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) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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 and Spreadex both give traders access to forex trading, whether as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer cryptocurrency CFDs rather than real crypto ownership. Each broker earns a 5-star rating for range of investments, so both provide a strong choice for many types of traders. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking of 36 brokers, CMC Markets places higher at #9, while Spreadex comes in at #13.
When it comes to selection, CMC Markets has the wider market reach. It offers 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, compared with Spreadex’s 10,000 symbols and 52 forex pairs. CMC Markets also stands out by offering exchange-traded U.S. and international shares, such as Apple and Vodafone, plus copy trading. Spreadex does not offer exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, and it does not support copy trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 52 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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 comes out ahead of Spreadex for trading platforms and tools, especially for active traders who want more choice. Both brokers offer free demo accounts, their own proprietary platforms, web-based trading, and the ability to trade directly from a chart. However, CMC Markets also adds a Windows desktop platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and copy trading, while Spreadex does not offer those extras. That wider range gives CMC Markets more ways to trade across desktop, web, and third-party platforms.
In independent ratings, CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Spreadex at 4 stars and #35. For traders comparing online brokers on platform quality, charting tools, and overall flexibility, CMC Markets is the stronger pick, while Spreadex still covers the basics well with a web platform, demo trading, and chart-based order entry.
| 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 | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 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, plus stock and forex price alerts, and both let users draw trendlines on charts. However, CMC Markets goes further with watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the app carry over to the online account, while Spreadex does not offer this feature. CMC Markets also includes 29 technical studies in its mobile charting tools and automatically saves chart drawings, which can make trading on the go easier for active users.
In terms of ratings and rankings, CMC Markets stands out with a 5-star Mobile Trading Apps score and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex is still a workable choice, but it trails behind with a 4-star rating and a #34 ranking. For traders who want better chart tools, synced watchlists, and a smoother mobile experience, CMC Markets is the stronger pick.
| 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 | 29 | 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 education, CMC Markets stands out as the stronger choice overall compared with Spreadex. Both brokers offer at least 10 beginner trading videos, and neither provides monthly educational webinars, but CMC Markets goes further with a wider range of forex and CFD learning content, plus at least 10 advanced videos for traders who want to build on the basics. This broader mix helps new traders start with simple lessons and continue learning as their skills grow.
In terms of third-party ratings, CMC Markets also leads clearly on education, earning 5 out of 5 stars and placing #10 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category. Spreadex is still a decent option for learning, with 4 out of 5 stars and a #34 ranking, but it offers less advanced video support than CMC Markets. If educational resources matter most, CMC Markets is the better fit for beginners who want more room to learn over time.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | 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 |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Trading Fees |
|
|
| Trading Platforms |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
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.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broker Gallery (click to expand) |
|
|
| 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) | 12029 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 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 | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | 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) | 73 | 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 | 29 | 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 | No | 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Trading Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Trading Platforms |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 70 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
IG
FOREX.com
CMC Markets
XTB
eToro
Capital.com
AvaTrade
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill