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 |
Looking at commissions and fees, CMC Markets is the clear pricing leader versus Trading 212. CMC Markets earns 5/5 stars and ranks #1 of 63 brokers in our Commissions and Fees category for 2025, while Trading 212 earns 4/5 stars and ranks #50 of 63.
CMC Markets consistently offers tight spreads that beat the industry average. Typical EUR/USD spreads are around 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0 pips, delivering an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and several other majors). The Price Plus Scheme can further lower costs for high-volume traders: you earn Trading Points based on monthly volume (e.g., 2 points per standard lot), with large volumes (about 1,250 lots in a month) unlocking up to a 20% spread discount at Tier 4. Notably, CMC’s average spreads tend to track close to its minimums, adding to its value.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission CFD and forex trading, but your cost comes from the spread. Its published average spread for EUR/USD was 2.7 pips in April 2025—well above the industry average and meaningfully higher than top low-cost brokers like CMC Markets. Bottom line: for traders focused on minimizing trading costs, CMC Markets’ lower average spreads and discount programs generally make it the cheaper choice over Trading 212.
| 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.
CMC Markets and Trading 212 both offer wide-ranging investment choices, including forex trading, stocks, and cryptocurrency CFDs. CMC Markets lists 12,029 tradeable symbols versus Trading 212’s 7,868, which means more overall markets to browse on CMC. For forex pairs, Trading 212 edges ahead with 146 compared to CMC’s 141. Both brokers let you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. markets like NASDAQ and on international exchanges such as the London Stock Exchange. Neither broker lets you buy actual (delivered) crypto, but both provide crypto CFDs. One standout difference: CMC Markets offers copy trading, while Trading 212 does not.
For range of investments, both brokers earn 5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while Trading 212 ranks #16. In short, CMC Markets offers more total symbols and copy trading, while Trading 212 provides a slightly larger list of forex pairs—making both strong picks depending on what you want to trade.
| 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 and Trading 212 on trading platforms and tools: Both brokers provide a free demo (paper) account and an in-house platform you can use in your browser, plus the ability to place trades directly from charts. CMC Markets also offers a Windows desktop platform, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while Trading 212 does not provide a Windows download, copy trading, or MetaTrader. Both include watch lists and charting features for everyday analysis.
For independent ratings, ForexBrokers.com gives CMC Markets 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers for Trading Platforms and Tools, while Trading 212 earns 4 stars and ranks #20. In short, pick CMC Markets if you want desktop software, MetaTrader, and copy trading alongside a web platform; choose Trading 212 if you prefer a simple in-house web platform with a demo account.
| 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 shows a clear edge for CMC Markets. CMC delivers daily market commentary, top-tier forex news (from sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, or Dow Jones), Autochartist tools for technical analysis, a sentiment gauge, and an economic calendar. Trading 212 provides the news feed, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but it does not include daily market commentary or Autochartist. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading tools.
These differences are reflected in independent ratings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 stars and ranks #45. If you want richer in-platform insights and chart pattern tools alongside headline news and a calendar, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you just need news, sentiment, and a basic 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.
For beginners, both CMC Markets and Trading 212 offer plenty of self‑paced trading education. Each broker provides at least 10 video lessons for beginners and at least 10 for more advanced topics, making it easy to build skills step by step. Neither runs monthly client webinars, so your learning will rely on on‑demand videos rather than live classes.
CMC Markets stands out overall for education quality, earning 5 stars and ranking #10 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Trading 212 trails with a 3.5‑star education rating and a #21 ranking. If you want a stronger, more polished learning experience as a new trader, CMC Markets has the edge; if you simply want the basics covered without live sessions, Trading 212 still delivers.
| 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 #4, while Trading 212 finished with an overall rank of #31.
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
|
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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