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 |
CMC Markets outshines in the commissions and fees category by offering consistently low spreads for all account types, earning the top spot in our 2025 Annual Awards. With average spreads of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD, they rank above industry standards. Their Price Plus Scheme further benefits active traders, providing potential 20% spread discounts based on trading volume. Additionally, CMC Markets introduced FX Active, a commission-based pricing structure offering very competitive costs, with commissions set at $2.50 per side alongside minimum spreads of zero pips, bringing the all-in cost for key currency pairs like the EUR/USD down to an attractive 0.5 pips.
In contrast, Plus500's overall pricing tends to be slightly above industry averages, placing it behind leading forex brokers in terms of active trader pricing. For the EUR/USD in April 2024, Plus500's spreads averaged 1.5 pips, which is notably higher than what CMC Markets offers. Plus500 does not offer retail discounts, only providing cash rebates to those qualifying as Professional clients, a feature resembling an active trader program.
Comparing CMC Markets and Plus500 in terms of their star ratings and rankings highlights the differences in their pricing models. CMC Markets enjoys a perfect five-star rating and holds the prestigious #1 spot among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, thanks to its innovative pricing schemes. Meanwhile, Plus500 garners a respectable 4.0-star rating but sits at #23 in the same category, reflecting its less competitive pricing structure.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets and Plus500, both platforms offer forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts, catering to those interested in currency markets. However, CMC Markets stands out by offering a significantly larger selection with 12,029 tradeable symbols, compared to Plus500's 5,500. For forex enthusiasts, CMC Markets provides access to 141 forex pairs, exceeding Plus500's offering of 65 pairs. Both brokers allow clients to engage with exchange-traded securities on U.S. exchanges, enabling the purchase of shares such as Apple. They also facilitate trading of international securities, like Vodafone, broadening investment opportunities globally.
Neither platform provides the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, yet they both support trading cryptocurrency derivatives. An edge CMC Markets holds over Plus500 is the availability of copy trading, a feature not offered by Plus500. This difference places CMC Markets ahead in terms of investment range, reflected in its 5-star rating for range of investments compared to Plus500's 4.5 stars. Additionally, CMC Markets ranks #9 in the Range of Investments category by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 is positioned at #21, showcasing CMC Markets' extensive offering for investors seeking variety.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 65 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by CMC Markets and Plus500, both brokers provide a compelling experience for traders with their own proprietary platforms. CMC Markets has a slight edge with its comprehensive offerings, including support for both MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), alongside a Windows-based desktop platform, while Plus500 does not support MT4, MT5, or a Windows desktop platform. Both brokers offer web-based trading platforms and simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts. A standout feature for CMC Markets is their copy trading option, which Plus500 doesn't offer. Chart enthusiasts will appreciate the 36 drawing tools available on both platforms, although CMC Markets allows trading directly from stock charts—a feature not present in Plus500's service.
For watchlists, CMC Markets provides 11 columns of data, better accommodating the detailed information traders may require, compared to the 10 columns available on Plus500. These differences reflect in their ratings for trading platforms and tools, where CMC Markets earns a 5-star rating, slightly ahead of Plus500’s 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks #4 out of 63 brokers in this category, well above Plus500, which holds the #14 spot. These distinctions suggest that traders looking for a more versatile and feature-rich trading platform might lean towards CMC Markets, while Plus500 remains a strong contender with a slightly more streamlined offering.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 36 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | No |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 10 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Catering to both iPhone and Android users, CMC Markets and Plus500 provide robust mobile trading apps that feature indispensable tools for monitoring and executing trades. Both offer price alerts for stocks and forex, syncing of watchlists between mobile and online accounts, and the ability to draw trendlines across various time frames. While CMC Markets shines with auto-saving of drawings, Plus500 does not offer this feature, which can be a point of consideration for users who frequently adjust their charts. Notably, Plus500 offers a more extensive charting experience with 115 technical studies compared to CMC Markets' 29.
When evaluating the overall user experience, CMC Markets takes the edge with a perfect 5-star rating for its mobile app, as recognized by ForexBrokers.com, where it also ranks #5 among 63 brokers. Plus500, while commendable with a 4.5-star rating, stands at #14 in the same category. Both apps allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, but CMC Markets' slightly higher rating and more consistent functionality could make it the preferable choice for traders prioritizing a seamless and feature-rich mobile experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 115 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing CMC Markets and Plus500, both brokers provide daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tools to their users. However, CMC Markets stands out by offering forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, whereas Plus500 does not provide access to such top-tier news outlets. Furthermore, CMC Markets features tools from Autochartist, which is not available with Plus500, giving its users additional resources for technical and fundamental analysis. On the other hand, Plus500 offers tools from Trading Central, providing a unique edge for technical analytics, which CMC Markets does not offer.
Both CMC Markets and Plus500 present users with an economic calendar to track global news events. Despite their similarities, CMC Markets receives a higher research rating of five stars compared to Plus500's four stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks sixth out of 63 brokers in the Research category, showcasing its commitment to comprehensive market research. In contrast, Plus500 ranks nineteenth, indicating a solid but comparatively less extensive offering in this area.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, CMC Markets and Plus500 both provide a solid foundation for new traders. CMC Markets offers a comprehensive selection of educational materials, including a wide variety of over 10 pieces of content that focus on forex or CFDs. These resources range from articles and videos to archived webinars. Although CMC Markets does not offer monthly live webinars, it makes up for this by providing a searchable archive of recorded sessions. Furthermore, CMC Markets excels in catering to both beginners and experienced traders with educational videos tailored to each group's needs. Additionally, an investor dictionary with over 50 terms is available, enhancing the learning experience for those just starting out. This thorough approach earns CMC Markets a high rating of 5 stars for education and a commendable 10th place ranking among 63 brokers, according to ForexBrokers.com.
Plus500, on the other hand, matches CMC Markets in offering a library of over 10 learning materials centered around forex and CFDs, available in various formats like articles and videos. A key advantage of Plus500 is the availability of monthly live educational webinars, which provide traders with ongoing learning opportunities, complemented by a searchable archive of past webinars. Similar to CMC Markets, Plus500 also supports both new and seasoned traders with video content tailored to different experience levels. However, Plus500 lacks an investor dictionary, which could limit resources for beginners looking for quick explanations of financial terms. Despite this, Plus500 maintains a respectable educational rating of 4.0 stars and holds the 31st position among 63 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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 Plus500. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, 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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Neither CMC Markets nor Plus500 provides the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but both platforms allow trading in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Compare CMC Markets and Plus500 as online brokers: CMC Markets supports ACH and SEPA transfers while Plus500 does not; both offer PayPal and Visa or Mastercard for transactions; however, Plus500 uniquely supports Skrill, whereas both brokers facilitate bank wire transfers.
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 (SFC 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/Central Bank 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 10 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 36 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 115 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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