Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Libertex, 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 Libertex are both well-known online brokers, but they differ a lot in their company background and regulation. CMC Markets was founded in 1989, is publicly traded, and is not a bank. It holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, which helps explain its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, placing it in the “highly trusted” range. Libertex, founded in 1997, is also not a bank but is not publicly listed. It holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license, with a Trust Score of 79, which puts it in the “average risk” range.
For traders comparing CMC Markets vs Libertex, the main takeaway is that CMC Markets has the stronger regulatory profile and higher trust rating. That may matter most for people who want a broker with more top-tier oversight and a longer track record. Libertex still has regulatory coverage, but its lower Trust Score and fewer Tier-1 licenses mean it is generally viewed as less trusted than CMC Markets by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1997 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets and Libertex take different paths. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 36 for this category, but its standard spread-only account is less competitive than it once was. On EUR/USD, the average spread came in at 1.3 pips versus an advertised 0.8 pip minimum, although CMC does offer better pricing through FX Active, where the all-in cost on EUR/USD works out to about 1.15 pips after commission. The good news is that CMC keeps many non-trading costs low, with no minimum deposit, free international wires, and a relatively delayed inactivity fee.
Libertex is more mixed on fees, with a 4-star rating and a #21 out of 36 ranking. Its headline EUR/USD spread was recently listed at 0.3 pips, which looks very tight, but that figure is based on a recent trading day rather than a full monthly average. Forex trading also uses a spread-plus-commission model, with 5 euros per side on the proprietary Libertex platform and 6 euros per side on MT4 and MT5, making the broker’s own platform the cheaper choice for active traders.
Overall, CMC Markets appears stronger for pricing quality and fee control, especially for traders who can use FX Active or qualify for volume discounts. Libertex can look cheaper at first glance on spreads, but its commission structure and platform choice matter a lot. If you want the broker with the better commissions-and-fees track record, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you want a low entry deposit and simple account setup, Libertex still has appeal.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.5 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.5 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers a much wider range of investments than Libertex, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. CMC Markets provides 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, compared with 1,573 symbols and 46 forex pairs at Libertex. Both brokers support forex trading as a CFD or spot contract, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets clients buy actual delivered crypto.
CMC Markets also stands out for share trading on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone, while Libertex does not offer exchange traded securities on these markets. On the other hand, Libertex does offer copy trading, which CMC Markets does not. Overall, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for range of investments and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, while Libertex scores 4 stars and ranks #25, reflecting CMC Markets’ broader investment selection.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 1573 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 and Libertex both give traders a strong mix of platform choices, including free demo accounts, web-based access, Windows desktop downloads, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and the ability to place trades straight from a chart. The main difference is that CMC Markets also offers its own in-house platform, while Libertex does not. This gives CMC Markets an extra option for traders who want a broker-built platform alongside the familiar third-party tools.
When it comes to trading tools and overall platform quality, Libertex stands out for copy trading, which CMC Markets does not offer. That said, CMC Markets is rated higher overall for Trading Platforms and Tools, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Libertex’s 4 stars and #27 ranking. In short, both brokers cover the essentials well, but CMC Markets has the edge for platform depth, while Libertex may appeal more to traders interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 43 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Libertex both make trading on the go easy with iPhone and Android apps, plus price alerts and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. For everyday use, both apps cover the basics well, so you can keep track of markets and manage watchlists from your phone without much hassle.
Where CMC Markets pulls ahead is in charting and overall mobile experience. Its app includes 30 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and saves those drawings automatically, while Libertex does not offer these chart tools in its mobile app. That gap shows in ratings too: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Libertex holds 4 stars and ranks #28.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 0 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets has the edge over Libertex. CMC Markets provides daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. Libertex also offers forex news, sentiment tools, and an economic calendar, but it does not provide daily market commentary or Autochartist. Instead, Libertex stands out by offering Trading Central research tools, which CMC Markets does not.
Overall, CMC Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars for research and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers in this category, while Libertex is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. Both brokers cover the basics well, but CMC Markets gives traders more built-in research support, making it the stronger choice for market analysis and trading ideas.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners who want to learn before they trade, CMC Markets offers a much wider range of educational support than Libertex. CMC Markets provides forex and CFD education, regular online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner-focused videos, plus 10 advanced videos for traders who want to build on the basics. It is also rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category, which points to a strong learning setup for new and more experienced users alike.
Libertex, by comparison, falls behind in educational resources for beginners. It does not meet the same level of forex or CFD learning content, and it does not offer monthly educational webinars or a large library of beginner and advanced trading videos. Its 4-star Education rating and #35 ranking out of 36 brokers suggest a more limited learning experience overall, making CMC Markets the clearer choice for traders who want better educational support.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Libertex. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its 21,710 tradeable instruments and 303 forex pairs, the largest currency lineup in the industry.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 |
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Both CMC Markets and Libertex let traders access cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker offers the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing CMC Markets vs Libertex for funding and withdrawals, both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, but Libertex also offers Skrill while CMC Markets does not.
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 | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1997 | |
| 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 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 1573 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 0.5 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 0.5 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 43 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 0 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
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