Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs eToro, 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 (founded 1989) and eToro (founded 2007) are online brokers that are publicly traded and not banks. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds a Trust Score of 99/99 and eToro scores 96/99—both fall in the highly trusted 90–99 range.
Looking at regulation, CMC Markets has 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while eToro has 4 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. Tier-1 licenses are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted by ForexBrokers.com, reinforcing the strong trust ratings for both brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2007 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets stands out as the price leader. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets earned 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while eToro received 4.5 stars and ranked #23 out of 63. The gap shows up most in spreads and pricing flexibility.
CMC Markets posts low costs with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan charges a $2.50 per side commission with minimum spreads of 0.0, giving an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other major pairs. FX Active is available on MT4 and Next Generation in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. High-volume traders can also use the Price Plus Scheme to earn spread discounts via Trading Points (for example, roughly 1,250 standard lots in a month unlocks a 20% spread discount at Tier 4). Notably, CMC’s average spreads tend to stay close to its advertised minimums.
eToro, by contrast, is a market-maker with a typical variable EUR/USD spread of 1 pip, which is slightly higher than the industry average. Traders rarely choose eToro for the tightest spreads; its appeal is the social copy trading platform. For perks, the eToro Club offers five VIP tiers (Silver to Diamond) for balances from $5,000 to $250,000, including benefits such as Trading Central access, discounted deposit and withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50-$10,000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs eToro on range of investments: CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while eToro offers 7,441 symbols and 55 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as a contract for difference (CFD) or spot, buy exchange-traded U.S. stocks like Apple, and access international shares such as Vodafone. Each also supports copy trading, making it easier to mirror other investors’ strategies.
For crypto, eToro lets you buy actual cryptocurrencies as well as trade crypto CFDs, whereas CMC Markets offers crypto CFDs only. Both earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, with CMC Markets ranked #9 of 63 brokers and eToro ranked #11. In short: pick CMC Markets for the widest symbol and forex pair selection, or eToro if owning real crypto matters to you.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7441 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 eToro both make it easy to get started with a free paper trading demo and each offers a proprietary platform you can use in your browser. You can place trades right from charts on both, and each supports copy trading. Where they differ is in platform depth: CMC Markets adds a full Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while eToro does not offer a Windows download and doesn’t support MT4 or MT5.
For charting, both brokers provide technical indicators and watch lists, though exact counts weren’t specified. Independent ratings tip the scales toward CMC Markets for trading platforms and tools: it earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with eToro’s 4.5 stars and #8 ranking. In short, CMC Markets is a better fit if you want desktop software and MetaTrader access, while eToro remains a solid choice for web-based trading and social copy features.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs eToro for mobile trading apps: both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps. Each supports stock and forex price alerts, and both sync watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, so changes carry across devices for seamless on-the-go trading.
Charting is where they diverge. eToro provides 104 technical studies in its app, while CMC Markets offers 29. However, CMC Markets lets you draw trendlines and automatically saves your chart drawings; eToro lacks both features. According to ForexBrokers.com’s Mobile Trading Apps category, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while eToro is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #10. Choose eToro if you want a large set of indicators, or CMC Markets if drawing tools and saved annotations matter more.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing CMC Markets vs eToro for market research, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus a sentiment tool and an economic calendar. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers for Research, while eToro received 4.5 stars and ranked #13. If you want steady news flow and everyday insights, either platform covers the basics well.
The bigger differences show up in research tools. CMC Markets includes Autochartist for pattern recognition and trade ideas, while eToro does not. On the other hand, eToro offers Trading Central tools and TipRanks analyst insights, which CMC Markets lacks. Neither broker provides Acuity Trading tools. In short, choose CMC Markets if you value chart-driven signals from Autochartist, or pick eToro if you prefer Trading Central strategies and TipRanks data alongside its broad social trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing CMC Markets vs eToro, both brokers make learning straightforward. Each provides at least 10 beginner videos and another 10 for advanced topics, so you can progress from basics to more in-depth strategies at your own pace.
If live instruction matters, eToro hosts monthly educational webinars, while CMC Markets does not. In third-party evaluations, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education (ranked #10 out of 63 brokers), and eToro earns 4.5 stars (ranked #5 out of 63). Pick eToro if ongoing webinars and a higher category rank appeal to you; choose CMC Markets if a top Education score is your priority.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 eToro. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while eToro finished with an overall rank of #9.
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
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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CMC Markets vs eToro: both brokers support cryptocurrency CFDs, but only eToro lets you buy and hold actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, while CMC Markets limits crypto access to CFDs.
CMC Markets and eToro both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, but only eToro also supports Skrill.
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 | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | eToro Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | eToro | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2007 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7441 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50-$10,000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 106 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | eToro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | eToro Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | eToro | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | eToro Review |
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