Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Earn, 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 Earn are both noteworthy online brokers, but they differ significantly in their trust and regulatory standings. CMC Markets, established in 1989 and publicly traded, garners a top Trust Score of 99 as rated by ForexBrokers.com, signifying a high level of trust. It holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, marking it as a well-regulated entity across major regions. In contrast, Earn, founded in 1994 and not publicly traded, has a Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category. It operates with 1 Tier-1 license and does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, suggesting a narrower regulatory reach compared to CMC Markets.
Both brokers are not banks, meaning they purely focus on trading services without banking functions. Their regulatory footprints underline distinct levels of security, with CMC Markets clearly leading with extensive licenses and a higher trust rating. These differences in regulatory oversight make CMC Markets a more reassuring choice for those prioritizing safety and reliability in their online trading activities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1994 |
| 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 | 0 |
In the 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets clinched the top spot for commissions and fees due to its consistently low spread offerings accessible to all customers. It boasts competitive average spreads at 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD as per August 2023 data. Notably, CMC Markets features an active trader program, the Price Plus Scheme, which provides discounts on trading costs based on accrued Trading Points. With this program, traders can earn rewards by trading standard lots, reaching up to a 20% spread discount at the highest tier. Moreover, the introduction of FX Active in regions including Southeast Asia and the U.K. offers commission-based pricing with $2.50 per side, enabling a 0.5 pip all-in cost on the EUR/USD.
On the other hand, Earn, rated 4 out of 5 stars for commissions and fees, does not provide specific average spread data, making direct pricing comparison challenging. While Earn holds the 45th rank among 63 brokers in the same category, CMC Markets leads with a solid 5-star rating, further highlighting its attractiveness in terms of pricing. CMC’s commitment to low costs and transparency in spread offerings places it significantly ahead of Earn within the brokerage landscape.
Choosing the right broker often comes down to understanding spreads and trading costs. CMC Markets impresses with its minimal deviation between average and minimum spreads, reinforcing its status as a pricing leader. Meanwhile, the absence of average spread data for Earn can pose potential uncertainties for traders looking to minimize costs. For those prioritizing competitive trading terms, CMC Markets remains a standout choice with its premium offerings and top industry ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| 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 comparing the available range of investments between CMC Markets and Earn, CMC Markets clearly offers a wider array of options for traders. CMC Markets provides access to a substantial 12,029 tradeable symbols, which is significantly more than Earn's offering of 500 symbols. In terms of forex trading, both brokers provide CFDs or spot contracts, yet CMC Markets again leads with 141 forex pairs compared to Earn's 61. Additionally, CMC Markets offers investment opportunities in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to purchase stocks like Apple and Vodafone. This is not an option with Earn, which does not offer investments in exchange-traded securities on any exchange.
Both CMC Markets and Earn provide copy trading options for those interested in mimicking the strategies of other traders. Investors looking to delve into cryptocurrency derivatives will find that both platforms accommodate this need, although neither offers actual cryptocurrency purchases. Overall, CMC Markets achieves a perfect 5-star rating for its diverse range of investments, placing it 9th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Earn receives a 3.5-star rating, coming in at 45th in the same category. For those interested in a broad spectrum of trading options, CMC Markets offers greater variety and flexibility compared to Earn.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 61 |
| 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 of CMC Markets and Earn, both brokers excel in providing simulated trading experiences through virtual demo accounts. CMC Markets distinguishes itself with its in-house developed proprietary platform, which is not a feature offered by Earn. Both brokers do provide a Windows-based desktop download and web-based trading platforms, offering flexibility for traders. For those interested in copy trading, both CMC Markets and Earn offer this service, but Earn further diversifies by supporting ZuluTrade, a feature not available with CMC Markets. Additionally, MetaTrader enthusiasts will find both platforms supporting MT4 and MT5, although DupliTrade is not an offering from either broker.
Catering to traders focused on charting, CMC Markets offers an impressive array of 36 drawing tools compared to Earn's 15, and also supports trading directly from stock charts, a capability shared by both brokers. In terms of market analysis tools, CMC Markets provides more columns for watch lists, 11 in total compared to Earn’s 7. This might appeal to traders who value extensive data visualization. Highlighting their capabilities in trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns a perfect five-star rating, landing the 4th spot out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas Earn garners a respectable four-star rating, ranking at 51st. Overall, while both brokers offer solid trading tools, CMC Markets shows higher versatility and user satisfaction in these areas.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 35 |
| 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 Earn, both brokers offer solid options for iPhone and Android users, ensuring seamless access to markets from anywhere. Each app provides valuable functions such as stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on charts. However, CMC Markets stands out by offering watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that changes made on the mobile app are consistently updated with the client's online account, while Earn does not support this feature. In terms of charting tools, Earn provides 35 technical studies, slightly edging out CMC Markets, which offers 29 studies but still delivers comprehensive technical analysis options.
Both mobile apps support real-time quote watchlists and auto-save chart drawings, enhancing user convenience. Despite these similarities, CMC Markets is rated superior, earning a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile trading app compared to Earn's 4 stars. This is reflected in rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets is placed at an impressive 5th out of 63 brokers, while Earn ranks at 27th. Overall, while both platforms offer useful features for traders on the go, CMC Markets appears to have a slight edge in delivering a more integrated and highly-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 35 |
| 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 CMC Markets and Earn, both platforms provide valuable insights with their daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They also share a practical economic calendar that highlights significant global news events. However, CMC Markets distinguishes itself by offering additional tools for market research. While it incorporates technical analysis tools from Autochartist and a sentiment-based trading tool, Earn does not provide these features. This advanced functionality may offer CMC Markets' users enhanced capabilities to assess trading opportunities.
CMC Markets is highly rated for research, receiving a perfect five-star rating, in stark contrast to Earn's 3.5-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, with CMC Markets ranked 6th and Earn falling behind at 38th out of 63 brokers. Overall, for traders who prioritize comprehensive market research tools and reliable analysis, CMC Markets stands as a stronger contender than Earn.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners keen on diving into the world of forex and CFDs, CMC Markets stands out with its extensive educational materials. Offering more than 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, CMC Markets provides a comprehensive learning experience. Beginners can also benefit from at least 10 educational videos tailored specifically for those new to trading. Additionally, CMC Markets offers a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars and an investor dictionary with definitions of over 50 investing terms. This dedication to education is reflected in their 5-star rating for education and #10 rank out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Earn, on the other hand, trails in comparison when it comes to educational resources. While it has some offerings, it lacks the minimum number of educational materials that CMC Markets provides. The absence of a searchable webinar archive and a comprehensive investor dictionary further limits the learning options for beginners. Advanced educational resources and webinars are also missing from Earn's offerings. Consequently, Earn receives a lower education rating of 3.5 stars and is ranked #62 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. For beginners looking for a rich educational experience, CMC Markets might be the preferable choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 Earn. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Earn finished with an overall rank of #50.
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
|
Earn
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both CMC Markets and Earn do not offer the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets provides a broader range of deposit and withdrawal options compared to Earn, offering ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, while Earn supports Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wires, lacking ACH/SEPA and PayPal options.
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 | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1994 | |
| 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 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 61 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 35 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 35 | |
| 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 | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Earn | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Earn | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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