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 and Plus500 are two prominent online brokers providing a range of trading services. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is one of the seasoned players in the industry, while Plus500 began its journey in 2008. Both companies are publicly traded, although neither functions as a bank. In terms of regulatory compliance, CMC Markets holds five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, signaling substantial trust and reliable compliance standards. Additionally, Plus500 stands out for its six Tier-1 licenses and three Tier-2 licenses, indicative of its strong regulatory adherence and commitment to maintaining trust.
When it comes to ratings, both CMC Markets and Plus500 have achieved the highest Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting their secure and trustworthy platforms. A Trust Score of this level indicates a highly trusted standing in the financial trading market. These ratings are part of a larger score range where scores below 59 indicate a lack of trustworthiness. Thus, traders seeking a reliable online trading experience can consider both CMC Markets and Plus500 as secure and transparent options.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 6 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets clearly stands out with its competitive pricing and top-tier ranking, earning a perfect five-star rating for these features in our 2025 Annual Awards. CMC Markets takes the #1 spot out of 63 brokers in this category, largely due to its low spread offerings and innovative programs like the Price Plus Scheme. With average spreads of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD as of August 2023, CMC Markets offers a pricing structure that consistently exceeds industry standards. The new FX Active pricing model introduces a commission-based system that significantly reduces trading costs, offering traders an all-in cost of 0.5 pips for the EUR/USD, further solidifying CMC Markets as a leader in cost efficiency.
In contrast, Plus500’s pricing structure is somewhat less appealing compared to industry leaders. With average EUR/USD spreads of 1.5 pips as of April 2024, Plus500's charges are higher than the industry average. Although it holds a respectable four-star rating in the commissions and fees category, Plus500 ranks #25 out of 63 brokers, falling behind in active trader pricing. While it does offer cash rebates for Professional clients, Plus500 does not extend similar discounts to retail traders, making its cost structure less competitive, especially for those who trade frequently.
Overall, CMC Markets offers a more attractive proposition for traders looking for low-cost trading options, thanks to its innovative pricing schemes and consistently low spreads. Plus500, while rated fairly, might not provide the same level of value, particularly for active traders looking for cost-effective trading strategies. Understanding these differences can assist traders in making more informed decisions based on their trading frequency and account type preferences.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.5 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 1.5 |
| 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 the investment options available at CMC Markets and Plus500, both online brokers offer forex trading as CFDs, but CMC Markets boasts a significantly larger variety. With an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols, CMC Markets provides access to 156 forex pairs, allowing traders to explore a vast array of opportunities. Meanwhile, Plus500 offers 5,500 symbols and 65 forex pairs, providing a decent albeit smaller selection. Both platforms give clients the opportunity to purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling them to invest in well-known stocks such as Apple and Vodafone.
Both CMC Markets and Plus500 provide options to trade cryptocurrency derivatives, yet they do not offer actual cryptocurrency purchases. A unique feature of CMC Markets is its support for copy trading, allowing users to mimic successful trading strategies—a feature Plus500 lacks. In terms of ratings, CMC Markets excels with a five-star rating for the range of investments and ranks ninth in the Range of Investments category on ForexBrokers.com, outshining Plus500, which holds a 4.5-star rating and a 24th place ranking. Thus, CMC Markets emerges as a leader for those seeking a broader spectrum of investment opportunities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Plus500
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 5500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 CMC Markets and Plus500, both online brokers stand out for their quality trading platforms and tools, although they cater to different user needs. CMC Markets offers a highly versatile trading environment, featuring both a web-based platform and a desktop download option for Windows users, which Plus500 lacks. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms, easing the way for traders to start exploring the markets. However, CMC Markets provides additional flexibility with offerings like MetaTrader 4 and 5 for advanced trading needs, which are not available with Plus500. Additionally, CMC Markets supports copy trading, giving users the ability to mimic the trades of experienced investors, a feature that Plus500 does not offer.
Chart enthusiasts will find CMC Markets appealing due to its provision of 40 drawing tools, slightly edging over Plus500's 36, alongside the ability to trade directly from stock charts. In terms of user interface, CMC Markets leads with 11 columns for watch lists compared to Plus500's 10, allowing for a more detailed view of market data. With a 5-star rating for its trading tools and platforms, CMC Markets is ranked #4 among 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Plus500 maintains a respectable 4.5-star rating, positioned at #14. These ratings highlight the comprehensive and user-friendly experience CMC Markets provides, appealing to traders seeking a robust suite of tools compared to the streamlined, yet slightly limited, options available with Plus500.
| 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) | 79 | 115 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 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 | 5 | 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Plus500 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 5500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 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 | 0.61 | 1.5 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 1.5 | |
| 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 | €100 | |
| 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) | 79 | 115 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 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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