Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs IUX, 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.
Both CMC Markets and IUX offer online brokerage services, but they differ significantly in terms of their regulatory standings and trust ratings. Established in 1989, CMC Markets is a publicly traded company that stands out with its impressive array of regulatory credentials. It holds five Tier-1 licenses, which are considered highly trusted, and an additional Tier-2 license. This comprehensive regulatory coverage contributes to its exceptional Trust Score rating of 99 out of 99, indicating that it is highly trusted in the industry.
In contrast, IUX was founded later in 2016 and is not publicly listed. It does not possess any Tier-1 licenses, which are the hallmark of highly trusted brokers, but it does have one Tier-2 license. While IUX is not a bank, similar to CMC Markets, its regulatory standing is less substantial, earning it a lower Trust Score of 69 out of 99. This rating signifies a higher risk compared to CMC Markets, pointing to a notable difference in trustworthiness and regulatory strength between the two brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers CMC Markets and IUX reveals distinct differences in their pricing models, catering to various types of traders. CMC Markets, holding the prestigious #1 spot in the Commissions and Fees category as per the 2025 Annual Awards, excels with a rating of 5 stars. This success is largely due to its low spread offerings available across all customer segments and account types. The average spread for EUR/USD is around 0.61 pips, a figure that ranks above the industry norm. Furthermore, CMC Markets has an active trader program, the Price Plus Scheme, which provides discounts based on Trading Points accumulated through trading volumes. Their commission-based pricing model, FX Active, offers competitive spreads with a commission of $2.50 per side, leading to an all-in cost of 0.5 pips for major currency pairs like the EUR/USD.
On the other hand, IUX, rated 4 stars and ranked #49 among 63 brokers, offers different account types, each catering to varying levels of trader activity. Their Standard and Standard+ accounts require a $10 minimum deposit, with the latter offering promotional bonuses in exchange for wider spreads. For those who are more active, the Raw account boasts the lowest spreads at the expense of a $6 commission per 100,000 units traded, while the Pro account delivers lower spreads than the Standard accounts without any commissions. Average spreads for the EUR/USD pair are listed at 0.7 pips for the Pro account, 0.9 pips for the Standard account, and closer to 0.6 pips for the Raw account, after accounting for commission costs.
In summary, CMC Markets outshines IUX with its superior pricing structure and competitive costs that favor both casual and active traders. While IUX offers viable options, especially for smaller depositors or those seeking bonus incentives, its pricing does not match the industry’s top cost leaders. Traders should carefully compare these aspects when choosing their preferred account type, considering both brokers' unique strengths and limitations.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.9 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.6 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| 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 and IUX both offer forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, but the range of investments vastly differs between these two brokers. CMC Markets stands out with an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols, featuring 156 forex pairs, significantly higher than IUX's 152 tradeable symbols and 34 forex pairs. Additionally, CMC Markets allows clients to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, a feature that IUX does not offer, though both firms do provide the opportunity to invest in international exchange-traded securities.
Another key difference is the availability of copy trading, which CMC Markets supports while IUX does not. When it comes to cryptocurrency investment, both brokers offer the option to trade derivatives, though not actual cryptocurrencies. Due to this extensive range of offerings, CMC Markets has been rated 5 stars for its range of investments by ForexBrokers.com, ranking 9th out of 63 brokers. In contrast, IUX has earned a 3.5-star rating, placing it at 60th in the same category.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 152 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 34 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing CMC Markets and IUX, both brokers offer appealing choices for traders, but their trading platforms and tools vary in certain key aspects. Both provide a free virtual demo account, allowing traders to practice without financial risk. They each have proprietary platforms, alongside a Windows-based desktop platform and a web platform for trading, catering to different user preferences. However, CMC Markets outshines IUX with advanced features like copy trading and compatibility with the popular MetaTrader 4, while both support MetaTrader 5. This makes CMC Markets an enticing option for traders looking for a wider array of trading tools.
In terms of charting, CMC Markets provides 40 drawing tools, but IUX moves ahead with an impressive 89, allowing for more detailed technical analysis. Traders can execute trades directly from stock charts on both platforms. When managing watch lists, IUX offers more flexibility with 46 columns, compared to CMC Markets’ 11. Despite IUX’s robust features in charting and watch lists, CMC Markets holds a better rating of five stars compared to IUX’s 3.5 stars in the Trading Platforms and Tools category. Moreover, CMC Markets ranks #4 among 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, far surpassing IUX’s #59 ranking, indicating a higher level of overall user satisfaction and platform functionality.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 106 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 46 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and IUX provide trading apps for iPhone and Android users, facilitating access to trading on the go. While both apps allow the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes and support saving chart drawings, CMC Markets stands out with its ability to set stock or forex price alerts and sync watchlists with a client’s online account. These features make it easier for traders to stay updated and manage their investments across platforms. CMC Markets’ mobile app also offers the functionality to draw trendlines on charts, which is not available with IUX. However, IUX excels in chart customization, providing users with 106 technical studies compared to CMC Markets’ 29.
In terms of chart view settings, both apps allow users to switch between multiple time frames such as daily, weekly, or intraday, catering to different trading strategies. When it comes to overall ratings, CMC Markets receives a full 5-star rating for its mobile trading app, ranking 5th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IUX’s app is rated 3.5 stars and ranks 60th, suggesting a significant margin in user satisfaction and feature offerings between the two platforms. This comparison highlights the diverse strengths of each provider, allowing traders to choose based on their individual trading needs and preferences.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 106 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of CMC Markets and IUX, CMC Markets stands out with its comprehensive suite of tools and resources. CMC Markets provides daily market commentary, a valuable feature for traders seeking up-to-date insights. In addition, they offer forex news from prestigious sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring that traders have access to high-quality information. They also integrate technical analysis tools from Autochartist and provide a sentiment-based trading tool, which offers traders insight into the ratio of long and short positions across various instruments. Meanwhile, IUX lacks these offerings, which puts them at a disadvantage in delivering timely and in-depth market research.
Both CMC Markets and IUX offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of upcoming global events that could impact the markets. However, the breadth of CMC Markets' research capabilities earns them a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking in the research category by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, IUX receives a 3-star rating and ranks 59th. This stark difference highlights CMC Markets as a superior choice for traders who prioritize extensive market research tools and reliable information.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| 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 beginners exploring forex or CFDs, CMC Markets stands out compared to IUX. CMC Markets offers comprehensive educational materials, ensuring at least ten pieces dedicated to forex and CFDs. In contrast, IUX lacks this foundational suite of resources. CMC Markets provides beginners with an extensive library of educational videos, well over ten in number, and caters to both novice and experienced traders alike. This focus on adaptable learning paths is complemented by a searchable archive of recorded webinars, allowing users to revisit and learn at their convenience. IUX, on the other hand, lacks both a searchable webinar archive and advanced educational content, making it less appealing for seasoned traders.
Furthermore, CMC Markets enhances the learning experience with an investor dictionary, offering beginners easy access to definitions of more than 50 investing terms. Unfortunately, such a resource is not available with IUX. These educational strengths have earned CMC Markets a five-star rating for education resources and a respectable 10th place ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. IUX, by contrast, receives a three-star education rating and ranks much lower at 59th place. For beginners keen on gaining a solid footing in trading, CMC Markets clearly provides a more supportive and informative environment than IUX.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 IUX. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while IUX finished with an overall rank of #63.
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
|
IUX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 |
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Both CMC Markets and IUX provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives but do not offer the ability to purchase actual cryptocurrency directly.
CMC Markets and IUX differ in their deposit and withdrawal options, with CMC Markets supporting ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but not Skrill, while IUX offers Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires but does not support ACH/SEPA transfers or PayPal.
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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | IUX | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 0 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 152 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 34 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.9 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.6 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | 10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 46 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 106 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 106 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | IUX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 69 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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