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 in 1989) and eToro (founded in 2007) are well-known online brokers. Both are publicly traded companies and neither is a bank. In terms of regulation, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses—considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com—plus 1 Tier-2 license. eToro holds 4 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license.
ForexBrokers.com’s Trust Score rates brokers on a 0–99 scale: 90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. CMC Markets earns a 99/99 Trust Score, while eToro scores 97/99—placing both firms in the highly trusted category.
| 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 |
Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets generally comes out cheaper than eToro. CMC Markets is rated 5/5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while eToro earns 4/5 stars and ranks #22 out of 63. CMC Markets also won our 2025 Annual Award for Commissions and Fees.
CMC Markets posts tight pricing with a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan adds a $2.50-per-side commission to spreads that can start at 0.0, giving an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other major pairs; for example, NZD/USD can drop from 1.5 pips on the standard spread to about 0.5 pips with FX Active. Frequent traders can lower costs further through the Price Plus Scheme, which offers tiered spread discounts (up to 20%) based on monthly trading activity. Crucially, CMC’s average spreads tend to track its advertised minimums, helping keep real-world costs predictable.
eToro, a market-maker, lists a typical variable spread of 1 pip on EUR/USD, which is slightly higher than the industry average. Its VIP Club (Silver to Diamond) rewards balances from $5,000 to $250,000 with perks like Trading Central access, discounted deposit/withdrawal fees, and a dedicated account manager. Many retail traders choose eToro for its social copy trading features, but if your priority is the lowest spreads and flexible pricing, CMC Markets is typically the more cost-effective choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50-$10,000 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1 |
| 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.
CMC Markets and eToro both give traders access to forex as either CFDs or spot contracts, plus the option to trade U.S. and international shares that are listed on real exchanges, not just CFDs. Each platform also supports copy trading and crypto CFDs. When it comes to overall market choice, CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while eToro offers 7,441 tradeable symbols and 65 forex pairs, so CMC Markets has the wider selection for traders who want more markets to choose from.
The biggest difference in their investment range is crypto ownership. eToro lets users buy actual cryptocurrency, while CMC Markets does not and only offers crypto CFDs. Both brokers are rated 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, but ForexBrokers.com places CMC Markets slightly ahead at #9 out of 63 brokers, compared with eToro at #10. In short, both are strong choices, but CMC Markets stands out for breadth, while eToro is the better fit if you want to own real crypto.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7441 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 65 |
| 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 offer free paper trading via demo accounts, proprietary platforms, and web-based trading with the ability to place trades directly from charts. They also both support copy trading. Where they differ is platform choice: CMC Markets provides a Windows desktop platform and supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while eToro does not offer a Windows download or MT4/MT5 access, focusing instead on its in-house browser platform.
For Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it 6th out of 63 brokers; eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks 8th. In short, choose CMC Markets if you want a desktop app or MetaTrader compatibility alongside web trading, and pick eToro if you prefer a simple web experience with built-in copy trading. Since both brokers offer demo accounts, you can try each platform risk-free to see which fits your trading style.
| 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.
CMC Markets and eToro both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each supports price alerts and watchlist syncing with your web account, so updates carry over wherever you trade. For charting, both let you draw trendlines, but eToro packs in more technical studies (104 vs. CMC Markets’ 29). That said, CMC Markets auto-saves your chart drawings, while eToro does not—a handy perk if you revisit charts often.
When it comes to recognition, CMC Markets holds a slight edge: it earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while eToro scores 4.5 stars and ranks #10. If you value a wider range of indicators, eToro may appeal; if you want auto-saved drawings and top-tier ratings, CMC Markets is the better fit.
| 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 | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both CMC Markets and eToro give traders useful day-to-day updates. Each broker offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar with key global events. That makes both platforms helpful for tracking market moves and planning trades in plain sight.
CMC Markets has the edge overall, though. It includes Autochartist for extra technical and fundamental insights, while eToro does not, but eToro stands out by offering TipRanks research, which CMC Markets does not. Based on ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets scores 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks #12, so CMC Markets comes out slightly ahead for overall research quality.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
eToro
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
CMC Markets and eToro both give beginners plenty to learn from. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner-focused videos, plus at least 10 advanced videos you can grow into, making it simple to start with the basics and move on to more complex trading lessons at your own pace.
If you want live guidance, eToro hosts online client webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not run regular live sessions. Independent ratings differ: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers, while eToro earns 4.5 stars and ranks #3. In short, choose eToro for frequent live webinars and a top-tier education ranking, or pick CMC Markets for the highest education score and strong video learning paths for beginners.
| 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 #5, 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 | 97 |
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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 | 97 | |
| 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 | 97 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 65 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1 | |
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 97 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | eToro Review |
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