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, established in 1989, stands out in the online brokerage industry with its presence on the stock exchange, contributing to its strong reputation among traders. This broker holds six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a high level of trust, and a Tier-2 license further underlining its credibility. With a near-perfect Trust Score of 99 on ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets is considered highly trusted, making it a popular choice for traders looking for a reliable platform.
In contrast, BDSwiss, founded in 2012, is not a publicly traded company but does offer competitive services as a privately-owned entity. It holds one Tier-1 license, which signifies a commitment to maintaining trust, even though it hasn't secured any Tier-2 licenses. With a Trust Score of 73, ForexBrokers.com rates BDSwiss as average risk, providing a satisfactory level of safety for traders but not reaching the high trust level of its counterpart, CMC Markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2012 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards. Its pricing is designed to stay low across account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). The FX Active plan charges a $2.50 per side commission with minimum spreads of 0.0, delivering about a 0.5-pip all-in cost on EUR/USD and several other majors. Active traders can also tap the Price Plus Scheme, which applies tiered discounts based on monthly Trading Points and volume, helping frequent traders cut costs further.
BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #31 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees. Its Classic account spread of 1.5 pips on EUR/USD is on the high side compared to pricing leaders. The VIP account lowers that to 1.2 pips. For traders who prefer commission pricing, the Raw account lists 0.3 pips plus a $5 commission per side, which works out to an effective spread of about 1.3 pips.
Bottom line on fees: CMC Markets typically offers lower all-in costs, especially for active traders who can benefit from FX Active and Price Plus discounts. BDSwiss provides multiple account options, but even its Raw account’s effective pricing is generally higher than CMC Markets’ averages. As always, compare average spreads—not just minimums—when evaluating your likely trading costs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs BDSwiss on range of investments, CMC Markets offers far more to trade: 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, versus 1,081 symbols and 53 pairs at BDSwiss. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs (contracts for difference). A key difference is share dealing: CMC Markets lets you buy real, exchange‑traded shares in the U.S. and on international markets, while BDSwiss does not offer real share purchases (it focuses on CFDs).
Both CMC Markets and BDSwiss provide copy trading and let you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs, but neither allows buying actual (delivered) crypto. Reflecting the wider lineup, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; BDSwiss holds 4 stars and ranks 35th. Choose CMC Markets if you want the broadest market access and the ability to own shares; pick BDSwiss if you’re comfortable with a smaller CFD selection that still covers core markets with copy trading and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1081 |
| 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.
CMC Markets and BDSwiss both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform built in-house, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can trade on Windows desktop or in your browser, place orders directly from charts, and access copy trading with either choice.
Ratings provide a clear separator. For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com gives CMC Markets 5 stars and a #4 ranking out of 63 brokers, while BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #24. If you want the higher-rated platform experience, CMC Markets stands out; if you simply need MetaTrader alongside web and desktop access with copy trading and a demo account, BDSwiss is a capable alternative.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the CMC Markets mobile app to the BDSwiss mobile app, both brokers cover the basics well: each offers iPhone and Android apps plus price alerts for forex and stocks. The key difference is watchlist syncing. CMC Markets syncs symbols between the mobile app and the web platform, so changes carry over automatically. BDSwiss does not sync watchlists, which may matter if you switch devices often.
For charting, CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies while BDSwiss offers 30. Both apps let you draw trendlines and auto-save your chart drawings. In overall quality, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps on ForexBrokers.com, while BDSwiss holds 4 stars and ranks #24. If seamless watchlist syncing and a higher-rated experience are priorities, CMC Markets stands out; if you value a slightly larger set of built-in studies, BDSwiss is competitive.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
CMC Markets and BDSwiss both offer plenty of beginner-friendly trading education. Each provides at least 10 beginner videos and 10+ advanced videos, helping you build skills step by step. The standout difference is live learning: BDSwiss hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not run monthly client webinars. If live sessions matter to you, BDSwiss has the edge; if you prefer self-paced video lessons, both brokers deliver a wide library.
For overall quality, CMC Markets takes the lead with a 5 out of 5 education rating and a #10 rank out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. BDSwiss earns 4 stars and ranks #22. Beginners looking for top-rated on-demand education may gravitate toward CMC Markets, while those who want regular live webinars may find BDSwiss a better fit for learning forex and CFDs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 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
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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CMC Markets vs BDSwiss: neither broker allows purchasing actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both support cryptocurrency trading via CFDs.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers but not Skrill, while BDSwiss supports ACH/SEPA with the availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wire not specified.
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 | 6 | 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 (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1081 | |
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10-$5000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | BDSwiss Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | BDSwiss | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | BDSwiss Review |
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