Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs iFOREX, 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and iFOREX, it's clear that CMC Markets stands out as the more established and trusted broker. Founded in 1989 and publicly traded, CMC Markets holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, alongside one Tier-2 license. This contributes to its outstanding Trust Score of 99 out of 99 by ForexBrokers.com, marking it as a highly trusted online broker. In contrast, iFOREX, which was founded in 1996, is not publicly traded and operates with only one Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. This places iFOREX with a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average level of risk according to ForexBrokers.com.
Neither CMC Markets nor iFOREX function as banks, and while CMC Markets' extensive regulatory approvals and public status offer reassurance, iFOREX's limited licenses highlight a difference in perceived trust levels. Consumers looking for an online broker with a strong regulatory presence may find CMC Markets meets their needs better than iFOREX.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1996 |
| 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 and iFOREX are two options for forex traders, but they differ significantly in their commissions and fees structures. CMC Markets stands out in this area, taking the top spot in our 2025 Annual Awards for Commissions and Fees with a perfect 5-star rating. They offer consistently low spreads above the industry average, such as a typical 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD. This competitive pricing is available for all customer segments and account types. CMC Markets has also introduced innovative programs like the Price Plus Scheme, which allows active traders to earn discounts through Trading Points based on monthly trading volumes. Additionally, their commission-based FX Active pricing in select regions combines low minimum spreads and a commission per trade to further reduce trading costs.
In contrast, iFOREX received a 3-star rating and ranks at #61 out of 63 brokers for commissions and fees. Unlike CMC Markets, iFOREX doesn't provide average spread data, making it challenging for traders to assess its cost-effectiveness. This lack of transparency can make it difficult for potential clients to weigh the potential costs and benefits.
Overall, CMC Markets leads in terms of competitive pricing and transparency, having established programs to continually improve efficiencies and reward their clients, setting a high bar in the industry. Meanwhile, iFOREX lags significantly behind in both ranking and transparency, suggesting that traders looking for clear and cost-effective pricing might find better options with CMC Markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers an expansive range of investment options, making it a popular choice for many traders. With 12,029 tradeable symbols, including 141 forex pairs, CMC Markets provides a wide variety of options for traders looking to diversify their portfolios. It also allows direct access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so you can invest in popular stocks like Apple and Vodafone directly. Additionally, CMC Markets supports copy trading and cryptocurrency derivatives, catering to traders who want to leverage different investment strategies. This extensive offering earns CMC Markets a five-star rating for its range of investments, ranking it 9th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com.
In comparison, iFOREX delivers a more limited range of investment choices, featuring 750 tradeable symbols and 88 forex pairs. While it does not provide access to actual exchange-traded securities or copy trading, it does offer forex trading via CFDs and cryptocurrency derivatives. Despite these limitations, iFOREX can still be a good fit for those who are primarily interested in CFD and derivative trading. iFOREX has earned a 3.5-star rating for its range of investments and ranks 41st in the same category according to ForexBrokers.com, reflecting a more focused, albeit narrower, investment choice for traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 750 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 88 |
| 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools of CMC Markets and iFOREX, both brokers bring unique offerings to the table. CMC Markets caters to traders seeking extensive features by providing a free virtual demo account, a unique proprietary platform, and platforms for both Windows desktop download and web browser access. An edge for advanced traders comes with the availability of both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), along with copy trading capabilities. With 36 drawing tools for charting and the possibility to trade directly from stock charts, CMC Markets creates a comprehensive trading environment. These offerings contribute to its superior rating of 5 stars and a commendable rank of 4th out of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category.
By contrast, iFOREX also offers its own proprietary platform and a web-based trading platform, but lacks support for Windows downloads, MT4, and MT5, which might be a limitation for some traders. It does not include a demo account or copy trading, but provides 25 drawing tools and the ability to trade directly from stock charts. While iFOREX has a user-friendly approach, its offerings in trading tools garner it a slightly lower rating of 4 stars and a rank of 54th in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. This positions it as a solid, albeit less feature-rich, alternative for traders prioritizing ease of use over expansive features.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 57 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 25 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and iFOREX offer options for iPhone and Android users. However, CMC Markets clearly stands out in several key areas. It provides features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing for seamless management across devices, and 29 technical studies for in-depth chart analysis. Users of the CMC Markets app can draw trendlines, view multiple time frames, and enjoy auto-saving for chart drawings, enhancing the overall trading experience. Additionally, its ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes adds another layer of convenience and efficiency.
iFOREX, while offering a competitive mobile experience, lacks some of these advanced features. It does not provide price alerts, watchlist syncing, or the ability to draw trendlines and view various time frames within its app. When it comes to user satisfaction, CMC Markets is rated at 5 stars, ranking #5 out of 63 brokers for mobile trading apps according to ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, iFOREX holds a 4-star rating and ranks significantly lower at #55. Overall, CMC Markets offers a more comprehensive and versatile mobile trading platform, accommodating the needs of traders at every level.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of CMC Markets and iFOREX, both brokers provide daily market commentary and maintain economic calendars that reflect global news and events. CMC Markets distinguishes itself by delivering top-tier forex news from reputable sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, a feature not available with iFOREX. Additionally, CMC Markets boasts tools from Autochartist for technical analysis or fundamental research, which iFOREX lacks. Both brokers offer sentiment-based trading tools that gauge market direction; however, their approaches to incorporating third-party research differ. iFOREX integrates Trading Central for technical analytics, whereas CMC Markets does not.
Despite some overlaps, CMC Markets' extensive offerings result in higher recognition, receiving a 5-star rating for research and ranking 6th out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, iFOREX secures a 3.5-star rating and ranks 48th. These distinctions highlight CMC Markets' commitment to delivering comprehensive market insights, solidifying its position as a preferred choice for traders who prioritize access to detailed research tools and timely news updates.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, CMC Markets stands out compared to iFOREX. CMC Markets provides a comprehensive selection of over ten educational pieces, including articles, videos, and a searchable archive of previously recorded webinars, all focused on forex and CFDs. They also offer an extensive array of over ten videos targeting beginner traders and provide advanced content for experienced traders. Additionally, CMC Markets includes an investor dictionary featuring over 50 trading terms, making it a valuable tool for those new to investing. These offerings contribute to CMC Markets' impressive 5-star rating in the Education category, placing them at #10 out of 63 brokers as ranked by ForexBrokers.com.
In contrast, iFOREX provides more limited educational support for beginners. While they do offer beginner-focused videos, they lack the breadth of educational materials available at CMC Markets. iFOREX also does not provide a searchable archive of webinars or an investor glossary with comprehensive definitions. With these shortcomings, iFOREX holds a 3.5-star rating for education and ranks #53 out of 63 brokers, indicating room for improvement in nurturing rookie investors. For those stepping into the world of forex and CFDs, CMC Markets presents a more thorough learning platform, making it a compelling choice for educational resources.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 iFOREX. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while iFOREX finished with an overall rank of #52.
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
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 |
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Both CMC Markets and iFOREX do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets provides various deposit and withdrawal options, including ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas iFOREX offers PayPal, Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH and SEPA transfer options.
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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1996 | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 750 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 88 | |
| 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 | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | No | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 9 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 57 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 25 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | No | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | iFOREX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 75 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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