Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs LegacyFX, 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.
CMC Markets and LegacyFX present distinct profiles when it comes to trust and regulation within the online brokerage industry. Established in 1989, CMC Markets has been a part of the market for decades and is publicly listed, enhancing its transparency and credibility. In terms of regulatory strength, CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, which contribute to its exceptional Trust Score of 99 out of 99 as assessed by ForexBrokers.com. This indicates a high level of trust and reliability for investors and traders using its services.
On the other hand, LegacyFX was founded in 2012 and is not publicly traded, which may influence its perceived level of openness. It holds one Tier-1 license and does not have any Tier-2 licenses. As a result, LegacyFX has a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 67, placing it in the high-risk category. Investors considering LegacyFX should take note of this score in their decision-making process. Both brokers are not banks, which is an important factor for clients to consider in assessing security and trust.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2012 |
| 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 |
When comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets clearly outperforms LegacyFX. CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s 2025 Awards, while LegacyFX is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #58. The difference comes down to consistently lower pricing, stronger discounts for active traders, and better transparency at CMC Markets.
CMC Markets keeps costs low across all account types, with a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active plan charges a $2.50 per side commission with minimum spreads of 0.0 pips, delivering an all-in cost of about 0.5 pip on EUR/USD and five other major pairs. For example, NZD/USD drops from about 1.5 pips on the standard account to roughly 0.5 pip with FX Active. Active traders can also earn spread discounts via the Price Plus Scheme, which awards Trading Points by volume (e.g., 2 points per standard lot; Tier 4’s 20% spread discount requires 1,250 lots in a month). FX Active is available in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K., on both MT4 and the Next Generation platform. Notably, CMC’s average spreads tend to track its minimums, reinforcing its pricing edge.
LegacyFX’s costs vary by entity and account tier. In the EU (CySEC), Silver, Gold, and Platinum accounts require deposits of $500, $5,000, and $25,000, with the Silver account showing minimum EUR/USD spreads from 1.6 pips and lower spreads reserved for higher tiers. Internationally (Vanuatu), seven account types run from $500 to $50,000, with service levels and tools scaling by tier. A key drawback is that LegacyFX does not publish average spreads, making true trading costs harder to gauge when compared with a pricing leader like CMC Markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets vs LegacyFX: when it comes to the range of investments, CMC Markets offers far more choice. You can trade 12,029 symbols at CMC Markets versus 425 at LegacyFX, including 141 forex pairs compared with LegacyFX’s 44. Both brokers support forex trading through CFDs and spot contracts, offer copy trading, and provide cryptocurrency CFDs (but not actual crypto). A key difference is stock access: CMC Markets lets you buy exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international exchanges, while LegacyFX does not offer direct stock investing (only CFDs).
These differences are reflected in independent scores. For Range of Investments, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks 9th out of 63 brokers, while LegacyFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks 49th. In short, CMC Markets suits traders and investors who want a very broad selection that includes direct share dealing alongside CFDs, whereas LegacyFX fits those who primarily want CFD and forex exposure with copy trading and crypto CFDs, and don’t need access to exchange-traded stocks.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 425 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 44 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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). | 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 vs LegacyFX: Both brokers offer free demo accounts for simulated trading, along with web and Windows desktop platforms. Each supports copy trading and lets you place trades directly from charts. The key differences are in platform choice and integrations. CMC Markets provides a proprietary platform and supports both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while LegacyFX does not have a proprietary platform and supports MT5 but not MT4. Both include charting tools and watchlists, though specifics vary by platform.
When it comes to Trading Platforms and Tools, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers, compared with LegacyFX at 3.5 stars and #61. If you want MT4 or a proprietary platform alongside MT5, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you only need MT5 with copy trading on web and desktop, LegacyFX can meet those needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both CMC Markets and LegacyFX offer full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with price alerts available on each. Charting tools are strong on both: CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies while LegacyFX lists 30, and each app lets you draw trendlines and auto-saves your chart drawings. A key difference is watchlists—CMC Markets syncs symbols between the mobile app and your online account, while LegacyFX does not, which can matter if you switch devices often.
Ratings and rankings tell a clear story. CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while LegacyFX holds 3.5 stars and ranks #62. If you want a higher-rated mobile experience with watchlist syncing, CMC Markets is the better choice. LegacyFX still offers alerts and solid charting, but it trails in overall app quality and convenience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both CMC Markets and LegacyFX cover the essentials for market research. Each provides daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and forex news from well-known sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones. Autochartist-powered tools are available at both brokers, while Trading Central tools are not. The key difference is sentiment: CMC Markets includes a sentiment-based trading tool that shows the long/short ratio across instruments, whereas LegacyFX does not. CMC Markets does not integrate TipRanks or Acuity Trading; LegacyFX’s support for TipRanks or Acuity Trading isn’t specified.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers. LegacyFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #47. If you want higher-rated research with built-in sentiment insights, CMC Markets has an edge. If you only need daily updates, news, Autochartist, and an economic calendar, LegacyFX covers those basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | |
| Acuity Trading | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
If you’re new to trading, both CMC Markets and LegacyFX offer plenty of structured video learning. Each broker provides at least 10 beginner videos to help you understand core trading topics, plus 10+ advanced videos for when you’re ready to level up. A key difference is live training: LegacyFX runs monthly educational webinars where you can learn in real time, while CMC Markets does not host monthly client webinars.
In independent ratings, CMC Markets leads for education with 5 stars and a #10 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. LegacyFX earns 3.5 stars and ranks #35. If you want a higher-rated learning hub with a deep video library, CMC Markets is the stronger pick. If live webinars are important to your learning style, LegacyFX may suit you better.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| 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 LegacyFX. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while LegacyFX 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
|
LegacyFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 |
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In a CMC Markets vs LegacyFX comparison, neither online broker lets you buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both enable trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
CMC Markets vs LegacyFX: CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals (but not Skrill), while LegacyFX does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability of PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | LegacyFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | LegacyFX Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2012 | |
| 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 | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 425 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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). | 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 | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| 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 | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | ||
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | LegacyFX Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | LegacyFX | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 67 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | LegacyFX Review |
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