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 and Exness are online brokers with different profiles. CMC Markets, founded in 1989, is publicly traded, while Exness, launched in 2008, is privately held; neither company is a bank.
According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and one Tier-2 license (trusted), earning a Trust Score of 99/99, which is considered highly trusted. Exness holds two Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses with a Trust Score of 80/99, which is considered trusted. These details can help you weigh each broker’s regulation and transparency.
| 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 |
CMC Markets comes out ahead of Exness on commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers for this category. Its pricing is known for consistently low spreads across account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.61 pips based on August 2023 data. CMC also offers its Price Plus Scheme for active traders, which can lower trading costs as monthly volume rises, and its FX Active pricing can bring the all-in EUR/USD cost down to about 0.5 pips with a $2.50 per side commission.
Exness is still competitive, but its costs depend more on the account you choose. It has a 4-star rating and ranks #32 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Standard Cent and Standard accounts are commission-free but usually have higher spreads, while the Pro account offers tighter pricing. For traders who prefer commission-based pricing, Exness offers Zero Spread and Raw accounts, with the Raw account charging up to $7 per round turn lot and the Zero Spread account using a very small per-trade commission.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the stronger pick if low overall trading costs are your top priority, especially for forex traders who want tight spreads without needing to hunt for the best account type. Exness offers more account variety, which may suit different trading styles, but its pricing structure is less consistently low than CMC Markets overall.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers a much wider range of investments than Exness, making it a stronger choice for traders who want more options in one place. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but CMC Markets stands out with 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, compared with Exness’s 239 symbols and 78 forex pairs. CMC Markets also lets clients buy real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, while Exness does not offer exchange traded securities.
In terms of range of investments, CMC Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #35. Neither broker offers copy trading or the ability to buy actual cryptocurrency, so the biggest difference is in overall market access and stock trading. For investors looking for a broader selection of assets, CMC Markets is the clearer winner.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 239 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 78 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| 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 Exness both give traders a wide choice of platforms and tools, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, and web-based trading. Each broker also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, and both let you place trades directly from a chart. Neither broker offers copy trading, so if that feature matters to you, you may want to look elsewhere. For charting and watch lists, both brokers provide trading tools designed to help with market tracking and analysis, though the exact feature counts were not listed here.
When it comes to overall platform quality, CMC Markets has the edge. ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks it #6 out of 36 brokers, while Exness earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #15 out of 36. In simple terms, both brokers cover the main trading platform needs well, but CMC Markets is rated higher for its platform experience and tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 106 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Exness both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. This means traders can monitor the markets and manage watchlists from their phone with either broker, while staying connected to changes made in the mobile app or online account. In everyday use, both apps cover the core features most people look for in a trading platform.
The main difference is in charting and overall app quality. Exness offers 100 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at CMC Markets, which may appeal to traders who rely on more chart tools. However, CMC Markets has the edge in mobile trading app ratings, earning 5 stars versus 4 stars for Exness, and it ranks higher overall in the Mobile Trading Apps category at #5 out of 36 brokers, compared with Exness at #18.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and Exness both give traders daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus an economic calendar for tracking key global events. That means each broker gives users a steady flow of timely market updates and a simple way to follow what may affect prices. Neither broker offers research from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
Where they differ is in the extra tools. CMC Markets includes Autochartist and a sentiment tool that shows the share of long and short positions, while Exness offers Trading Central instead. In overall research quality, CMC Markets stands out with a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Exness at 3.5 stars and #32, making CMC Markets the stronger choice for market research.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing CMC Markets and Exness for beginner education, both brokers give new traders a lot to work with. Each offers forex and CFDs learning content with at least 10 educational pieces, plus online educational webinars held at least once a month. They also both provide at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so learners can find material whether they are just starting out or ready to go deeper into trading topics.
That said, CMC Markets comes out ahead overall for education. It is rated 5 stars for Education and is ranked #10 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Exness is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #21. For beginners who want a stronger mix of lessons, videos, and webinars, CMC Markets appears to offer the better learning experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 Exness. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #31.
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 | 80 |
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CMC Markets vs Exness: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer trading via cryptocurrency CFDs.
CMC Markets vs Exness: CMC supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wires (no Skrill), while Exness supports Skrill and bank wires (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for both.
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 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Exness | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| 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 (FSA 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, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | Yes |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 239 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 78 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 106 | |
| 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 Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 100 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Exness Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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