Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs FOREX.com, 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 FOREX.com are leading online brokers with strong regulatory credentials, catering to traders worldwide. CMC Markets, founded in 1989, and FOREX.com, launched in 1999, both enjoy high Trust Scores of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This indicates these brokers are highly trusted by traders and investors. Both CMC Markets and FOREX.com are publicly traded companies, although neither is a bank. They demonstrate their credibility through multiple regulatory licenses. CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses, while FOREX.com boasts seven Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com.
When it comes to additional regulatory coverage, both brokers maintain one Tier-2 license, marking them as trusted in ForexBrokers.com's assessment. These licenses reinforce their commitment to maintaining transparent and secure trading environments. As established brokers with decades of experience in the financial markets, CMC Markets and FOREX.com provide a solid foundation for both beginner and seasoned traders to engage in online trading with confidence. Each company's strong regulatory foundation and trading platform options make them reliable choices in the competitive online brokerage industry.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets holds a clear edge. In ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets earned 5/5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees, while FOREX.com scored 4.5/5 stars and ranked #14 out of 63. CMC Markets delivers consistently low pricing across account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). By comparison, FOREX.com’s EUR/USD spreads averaged 0.74 pips outside the U.S. (July 2023), and its U.S. Standard account averaged 1.4 pips.
CMC Markets also offers FX Active, a commission-based plan at $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, leading to about 0.5 pips all-in on the EUR/USD (and five other pairs) using August 2023 data. As an example, NZD/USD can drop from a 1.5-pip spread on the standard plan to roughly 0.5 pips all-in with FX Active. Its Price Plus Scheme rewards higher volumes with spread discounts via Trading Points (e.g., 2 points per standard lot); reaching Tier 4 requires about 1,250 standard lots in a month for a 20% spread discount. CMC’s average spreads have tended to track near its posted minimums, supporting its low-cost profile.
FOREX.com’s pricing varies by account and region. The Standard account (the only MetaTrader option) averages 1.4 pips on EUR/USD in the U.S., favoring traders who accept a higher spread for market‑maker execution. The RAW account switches to commission-based pricing with typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.13 pips (Feb 2024) plus a $7 per standard lot commission ($3.50 per side), putting the all-in cost around 0.83 pips before any volume rebates. RAW offers six tiers of rebates from $2 to $9 per million, but unless you trade more than $50 million per month, the Commission/RAW account’s all-in costs for U.S. residents are effectively similar to the Standard account. RAW is available in the U.S., Canada, and the EU.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets and FOREX.com both offer extensive opportunities for forex trading, available as both CFDs and spot contracts. When it comes to the variety of tradeable symbols, CMC Markets shines with 12,029 options, nearly double the 5,500 offered by FOREX.com. This includes a broader selection of forex pairs, with CMC Markets offering 141 compared to FOREX.com’s 80. Additionally, CMC Markets stands out by allowing clients to buy exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, offering direct access to stocks like Apple and Vodafone. FOREX.com, however, limits its offering to CFDs in this area.
For those interested in cryptocurrency derivatives, both platforms provide opportunities, though neither offers the ability to buy actual cryptocurrencies. CMC Markets also introduces clients to copy trading, a feature not available with FOREX.com. Both brokers achieve a five-star rating for their range of investments, yet they hold distinct ranks in the category, with FOREX.com slightly ahead at #7 compared to CMC Markets at #9 according to ForexBrokers.com. These differences reveal how CMC Markets tends to cater to those seeking extensive market access and diverse trading features, while FOREX.com provides a more concentrated selection with a strong emphasis on forex trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 80 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
CMC Markets and FOREX.com both provide their traders with robust online trading platforms equipped to handle diverse trading needs. Each broker offers proprietary trading platforms that are available as both Windows-based desktop downloads and web-based platforms for convenient browser trading. Importantly, both brokers also offer simulated paper trading with free virtual demo accounts, allowing traders to practice and refine their strategies without financial risk. Each platform supports the widely used MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, ensuring compatibility with a variety of expert advisors and custom indicators. While CMC Markets includes the additional benefit of copy trading, FOREX.com does not offer this feature.
When it comes to technical tools, both brokers provide extensive options to aid in trading decisions, although FOREX.com offers a more expansive suite of drawing tools with 239 options compared to CMC Markets' 36. Both platforms allow trading directly from charts, enhancing trader responsiveness to market movements. In terms of watch list configurations, FOREX.com's offering is more detailed with 20 configurable columns against CMC Markets' 11. Despite these differences, both brokers receive a five-star rating for their trading platforms and tools. However, CMC Markets is ranked higher at #4 compared to FOREX.com's #7 in the Trading Platforms and Tools category by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its strong position among 63 competing brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 88 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 239 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 20 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and FOREX.com both offer user-friendly mobile trading apps available on iPhone and Android devices. Both platforms provide essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to sync watchlists with online accounts, and options for drawing trendlines on charts. In terms of charting capabilities, FOREX.com offers more in-depth technical studies with 88 options compared to CMC Markets' 29. Both apps provide the convenience of viewing multiple time frames and auto-saving chart drawings. Additionally, creating watchlists with real-time quotes is possible on both platforms.
When evaluating their performance in the industry, CMC Markets and FOREX.com each hold a strong 5-star rating for their mobile trading apps. However, FOREX.com edges ahead slightly in industry rankings, coming in at third place among 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category according to ForexBrokers.com, whereas CMC Markets holds fifth place. Both platforms are reliable choices, with FOREX.com offering a slight advantage in terms of technical analysis tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When evaluating market research options, CMC Markets and FOREX.com both offer valuable resources for traders, though there are some distinctions. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. CMC Markets shines in offering technical analysis tools from Autochartist and provides a sentiment-based trading tool. However, it does not feature tools from Trading Central, unlike FOREX.com, which includes them. Both platforms offer economic calendars to keep traders updated on global news events, though neither provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In terms of ratings, CMC Markets receives a 5-star rating for its research offerings, while FOREX.com is rated 4.5 stars. This slightly higher rating is mirrored in their rankings, with CMC Markets securing the #6 position among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared to FOREX.com’s #9 spot. These ratings highlight CMC Markets' stronger emphasis on providing comprehensive research tools, making it a slightly more attractive choice for traders who prioritize extensive research options in their online broker. However, both brokers are solid choices offering a wealth of information vital for informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 comparing the educational resources offered by CMC Markets and FOREX.com, both platforms provide a wealth of materials for beginner traders interested in forex and CFDs. CMC Markets and FOREX.com each offer over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, ensuring a strong foundation for newcomers. Both platforms also feature a searchable archive of recorded webinars. However, FOREX.com stands out by hosting live educational webinars at least once a month, a feature CMC Markets does not offer.
For beginner traders specifically, both CMC Markets and FOREX.com provide at least 10 videos to help novices grasp trading basics. Advanced traders are also well-catered for, with each platform delivering more than 10 advanced educational videos. Additionally, both brokers support learning with an investor dictionary containing over 50 terms. Despite FOREX.com's additional webinar offerings, CMC Markets is rated slightly higher at 5 stars compared to FOREX.com's 4.5 stars for education. Interestingly, FOREX.com ranks higher in the education category at #4, while CMC Markets sits at #10 among 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 FOREX.com. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while FOREX.com finished with an overall rank of #5.
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
|
FOREX.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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Neither CMC Markets nor FOREX.com offers the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency; however, both platforms provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives, making them suitable choices for those interested in derivatives over direct cryptocurrency ownership.
Both CMC Markets and FOREX.com support a variety of funding methods, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa and Mastercard, and bank wires, but neither offer Skrill for deposit or withdrawal.
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 | FOREX.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | FOREX.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | Yes | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 80 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 20 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 88 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 239 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FOREX.com Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | FOREX.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | FOREX.com Review |
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