Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs FP 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.
Caring for trust and security in online trading? CMC Markets, established in 1989, stands as one of the more seasoned choices. This publicly traded broker enjoys a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating that it is highly trusted. With six Tier-1 licenses, CMC Markets is structured under top-tier regulatory oversight, enhancing its credibility and appeal to traders seeking peace of mind. Despite not being a bank, CMC Markets’ position in the stock market adds another layer of transparency.
FP Markets, founded in 2005, brings its own strengths to the table with a Trust Score of 89, falling into the "trusted" category. Although not publicly traded, FP Markets holds two Tier-1 licenses alongside one Tier-2 license, affirming its commitment to regulatory standards and client security. Both brokers operate without banking status, focusing purely on brokerage services. While CMC Markets edges ahead in trust metrics, FP Markets remains a solid, reputable choice for traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2005 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets and FP Markets are both strong on pricing, each earning 5/5 stars for commissions and fees. In our 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets won #1 for Commissions and Fees and is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers in this category, while FP Markets is ranked #11 out of 63 and earned Best in Class honors in 2024. Both brokers appeal to cost-conscious traders, but their fee structures differ in useful ways depending on how you trade.
CMC Markets is known for consistently low spreads that tend to stay close to the advertised minimums. Typical EUR/USD spreads are around 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0, giving an estimated 0.5 pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD and several other major pairs; for example, NZD/USD can drop from about 1.5 pips on the standard account to roughly 0.5 pips all‑in with FX Active. High-volume traders can also unlock spread discounts via the Price Plus Scheme, which awards Trading Points by monthly volume and market traded. Overall: 5/5 stars; ranked #4 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
FP Markets shines with its commission-based Raw ECN account: average spreads near 0.1 pips and about 0.8 pips all‑in on EUR/USD once you include the $6 round‑turn commission per standard lot (Oct 2023). Its Standard account is simpler but pricier, averaging about 1.1 pips on EUR/USD, and the same pricing choices apply on cTrader. Stock CFD traders can use Iress with Direct Market Access and full depth of book; however, the ViewPoint tiers can add platform/data fees unless you hit minimum monthly commissions or the highest tier, while the lower-cost Iress Investor waives monthly fees but limits features and live data. Overall: 5/5 stars; ranked #11 of 63 for Commissions and Fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 AUD |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| 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 vs FP Markets: both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and offer cryptocurrency as CFDs (but not the actual coins). CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while FP Markets offers 10,000 symbols and 71 pairs. A key difference is access to real shares: CMC Markets lets you buy and sell exchange‑traded securities on U.S. markets (like Apple) and international exchanges (like Vodafone). FP Markets does not offer real share dealing; its share exposure is via CFDs.
For breadth, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments on ForexBrokers.com, ahead of FP Markets at 4.5 stars and 16th. If you want the largest selection of markets and the ability to own U.S. and global stocks, CMC Markets is the better fit. If you’re focused on forex, indices, and crypto CFDs with copy trading, FP Markets still delivers plenty of choice.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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.
CMC Markets and FP Markets both check the key boxes for trading platforms and tools. Each broker provides a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary platform, Windows desktop software, and a web-based platform. Both also support copy trading and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. If you like to act fast from your charts, both brokers let you place trades directly from a chart window.
Where they differ is in quality scores. For trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while FP Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #22. In short, both give you wide platform choice and helpful tools, but CMC Markets edges ahead in overall platform experience, while FP Markets remains a solid option for MT4/MT5 fans who also want copy trading and an easy way to get started with a demo account.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets vs FP Markets for mobile trading: Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, chart drawing tools like trendlines, and auto-saved annotations. A key difference is watchlists: CMC Markets syncs your watchlist between the mobile app and the web platform so changes carry over automatically, while FP Markets does not support cross-device watchlist syncing.
For charting depth, the CMC Markets app includes 29 built-in technical studies. FP Markets uses MetaTrader’s default indicator set, which suits MT4/MT5 users but may require more setup. Independent scores reflect this gap: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 of 63 for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, while FP Markets receives 4 stars and ranks #20. If you want richer built-in tools and seamless list syncing, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you prefer the MetaTrader environment, FP Markets fits well.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | MetaTrader (Default) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and FP Markets both deliver strong market research for everyday traders. Each provides daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools to spot trading setups. Both include a sentiment indicator showing the split between long and short positions and a full economic calendar. Neither offers TipRanks or Acuity Trading research. One key difference: FP Markets adds Trading Central analysis, while CMC Markets does not.
In independent ratings, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and is ranked #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while FP Markets scores 4 stars and ranks #22. Choose CMC Markets if you want higher-rated in-house research and news coverage; pick FP Markets if Trading Central is important alongside Autochartist, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners exploring forex and CFD education, both CMC Markets and FP Markets deliver accessible learning paths. Each broker offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, so you can build skills from the basics to more complex strategies. The key difference is live learning: FP Markets hosts client webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not. If you like on-demand video lessons, both are solid choices; if you prefer live sessions with Q&A, FP Markets stands out.
When it comes to ratings, CMC Markets scores 5 out of 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. FP Markets earns 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #22. In short, choose CMC Markets for top-rated, self-paced video education, and pick FP Markets if monthly webinars are important to your learning style.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FP Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 FP Markets. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while FP Markets finished with an overall rank of #19.
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
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FP Markets
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 |
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When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and FP Markets, neither offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
CMC Markets vs FP Markets: both support PayPal and bank wire deposits/withdrawals; CMC Markets additionally offers ACH/SEPA transfers (which FP Markets doesn’t), while FP Markets supports Skrill (which CMC Markets doesn’t); Visa/Mastercard availability for both is not specified.
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 | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | FP Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2005 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 AUD | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | Yes |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | MetaTrader (Default) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FP Markets Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | FP Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 89 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | FP Markets Review |
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