Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs GBE brokers, 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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a well-established online broker with a strong reputation. It holds a high Trust Score of 99, as rated by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its commitment to safety and reliability. CMC Markets is publicly traded and possesses six Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, along with one Tier-2 license. Not being a bank, CMC Markets still ensures trust and security for its investors.
On the other hand, GBE brokers, established in 2013, has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 71, placing it in the average risk category. Unlike CMC Markets, GBE brokers is not publicly traded, and it holds only one Tier-1 license with no Tier-2 licenses. Also not a bank, GBE brokers may not offer the same level of trust as some more established brokers but still serves traders looking for a different option.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Annual Awards. It’s known for consistently low spreads that tend to track its advertised minimums; in August 2023, the typical EUR/USD spread was 0.61 pips. Its FX Active plan adds a clear commission route at $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, delivering about a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD (and five other pairs) on MT4 and Next Generation in select regions. High‑volume traders can also use the Price Plus Scheme for tiered spread discounts based on Trading Points (two points per standard lot; roughly 1,250 lots in a month unlocks a 20% spread discount at Tier 4).
GBE brokers holds a 4/5 star rating and is ranked #38 out of 63 for Commissions and Fees. Average spread data is not publicly available, which makes direct, apples‑to‑apples cost comparisons harder. If you’re considering GBE, check live spreads by account type along with any commissions, swap rates, and potential non‑trading fees.
Bottom line: CMC Markets provides transparent, verifiable pricing with low average spreads and an optional commission model that can bring EUR/USD to about 0.5 pip all‑in, plus volume‑based discounts. GBE brokers may still suit some traders, but the lack of published average spread figures makes it tougher to gauge total trading costs next to CMC Markets’ clearly documented fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts [DELETED] | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) [DELETED] | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing the range of investments, CMC Markets offers a much wider selection than GBE brokers. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while GBE brokers offers 500 symbols and 71 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot and support copy trading. Each also provides cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither lets you buy actual crypto coins.
If you want access to exchange-traded shares, CMC Markets stands out by offering U.S. and international stocks, whereas GBE brokers does not offer exchange-traded securities. For Range of Investments, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com; GBE brokers earns 3.5 stars and ranks #45. In short, CMC Markets suits investors seeking extensive market access, while GBE brokers may fit traders who focus on a smaller set of CFD markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 |
| 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.
CMC Markets and GBE brokers both check key boxes for everyday traders: each offers a free demo (paper) account, web and Windows desktop platforms, copy trading, and the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). You can also place trades straight from charts at both brokers. The big difference is that CMC Markets adds its own in-house platform on top of MetaTrader, while GBE brokers sticks to third‑party options. If you want more platform choice and features under one roof, CMC Markets has the edge.
That shows up in third‑party ratings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while GBE brokers earns 4 stars and ranks #58. In short, CMC Markets suits traders who want a polished, all‑in‑one experience with multiple platform paths, whereas GBE brokers can fit those who mainly want to trade on MetaTrader with copy trading available.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 [DELETED] | ||
| ZuluTrade [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) [DELETED] | ||
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields [DELETED] |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets and GBE Brokers for mobile trading, both offer iPhone and Android apps with price alerts, real-time quote watchlists, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. Charting tools are solid on both: CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, while GBE Brokers offers 30.
The biggest difference is syncing: CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, but GBE Brokers does not. In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars and ranked #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while GBE Brokers earned 4 stars and ranked #58. If cross-device convenience and top-tier app quality matter most, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want one extra technical study, GBE Brokers provides that.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | ||
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and GBE Brokers both publish daily market commentary, provide an economic calendar, and include sentiment tools that show the long/short split across instruments. Where they differ is news and extra tools: CMC Markets streams forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and adds pattern-recognition from Autochartist, while GBE Brokers does not offer those. Neither broker integrates Trading Central. CMC Markets does not use TipRanks or Acuity Trading, and GBE Brokers’ use of TipRanks or Acuity Trading is not specified.
For market research quality, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5 stars and ranks it 6th out of 63 brokers, whereas GBE Brokers earns 3 stars and ranks 63rd. If you want premium news and helpful scanners in your platform, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need commentary, sentiment, and an economic calendar, GBE Brokers covers the basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re new to trading and comparing education at CMC Markets versus GBE Brokers, CMC Markets clearly offers more for beginners. It provides at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos on trading topics, helping you move from the basics to more in‑depth strategies. GBE Brokers doesn’t meet those video thresholds, and neither broker currently runs monthly educational webinars.
Independent ratings underscore the difference: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while GBE Brokers holds 3 stars and ranks #64. If you want a rich video library to learn from, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; GBE Brokers may fit traders who don’t depend on extensive training materials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | ||
| Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) [DELETED] | ||
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) [DELETED] |
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 GBE brokers. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #57.
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
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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Both CMC Markets and GBE Brokers do not provide options to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrencies, but they each offer the opportunity to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Online brokers CMC Markets and GBE Brokers both support ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals; only GBE Brokers offers Skrill, while Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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 | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 | |
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1000 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| 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 |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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