Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Questrade, 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 vs. Questrade: For safety and regulation, ForexBrokers.com uses a 99-point Trust Score where 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and below 59 not trusted. CMC Markets earns 99/99 (highly trusted), while Questrade scores 85/99 (trusted).
CMC Markets, founded in 1989, is publicly traded and not a bank. It holds 6 Tier-1 licenses (highly trusted) and 1 Tier-2 license (trusted). Questrade, founded in 2000, is privately held and not a bank, with 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses. In short, CMC Markets has broader top-tier oversight, while Questrade maintains a solid trust standing.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2000 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
CMC Markets does better on commissions and fees than Questrade overall. On its standard account, pricing is spread-only, and costs can be a bit higher than the advertised minimums, but CMC’s average quotes tend to stay fairly close to those minimums. Its FX Active pricing is more competitive, with tighter spreads and a separate commission structure that can bring the all-in cost down for active forex traders. CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranked #3 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Questrade Global also uses spread-based pricing, but its real-world forex spreads were found to be wider, which can make trading more expensive than the headline pricing suggests. While the broker says spreads can start as low as 0.8 pips, observed average spreads were closer to 2.1 to 2.5 pips on major pairs, and CFD trading can get costly because of the added per-unit fee. Questrade is rated 3.5 stars and ranked #35 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In simple terms, CMC Markets offers the better deal for most traders who care about keeping trading costs low, especially if they qualify for FX Active or volume-based discounts. Questrade may still suit some users, but its wider spreads and added CFD fees make it less competitive on price overall.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.8 or higher |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When it comes to available investments, CMC Markets offers a much wider selection than Questrade. CMC Markets lists 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, while Questrade offers 675 symbols and 110 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading, but CMC Markets gives traders access to a far broader mix of markets, making it a stronger choice for anyone who wants more variety in one account.
CMC Markets also stands out because it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. It also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, while Questrade does not offer those products. Neither broker supports copy trading or buying actual cryptocurrency. Even so, both earned 5 stars for Range of Investments, with CMC Markets ranked #9 out of 36 brokers and Questrade ranked #12.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 675 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 110 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and Questrade both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including a free demo account, a proprietary platform, a Windows desktop app, and a web-based platform. Each also lets you place trades directly from charts, which is helpful if you like to act quickly while watching price moves. Neither broker offers copy trading, so you will not find a built-in way to mirror other traders’ strategies.
The biggest difference is in third-party tools: CMC Markets supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Questrade does not. That gives CMC Markets an edge for traders who want more charting and automation options. This difference shows up in ratings too, with CMC Markets earning 5 stars and a #6 ranking for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Questrade’s 4 stars and #30 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 64 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Questrade both make it easy to trade on the go with iPhone and Android apps, plus stock and forex price alerts. Each mobile app also lets you sync watchlists with your online account, draw trendlines on charts, and auto-save those drawings. In other words, both brokers cover the core features most mobile traders look for, so either app can handle everyday trading needs.
The biggest difference shows up in charting and overall app quality. Questrade offers 64 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at CMC Markets, which may appeal to traders who want more chart tools on a phone or tablet. Even so, CMC Markets gets a better mobile trading apps rating at 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Questrade holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks #30. If you care more about a higher-rated mobile experience, CMC Markets has the edge; if you want more technical studies, Questrade stands out.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 64 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets has the edge over Questrade. CMC Markets offers daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar with global events. It also includes Autochartist for trading ideas, while Questrade does not offer daily commentary, top-tier forex news, sentiment data, or an economic calendar. Both brokers provide Autochartist, but Questrade adds Trading Central and TipRanks, which CMC Markets does not.
Overall, CMC Markets is rated higher for research, with 5 stars and a ForexBrokers.com ranking of #6 out of 36 brokers, compared with Questrade’s 3.5 stars and #36 ranking. Questrade still has useful extras for research, especially Trading Central and TipRanks, but CMC Markets stands out for traders who want more built-in market analysis, news flow, and trading signals in one place.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing CMC Markets vs Questrade for beginner trading education, CMC Markets comes out ahead for learners who want more guidance and a wider mix of learning tools. CMC Markets offers forex and CFDs education, regular online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos as well as 10 advanced videos. It also earns a 5-star Education rating and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for education on ForexBrokers.com, which makes it a strong choice for new traders who want to build knowledge step by step.
Questrade offers some educational support, but it falls behind CMC Markets in this area for beginners. Based on the information provided, Questrade does not meet the threshold for forex or CFDs education content, does not offer monthly educational webinars, and does not have at least 10 beginner or advanced trading videos. Its 3.5-star Education rating and #30 ranking out of 36 brokers suggest a more limited learning library, so CMC Markets is the better pick if education is a top priority.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Questrade. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Questrade finished with an overall rank of #29.
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
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Questrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
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CMC Markets vs Questrade: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but only CMC Markets offers cryptocurrency CFD trading while Questrade does not.
Online broker CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals (Questrade supports neither), both CMC Markets and Questrade allow bank wire transfers, neither supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability was not specified.
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 | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Questrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2000 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | ||
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | ||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | ||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 675 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 110 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.8 or higher | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | No |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 64 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 64 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Education | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Questrade Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Questrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Questrade Review |
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