Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Markets.com, 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 Markets.com are both seasoned players in the online brokerage industry, with CMC Markets having over three decades of experience since its founding in 1989, while Markets.com was established in 1999. A notable distinction between the two is that CMC Markets is publicly traded, offering an additional layer of transparency to its clients, whereas Markets.com remains privately held. Both platforms are not banks but provide various financial services as licensed brokerages.
When it comes to regulatory credentials, CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, earning it a top-notch Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Markets.com operates with three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, achieving an impressive Trust Score of 93. These scores reflect their strong regulatory standards, with CMC Markets at the pinnacle of trust and Markets.com also maintaining a high level of reliability.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets leads on pricing. In the 2025 ForexBrokers.com Annual Awards, it earned 5 stars and ranked #1 of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees. Typical EUR/USD spreads were 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, giving an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and five other pairs. FX Active is available on MT4 and Next Generation in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Southeast Asia. Notably, CMC Markets’ average spreads have tended to track its minimums closely, supporting its low-cost profile.
High-volume traders can cut costs further via CMC Markets’ Price Plus Scheme. You earn Trading Points based on monthly volume and markets traded; for example, two points per standard lot (100,000 units). Hitting 1,250 standard lots in a month reaches Tier 4, which applies a 20% spread discount.
Markets.com trails in this category with a 3.5-star rating and a #51 of 63 ranking for Commissions and Fees. Average spread data is not available, which makes direct cost comparisons harder. In a head-to-head look at pricing transparency, available pricing models, and potential discounts, CMC Markets stands out as the more cost-competitive choice for many traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| 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 offers a much wider range of investments than Markets.com. You’ll find 12,029 tradeable symbols at CMC Markets versus 2,179 at Markets.com, along with 141 forex pairs compared with 57. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs/spot and offer copy trading. For crypto, both let you trade cryptocurrency as CFDs, but neither allows buying actual, delivered crypto.
CMC Markets also provides real share dealing on both U.S. and international exchanges, while Markets.com does not offer exchange-traded shares. Reflecting this breadth, CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com; Markets.com scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #30. If access to more markets and listed shares matters to you, CMC Markets is the more comprehensive choice; if you need fewer markets, Markets.com still covers the basics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 2179 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 57 |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs. Markets.com for their trading platforms and tools: both brokers offer free demo (paper) accounts, proprietary platforms built in-house, Windows desktop download platforms, and web-based platforms. Each also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and includes copy trading options, giving new and experienced traders flexibility in how they trade.
Where they differ: CMC Markets lets you place trades directly from a chart, while Markets.com does not offer chart trading. Reflecting this, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Markets.com at 4 stars and #27. If chart-driven execution and top-tier platform ratings matter most, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want MT4/MT5 and a solid proprietary and web experience, both will fit the bill.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 89 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Markets.com both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, with handy features like price alerts and watchlists that sync between your phone and your online account. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts, which is useful for tracking support and resistance levels on the go.
Where they differ is charting depth and ease of use. CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies inside its app and automatically saves your chart drawings. Markets.com’s own app does not include built-in studies, though you can access the default indicators if you trade via MT4; its app also doesn’t auto-save drawings. Reflecting these differences, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Markets.com holds 4 stars and ranks #34.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both CMC Markets and Markets.com offer daily commentary and access to forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Additionally, both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to view the ratio of long or short positions across different instruments. While they share these features, a distinct advantage of CMC Markets is its integration with Autochartist, a popular tool for technical analysis and fundamental research, which Markets.com does not offer. Both platforms also lack features like Trading Central’s technical analytics and resources from TipRanks and Acuity Trading.
Both brokers provide an economic calendar to keep traders informed of global economic events. However, CMC Markets is rated higher for its research capabilities, earning a five-star rating compared to Markets.com’s four stars. This superior rating reflects in their rankings, with CMC Markets positioned at 6th place, surpassing Markets.com, which stands at 17th out of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com. These distinctions make CMC Markets a more favorable choice for those who prioritize comprehensive market research tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both CMC Markets and Markets.com give beginners plenty of forex and CFD education. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, along with a wide range of learning materials focused on trading. The key difference is webinars: Markets.com runs client education webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not.
In independent reviews, CMC Markets scores higher for education with a 5-star rating and a #10 ranking out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Markets.com earns 4 stars and ranks #34. If live, ongoing webinars matter most, Markets.com is appealing. If you want a higher-rated education experience and a large video library for both beginners and experienced traders, CMC Markets is the stronger pick.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Markets.com. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.
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
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Markets.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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CMC Markets and Markets.com do not allow buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies, but both brokers support trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
CMC Markets offers ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire funding for deposits and withdrawals (but not Skrill), while Markets.com does not support ACH/SEPA; at the time of this comparison, Markets.com’s support for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires—and CMC Markets’ support for Visa/Mastercard—was 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 | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 2179 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 57 | |
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 89 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Markets.com | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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