Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs IFC 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.
Comparing online brokers CMC Markets and IFC Markets reveals notable differences, particularly in their years of establishment and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets has grown to become a publicly traded company with a high level of trust, as reflected in its Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Its regulatory strength is evident with six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. In contrast, IFC Markets, established in 2006, is not publicly traded and holds a Trust Score of 73, indicating an average risk. The broker carries one Tier-2 license but lacks Tier-1 licensing, which affects its perceived trustworthiness.
Neither CMC Markets nor IFC Markets operate as banks, but their approaches to regulation and public trading set them apart in the online brokerage space. CMC Markets' status as a public entity and its strong regulatory framework give it an edge in building trust and reliability among clients. Meanwhile, IFC Markets continues to provide its services with a different risk profile, suited to those who may prioritize other aspects over regulatory depth.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2006 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets vs. IFC Markets on commissions and fees: CMC Markets is the standout, earning 5 stars and ranking #1 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Commissions and Fees category. IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #40 out of 63.
CMC Markets is known for low, consistent spreads available to all account types. Typical EUR/USD spreads were 0.61 pips in August 2023, which beats the industry average. Its FX Active pricing adds a $2.50 per side commission with minimum spreads of zero, producing an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and five other pairs). Active traders can lower costs further through the Price Plus Scheme, which awards Trading Points (2 points per standard lot); at very high volumes—around 1,250 standard lots in a month—Tier 4 triggers a 20% spread discount. CMC’s average spreads historically track close to its advertised minimums, reinforcing its top ranking.
IFC Markets’ average EUR/USD spread is 1.44 pips, above the industry average of 1.08 pips. Its new ECN account improves value for frequent traders, with an effective cost around 1.1 pips after a 0.005% commission on both sides of a trade. The broker also charges no inactivity fees and offers active-trader discounts. Overall, CMC Markets tends to deliver lower and more consistent costs, while IFC Markets is more compelling if you plan to use the ECN account and appreciate the lack of inactivity fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs IFC Markets for range of investments: CMC Markets offers 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while IFC Markets provides 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, support copy trading, and offer cryptocurrency derivatives—but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
For exchange-traded securities, CMC Markets lets clients buy U.S. and international shares directly, whereas IFC Markets supports international shares but not U.S. stocks. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks 9th out of 63 for range of investments, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 44th. If you want the widest selection and access to U.S. shares, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need a leaner lineup with international share access, IFC Markets can fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and IFC Markets both check key boxes for traders: each offers a free demo (paper) account, an in‑house proprietary platform, desktop software for Windows, and a web-based trading platform. You’ll also find copy trading options and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Neither broker connects to DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. Both let you place orders directly from charts. For charting tools, CMC Markets provides 36 drawing tools versus IFC Markets’ 15, and while both include technical indicators, the exact counts aren’t specified. Watchlists are more detailed with CMC Markets (11 columns) compared with IFC Markets (7 columns).
In independent testing focused on trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks 4th out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks 37th. In short, both brokers deliver a full set of platform choices and paper trading, but CMC Markets offers more charting extras and stronger third‑party ratings in this category.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both the CMC Markets mobile app and the IFC Markets mobile app are available for iPhone and Android, and they cover the essentials traders expect. Each app offers real-time watchlists, price alerts for stocks and forex, and watchlist syncing between mobile and your online account. Charting is strong on both: you can draw trendlines, switch among intraday, daily, and weekly time frames, and your drawings auto-save. For technical indicators, CMC Markets includes 29 studies while IFC Markets offers 30.
The biggest gap shows up in third-party evaluations. ForexBrokers.com rates the CMC Markets mobile trading app at 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and ranks #53. If you want a top-rated mobile trading experience, CMC Markets has the edge. If you prefer a similar feature set with slightly more built-in studies, IFC Markets is a reasonable alternative.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs IFC Markets for market research, both brokers provide daily market commentary, sentiment tools that show long/short positioning, and an economic calendar. The key differences show up in news and analytics: CMC Markets includes forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones and offers Autochartist for technical and fundamental insights. IFC Markets does not offer those two items. Neither broker currently includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
On quality and depth, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks 6th out of 63 brokers for Research on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks 41st. If you want premium news and Autochartist screening alongside core tools, CMC Markets has the edge. If you mainly need commentary, sentiment, and a calendar, IFC Markets covers the basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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 exploring educational resources for novice traders, CMC Markets and IFC Markets both offer a range of materials focusing on forex and CFDs. Each provides over ten educational items, such as articles and videos, dedicated to helping beginners understand these trading subjects. Both brokers ensure that beginners have access to at least ten instructional videos tailored to new traders. Moreover, CMC Markets and IFC Markets each provide advanced educational videos, allowing traders to grow from foundational knowledge to more complex strategies. Both brokers also have a comprehensive investor dictionary with definitions of more than 50 investing terms, making it easier for beginners to grasp industry terminology.
However, there are notable differences between the two brokers. CMC Markets goes a step further by offering a searchable archive of past client webinars, a feature IFC Markets does not provide. Unfortunately, neither broker hosts live monthly webinars to further engage clients in real-time education. In terms of recognition and ratings, CMC Markets shines brighter with a 5-star education rating and ranks 10th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds a 3.5-star rating and is ranked 30th. This suggests that CMC Markets may offer a more comprehensive educational experience compared to IFC Markets, especially for those who value searchable resources and higher-rated educational content.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| 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 IFC Markets. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while IFC Markets finished with an overall rank of #45.
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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IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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Both CMC Markets and IFC Markets do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they both provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and IFC Markets, CMC Markets provides a wider range of funding options including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, as well as bank wires, while IFC Markets supports Visa or Mastercard and bank wires but does not offer ACH, SEPA, PayPal, or Skrill for depositing or withdrawing funds.
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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2006 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | ||
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | ||
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | ||
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | ||
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | ||
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | ||
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 630 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IFC Markets | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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