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.
When considering online brokers, CMC Markets and AvaTrade both present compelling options, although they have notable differences in their regulatory backgrounds and company structures. CMC Markets was established in 1989 and is publicly traded, highlighting its long-standing presence and transparency in the market. Meanwhile, AvaTrade, founded in 2006, remains privately held. Neither company operates as a bank, but both are well-regulated with multiple licenses to ensure customer protection and service reliability.
In terms of regulatory strength, CMC Markets and AvaTrade are both considered highly trusted, evidenced by their ForexBrokers.com Trust Scores of 99 and 94, respectively. CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses, which are top-tier and indicate a high level of trust. AvaTrade boasts four Tier-1 licenses, and both companies also hold additional Tier-2 licenses, further emphasizing their commitment to regulation and client safety. These distinctions make them both appealing choices for traders seeking secure online trading platforms.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets stands out as a pricing leader: it earned 5 out of 5 stars and ranked #1 of 63 brokers for Commissions & Fees in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards. AvaTrade is solid but a notch pricier overall, earning 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranking #13 of 63. In short, both are competitive, but CMC Markets generally delivers lower all-in trading costs across more scenarios.
CMC Markets posts tight average spreads, including about 0.61 pips on EUR/USD (August 2023). Its FX Active commission plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, producing an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other major pairs (based on August 2023 data). As an example, NZD/USD is typically 1.5 pips on the standard account but drops to about 0.5 pips all-in with FX Active. CMC’s Price Plus Scheme can further cut costs for high-volume traders via Trading Points (two points per standard lot); reaching Tier 4 requires 1,250 standard lots in a month and unlocks a 20% spread discount. Importantly, CMC’s average spreads tend to track close to its minimums, which helps explain its top ranking.
AvaTrade’s spreads are near the industry average at roughly 0.9 pips (June 2024), which is slightly higher than CMC Markets’ entry-level pricing. If you qualify as a professional client, AvaTrade’s spreads can drop to about 0.6 pips, making it competitive for experienced traders. Overall, AvaTrade offers fair pricing, but CMC Markets typically provides lower average and all-in costs for frequent forex traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.61 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs AvaTrade on range of investments, CMC Markets offers far more choice with 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while AvaTrade lists 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex via CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives (not actual coins). Neither offers the ability to buy delivered crypto.
CMC Markets also lets you buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (for example, Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone on the London Stock Exchange), whereas AvaTrade does not offer real share dealing outside of CFDs. Reflecting this breadth, CMC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 for Range of Investments, while AvaTrade scores 4/5 stars and ranks #33. If you want the widest selection and the option to buy real shares, CMC Markets stands out; if you’re focused on CFD trading, AvaTrade covers the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 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.
CMC Markets vs AvaTrade: both brokers check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each provides a free demo account for paper trading, an in-house platform, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade via a Windows desktop app or in your web browser with either broker. Copy trading is available at both, and you can place orders directly from charts.
Looking at independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com for Trading Platforms and Tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63, while AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #13. If you’re after the higher-rated toolkit, CMC Markets has the edge; if you prefer AvaTrade’s platform lineup or are already comfortable with its features, it remains a solid choice. In short, both deliver flexible platform options, chart trading, and a risk-free demo to practice before you fund.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
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.
CMC Markets stands out for market research with daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. It also includes Autochartist for technical and fundamental ideas, plus a sentiment tool and an economic calendar. AvaTrade matches CMC Markets on premium forex news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, but it swaps Autochartist for Trading Central. Neither broker offers research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Based on ForexBrokers.com’s ratings, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while AvaTrade earns 4 stars and ranks #35. Choose CMC Markets if you value daily commentary and Autochartist-driven insights; pick AvaTrade if Trading Central is your go-to toolkit. Both brokers deliver timely news, trader sentiment, and calendar coverage.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing CMC Markets and AvaTrade, both brokers provide plenty of video-based learning. Each offers at least 10 beginner-friendly videos plus 10 more for advanced topics, so you can start with the basics and grow into strategy and risk management at your own pace. The focus is on practical trading education for forex and CFDs, making it easier to understand key terms and how markets work.
The big difference is live learning: AvaTrade hosts educational webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not. In expert evaluations, CMC Markets holds a 5-star Education rating but is ranked #10 for Education by ForexBrokers.com, whereas AvaTrade has a 4-star Education rating and is ranked #2 out of 63 brokers. If you want frequent live sessions, AvaTrade stands out; if you prefer highly rated video education, CMC Markets is a strong pick.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| 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 | 6 | 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) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1260 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 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 | 1.3 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.61 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading 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 [DELETED] | |||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] | |||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | |||
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | |||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
| 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | AvaTrade Review |
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