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, established in 1989, is a highly trusted online broker with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99. It stands out by being publicly traded, which adds a layer of transparency to its operations. While not a bank, CMC Markets holds an impressive six Tier-1 licenses, reflecting its strong regulatory standing. Additionally, it has one Tier-2 license, indicating further commitment to meeting industry standards.
Founded in 1999, Spreadex is not listed on the stock exchange and holds one Tier-1 license, showcasing a moderate level of trust. Its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score is 71 out of 99, suggesting an average risk for traders. Spreadex does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, which may be a consideration for those focusing on regulatory assurances. Both companies offer a range of financial services, but their regulatory profiles and trust scores provide distinct factors for potential investors to consider.
| 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 |
For commissions and fees, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category — and it took the #1 spot in our 2025 Annual Awards for this category. Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #25 out of 63. In terms of pricing, CMC Markets lists a typical EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips (August 2023). Spreadex averaged 0.81 pips on EUR/USD in January 2024, with its 0.6‑pip minimum achieved 60% of the time. In practice, that means CMC Markets is often the lower‑cost choice, especially for frequent FX traders.
CMC Markets supports both spread‑only and commission‑based pricing. Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of zero, delivering a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost on EUR/USD (and five other pairs) using August 2023 data; for example, NZD/USD drops from a 1.5‑pip spread on the standard account to a 0.5‑pip all‑in cost with FX Active. Cost‑cutting can go further via the Price Plus Scheme for active traders: you earn Trading Points based on monthly volume (two points per standard 100,000‑unit lot), and hitting Tier 4 — 1,250 standard lots in a month — unlocks a 20% spread discount. CMC’s average spreads have historically tracked close to its minimums, which helps with cost predictability. Spreadex offers straightforward spread pricing that’s competitive, but its averages are generally a bit higher than CMC Markets.
| 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 let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both offer cryptocurrency CFDs (not actual coins). CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 currency pairs, while Spreadex offers about 10,000 symbols and 52 pairs. Only CMC Markets lets you buy and own exchange-traded shares on U.S. and international markets (think Apple or Vodafone); Spreadex does not offer real share ownership. CMC Markets also provides copy trading, whereas Spreadex does not.
Both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments from ForexBrokers.com, with CMC Markets ranked #9 of 63 and Spreadex ranked #13. If you want the widest market selection, access to real shares, and copy trading alongside CFDs, CMC Markets is the better fit; if 10,000+ markets and forex/crypto CFDs meet your needs, Spreadex remains a solid alternative.
| 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 and Spreadex both offer free demo (paper) accounts and run their own proprietary platforms. Each provides a web-based platform and lets you place trades directly from charts. CMC Markets adds a Windows desktop platform, built-in copy trading, and access to MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5). Spreadex does not offer a Windows desktop download, copy trading, or MetaTrader.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets 5/5 stars and ranks it #6 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex earns 4/5 stars and ranks #34. If you want the widest platform choice and copy trading, CMC Markets stands out. If you prefer a straightforward, browser-based experience on a proprietary platform, Spreadex is a good alternative.
| 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 and Spreadex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and each supports price alerts. Where they differ is in everyday convenience and charting depth. CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while Spreadex does not. For charting, CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and automatically saves your annotations. Spreadex also supports drawing trendlines, but it does not auto-save drawings and does not disclose the number of technical studies available.
For overall app quality, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category at ForexBrokers.com, compared with Spreadex at 4 stars and #33. If you value richer chart tools and seamless watchlist syncing across devices, CMC Markets stands out. If you just need core mobile trading with alerts on iPhone or Android, Spreadex remains a solid choice.
| 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 cover the essentials for market research. Each provides daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones, or similar. Both include Autochartist-powered technical or fundamental tools and a sentiment feature showing the ratio of long vs. short positions across instruments. An economic calendar is available at both brokers. On the other hand, neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading (Signal Centre).
The main difference is overall standing. CMC Markets holds a 5-star Research rating and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers with ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #27. If you want higher-rated research, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you mainly need the core tools—news, commentary, Autochartist, sentiment, and an economic calendar—Spreadex provides those as well.
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Spreadex for beginner education, both brokers provide forex and CFD learning through video libraries, including at least 10 beginner-focused videos. Neither holds monthly client education webinars. For traders who want room to grow, CMC Markets adds depth with at least 10 advanced videos, while Spreadex does not meet that advanced-video threshold.
CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, reflecting strong overall learning support for new traders. Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #33 out of 63. If you expect to progress beyond the basics, CMC Markets’ higher rating and advanced content may be more suitable; if you mainly want beginner videos, both brokers can get you started.
| 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 #32.
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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Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 |
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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 | 71 | |
| 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 | 71 | |
| 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 SCA 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 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
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