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 comes out ahead of Spreadex on commissions and fees overall. Its standard spread-only account is easy to use, but the average EUR/USD spread of 1.3 pips is higher than the advertised 0.8 pip minimum, and pricing has widened over time. That said, CMC’s pricing is often steady from quote to quote, which can matter to active traders. For lower costs, CMC also offers FX Active, where the EUR/USD average drops to 0.65 pips plus commission, which works out to about 1.15 pips all-in. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #3 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
Spreadex is competitive, but it does not match CMC Markets on cost efficiency in this category. In January 2024, its average EUR/USD spread was 0.81 pips, with a minimum spread of 0.6 pips reached 60% of the time during the month. That is a solid result, but it still places Spreadex behind CMC when comparing overall commissions and fees. Spreadex is rated 4 stars and ranks #27 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees.
In short, CMC Markets offers better value for traders who care most about pricing, especially if they use the FX Active model, while Spreadex remains a decent option but trails in this comparison.
| 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 and Spreadex both give traders a free demo account, a proprietary platform, and web-based trading, so each offers a simple way to get started online. Both also let users trade directly from charts, which can make order placement quicker. Neither broker offers copy trading. For those who want desktop software, though, CMC Markets has a Windows download platform while Spreadex does not.
CMC Markets has the edge for trading platforms and tools overall, thanks to support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, plus a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex earns a 4-star rating and ranks #37 out of 36 brokers in the same category, and it does not offer MT4 or MT5. If you want more platform choice and stronger third-party tools, CMC Markets is the more flexible option, while Spreadex may suit traders who mainly need web-based access and a built-in platform.
| 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 the edge over Spreadex for mobile trading apps, especially for active traders who want more tools on the go. Both brokers offer iPhone and Android apps, plus stock or forex price alerts and trendline drawing on charts. However, CMC Markets goes further with watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made in the app and online account stay in sync, while Spreadex does not offer this feature.
CMC Markets also stands out for charting in its mobile app, with 30 technical studies and auto-saving drawings, which can make it easier to pick up where you left off. Spreadex does not list technical studies for its mobile charting and does not auto-save chart drawings. These differences help explain why CMC Markets earns a 5-star rating and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, compared with Spreadex’s 4-star rating and #36 ranking.
| 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 range of market research tools, with daily market commentary, forex news from top sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist signals, sentiment data, and an economic calendar that tracks key global events. In both cases, you also get access to helpful research features that can support day-to-day trading decisions, making each broker a practical choice for traders who want market updates and idea generation in one place.
That said, CMC Markets comes out ahead on research quality and depth. It earns a 5-star Research rating and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while Spreadex scores 4 stars and ranks #29. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools, but CMC Markets has the edge overall for market research, especially for traders who want a more highly rated 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 comes out ahead of Spreadex. CMC Markets offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, monthly educational webinars, 10+ beginner videos, and 10+ advanced videos for more experienced traders. It is also rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, which suggests a wider range of help for new traders who want to learn step by step.
Spreadex still provides useful beginner content, including at least 10 beginner videos, but it falls short in a few key areas. It does not offer monthly educational webinars, does not appear to provide 10 or more forex/CFDs-focused education pieces, and does not have 10+ advanced videos. With a 4-star Education rating and a #36 ranking out of 36, Spreadex may suit newcomers who want some basic guidance, while CMC Markets is the stronger choice for more complete learning 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 21,710 tradeable instruments and 303 forex pairs, the largest currency lineup in the industry.
| 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 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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