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.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets stands out in the online brokerage landscape with a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted category. As a publicly traded company, it further strengthens its credibility with possession of five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license. These licenses indicate strong regulatory oversight, offering users confidence in its services. Despite not being a bank, CMC Markets maintains a secure environment for trading with its extensive regulatory foundation.
In contrast, Spreadex, established in 1999, carries a Trust Score of 71 from ForexBrokers.com, making it an average risk choice for traders. Unlike CMC Markets, Spreadex is not publicly traded, which might be a consideration for those focusing on transparency. While it holds one Tier-1 license, Spreadex lacks additional Tier-2 licenses, which may influence how potential users weigh their options regarding regulatory assurances. Though like CMC Markets, Spreadex is not a bank, its regulatory footprint is smaller, potentially impacting customer confidence.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1999 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of CMC Markets and Spreadex, CMC Markets stands out with a 5-star rating and a top ranking of #1 among 63 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category by ForexBrokers.com. This accolade is due to their consistently low spreads, including average spreads of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD as of August 2023. Notably, CMC Markets' Price Plus Scheme offers active traders discounts based on Trading Points accrued from monthly trading volumes. Moreover, their FX Active program, introduced in 2022, offers a commission-based pricing structure with low spreads, making it available across several regions including Southeast Asia, Australia, and the UK.
In contrast, Spreadex has earned a 4-star rating and a #27 ranking in the same category. Their EUR/USD average spread was recorded at 0.81 pips in January 2024, with the minimum spread of 0.6 pips achieved 60% of the time. While Spreadex provides competitive rates, they fall short compared to CMC Markets' offerings. Both brokers highlight the importance of evaluating average over minimum spreads for a more accurate understanding of trading costs.
Overall, CMC Markets provides a compelling offering for cost-conscious traders, thanks to their innovative pricing structures and consistently low spreads, leading the pack in terms of commissions and fees. Spreadex, while offering reasonable spreads and fees, is more suited for traders who are not as focused on the lowest possible trading costs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.81 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets and Spreadex, both online brokers offer a broad spectrum of investment opportunities, yet they differ in several key aspects. CMC Markets provides access to an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols, exceeding Spreadex's offering of 10,000. For forex trading enthusiasts, CMC Markets stands out with 156 tradeable forex pairs, more than triple the 52 pairs available through Spreadex. Additionally, CMC Markets offers the option to invest in exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, enabling clients to purchase shares of companies like Apple and Vodafone directly. In contrast, Spreadex does not provide an avenue for investing in actual exchange-traded securities. Both platforms support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and offer cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
Another distinguishing feature of CMC Markets is its inclusion of copy trading, a service unavailable on Spreadex. Despite these differences, both brokers have earned a five-star rating for their range of investments. However, CMC Markets holds the edge with a ninth-place ranking in the Range of Investments category according to ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex follows closely at thirteenth place out of 63 brokers. This comparison highlights CMC Markets' more extensive range of tradeable assets and additional features, providing a comprehensive platform for a wider array of investor interests.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 10000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 52 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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.
When it comes to trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets provides a highly comprehensive setup compared to Spreadex. Both brokers offer free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms, catering to traders who want to hone their skills before diving into real-money trading. CMC Markets further extends its capabilities with a Windows-based desktop platform, while Spreadex does not, making CMC a more versatile choice for desktop users. Each broker includes a web-based trading platform, ensuring accessibility for those who prefer trading through their browser. However, CMC Markets surpasses Spreadex in copy trading options and MetaTrader support, offering both MT4 and MT5 platforms, whereas Spreadex supports neither.
In terms of charting tools, CMC Markets provides a more extensive range of drawing tools, with 40 at its disposal, significantly more than Spreadex's 11. Both brokers allow trading straight from stock charts, but CMC Markets also excels with 11 watchlist columns, compared to Spreadex's 8. Rated 5 stars for their trading platforms and tools by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds an impressive rank of 4th out of 63 brokers, demonstrating its strong market position. On the other hand, Spreadex, with a 4-star rating, ranks 46th, pointing to a solid but less advanced offering compared to its competitor.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 58 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 11 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When it comes to mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and Spreadex provide solid platforms for iPhone and Android users. Both apps allow users to receive stock or forex price alerts and draw trendlines on charts. However, CMC Markets has the edge with features like syncing watchlists with the client’s online account, which Spreadex does not offer. CMC Markets also shines with 29 different technical studies available for charting, whereas Spreadex unfortunately does not provide a specific number.
Both apps accommodate multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, but CMC Markets stands out by automatically saving chart drawings, whereas Spreadex does not. Both platforms enable creating watchlists with real-time quotes. In terms of user satisfaction, CMC Markets is highly rated with five stars, compared to Spreadex's four stars. Furthermore, CMC Markets clinches the 5th spot among 63 brokers in ForexBrokers.com's Mobile Trading Apps category, significantly outpacing Spreadex's 46th position. Overall, for those prioritizing app functionality and advanced charting tools, CMC Markets seems to take the lead.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing CMC Markets and Spreadex for market research offerings, both brokers provide valuable daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. They each integrate Autochartist tools for in-depth technical or fundamental analysis but do not offer Trading Central's technical analytics or market insights from TipRanks and Acuity Trading. CMC Markets and Spreadex equip traders with a sentiment-based trading tool to gauge market positions and offer comprehensive economic calendars to track global news events. Despite these similarities, CMC Markets stands out with a higher research rating of 5 stars compared to Spreadex’s 4 stars.
CMC Markets is acclaimed for its research capabilities, securing the 6th spot out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while Spreadex is ranked 31st. The distinction in rankings suggests a stronger emphasis on research at CMC Markets, potentially providing traders with a more enriched resource pool for making informed decisions. Whether you are a seasoned investor or a newcomer, CMC Markets may be a more suitable choice for those prioritizing comprehensive market research in their trading strategy.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When exploring educational resources for beginners in online trading, CMC Markets and Spreadex both provide valuable learning tools for forex and CFDs. CMC Markets offers a wealth of resources, including more than 10 educational pieces such as articles and videos focused on forex and CFDs. Importantly, they maintain a searchable archive of client webinars, allowing learners to revisit materials at their convenience. Additionally, they also provide an investor dictionary with definitions for over 50 investment terms and boast an extensive collection of both beginner and advanced educational videos, totaling over 10 in each category. This comprehensive approach reflects in their high education rating of 5 stars and a prestigious 10th place ranking out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com.
Spreadex also delivers a solid foundation for beginner traders, with over 10 beginner educational videos and a similar number of forex and CFDs educational pieces available. Like CMC Markets, Spreadex has an investor dictionary featuring over 50 terms. However, they fall short of offering an archive of recorded webinars for convenient learner access and do not provide as many advanced educational resources as their competitor. Despite these differences, Spreadex still garners a respectable 4-star rating for education and ranks 45th in the educational category among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Both platforms offer strong foundations for new traders, yet CMC Markets edges ahead with a more extensive and easily accessible range of learning materials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Spreadex
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
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 #4, while Spreadex finished with an overall rank of #39.
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 | 71 |
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Both CMC Markets and Spreadex do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but each does provide options to invest in cryptocurrency derivatives.
Certain payments and withdrawal methods offered by CMC Markets include ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas Spreadex supports only Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, excluding ACH, SEPA transfers, and PayPal.
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 | 5 | 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 10000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 52 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 0.61 | 0.81 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 8 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 58 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 11 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Spreadex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Spreadex Review |
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