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 account | 1.3 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.61 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets vs. AvaTrade on range of investments: if you want the widest choice, CMC Markets stands out. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, compared with AvaTrade’s 1,260 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency exposure via CFDs (not actual coins).
A key difference is access to real shares. CMC Markets lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges—including well-known names like Apple and Vodafone—while AvaTrade does not offer real share dealing. Reflecting this breadth, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5/5 stars for Range of Investments (ranked 9th out of 63 brokers) versus AvaTrade’s 4/5 stars (ranked 33rd out of 63).
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1260 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 53 |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets and AvaTrade on trading platforms and tools, both brokers cover the essentials. Each provides a free demo (paper) account, a proprietary platform, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on a Windows desktop download or through a web-based platform in your browser. Both also offer copy trading and let you place trades directly from charts, making it easy to move from analysis to execution.
The main difference shows up in third-party ratings. CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade scores 4.5 stars and ranks #13. If top-tier platform polish and recognition matter most, CMC Markets has the edge. If you want a similar mix of proprietary and MetaTrader choices, with copy trading and a free demo, AvaTrade remains a dependable option.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 80 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and AvaTrade offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and synced watchlists, so changes on mobile carry over to your web account. For charting, both let you draw trendlines, but they differ in indicators: CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, while AvaTrade packs in 73, which can appeal to indicator-heavy traders.
Workflow details set them apart. CMC Markets auto-saves your chart drawings, while AvaTrade does not. In independent testing, CMC Markets earned 5 stars and was ranked #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com; AvaTrade scored 4.5 stars and ranked #13. If you want a large library of indicators, AvaTrade stands out. If you value auto-saved annotations and a higher-rated mobile experience, CMC Markets is the better fit.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 73 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
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 (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing CMC Markets vs. AvaTrade for beginner education, both brokers deliver plenty of forex and CFD learning materials, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos to grow with you. New traders will find structured lessons, how‑to content, and strategy explainers in easy-to-follow formats. A key difference is live learning: AvaTrade runs ongoing client webinars (at least monthly), while CMC Markets does not offer regular webinars.
On scores, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. AvaTrade earns 4 stars but ranks higher at #2 out of 63. If live, scheduled webinars matter to you, AvaTrade is the better fit. If you prefer high-rated, on-demand videos you can watch anytime, CMC Markets stands out. Either way, beginners get a deep library to start with and room to advance.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
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AvaTrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 94 |
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CMC Markets vs AvaTrade: both online brokers do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
CMC Markets vs AvaTrade: for deposits and withdrawals, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (but not Skrill), while AvaTrade supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires (but not ACH/SEPA); Visa/Mastercard availability was not specified for either.
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. 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 | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.93 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.61 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | 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 | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 80 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 73 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | AvaTrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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