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 |
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 | 1.3 | 0.93 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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 comparing the range of investments available at CMC Markets and AvaTrade, CMC Markets shines with an impressive collection of 12,029 tradable symbols compared to AvaTrade's offering of 1,260. Both brokers provide forex trading through CFDs, but CMC Markets delivers a broader selection with 141 forex pairs against AvaTrade's 53. CMC Markets also stands out by offering exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, giving investors the option to purchase shares directly, whereas AvaTrade lacks this feature. While neither broker allows purchasing actual cryptocurrencies, they both offer trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
In addition to offering forex and cryptocurrencies, CMC Markets and AvaTrade both provide the option for copy trading, which is appealing for beginners looking to mirror the trades of experienced investors. However, the extensive variety of investment options at CMC Markets earns it a higher rating of 5 stars, compared to AvaTrade's 4 stars in the Range of Investments category. Furthermore, ForexBrokers.com ranks CMC Markets at #9 out of 63 brokers, highlighting its diverse investment offerings, whereas AvaTrade is positioned at #32, reflecting its comparatively narrower selection.
| 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and AvaTrade, both brokers offer a rich set of trading platforms and tools designed to cater to traders at various experience levels. Each provides access to a proprietary trading platform, Windows-based desktop download, and a web-based trading platform, ensuring flexibility in user experience. Both companies also support simulated trading with free virtual demo accounts, making it easier for newcomers to practice strategies without financial risk. Additionally, CMC Markets and AvaTrade are compatible with industry standards MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), allowing traders familiar with these platforms to seamlessly transition between brokers. However, AvaTrade sets itself apart with support for DupliTrade and ZuluTrade, offering diversified copy trading options not available with CMC Markets.
Both brokers incorporate crucial charting capabilities, enabling direct trade execution from stock charts. Yet, CMC Markets offers an edge in analytics, with 36 drawing tools for charting as compared to AvaTrade's 13. This breadth in charting tools complements CMC Markets' comprehensive 11 columns for watch lists, allowing for detailed market analysis. Despite AvaTrade's lower number of watch list fields at seven, both brokers have been well-ranked for their trading platforms and tools, though CMC Markets holds a higher position, ranked #4 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, with a 5-star rating. AvaTrade, with a 4.5-star rating, is ranked #13, making both competitive options for traders seeking robust platform features and tools.
| 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) | 73 | 80 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 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 | |
| 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/Central Bank 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 | 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) | 73 | 80 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 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 |
| 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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