Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs BDSwiss, 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 and BDSwiss are prominent online brokers that differ significantly in their trust ratings and regulatory standings. Established in 1989, CMC Markets boasts a strong reputation with a top-tier Trust Score of 99 out of 99, reflecting its solidity and reliability. The company is publicly traded, adding a layer of transparency for investors. CMC Markets holds five Tier-1 licenses, the highest level of trust as defined by ForexBrokers.com, alongside an additional Tier-2 license. This suggests a commitment to stringent regulatory standards, offering its clients a secure trading environment.
In comparison, BDSwiss, founded in 2012, holds a Trust Score of 73 out of 99, indicating a moderate level of risk. Unlike CMC Markets, BDSwiss is not a publicly traded entity, which may affect the perceived transparency of its operations. BDSwiss holds one Tier-1 license, demonstrating a measure of regulatory adherence, but lacks any Tier-2 licenses. Both companies are not banks, ensuring their primary focus remains on providing brokerage services. Despite these differences, each broker offers distinct advantages depending on investor needs and their comfort with risk levels.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing CMC Markets and BDSwiss, both online brokers are recognized for their services, but they differ significantly in their commissions and fees. CMC Markets shines as the top choice, securing the #1 spot in ForexBrokers.com's Commissions and Fees category and earning a perfect 5-star rating. Customers benefit from CMC's consistently low average spreads, such as a typical 0.61 pips on EUR/USD. Their innovative Price Plus Scheme, which offers discounts based on trading volume, along with the FX Active pricing structure—where highly competitive spreads are enhanced by a $2.50 per side commission—solidifies CMC Markets as a leading option for traders.
In contrast, BDSwiss is ranked #30 out of 63 brokers and has a 4-star rating for commissions and fees. Their offerings are notably less competitive in terms of cost. For the EUR/USD, BDSwiss's Classic account has a spread of 1.5 pips, considered high compared to industry standards; meanwhile, its Raw account offers a spread of 0.3 pips with a $5 commission per side, leading to an effective 1.3 pips total spread. The VIP account further reduces cost to a 1.2 pips spread but still falls short of CMC Markets' value proposition.
Ultimately, for traders focused on minimizing costs, CMC Markets stands out with its superior pricing strategy and substantial cost-saving options. Its position as a leader in low trading fees is reinforced through its transparent pricing mechanisms, diverse account types, and dedicated active trader programs. While BDSwiss provides reasonable services, its fee structure is less attractive when compared to CMC Markets' aggressive pricing options and benefits.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| 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 variety of investment options, CMC Markets outshines BDSwiss with both its extensive range of tradeable symbols and forex pairs. CMC Markets offers an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols, significantly more than the 1,081 available through BDSwiss. Similarly, CMC Markets provides access to 156 forex pairs compared to BDSwiss’s 53 pairs. This broad selection is complemented by CMC Markets’ ability to offer clients direct investments in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, a feature not available with BDSwiss. Both platforms do allow for forex trading as CFDs and trading in cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports purchasing the actual cryptocurrency. Furthermore, both brokers provide copy trading capabilities, appealing to users looking to replicate successful investment strategies.
In terms of recognition, CMC Markets is highly rated for its range of investments. It holds a five-star rating and is ranked 9th among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, BDSwiss has a four-star rating and is positioned at 34th in the same category. Whether you are a trader looking for a wide array of investment options or seeking established recognition within the trading community, CMC Markets offers an attractive edge over BDSwiss.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 1081 |
| 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 comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by CMC Markets and BDSwiss, both brokers provide a comprehensive suite of options suitable for online traders. Both platforms have developed their own proprietary systems and deliver the well-known MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, making them versatile choices whether you prefer a desktop download or trading via a web browser. Additionally, traders can simulate strategies with free virtual demo accounts on both platforms, and have the opportunity to engage in copy trading. While neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, both offer the convenience of trading directly from stock charts.
CMC Markets distinguishes itself with a higher number of drawing tools for charting, offering 40 compared to BDSwiss’s 15. In terms of watchlist customization, CMC Markets provides 11 fields, which is more than the 7 offered by BDSwiss. These features, combined with its overall superior rating of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, place CMC Markets at #4 out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, significantly outpacing BDSwiss, which ranks at #24 with 4 stars. These distinctions could influence traders seeking an extensive set of tools for advanced market analysis and monitoring.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and BDSwiss, both platforms offer a seamless experience for iPhone and Android users with features like stock or forex price alerts. However, CMC Markets stands out by offering watchlist symbol syncing, enabling users to effortlessly sync changes between their mobile app and online account. BDSwiss does not offer this feature, which could be a significant difference for traders who appreciate a more integrated workflow across devices.
In terms of charting capabilities, BDSwiss provides a slightly higher number of technical studies than CMC Markets, with 30 compared to CMC's 29. Both apps allow for drawing trendlines, viewing multiple time frames, and automatically saving chart drawings, providing comprehensive tools for technical analysis. Both platforms also support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. However, CMC Markets receives the edge with a higher user rating of 5 stars compared to BDSwiss's 4 stars and is ranked as the 5th best mobile trading app by ForexBrokers.com, whereas BDSwiss is ranked 24th among 63 brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of CMC Markets and BDSwiss, clients will find both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to economic calendars that outline current and future global news events. However, a notable difference is that CMC Markets supplies forex news sourced from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, while BDSwiss does not offer access to news of this caliber. Both brokers are equipped with technical analysis tools from Autochartist, yet BDSwiss also includes research tools from Trading Central, enhancing its suite of technical analytics.
On another front, CMC Markets differentiates itself with a sentiment-based trading tool that displays long and short positions across various financial instruments, a feature that BDSwiss lacks. Neither broker provides research tools from Acuity Trading or TipRanks, but the comprehensive suite offered by CMC Markets contributes to its higher ranking and 5-star rating for research compared to BDSwiss's 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets stands out at 6th place among 63 brokers in the research category, while BDSwiss ranks 24th, reflecting its competitive yet slightly less robust research capabilities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners, CMC Markets and BDSwiss both offer an impressive range of materials related to forex and CFDs. Each platform provides at least 10 educational pieces, such as articles and videos, designed for learners. Both brokers offer a comprehensive library of beginner and advanced educational videos, ensuring traders at various levels can enhance their skills. They also maintain accessible archives of recorded webinars, perfect for self-paced learning. Additionally, clients can benefit from investor dictionaries available on both platforms, which contain definitions for over 50 investing terms. This solid foundation makes both brokers attractive options for beginners eager to dive into forex and CFD trading.
However, there are some notable differences between the two. BDSwiss stands out by offering monthly live webinars, tailoring an interactive educational experience for its clients. CMC Markets, on the other hand, does not provide regular live webinars but scores higher overall in educational offerings and ranks more favorably, securing the 10th spot among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, BDSwiss is ranked 19th in the same category. When considering the overall educational support for new traders, CMC Markets slightly edges ahead with a 5-star rating compared to BDSwiss's 4-star rating. Despite these differences, both platforms are well-equipped to help beginners make informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 BDSwiss. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while BDSwiss finished with an overall rank of #36.
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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BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Neither CMC Markets nor BDSwiss allows the purchase of actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but both brokers offer the ability to buy cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets and BDSwiss both support ACH/SEPA transfers, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires for depositing or withdrawing funds, but CMC Markets accepts PayPal while BDSwiss doesn't, and BDSwiss offers Skrill, unlike CMC Markets.
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 | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2012 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 1081 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
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