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 | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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.
Comparing the range of investments, CMC Markets offers a far larger selection than BDSwiss. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while BDSwiss provides 1,081 symbols and 53 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts and both offer copy trading. A key difference is access to real shares: CMC Markets lets clients buy exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges (not CFDs), whereas BDSwiss does not.
Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both offer crypto derivatives. For breadth of markets, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it 9th out of 63 brokers, compared with BDSwiss at 4 stars and 35th. If you want the widest instrument list and the ability to buy listed shares directly, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you mainly need CFDs with copy trading and crypto derivatives, BDSwiss covers those basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
BDSwiss
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1081 |
| 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 and BDSwiss both offer traders a comprehensive set of trading platforms and tools designed for all types of investors. Both brokers provide access to their proprietary platforms, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, as well as web-based and Windows-based desktop platforms. They also enable simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing users to practice and refine their trading strategies. Furthermore, both facilitate copy trading, which is ideal for beginners who want to mirror the successful trades of experienced investors. However, neither broker offers access to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade as part of their service offerings.
When it comes to charting capabilities, CMC Markets stands out with 36 drawing tools compared to BDSwiss's 15. Moreover, CMC Markets offers traders the ability to configure 11 columns for their watch lists, compared to BDSwiss's 7. Both platforms allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing user experience. CMC Markets has earned a top-tier rating of 5 stars for its trading platforms and tools, ranking 4th out of 63 in ForexBrokers.com's evaluation. In contrast, BDSwiss holds a respectable 4-star rating, positioned at 24th in the same category. These differences underscore CMC Markets' superior standing among traders seeking advanced trading technology and tools.
| 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) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs BDSwiss for beginner trading education, both brokers check the key boxes. Each offers a sizable library focused on forex and CFD learning, including at least 10 beginner videos, 10+ advanced videos, and a searchable archive of recorded webinars you can watch on your own time. You’ll also find an investor dictionary with 50+ terms at both brokers, which helps new traders understand common jargon.
The main difference is live teaching: BDSwiss hosts online educational webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not. That said, CMC Markets earns a higher education score overall—5 stars and ranked #10 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com—compared to BDSwiss at 4 stars and #22. Choose CMC Markets if you want top-rated, polished learning materials, or go with BDSwiss if regular live webinars are a priority alongside strong on-demand resources.
| 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 | 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 (SFC 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. 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 | 1.3 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 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 |
| 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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