Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs RoboForex, 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 in 1989, stands out as a highly trusted online broker with a top-rated Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. As a publicly traded company, CMC Markets holds six Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reinforcing its reputation for reliability in the trading community. This broker continues to provide peace of mind for traders by ensuring strong compliance with rigorous regulatory standards, even though it is not a bank.
In contrast, RoboForex, established in 2009, presents an average risk level for traders with a Trust Score of 73 according to ForexBrokers.com. The company is privately held and not publicly traded on any stock exchange. While RoboForex holds one Tier-1 license providing some level of assurance, it lacks any Tier-2 licenses. Despite both companies not being banks, CMC Markets offers a more trusted trading environment when it comes to regulatory oversight.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 |
| 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 | 2 |
Looking strictly at commissions and fees, CMC Markets is the cheaper pick versus RoboForex. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #1 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com, while RoboForex is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #56. The bottom line: if you want lower trading costs, especially on major forex pairs, CMC Markets generally delivers better value.
CMC Markets’ typical EUR/USD spread was 0.61 pips (Aug 2023), and its pricing is available across all customers and account types. Its FX Active plan adds a $2.50-per-side commission with minimum spreads from 0.0, creating an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and five other pairs). For instance, NZD/USD can drop from a 1.5-pip spread on the standard account to about 0.5 pips all-in with FX Active. The Price Plus Scheme can further cut costs for high-volume traders by awarding Trading Points (two per standard lot); hitting Tier 4 requires about 1,250 lots in a month and unlocks a 20% spread discount. Importantly, CMC’s average spreads have tended to stay close to its advertised minimums.
By comparison, RoboForex lists average EUR/USD spreads of about 1.3 pips on its Procent and Pro accounts, which is expensive next to CMC Markets’ pricing. Traders who place frequent orders or trade larger sizes are likely to see meaningfully higher costs at RoboForex than at CMC Markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers a wider range of investments than RoboForex. You’ll find 12,029 tradeable symbols at CMC Markets versus 8,400 at RoboForex, and 141 forex pairs compared with RoboForex’s 28. Both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or as spot contracts, but CMC Markets clearly has the larger catalog across asset types.
For stocks, CMC Markets lets you buy exchange-traded shares on U.S. exchanges (like Apple) and on international exchanges, while RoboForex doesn’t offer exchange-traded securities. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both provide cryptocurrency CFDs, and both support copy trading. For Range of Investments, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while RoboForex earns 4.5 stars and ranks #21—making CMC Markets the better pick if you want the broadest selection, and RoboForex a solid choice for CFD-focused traders who also want copy trading and crypto CFDs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 8400 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 28 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and RoboForex both let you practice with a free demo (paper) account and offer web and Windows desktop trading. Each supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), copy trading, and lets you place orders directly from charts. The key difference: CMC Markets also offers a proprietary (in-house) platform, while RoboForex focuses on third-party platforms.
For platform quality, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools at ForexBrokers.com, whereas RoboForex scores 4 stars and ranks #44. If you want an in-house platform alongside MetaTrader, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you prefer a MetaTrader-centered setup with copy trading, RoboForex delivers. Both include technical indicators and watchlists to help you track markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and RoboForex both offer iPhone and Android trading apps. Each app supports price alerts, lets you draw trendlines, and automatically saves chart drawings. For charting tools, CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, while RoboForex offers 30.
The standout difference is watchlist syncing: CMC Markets syncs watchlists between mobile and the web platform; RoboForex does not. Independent ratings and rankings from ForexBrokers.com favor CMC Markets, which earns 5 stars and ranks 5th out of 63 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with RoboForex’s 4 stars and 44th place. Choose CMC Markets if synced watchlists and a higher-rated experience matter most; consider RoboForex if you want one extra built-in indicator and don’t mind managing watchlists separately.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Both CMC Markets and RoboForex cover the essentials for market research: daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier providers (such as Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), and an economic calendar. The differences show up in the tools they add. CMC Markets includes Autochartist for pattern scanning and a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long vs. short positions. RoboForex, on the other hand, integrates Trading Central analytics and Acuity Trading signals. Neither broker offers TipRanks.
Independent ratings from ForexBrokers.com highlight a gap: CMC Markets scores 5 stars for Research and ranks 6th out of 63 brokers, while RoboForex earns 3.5 stars and ranks 38th. Choose CMC Markets if you want built-in sentiment data and Autochartist alongside top-tier news; pick RoboForex if Trading Central and Acuity tools fit your trading style. Both still provide daily commentary, trusted news sources, and an easy-to-use calendar.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | Yes |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginner traders comparing education, CMC Markets clearly offers more depth than RoboForex. CMC Markets provides at least 10 beginner-focused trading videos and at least 10 videos for advanced topics, making it easier to build skills step by step. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars, so live coaching isn’t a differentiator. RoboForex, meanwhile, does not reach the 10-video mark for either beginner or advanced content, which can limit structured learning if you prefer video lessons.
Third-party ratings back up the gap: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while RoboForex holds 3.5 stars and ranks #57. If you’re a new forex or CFD trader looking for a strong library of on-demand videos, CMC Markets is the more beginner-friendly choice; RoboForex may suit traders who only need lighter, self-guided materials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
RoboForex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 RoboForex. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while RoboForex finished with an overall rank of #46.
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
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RoboForex
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 |
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CMC Markets vs RoboForex: neither broker supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
Comparing online brokers CMC Markets vs RoboForex: both allow ACH/SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while CMC Markets additionally supports PayPal and bank wire funding and does not support Skrill, and specific details for RoboForex regarding PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard cards, and bank wires were not provided.
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 | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | RoboForex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 8400 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 28 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | RoboForex Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | RoboForex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 73 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | RoboForex Review |
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