Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Exness, 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 veteran in the online trading industry, known for being publicly traded on a stock exchange, which adds an extra layer of transparency and accountability. They hold an impressive six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting a highly trusted status. Additionally, CMC Markets has one Tier-2 license, supporting their overall reliability. With a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets provides traders with confidence in their regulatory oversight and industry standing despite not being a bank.
Founded in 2008, Exness has steadily gained credibility in the trading world, though it isn't publicly traded. Geared towards earning trust, Exness holds two Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, positioning it as a trusted broker. With a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 81, Exness is considered a secure platform for traders. It offers a solid choice for those seeking a regulated online broker while also not operating as a bank.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of CMC Markets and Exness, CMC Markets emerges as a leader in affordability and consistency. Awarded the #1 spot in the Commissions and Fees category in the 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets boasts a competitive spread offering with typical spreads of 0.61 pips on EUR/USD. One of its standout features is the FX Active pricing structure, which offers a commission-based model that keeps trading costs low. With a commission of $2.50 per side and minimum spreads of zero pips, the all-in cost here is notably efficient. These features underscore why CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for commissions and fees.
Exness, on the other hand, provides a diverse range of accounts catering to different trader needs, including two standard accounts and three professional ones. The Zero Spread and Raw accounts charge per-trade commissions of $0.05 and up to $7 per round turn lot, respectively, offering lower spreads in exchange for these commissions. The Zero Spread account offers considerable flexibility, with no restrictions on leverage and a 30% trigger for margin calls. Despite these offerings, Exness is rated 4 stars in the commissions and fees category and ranked #35 among 63 brokers.
The choice between CMC Markets and Exness can significantly influence trading costs. CMC Markets, with its high rating and consistent pricing, excels in providing low costs across all account types, making it the top choice for traders looking for low commission and spread options. Meanwhile, Exness offers a variety of accounts to suit different trading strategies but often involves navigating through more complex fee structures. Both brokers have their strong points, but CMC Markets remains the clear leader in fees, ranked as the top broker for commissions and fees by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| 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 | No |
| 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 it comes to the range of investments, CMC Markets stands out in comparison to Exness. CMC Markets offers an impressive 12,029 tradeable symbols, including the option to trade 141 forex pairs, while Exness provides access to 227 symbols and 96 forex pairs. A significant advantage of CMC Markets is the ability to purchase exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to invest in companies like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, Exness does not offer this feature, focusing instead on providing forex trading via CFDs or spot contracts.
Both CMC Markets and Exness support forex trading as CFDs and spot contracts, as well as cryptocurrency derivatives, but neither offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. Copy trading is available with both brokers, which is a useful tool for investors looking to mimic successful trading strategies. However, in terms of overall range, CMC Markets receives a higher rating with 5 stars, ranking 9th out of 63 brokers in this category on ForexBrokers.com. Exness, with a rating of 3.5 stars, ranks 55th, indicating that CMC Markets offers a broader and more versatile array of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 227 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 96 |
| 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 trading platforms and tools, both CMC Markets and Exness offer a comprehensive array of features for traders at all levels. Each broker provides a proprietary platform developed in-house, access to both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and supports simulated trading with a free virtual demo account. For desktop trading enthusiasts, both brokers offer Windows-based platforms and web-based browser platforms, ensuring flexible access to the markets. Additionally, they both support copy trading, allowing users to mirror the trades of others. However, they do not offer DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, which might be a consideration for traders looking for these specific services.
Where the platforms diverge is in their charting tools and watchlist capabilities. CMC Markets offers 36 drawing tools and 11 columns for watch lists, whereas Exness provides a more extensive set of 87 drawing tools but only 7 columns for watch lists. This variety of drawing tools can be especially beneficial for those who rely heavily on technical analysis. Despite having more drawing options, Exness is rated at 4 stars for trading platforms and tools as opposed to CMC Markets, which boasts a full 5-star rating. In terms of rankings among 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets stands tall at #4, while Exness is ranked at #26. This highlights CMC Markets as a more highly regarded choice for traders focused on platform and tool quality.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 107 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 87 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading, both CMC Markets and Exness offer feature-rich apps for iPhone and Android users. They both support crucial functions like price alerts and trendline drawing on stock or forex charts. However, CMC Markets takes a step further by providing watchlist symbol syncing across their mobile app and online account, which Exness lacks. This means any updates you make to your watchlist on CMC Markets are automatically reflected across platforms, simplifying portfolio management. Moreover, while both apps provide the ability to view multiple time frames on charts, CMC Markets also auto-saves drawings, offering a more seamless user experience.
In terms of technical analysis, Exness edges out with 35 technical studies compared to CMC Markets’ 29. Despite this, CMC Markets receives a higher rating with five stars for their mobile trading app, compared to Exness’s four-star rating. This difference is echoed in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets holds the 5th position out of 63 brokers, while Exness is ranked 26th. Offering real-time quotes on watchlists, both platforms cater well to traders on the go, but CMC Markets appears to provide a more integrated and highly-rated mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing CMC Markets and Exness in terms of market research offerings, both brokers provide daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. CMC Markets takes the lead with additional tools, offering services from Autochartist, which Exness does not. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools and comprehensive economic calendars to keep traders informed about global financial events.
While Exness incorporates tools from Trading Central, providing another layer of market insight, it lacks the Autochartist feature that CMC Markets provides. Neither broker offers research from companies like TipRanks or Acuity Trading. In terms of overall research rating, CMC Markets earns a strong 5 stars, ranking 6th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Exness comes in with a 3.5-star rating and ranks 41st. This clear distinction in ratings suggests CMC Markets may offer more comprehensive research solutions for traders seeking in-depth analysis.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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, both CMC Markets and Exness provide a solid foundation with more than 10 educational materials such as articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs. However, neither broker offers monthly live webinars for clients. Both brokers do maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, which facilitates self-paced learning. For those starting out, CMC Markets shines by offering over 10 beginner-focused educational videos. Exness matches this offering for beginners, helping newcomers grasp essential trading concepts.
For more advanced traders, CMC Markets has the edge, providing over 10 educational videos aimed at experienced users, whereas Exness falls short in this category. Both brokers do offer investor dictionaries with definitions for at least 50 investing terms, aiding understanding of complex terminology. When evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets secures a high rating of 5 stars for education and holds the 10th spot among 63 brokers. In contrast, Exness receives a lower rating of 3.5 stars and ranks 47th in the same list, highlighting CMC Markets as the more comprehensive choice for educational resources.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Exness. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #43.
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
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both CMC Markets and Exness do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on offering cryptocurrency derivatives for their trading platforms.
CMC Markets offers ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, unlike Exness, which lacks these options but provides Skrill, with both brokers supporting Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions.
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 | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 227 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 96 | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 107 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 87 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Exness Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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