders to familiarize themselves with the industry jargon.
However, there are some distinctions. AvaTrade stands out by offering regular online webinars for clients, held monthly, giving participants a chance to learn interactively. While CMC Markets does not provide these timely webinars, it does offer a searchable archive of previous webinars, as does AvaTrade. Despite AvaTrade's strong overall educational ranking at #2 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets actually receives a higher individual star rating for education at five stars, compared to AvaTrade's four. This comparison illustrates that while both brokers are excellent for educational resources, one may be more suited to your learning preferences than the other.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 AvaTrade. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while AvaTrade finished with an overall rank of #13.
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
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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Both CMC Markets and AvaTrade do not support the purchase of actual delivered cryptocurrency, but each platform offers the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets and AvaTrade both support Visa, Mastercard, PayPal, and bank wires for depositing and withdrawing account funds; however, CMC Markets also offers ACH or SEPA transfers, while AvaTrade uniquely provides Skrill as a payment option.
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 | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
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| Review | CMC Markets Review | AvaTrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 53 | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| ZuluTrade | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 13 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | AvaTrade Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | AvaTrade Review |
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