Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Plus500, 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 (founded 1989) and Plus500 (founded 2008) are publicly traded online brokers, and neither is a bank. ForexBrokers.com assigns both firms a Trust Score of 99 out of 99, which sits in the “highly trusted” range (90–99).
On regulation, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses, while Plus500 holds 7 Tier-1 and 4 Tier-2 licenses. Tier-1 licenses are considered highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted by ForexBrokers.com, giving Plus500 a slight edge in total licensing, though both brokers achieve the top trust designation.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 4 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets comes out ahead of Plus500 on commissions and fees, especially for active forex traders. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers for this category, while Plus500 holds 4.0 stars and ranks #26 out of 36. On CMC’s standard account, EUR/USD spreads averaged 1.3 pips versus an advertised 0.8 pip minimum, but pricing can improve through FX Active, where the all-in EUR/USD cost can fall to about 1.15 pips after commission. Plus500’s EUR/USD spread averaged 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is higher than the industry average and offers less value for frequent traders.
CMC Markets also gives more ways to lower costs if you trade more. Its active trader rebates and professional tiers can reduce holding and trading costs, and some clients may qualify for strong volume-based discounts. Plus500, by comparison, does not offer retail discounts, though Professional clients may receive cash rebates. For long-term or higher-volume trading, CMC’s pricing structure is generally more flexible and more competitive.
For non-trading fees, CMC Markets is also fairly user-friendly: there is no minimum deposit, international wire transfers are free, and the inactivity fee only applies after a full year with no open positions or trades. Plus500 is generally seen as slightly above average on pricing overall, with fewer built-in savings for everyday traders. If low fees are a priority, CMC Markets is the stronger choice between the two.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| 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 and Plus500 both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, plus the ability to trade exchange-listed shares on both U.S. and international stock exchanges. They also both offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker lets you buy actual delivered crypto, and neither supports copy trading.
Where CMC Markets stands out is choice: it offers 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, compared with 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs at Plus500. That wider product list helps explain why CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranked #9 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #16.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets has the edge over Plus500 for trading platforms and tools. Both brokers offer a free demo account, a web-based platform, and their own in-house trading platforms, so you can try them out without risk and trade from a browser. However, CMC Markets goes further with a Windows desktop platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and the ability to place trades directly from charts. Plus500 does not offer these extras, which may matter if you want more platform choice and deeper chart-based trading features.
For charting and overall platform quality, CMC Markets is also rated higher, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Plus500 scores 4.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #14 out of 36. Neither broker offers copy trading, so if that is important to you, you will need to look elsewhere. Overall, CMC Markets is the stronger pick for traders who want more platform options and better tools, while Plus500 may suit those looking for a simpler browser-based setup.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Plus500 both give mobile traders a strong starting point, with iPhone and Android apps, stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. Both apps let users keep track of positions on the go, and changes made to watchlists sync between the mobile app and online account for a smoother experience. For everyday mobile trading, both brokers cover the core features most users need.
Where they differ is in charting depth and app performance. Plus500 offers 115 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at CMC Markets, but CMC Markets has a key edge because it auto-saves chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. That extra convenience helps traders return to their analysis without starting over. Overall, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranked #5 for Mobile Trading Apps by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #14, making CMC Markets the stronger choice for mobile trading apps.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets has the edge over Plus500. Both brokers provide daily market commentary, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar to help traders track upcoming events. However, CMC Markets stands out by also offering forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental analysis. Plus500, on the other hand, does not offer top-tier forex news or Autochartist, but it does include Trading Central research tools, which CMC Markets does not.
Overall, CMC Markets is rated higher for research, earning 5 out of 5 stars and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Research category. Plus500 still provides useful research features and scores 4.5 stars, but it ranks lower at #16. For traders who want more in-depth market insights and a wider range of research tools, CMC Markets offers the stronger research package.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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.
CMC Markets and Plus500 both give beginners a wide range of learning tools, including forex and CFDs education, monthly online webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos. That means each broker provides enough material for new traders to start learning the basics and keep building their knowledge over time. For a beginner looking for structured help, both platforms make education easy to find and fairly comprehensive.
CMC Markets, however, has the edge overall. It earns a 5-star Education rating and places #10 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Education category, while Plus500 holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #27. In simple terms, both brokers support beginner education well, but CMC Markets stands out as the stronger choice if education is a top priority.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 Plus500. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #11.
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
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
CMC Markets vs Plus500: neither broker supports buying actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers CMC Markets and Plus500: CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA and bank wires and offers PayPal but not Skrill, whereas Plus500 lacks ACH/SEPA but offers PayPal, Skrill, and bank wires; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| Regulation | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 4 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| 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). Non-CFD share trading at Plus500 is only available through the Plus500 Invest account. |
| Cost | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 115 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Plus500 Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
XM
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill
HFM Markets