Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Trading 212, 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 well-regarded online broker known for its high trust rating. It holds a perfect Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted in the industry. The firm is publicly traded and has a strong foundation with six top-tier licenses and one additional tier-two license. As a non-bank institution, CMC Markets provides participants a secure and reliable platform for trading.
Founded in 2004, Trading 212 offers accessible trading services, but with a Trust Score of 80, it falls into the trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. While not publicly listed on any stock exchanges, it maintains its credibility through three highly trusted tier-one licenses. Unlike CMC Markets, Trading 212 does not have any tier-two licenses, yet it remains a dependable choice for many traders seeking a non-bank broker.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
If low trading costs are your priority, CMC Markets stands out in our 2025 Annual Awards, taking #1 for Commissions and Fees. In our category ranking of 63 brokers, CMC Markets places #4 with a 5-star Commissions & Fees rating, while Trading 212 ranks #27 with 4 stars. The key difference: CMC focuses on tight spreads and an optional commission plan for even lower all-in costs; Trading 212 advertises zero-commission CFD trading but generally charges wider spreads.
CMC Markets pricing highlights: typical EUR/USD spreads average 0.61 pips (Aug 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0.0, leading to about a 0.5-pip all-in cost on EUR/USD and several other majors. The Price Plus Scheme can shave up to 20% off spreads for high-volume traders via Trading Points. Importantly, CMC’s average spreads tend to track close to its quoted minimums, helping keep real-world costs predictable.
Trading 212 fees: while CFD and forex trades are marketed as zero-commission, you pay the spread. For April 2025, Trading 212’s average EUR/USD spread was 2.7 pips—well above the industry average and notably higher than CMC’s typical pricing. Trading 212 has started publishing average spread data, which is helpful for comparisons, but active forex and CFD traders seeking lower day-to-day costs will usually find CMC Markets cheaper on major pairs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Trading 212 on range of investments: CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable instruments, while Trading 212 offers 7,868. When it comes to forex, both brokers support trading via CFDs or spot (availability can vary by region), with CMC Markets carrying 141 forex pairs and Trading 212 slightly edging it with 146. In short, CMC Markets offers a broader overall catalog, while Trading 212 provides a touch more depth in forex pairs.
Both platforms let you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international markets (think Apple on NASDAQ and Vodafone in London). For crypto, neither broker lets you buy actual coins, but both support crypto CFDs. CMC Markets also includes copy trading, which Trading 212 does not. Each broker earns 5 stars for Range of Investments; however, CMC Markets ranks #9 of 63 in this category, compared with Trading 212 at #15—useful context if you value overall asset variety alongside specific features like copy trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 146 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets vs Trading 212 for platforms and tools: both brokers offer a free demo account and easy-to-use, proprietary platforms that run in your web browser. CMC Markets also provides a Windows desktop app, while Trading 212 does not. CMC Markets supports copy trading; Trading 212 does not. Both let you place trades directly from a chart and include technical indicators and customizable watchlists to help you track markets.
Platform choice may come down to integrations and ratings. CMC Markets supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which Trading 212 doesn’t offer. For Trading Platforms and Tools, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranked #6 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranked #19. If you want MT4/MT5, copy trading, and a Windows desktop option, CMC Markets is the stronger fit. If you prefer a simple web experience with chart trading and a demo account, Trading 212 covers the basics well.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 54 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Trading 212 both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android. Each app includes stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing between mobile and web, and charting with trendline drawing that auto-saves your work. In short, both cover the key tools most traders want for tracking markets and placing trades on the go.
The main differences show up in charting depth and industry scores. Trading 212 provides 104 technical studies in its mobile charts, compared with 29 on CMC Markets—handy if you like a wide range of indicators. That said, CMC Markets earns a higher overall mobile rating (5 stars vs. 4) and ranks #5 for Mobile Trading Apps out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 ranks #17. Choose Trading 212 for a larger indicator library, or pick CMC Markets for the higher-rated mobile experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
Comparing market research at CMC Markets and Trading 212: CMC Markets delivers daily market commentary, while Trading 212 does not. Both platforms provide forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus a sentiment tool that shows the long/short ratio and an economic calendar. Only CMC Markets adds Autochartist-driven technical and fundamental tools. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research.
For overall research quality, CMC Markets stands out: it earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 comes in at 3.5 stars and ranks #32. If you want daily commentary and Autochartist analysis alongside premium news, CMC Markets has the edge; if you just need headlines, sentiment, and a calendar, Trading 212 covers the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| 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.
CMC Markets vs Trading 212: For beginner trading education, both online brokers offer sizable video libraries, with at least 10 videos for beginners and at least 10 for experienced traders. These video lessons can help you move from core concepts to more advanced topics at your own pace. That said, neither broker hosts monthly educational webinars, so live, scheduled classes aren’t part of the experience.
In independent testing by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earned 5 stars for Education and ranked #10 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 received 3.5 stars and ranked #20. If you want a more highly rated learning path, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you’re happy with a straightforward, video-led approach and don’t need recurring webinars, Trading 212 still covers the essentials for beginners.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| 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 Trading 212. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #25.
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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Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 |
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When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and Trading 212, neither supports buying actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFD trading.
CMC Markets vs Trading 212: both offer ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, neither supports Skrill, and Visa/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 | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2004 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 2.7 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 54 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 29 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Trading 212 Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 80 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
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