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 account | 1.3 | 1.44 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs IFC Markets on the range of investments, CMC Markets delivers a far wider selection with 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while IFC Markets offers 630 symbols and 49 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs and spot contracts. For real, exchange-traded securities (not CFDs), CMC Markets lets clients buy U.S. shares as well as stocks on international exchanges, whereas IFC Markets provides access to international exchanges but not to U.S.-listed shares.
Both brokers offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports buying actual cryptocurrencies. Independent ratings back up the gap in product breadth: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers for Range of Investments, while IFC Markets scores 3.5 stars and ranks #44. If you want the widest choice of markets and the ability to buy U.S. stocks outright, CMC Markets stands out; IFC Markets covers key markets with a simpler lineup.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 630 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 49 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and IFC Markets both check key boxes for platform choice and trading tools. Each offers a free demo account for paper trading, a proprietary in-house platform, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. You can trade from charts, use a web-based platform in your browser, or install a Windows desktop platform, and both brokers include copy trading options. That mix makes it easy to start with a demo, choose the interface you like, and keep using familiar tools like MT4/MT5.
In third-party ratings for Trading Platforms and Tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 4 stars and ranks #37. If top-tier platform experience is your priority, CMC Markets has the edge; if you mainly want MetaTrader with an additional in-house platform and copy trading, both brokers deliver the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC 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 and IFC Markets both deliver comprehensive mobile trading on iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts, synced watchlists across mobile and web, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart annotations. For charting studies, IFC Markets offers 30 technical indicators while CMC Markets provides 29, so traders who rely on built-in indicators get one extra option with IFC.
Where they differ most is quality scores. ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets’ mobile trading app at 5 stars and ranks it #5 out of 63 brokers, while IFC Markets earns 4 stars and sits at #53. If you want the higher-rated, more polished mobile experience, CMC Markets stands out; if you value having that extra indicator, IFC Markets edges it on that single point.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | 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 (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Comparing CMC Markets vs IFC Markets for beginner education: both brokers offer sizeable video libraries, with at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that cover trading topics tied to forex and CFD trading. However, neither broker runs monthly live educational webinars, so if you prefer real-time sessions, you won’t find a steady webinar schedule at either platform.
For overall quality and depth, CMC Markets takes the lead. It earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while IFC Markets holds 3.5 stars and ranks #30. If you’re new to forex and CFDs and want a stronger learning path with more polished materials, CMC Markets is the better pick, whereas IFC Markets delivers a simpler, serviceable library for getting started.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 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
|
IFC Markets
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platforms & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
CMC Markets and IFC Markets are online brokers that do not allow buying actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both do offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Compared to IFC Markets, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, whereas IFC Markets lacks ACH/SEPA and PayPal but does support bank wires; neither broker supports Skrill.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| 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, FSRA, or SCA 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. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.44 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.1 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | IFC 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 | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | IFC 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 | IFC 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 | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | IFC 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | IFC Markets | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platforms & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill