Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Capital.com, 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, is a seasoned player in the online brokerage world. As a publicly traded company, CMC Markets offers transparency that is generally appealing to investors. With a remarkable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, CMC Markets is regarded as highly trustworthy. The broker holds five Tier-1 licenses, contributing to its strong reputation for reliability, along with one Tier-2 license. Despite not being a bank, its regulatory compliance ensures clients can trade with confidence.
In contrast, Capital.com, founded in 2016, is a younger entrant in the market. While not publicly listed, it has still managed to establish its credibility with a Trust Score of 87 out of 99, marking it as a trusted broker. Capital.com holds three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, providing a solid assurance of its commitment to security and client protection. While neither CMC Markets nor Capital.com operate as banks, both offer secure platforms for online trading, with regulatory licenses ensuring a dependable trading environment.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of CMC Markets and Capital.com, both brokers offer competitive pricing, but CMC Markets takes the lead. For its outstanding cost structure, CMC Markets won the top spot in the 2025 Annual Awards for Commissions and Fees. It offers consistently low spreads for all customer segments and account types. For example, the typical spread for EUR/USD is just 0.61 pips. CMC Markets also provides a discount program through its new Price Plus Scheme, allowing active traders to earn reductions in trading costs based on their Trading Points, which are calculated from trading volumes.
On the other hand, Capital.com offers pricing that is slightly better than the industry average and ranks #3 in the same awards category. The broker lists a dynamic spread of 0.67 pips for the EUR/USD, verified to be its average rate in April 2024, making it an appealing choice for low-cost forex trading. Capital.com provides a universal account for retail traders and an additional professional account, although professional clients won't receive the same regulatory protection as retail clients.
Both brokers received top ratings of 5 stars out of five for their commissions and fees. CMC Markets impresses further with its FX Active pricing, which includes a commission of $2.50 per side and minimum spreads of zero pips, leading to an all-in cost of 0.5 pips for popular pairs like EUR/USD. With these plans, CMC Markets emerges as the unrivaled leader in competitive pricing and is ranked #1 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.67 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.67 |
| 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 investment offerings between CMC Markets and Capital.com, it becomes apparent that both have their strengths. CMC Markets boasts a larger array of tradeable symbols with an impressive 11,925 options, compared to Capital.com’s 5,585. For forex enthusiasts, CMC Markets again takes the lead by offering 156 tradeable forex pairs, surpassing Capital.com's selection of 125. Moreover, unlike Capital.com, CMC Markets provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing investors to purchase shares of companies such as Apple and Vodafone.
In terms of trading capabilities, both platforms offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract and the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives. However, neither allows direct purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Furthermore, CMC Markets offers the added feature of copy trading, which is absent in Capital.com. Perhaps this breadth of offerings contributes to CMC Markets' higher rating of 5 stars for its range of investments, compared to Capital.com’s 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, this distinction is further recognized with CMC Markets being ranked 9th out of 63 brokers for range of investments, while Capital.com holds the 21st position.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 5585 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 125 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both CMC Markets and Capital.com provide a comprehensive suite of tools and platforms for traders. Each offers a proprietary platform, allowing users to experience a tailored trading environment. Both brokers include features like simulated trading through a virtual demo account, as well as compatibility with popular platforms like MetaTrader 4. CMC Markets stands out by also offering MetaTrader 5, providing users with additional advanced functionalities. Both platforms cater to various trading preferences with Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based browser platforms, and they even allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts.
While both brokers score well in terms of available features, CMC Markets edges ahead with a perfect five-star rating, compared to Capital.com's 4.5 stars, according to ForexBrokers.com. CMC Markets also offers copy trading, a feature not available with Capital.com. When it comes to charting tools, both offer a wealth of drawing tools—40 with CMC Markets and 60 with Capital.com. Despite Capital.com's strong showing, CMC Markets ranks higher overall, coming in at number four compared to Capital.com's tenth place in the Trading Platforms and Tools category among 63 brokers. This makes CMC Markets a slightly more favorable choice for those prioritizing trading features and tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 97 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 60 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and Capital.com, both cater to iPhone and Android users, offering comprehensive tools for trading stocks and forex. Each platform delivers stock and forex price alerts to keep users informed of market movements, and both support drawing trendlines on charts with multiple time frame views available. However, only CMC Markets allows for watchlist symbol syncing, enabling seamless updates between your mobile device and online account. While Capital.com slightly edges out with 30 technical studies versus CMC Markets’ 29, both apps ensure that drawings on charts autosave, preserving your technical analysis efforts.
Despite a similar feature set, user ratings and rankings provide distinction. CMC Markets is celebrated with a flawless 5-star rating and prestigious 5th place out of 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com's Mobile Trading Apps category. In contrast, Capital.com secures a respectable 4.5-star rating, coming in at 11th place. Both apps permit creating watchlists with real-time quotes, but CMC Markets’ seamless syncing and top-tier user satisfaction set it apart as a preferred choice for mobile trading enthusiasts.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
CMC Markets and Capital.com both provide daily market commentary and forex news from reputable sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed about the latest market trends. While both platforms offer sentiment-based trading tools, CMC Markets takes a slight edge in technical analysis by incorporating tools from Autochartist, which Capital.com lacks. On the other hand, Capital.com diversifies its research offerings by including market insights from TipRanks, a feature not available on CMC Markets' platform.
Both brokers support traders with economic calendars that display crucial upcoming global news events. Despite their similarities, CMC Markets is rated higher for research with five stars and ranked #6 by ForexBrokers.com compared to Capital.com's 4.5-star rating and #14 ranking. This distinction positions CMC Markets slightly ahead in terms of research excellence and comprehensive tool offerings.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| 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, both CMC Markets and Capital.com offer accessible and plentiful options. Both platforms provide a minimum of 10 educational pieces focusing on forex or CFDs, ensuring that new traders have plenty of materials to start with. Additionally, they both have a collection of beginner educational videos that cover trading topics in an easy-to-understand format. For those looking to deepen their knowledge, each broker also offers more than 10 advanced videos tailored for experienced traders. An investor dictionary is available through both services, featuring definitions for over 50 investing terms, helping beginners grasp complex concepts.
While neither CMC Markets nor Capital.com hosts live educational webinars monthly, both maintain a searchable archive of previously recorded sessions, allowing users to learn at their own pace. CMC Markets scores an impressive 5 stars for education, while Capital.com is slightly behind with a rating of 4.5 stars. Despite the rating difference, ForexBrokers.com ranks CMC Markets at #10 and Capital.com higher at #8 out of 63 brokers. This suggests both platforms are strong contenders in providing educational materials for beginners, with Capital.com slightly edging out CMC Markets in the educational ranking stakes.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| 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 Capital.com. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10.
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
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
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Both CMC Markets and Capital.com do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, CMC Markets stands out by offering ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, unlike Capital.com, although both platforms support PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard transactions, with Capital.com additionally supporting Skrill, while both brokers provide the option for bank wire transfers.
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 | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
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| Review | CMC Markets Review | Capital.com Review |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 5585 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 125 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.67 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.67 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 97 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 60 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Capital.com Review |
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