Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Spreadex, 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 Spreadex: CMC Markets (founded 1989) is an online broker that’s publicly traded, while Spreadex (founded 1999) is privately held. Neither broker is a bank. In terms of regulation, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2 licenses (viewed by ForexBrokers.com as highly trusted and trusted, respectively). Spreadex holds 1 Tier-1 license and no Tier-2 licenses.
Trust Score (out of 99) from ForexBrokers.com: CMC Markets 99 (highly trusted) and Spreadex 70 (average risk). For context, the Trust Score ranges are 90–99 highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and 59 or less not trusted.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 |
| 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 stands out on commissions and fees, with a 5-star rating and a #4 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. It is known for low spread pricing across account types, and its average EUR/USD spread was 0.61 pips based on August 2023 data. CMC also offers FX Active, a commission-based plan with $2.50 per side and minimum spreads from zero, which can bring the all-in EUR/USD cost down to 0.5 pips. For active traders, its Price Plus Scheme can reduce trading costs further through Trading Points.
Spreadex is also competitive, but it trails CMC Markets in this category with a 4-star rating and a #26 ranking out of 36 brokers. Its EUR/USD spread averaged 0.81 pips in January 2024, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips available 60% of the time during the month. That puts Spreadex in a solid position for pricing, but it generally does not match the lower average costs or the extra pricing options offered by CMC Markets.
Overall, if your main concern is keeping trading costs low, CMC Markets has the edge over Spreadex for commissions and fees. CMC’s lower average spreads, commission-based FX Active pricing, and active trader discounts make it the stronger pick for cost-conscious traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.81 |
| 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.
CMC Markets offers a wider range of investments than Spreadex, making it the stronger choice for traders who want more variety. CMC Markets lists 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, compared with Spreadex’s 10,000 symbols and 52 forex pairs. Both brokers offer forex trading, and both also let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither supports copy trading or buying actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
One key difference is that CMC Markets gives access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. Spreadex does not offer these non-CFD shares. In third-party ratings, both brokers earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, but CMC Markets is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com, placing #9 out of 36 brokers versus Spreadex at #13.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 52 |
| 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 | 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 edges out Spreadex for trading platforms and tools thanks to a wider range of choices for active traders. Both brokers offer a free demo account, a web-based platform, a proprietary platform, and the ability to trade directly from a chart. However, CMC Markets goes further with a Windows desktop platform and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, while Spreadex does not offer these options. Neither broker supports copy trading.
In third-party ratings, CMC Markets also comes out ahead, earning 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranking #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex receives 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #35 out of 36. For traders who want more platform flexibility and more advanced tools, CMC Markets is the stronger pick, while Spreadex may suit those looking for a simpler web-based setup.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 58 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets has a stronger mobile trading app offering than Spreadex overall. Both brokers provide iPhone and Android apps, and both support stock or forex price alerts. Each app also lets users draw trendlines on charts, which is helpful for basic technical analysis on the go.
The main difference is in app quality and extra features. CMC Markets offers watchlist syncing between mobile and online accounts, 30 technical studies, and automatic saving of chart drawings. Spreadex does not offer watchlist syncing, has no listed technical studies for its mobile app, and does not auto-save drawings. This difference is reflected in third-party ratings, with CMC Markets earning 5 stars and a #5 ranking for mobile trading apps, while Spreadex has 4 stars and ranks #34 out of 36 brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and Spreadex both give traders a solid set of market research tools. Each broker provides daily market commentary, forex news from major sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, Autochartist tools, sentiment data showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar for tracking key global events. In other words, both platforms cover the main research features most traders look for when checking the markets.
That said, CMC Markets has the edge in overall research quality. It is rated 5 stars for Research by ForexBrokers.com and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while Spreadex is rated 4 stars and ranks #28. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, so the key difference is that CMC Markets stands out a little more for the depth and quality of its market research offering.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| 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 lessons, CMC Markets comes out ahead of Spreadex. CMC Markets offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces on those topics, monthly live educational webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos plus more than 10 advanced videos. That depth shows in its 5-star Education rating and its #10 ranking out of 36 brokers for Education at ForexBrokers.com.
Spreadex still gives new traders some helpful material, including at least 10 beginner videos and forex or CFD education, but it does not provide monthly educational webinars and does not appear to offer at least 10 advanced videos. Its Education score is 4 stars, and it ranks #34 out of 36 brokers, so it may suit simple learning needs, while CMC Markets is the stronger choice for a wider range of beginner and more experienced study support.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| 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 Spreadex. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #33.
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
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
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CMC Markets vs Spreadex: neither broker offers the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both allow trading cryptocurrency CFDs.
CMC Markets vs Spreadex: CMC Markets offers ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire deposits and withdrawals, while Spreadex offers bank wires only (no ACH/SEPA or PayPal); neither supports Skrill, and Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| 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) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 52 | |
| 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 | 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 58 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Spreadex Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
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