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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets stands out in the online brokerage scene with a 99 Trust Score rating from ForexBrokers.com, classifying it as highly trusted. The company is publicly traded, although not a bank, and benefits from holding five Tier-1 licenses, alongside one Tier-2 license. These factors contribute significantly to its reputation as a secure choice for traders seeking reliable market access.
In contrast, iFOREX, which was established in 1996, operates with a Trust Score of 75, indicating an average risk level. Unlike CMC Markets, iFOREX is not publicly traded, nor is it a bank, and it possesses only one Tier-1 license without any Tier-2 licenses. While it provides trading services, potential users may find CMC Markets a more regulated alternative for secure trading activities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1996 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 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 | 0.61 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 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.
When comparing the range of investments available at CMC Markets and iFOREX, it's evident that CMC Markets provides a notably broader selection. With a staggering 11,925 tradeable symbols, including 156 forex pairs, CMC Markets gives investors a vast array of options. In contrast, iFOREX offers 750 tradeable symbols and 88 forex pairs. Both platforms facilitate forex trading as CFDs, and both also allow investing in cryptocurrency derivatives. However, if buying actual delivered cryptocurrency is what you're after, neither broker provides this service.
CMC Markets not only excels in the number of tradable instruments but also offers unique features such as access to U.S. and international exchange-traded securities, allowing clients to purchase stocks like Apple or Vodafone directly. On the other hand, iFOREX does not provide exchange-traded securities. Additionally, CMC Markets supports copy trading, a feature not available with iFOREX. These advantages reflect in CMC Markets' impressive 5-star rating for range of investments and its rank as #9 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, iFOREX holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #41 in the same category.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
iFOREX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 750 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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, CMC Markets clearly stands out by offering a more extensive range of features. Notably, CMC Markets provides a free virtual demo account for simulated trading, which iFOREX lacks. Both brokers have developed their proprietary platforms; however, CMC Markets goes a step further with additional platform options, including a Windows-based desktop download and access to MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. In contrast, iFOREX does not support these popular MetaTrader platforms. While both brokers offer web-based trading, CMC Markets also supports copy trading, which is not available on iFOREX.
Charting tools further differentiate the two brokers. CMC Markets offers a greater variety of drawing tools, totaling 40, compared to the 25 provided by iFOREX. Additionally, CMC Markets provides more customization for watch lists, with 11 columns available versus iFOREX's 9. Both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, but CMC Markets secures a leading edge with higher ratings and rankings in trading platforms and tools. CMC Markets is awarded 5 stars in this category and is ranked 4th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, whereas iFOREX earns 4 stars and sits at 54th place. Overall, CMC Markets delivers a more versatile and advanced trading experience.
| 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) | 79 | 57 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 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, several differences stand out. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and maintain economic calendars to keep users informed about global events. CMC Markets sets itself apart by featuring forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, which iFOREX does not offer. Additionally, CMC Markets integrates tools like Autochartist for enhanced technical analysis, whereas iFOREX lacks this feature. Alternatively, iFOREX utilizes Trading Central’s analytics tools, which are not available with CMC Markets. Both brokers supply sentiment-based trading tools, allowing users to see the balance of positions across various instruments.
Despite both platforms offering a range of research tools, CMC Markets excels with a superior research rating of 5 stars compared to iFOREX's 3.5 stars. Rating highly, CMC Markets is ranked 6th out of 63 brokers for its research capabilities by ForexBrokers.com, whereas iFOREX stands at the 48th position. This highlights CMC Markets' comprehensive and in-depth research offerings, positioning it as a preferable choice for traders seeking detailed market insights and credible news sources. In contrast, iFOREX caters well to those who value Trading Central's unique tools despite its overall lower rating and rank.
| 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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | 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 | 5 | 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | iFOREX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 750 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 | 0.61 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 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) | 79 | 57 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 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 | 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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