Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of FOREX.com vs CMC Markets, 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.
FOREX.com vs CMC Markets: both online brokers earn a 99/99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, placing them in the “highly trusted” bracket (90–99; 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, under 59 not recommended). FOREX.com was founded in 1999 and CMC Markets in 1989; both are publicly traded and neither is a bank.
On regulation, FOREX.com holds 7 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, while CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license (Tier-1 is considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com). With strong oversight and identical top Trust Scores, the key difference is that FOREX.com carries one additional Tier-1 license compared to CMC Markets.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1989 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
When comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets tends to be cheaper for most traders, while FOREX.com can become competitive if you qualify for its volume-based rebates or trade outside the U.S. CMC Markets holds 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 for Commissions & Fees, versus FOREX.com at 4.5 stars and #15 out of 63. In everyday trading, CMC’s lower all-in costs and consistency across account types generally make it the better-value pick.
FOREX.com offers a Standard account and a commission-based RAW Spread account. In the U.S., the Standard account’s typical EUR/USD spread was 1.4 pips (July 2023). Outside the U.S., average EUR/USD spreads were 0.74 pips (July 2023, time-weighted). The RAW account posts typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.13 pips (February 2024) plus a $7 commission per standard lot ($3.50 per side), which adds about 0.7 pips—bringing the all-in cost to roughly 0.83 pips before any rebates. Six volume tiers pay $2–$9 per million in rebates; however, unless you trade more than $50 million per month, U.S. all-in costs on the RAW account are similar to the Standard account. Very high-volume traders (over $2 billion per month) can achieve effective spreads comparable to leading low-cost brokers. RAW (and MT5) is available in the U.S., Canada, and the EU; the DMA account has been discontinued.
CMC Markets delivers consistently low pricing across accounts, with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active pricing charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, producing an all-in cost of about 0.5 pip on EUR/USD and five other pairs (based on August 2023 data). The Price Plus Scheme rewards higher monthly volumes via Trading Points (e.g., 2 points per standard lot), with a 20% spread discount at Tier 4 after 1,250 standard lots in a month. Notably, CMC’s average spreads have historically stayed close to its advertised minimums, reinforcing its 5-star, #4 ranking for Commissions & Fees.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.65 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
FOREX.com and CMC Markets both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot-style contracts, and both offer a deep product lineup. CMC Markets lists more overall markets, with 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, compared with 5,500 symbols and 80 pairs at FOREX.com. Each broker also provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy real shares like Apple and Vodafone. For crypto, neither offers actual coins, but both support cryptocurrency CFDs.
When it comes to extras, CMC Markets offers copy trading, while FOREX.com does not. Both earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments. According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com ranks #6 out of 63 brokers in this category, and CMC Markets ranks #9. Choose CMC Markets if you want the widest market selection and most currency pairs; pick FOREX.com if those counts cover your needs and you value its higher category ranking.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 12029 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 141 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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.
FOREX.com and CMC Markets both deliver strong trading platform choices. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary in-house platform, and both web-based and Windows desktop platforms. If you prefer MetaTrader, both brokers support MT4 and MT5. Active traders will also appreciate that you can place trades directly from charts at either broker.
The key difference is copy trading: CMC Markets supports it, while FOREX.com does not. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, both brokers earned 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools, with FOREX.com ranked #5 and CMC Markets ranked #6 out of 63 brokers. If copy trading matters to you, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want a slightly higher category ranking, consider FOREX.com.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 73 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
FOREX.com and CMC Markets both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists across mobile and web, and solid charting tools including trendlines with drawings that auto-save. Both are highly regarded, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps, making them strong choices for forex traders who want reliable alerts, easy account syncing, and on-the-go charting.
The main difference is depth of charting studies: FOREX.com offers 90 technical studies in its app versus 29 with CMC Markets. If you rely on a wide range of indicators, FOREX.com has the edge. That advantage is reflected in industry rankings from ForexBrokers.com, where FOREX.com places #2 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while CMC Markets ranks #5. Still, both apps cover the essentials for mobile forex trading with iPhone and Android support, alerts, and synchronized watchlists.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 90 | 29 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
In this FOREX.com vs CMC Markets research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus a global economic calendar and a sentiment tool that shows the balance of long and short positions. These shared features make it straightforward to follow market events and gauge trader sentiment.
The main differences are in the extra research tools. CMC Markets includes Autochartist for chart pattern and trade idea scanning, while FOREX.com offers Trading Central for technical and fundamental analysis. Neither broker provides TipRanks or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre). In ForexBrokers.com’s research category, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while FOREX.com earns 4.5 stars and ranks #7. If you want Autochartist, CMC Markets has the edge; if you prefer Trading Central, FOREX.com is the better fit.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | No | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
FOREX.com and CMC Markets both deliver beginner-friendly forex and CFD education that meets the common benchmark of at least ten educational pieces, and each offers at least ten beginner videos plus at least ten advanced videos. The key difference is live learning: FOREX.com hosts online educational client webinars at least once per month, while CMC Markets does not offer regular webinars. If you learn best by asking questions in real time, FOREX.com has the edge; if you prefer self-paced videos, both brokers have deep video libraries for new traders.
According to ForexBrokers.com, FOREX.com earns 4.5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 63. In short, both are strong picks for beginner forex and CFD education: choose FOREX.com for frequent webinars plus extensive videos, or pick CMC Markets if you want top-rated educational content without relying on live sessions.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
|
CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| 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 FOREX.com is better than CMC Markets. FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #4, while CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5.
FOREX.com is a trusted brand that delivers an excellent trading experience for forex and CFDs traders across the globe. It offers a wide range of markets and provides an impressive suite of proprietary platforms – alongside limited access to MetaTrader.
| Feature |
FOREX.com
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CMC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Online brokers FOREX.com and CMC Markets do not support buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing deposit and withdrawal methods, both FOREX.com and CMC Markets support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires; only FOREX.com offers Skrill (CMC Markets does not), and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
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| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
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| Regulation | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 1989 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 7 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | Yes | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| 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) | No |
| Investments | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 5500 | 12029 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 80 | 141 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.00 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 1.13 | 0.65 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 90 | 73 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 90 | 29 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | No | Yes | |
| Trading Central | Yes | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Overall | FOREX.com | CMC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | FOREX.com Review | CMC Markets Review |
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