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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets holds a clear edge. It is rated 5 stars and ranked #1 out of 63 brokers in our 2025 Annual Awards, thanks to low pricing available to all customers and account types. Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks #28 out of 63, placing it in the solid-but-not-cheapest camp.
CMC Markets lists typical EUR/USD spreads of 0.61 pips (August 2023), and its averages have historically stayed close to its minimums. For even lower costs, CMC’s FX Active commission plan (available in Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K. on MT4 and Next Generation) charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, delivering a 0.5 pip all-in cost on EUR/USD and five other pairs. Example: NZD/USD is about 1.5 pips on the standard account, but drops to a 0.5 pip all-in cost with FX Active. Active traders can also tap the Price Plus Scheme, which awards Trading Points based on volume and markets traded; earning two points per standard lot means 1,250 lots in a month would unlock a 20% spread discount at Tier 4.
Spreadex reported an average EUR/USD spread of 0.81 pips in January 2024, with its 0.6-pip minimum reached 60% of the time. That’s competitive, but on average CMC Markets is cheaper—and FX Active can push costs even lower. When comparing brokers, focus on average spreads and all-in costs; by those measures, CMC Markets generally offers better pricing, while Spreadex remains a respectable, 4-star alternative.
| 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 offers a wider range of investments than Spreadex, with 12,029 tradeable symbols versus 10,000. For forex, CMC Markets lists 141 currency pairs compared with 52 at Spreadex, and both brokers let you trade forex as CFDs or spot. CMC Markets also provides access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges (so you can buy shares like Apple or Vodafone), while Spreadex does not offer exchange-traded shares. Copy trading is available at CMC Markets but not at Spreadex. For crypto, both brokers support cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither lets you buy actual crypto.
Both CMC Markets and Spreadex earn 5 stars for Range of Investments, according to ForexBrokers.com, with CMC Markets ranked #9 out of 63 brokers and Spreadex ranked #14. If you want the broadest market access, more forex pairs, copy trading, and the ability to purchase real shares on U.S. and international exchanges, CMC Markets has the edge. If your focus is CFD trading with a large selection of markets, Spreadex remains a solid choice.
| 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 accounts for paper trading, build their own proprietary platforms, provide web-based trading, and let you place orders directly from charts. CMC Markets also offers a Windows desktop platform, while Spreadex does not. Copy trading and third-party platforms are another divider: CMC supports both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 and offers copy trading; Spreadex does not support copy trading, MT4, or MT5. The exact number of built-in chart indicators and watch list fields wasn’t specified for either broker.
For trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 of 63 brokers, while Spreadex scores 4 stars and ranks #47 of 63, according to ForexBrokers.com. If you want the widest platform choice—including MT4/MT5, copy trading, and a downloadable Windows platform—CMC Markets is the stronger pick. If you’re happy trading in a browser on a proprietary platform and don’t need copy trading or MetaTrader, Spreadex may suit you. Both offer free demos, so you can test-drive their platforms before committing.
| 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 iPhone and Android trading apps with price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines on charts. The key differences show up in charting and convenience features. CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, autosaves your chart drawings, and syncs watchlists between the app and your web account. Spreadex does not list how many technical studies are available, does not autosave chart drawings, and does not sync watchlists across devices.
For quality and ease of use, CMC Markets leads: it earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Spreadex receives 4 stars and ranks #47 out of 63. Traders who want stronger charting tools and seamless watchlist syncing may prefer CMC Markets, while Spreadex can suit those with simpler mobile trading needs.
| 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.
In this CMC Markets vs Spreadex market research comparison, both brokers deliver daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. Each platform includes Autochartist-powered tools to help spot trading ideas, plus a sentiment tool that shows the ratio of long and short positions across instruments. Both also feature an economic calendar for tracking upcoming events. Neither broker offers Trading Central research, TipRanks insights, or Acuity Trading tools.
According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex holds 4 stars and ranks #32. If you want a higher-rated research experience, CMC Markets is the stronger pick, while Spreadex still covers the core features most traders need.
| 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 education for beginners at CMC Markets and Spreadex, both brokers offer at least ten video lessons made for newcomers, which can help you learn the basics of trading. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars. Where they differ is in depth as you advance: CMC Markets also provides at least ten advanced videos for more experienced traders, while Spreadex does not, making CMC a stronger choice if you want materials that grow with you.
This shows up in their ratings and rankings from ForexBrokers.com: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Education and ranks 10th out of 63 brokers, while Spreadex earns 4 stars and ranks 45th. If you’re starting out and expect to keep learning, CMC’s library offers a clearer path from beginner to advanced topics, whereas Spreadex is better suited to basic learning needs.
| 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 #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
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Spreadex
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|---|---|---|
| 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 (SFC 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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