Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Eightcap, 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 Eightcap are both prominent players in the online brokerage world, each with unique features and histories. CMC Markets, founded in 1989 and publicly traded, holds a prestigious position with a perfect Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. The broker is backed by six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, ensuring a dependable trading environment. In contrast, Eightcap, established in 2009 and privately owned, has a Trust Score of 85, signifying a trusted status with slightly more risk. Eightcap holds three Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its commitment to regulatory compliance.
While both brokers are not banks, their foundational years, public status, and regulatory standings set them apart. The fact that CMC Markets is publicly traded may provide additional transparency and investor confidence. Meanwhile, Eightcap's multiple Tier-1 licenses attest to its dedication to maintaining industry standards, even if it doesn't have the same level of licenses as CMC Markets. Traders can view these regulatory factors as critical elements when choosing between the two for their trading needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets comes out ahead of Eightcap. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees and holds a 5-star rating, while Eightcap ranks #27 out of 63 with a 4-star rating. Both offer low-cost options, but CMC Markets tends to deliver lower all-in trading costs across more scenarios.
CMC Markets offers consistently tight pricing with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, producing a 0.5-pip all-in cost on EUR/USD and five other major pairs (based on August 2023 data). The standard NZD/USD spread of 1.5 pips can drop to a 0.5-pip all-in cost with FX Active. Active traders can also tap the Price Plus Scheme: you earn Trading Points based on volume (e.g., 2 points per standard lot), with a 20% spread discount at Tier 4 after 1,250 standard lots in a month.
Eightcap provides two account types: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. For the Raw account, Eightcap lists a 0.06-pip average spread; after adding the $3.50 per-side commission, the all-in cost is about 0.76 pips—just below the industry average of 0.8 pips. While competitive, Eightcap is slightly pricier than the very lowest-cost brokers, which is reflected in its 4-star rating and #27 ranking for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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 it comes to range of investments, CMC Markets offers far more choice than Eightcap. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Eightcap provides 800 symbols and 56 pairs. CMC Markets also lets clients buy real, exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges; Eightcap does not offer exchange-traded securities. Both brokers support forex trading, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither lets you buy the underlying cryptocurrency.
Independent ratings reflect this gap: For Range of Investments, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap earns 3.5 stars and ranks #41. Choose CMC Markets if you want the widest market access; Eightcap may suit traders who are comfortable with a smaller catalog.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 800 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 56 |
| 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 vs Eightcap: both brokers offer free demo (paper) trading, web-based and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). CMC Markets also provides its own in-house platform, while Eightcap does not. You can place trades directly from charts with either broker. Neither supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade.
For charting, the number of built-in indicators isn’t specified for either broker, but CMC Markets lists 36 drawing tools compared with Eightcap’s 15. Watchlists are more detailed at CMC Markets (11 columns) versus Eightcap (7 columns). In independent testing of trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earned 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap received 4 stars and ranked #39. These results suggest CMC Markets offers a more feature-rich platform experience, while Eightcap covers the essentials with MT4/MT5 across web and desktop.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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.
CMC Markets and Eightcap both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, and watchlist syncing with your online account. Charting is strong on both: you can draw trendlines, switch between multiple time frames (intraday to weekly), and your drawings auto-save. For technical studies, Eightcap offers 30 indicators while CMC Markets includes 29, keeping them very close for chart analysis.
Where they differ is in third-party evaluations. CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap holds 4 stars and ranks #39. If you want the higher-rated mobile experience, CMC Markets has the edge. If your priority is core charting tools and alerts on both iOS and Android, Eightcap remains a capable choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Eightcap for market research: both brokers provide daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows long/short positioning. CMC Markets goes further with premium forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, and adds Autochartist for technical and fundamental scans. Neither broker includes Trading Central, Acuity Trading (Signal Centre), or TipRanks.
Results reflect those extras: CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Eightcap holds 3.5 stars and ranks #40. If you want integrated pro-grade news and Autochartist insights, CMC Markets stands out; if you only need commentary, a calendar, and sentiment data, Eightcap covers the basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, CMC Markets and Eightcap both offer over ten pieces of educational content focused mainly on forex and CFDs. This includes articles, videos, or archived webinars designed to help newcomers. Beginners can access educational videos on trading topics through both platforms, as each offers at least ten specifically catered to this audience. Additionally, both brokerages provide a searchable archive of recorded webinars and have an investor dictionary with over fifty investing term definitions. However, neither CMC Markets nor Eightcap offers live monthly educational webinars, which could be a downside for those looking for ongoing live support.
Despite some similarities, there are important differences that set these two brokers apart in terms of educational offerings. CMC Markets excels with its collection of advanced educational videos, offering more than ten tailored for experienced traders, a resource Eightcap does not match. This distinction might contribute to CMC Markets receiving a higher education rating, earning 5 stars compared to Eightcap’s 3.5 stars. In the wider landscape of online brokers tracked by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks impressively at 10th place in education, while Eightcap lags behind at 40th. For beginners seeking a comprehensive educational platform, CMC Markets offers a more well-rounded selection of resources.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| 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 Eightcap. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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Both CMC Markets and Eightcap do not offer the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies but provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets supports ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but not Skrill, while Eightcap provides options for PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH or SEPA transfer 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 | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | |||
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 800 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
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