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 is the stronger pick for commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. It stands out for its low spreads across all account types, including an average EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips based on August 2023 data. CMC also offers an active trader discount program through its Price Plus Scheme, and its FX Active pricing can bring all-in EUR/USD trading costs down to 0.5 pips with a $2.50 per-side commission.
Plus500 is more expensive by comparison, with a 4.0-star rating and a rank of #25 out of 36 brokers. Its pricing sits slightly above the industry average, and it does not offer retail client discounts like an active trader program. For EUR/USD, Plus500’s average spread was 1.5 pips in April 2024, which is noticeably higher than CMC Markets and higher than the typical market average.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the better choice if low trading costs are your main priority, especially for forex traders who want tighter spreads and more pricing options. Plus500 may still appeal to some traders for its platform and ease of use, but when it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets offers better value overall.
| 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.
For beginners looking for trading education, both CMC Markets and Plus500 offer a wide range of learning tools, including at least 10 forex or CFD-focused educational pieces, monthly online webinars, and plenty of videos for both new and experienced traders. That means each broker gives users access to useful material on trading basics, market ideas, and more advanced topics, making either one a solid starting point for someone who wants to learn before trading.
That said, CMC Markets has the edge on education overall. It earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks #26. In simple terms, both brokers support beginner learning well, but CMC Markets appears to offer the stronger educational experience and a better overall selection of trading resources.
| 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 #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 | 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 Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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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