Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs StoneX Trading, 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 and StoneX Trading are both long-established, publicly traded online brokers that are not banks. CMC Markets was founded in 1989, while StoneX Trading dates back to 1983, giving StoneX the longer track record. Both firms earn the top ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, which falls in the “highly trusted” range.
On the regulatory side, both brokers hold 1 Tier-2 license, which ForexBrokers.com classifies as trusted. StoneX Trading has a slight edge with 7 Tier-1 licenses, compared with 6 for CMC Markets; Tier-1 licenses are viewed as highly trusted. In simple terms, both brokers show strong oversight and high trust levels, with StoneX Trading holding a small lead in top-tier regulation.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1983 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets is the stronger choice for commissions and fees, earning 5 stars and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. It stands out for consistently low spreads across account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.61 pips based on its August 2023 pricing data. CMC also offers active trader discounts through its Price Plus Scheme, and its FX Active pricing can bring the all-in EUR/USD cost down to 0.5 pips with a $2.50-per-side commission.
StoneX Trading is still fairly priced, but it lands a bit behind CMC Markets with a 4.5-star rating and a #16 ranking out of 36 brokers. Its CFD and forex pricing is generally in line with the industry average, with an EUR/USD spread of about 0.74 pips as of July 2023. For lower costs, traders may need to use StoneX Trading’s proprietary platforms or MetaTrader, and active traders can access rebate programs in the U.K. and Australia.
In simple terms, CMC Markets offers better value for most fee-conscious traders, especially those who want tighter spreads and more competitive all-in costs. StoneX Trading is a solid mid-pack option, but it does not match CMC’s pricing edge.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.4 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.9 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets and StoneX Trading both give traders access to forex through CFDs or spot contracts, and both support cryptocurrency CFDs rather than direct crypto ownership. They are evenly matched in ForexBrokers.com’s Range of Investments score, with each earning 5 out of 5 stars, while StoneX Trading edges ahead in the category ranking at #8 out of 36 brokers compared with CMC Markets at #9.
Where CMC Markets stands out is the wider selection overall. It offers 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, plus access to exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, so clients can buy real shares such as Apple or Vodafone. StoneX Trading lists 13,500 tradeable symbols and 66 forex pairs, and it does not offer direct exchange traded securities on U.S. or international markets. On the other hand, StoneX Trading does offer copy trading, while CMC Markets does not.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 13500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 66 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| 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 StoneX Trading both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including free demo accounts, their own in-house platforms, Windows desktop downloads, web-based trading, MetaTrader 4, and the ability to place trades directly from a chart. This makes either broker a practical choice for traders who want to test strategies, switch between devices, or use familiar third-party software. CMC Markets also supports MetaTrader 5, while StoneX Trading does not, which may matter for traders looking for that added platform option.
One key difference is copy trading: StoneX Trading offers it, but CMC Markets does not. In overall platform quality, CMC Markets comes out ahead with a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, compared with StoneX Trading’s 4.5-star rating and #11 ranking. For traders comparing online brokers on tools and platform flexibility, CMC Markets has the edge overall, while StoneX Trading may appeal more to those interested in copy trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 88 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and StoneX Trading both make it easy to trade on the go, since each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and watchlist syncing between the mobile app and online account. Both apps also let users draw trendlines on charts and save those drawings automatically, which is helpful for traders who want their setups to stay in place across sessions. For basic mobile trading features, the two brokers are closely matched.
The bigger difference comes down to charting strength and overall app ratings. StoneX Trading offers 88 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 at CMC Markets, giving active chart users more tools to work with. Even so, CMC Markets holds the edge in outside app ratings, earning 5 stars and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps from ForexBrokers.com, while StoneX Trading is rated 4.5 stars and ranked #9.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 88 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and StoneX Trading both give traders plenty of market research tools, including daily market commentary, forex news from top sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, a sentiment tool that shows long and short positioning, and an economic calendar for major global events. That means each broker offers solid support for tracking market moves and staying on top of news that may affect trading decisions.
The main difference is in the research add-ons. CMC Markets includes Autochartist, while StoneX Trading offers Trading Central instead. Neither broker provides TipRanks or Acuity Trading tools. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research category, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers, while StoneX Trading scores 4.5 stars and ranks #10, giving CMC Markets the edge overall for market research.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| 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 to learn the basics of forex and CFDs, both CMC Markets and StoneX Trading offer a wide range of helpful educational content. Each broker provides at least 10 forex- or CFD-focused learning pieces, regular online client webinars, and at least 10 beginner videos plus 10 advanced videos, making both platforms useful for traders at different skill levels. In simple terms, either broker gives new traders plenty of material to start with, from introductory lessons to more advanced market topics.
When it comes to education quality, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers for Education at ForexBrokers.com, while StoneX Trading earns 4.5 stars and ranks slightly higher at #9. That makes StoneX Trading just ahead in the ranking, but CMC Markets still stands out with a perfect education rating. For beginners comparing online brokers, both are strong choices, with StoneX having a small edge in rank and CMC Markets leading in star rating.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 StoneX Trading. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while StoneX Trading finished with an overall rank of #8.
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
|
StoneX Trading
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 |
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When comparing CMC Markets vs StoneX Trading, both online brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, but each does provide access to cryptocurrency CFDs rather than direct crypto ownership.
CMC Markets and StoneX Trading are closely matched for funding methods, as both support ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire transfers for deposits and withdrawals, while neither offers Skrill and Visa or Mastercard availability is not specified.
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 | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | StoneX Trading Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1983 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 7 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 13500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 66 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| 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 | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.4 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 0.9 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | £100.00 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 88 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 30 | 88 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | StoneX Trading Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | StoneX Trading | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 99 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | StoneX Trading Review |
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