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, established in 1989, and Plus500, founded in 2008, are both leading online brokers that boast the highest trust score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This score indicates they are highly trusted within the industry. Both companies are publicly traded, though neither operates as a bank. The stability and credibility of both brokers are underscored by their equal number of Tier-1 licenses, holding six each, which reflect the highest level of trust as per ForexBrokers.com standards.
While CMC Markets only holds one Tier-2 license, Plus500 maintains three, adding to their regulatory reputation. Tier-2 licenses are still considered trusted according to ForexBrokers.com, albeit slightly less so than Tier-1. For traders seeking reputable and reliable platforms, both CMC Markets and Plus500 present trustworthy options, backed by strong regulatory frameworks and industry recognition.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
Comparing commissions and fees, CMC Markets stands out for consistently low spreads and flexible pricing, while Plus500 tends to be pricier for most traders. CMC Markets holds a 5-star Commissions & Fees rating and is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers, and it was the 2025 Annual Awards winner for this category. Plus500 holds a 4.0-star Commissions & Fees rating and is ranked #24 out of 63.
CMC Markets posts typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (Aug 2023 data) and offers FX Active, a commission-based plan at $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0. That translates to an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other pairs; for example, NZD/USD can drop from 1.5 pips on the standard account to about 0.5 pips with FX Active after commissions. Its Price Plus Scheme can further cut costs for high-volume clients: you earn Trading Points (2 points per standard lot), and reaching Tier 4 requires roughly 1,250 lots in a month to unlock a 20% spread discount. CMC’s average spreads tend to align closely with its advertised minimums, reinforcing its pricing edge.
Plus500’s pricing is slightly above the industry average and less compelling for active traders. In April 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 1.5 pips. There are no fee discounts for retail clients, though Professional clients may qualify for cash rebates. Overall, Plus500 trails brokers that focus on aggressive pricing for frequent traders, which is reflected in its 4.0-star rating and #24 ranking for Commissions & Fees.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 vs Plus500: both brokers support forex trading (available as CFDs or spot), but CMC Markets offers the wider menu. CMC lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Plus500 offers 5,500 symbols and 65 pairs. CMC also includes copy trading; Plus500 does not. In independent ratings for range of investments, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, whereas Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #17.
For traditional investing, both brokers let you buy exchange-traded shares (not CFDs) on U.S. markets like Apple (AAPL) and on international exchanges such as London-listed Vodafone. For crypto, neither broker sells actual coins, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs. If you want the largest selection of markets and the option to copy trade, CMC Markets has the edge; if you prefer a simpler lineup, Plus500 still covers many popular assets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 65 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 vs Plus500: both brokers offer free demo accounts and in-house trading platforms, along with convenient web-based trading. CMC Markets also provides a Windows desktop platform, while Plus500 does not. Platform choice is wider at CMC Markets thanks to support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), whereas Plus500 does not connect to either. CMC Markets includes copy trading; Plus500 doesn’t.
For trading tools, CMC Markets lets you place trades directly from charts, a feature Plus500 lacks. Both deliver helpful charting with a variety of indicators, though specifics vary. Independent ratings reflect these differences: CMC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 scores 4.5/5 stars and ranks #14. In short, traders who want desktop software, MT4/MT5 access, and chart trading may lean toward CMC Markets, while those who prefer a streamlined, browser-only experience may find Plus500 appealing.
| 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 | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 115 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Plus500 both deliver full-featured mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app supports price alerts and watchlist syncing, so updates made on your phone match what you see on your web platform. Charting tools are available on both, including the ability to draw trendlines, making it easy to track setups while on the go.
For technical studies, Plus500 offers a larger selection (115 indicators) compared to CMC Markets (29). However, CMC Markets auto-saves your chart drawings, while Plus500 does not. Independent ratings reflect these trade-offs: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps at ForexBrokers.com, whereas Plus500 earns 4.5 stars and ranks #14. Choose Plus500 if you want more indicators, or CMC Markets if saving your chart work and higher third-party ratings matter more.
| 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 | 29 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and Plus500 both cover the basics for market research: daily market commentary, an economic calendar, and a sentiment tool that shows long vs. short positioning. The biggest differences are in premium content and third‑party tools. CMC Markets streams top‑tier forex news (e.g., Bloomberg/Reuters/Dow Jones) and includes Autochartist for technical pattern and signal ideas. Plus500 does not offer those, but it does integrate Trading Central for trade ideas and analysis. Neither broker includes TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Research and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers, while Plus500 earned 4.0 stars and ranked #17. In short, CMC Markets suits traders who want integrated news and Autochartist-driven insights, whereas Plus500 appeals to those who prefer Trading Central within a streamlined setup.
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets and Plus500 for beginner education: both offer plenty of video lessons for newcomers (at least 10 beginner-focused videos each) to help you learn trading basics step by step. Plus500 also runs online educational webinars at least once a month, giving you live sessions to ask questions, whereas CMC Markets does not currently schedule monthly webinars.
When you’re ready to go deeper, both brokers provide 10+ advanced videos as well. That said, CMC Markets earns a higher Education score and rank from ForexBrokers.com (5 stars, #10 of 63) than Plus500 (4.0 stars, #26 of 63), which can signal a stronger overall learning experience. Choose Plus500 if live webinars are a priority; choose CMC Markets if you want a higher-rated library and a clear path for building skills.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Plus500. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Plus500 finished with an overall rank of #14.
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
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Plus500 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
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| 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 | 6 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 65 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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) | 73 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 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 | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Plus500 Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Plus500 Review |
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