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 and Trading 212 are well-known online brokers with different profiles. CMC Markets, founded in 1989, is publicly traded, while Trading 212, founded in 2004, is privately held. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns a 99/99 Trust Score (highly trusted), whereas Trading 212 scores 82/99 (trusted).
On regulation, CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, compared to Trading 212’s 3 Tier-1 licenses and no Tier-2 licenses. ForexBrokers.com considers Tier-1 licenses highly trusted and Tier-2 trusted. Neither broker is a bank. If you want the widest regulatory coverage and the highest trust rating, CMC Markets stands out; Trading 212 remains a trusted choice with fewer top-tier licenses.
| 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 |
CMC Markets comes out ahead of Trading 212 on commissions and fees, especially for forex and CFD trading. In ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 has a 4-star rating and ranks #28 out of 36. CMC Markets is known for low spreads across all account types, with typical EUR/USD spreads around 0.61 pips, and its FX Active pricing can lower all-in costs to about 0.5 pips on select pairs after commission.
Trading 212 advertises zero-commission trading, but traders still pay the spread, which is where the cost can rise. For its CFD account, the broker reported an average EUR/USD spread of 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is higher than the industry average and makes it less attractive on pricing than CMC Markets. While Trading 212 does offer simple account setup and a low minimum deposit, its trading costs are not as competitive for active forex and CFD traders.
Overall, CMC Markets is the stronger choice if low trading costs are your main priority. Its pricing structure, average spreads, and discount program for active traders give it an edge over Trading 212, which may appeal more to casual users looking for a straightforward zero-commission model.
| 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 | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets and Trading 212 both give traders access to a wide range of investments, including forex as CFDs or spot contracts, U.S. and international exchange-traded shares, and cryptocurrency CFDs. Trading 212 lists a slightly larger overall selection, with about 13,000 tradeable symbols and 180 forex pairs, compared with CMC Markets’ 12,029 symbols and 141 forex pairs. Both brokers are rated 5 out of 5 stars for Range of Investments, so either one offers plenty of choice for most investors.
There are a few clear differences to note. CMC Markets offers copy trading, while Trading 212 does not. Trading 212 also lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, not just crypto CFDs, which CMC Markets does not provide. In ForexBrokers.com’s ranking for Range of Investments, CMC Markets places higher at #9 out of 36 brokers, while Trading 212 ranks #15, making CMC Markets the stronger pick if you want a slightly better-rated overall selection.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes |
| 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 has the edge over Trading 212 for trading platforms and tools, thanks to a wider range of options for active traders. It offers a proprietary platform built in-house, plus both web and Windows desktop trading, and it also supports MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. CMC Markets includes copy trading and a free demo account, while Trading 212 also offers a web platform, direct trading from charts, and a free simulated account, but it does not provide a desktop download platform, MetaTrader support, copy trading, or its own in-house platform.
For traders comparing charting and platform features, both brokers let you trade directly from a chart and both offer demo trading, which is useful for testing ideas without risking real money. Still, CMC Markets is rated higher overall for trading platforms and tools, with 5 stars and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with Trading 212’s 4 stars and #19 ranking. In simple terms, Trading 212 covers the basics well, but CMC Markets gives traders more advanced platform choices and tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| 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 | 102 |
| 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, along with useful features like stock and forex price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. This means traders can keep track of markets and make updates across mobile and online accounts with ease. For everyday mobile use, both brokers cover the core tools most people expect from a trading app.
The main difference shows up in charting and overall app quality. CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies in its mobile app, while Trading 212 offers 104, giving Trading 212 a wider range of chart analysis tools. Even so, CMC Markets holds the edge in independent ratings, earning 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trading 212’s 4 stars and #17 ranking. For traders who care most about chart indicators, Trading 212 stands out, while CMC Markets looks stronger overall for mobile trading app performance.
| 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.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets has the edge over Trading 212. CMC Markets offers daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools, a sentiment indicator, and an economic calendar to help traders follow key events and price moves. Trading 212 also provides forex news, a sentiment tool, and an economic calendar, but it does not include daily market commentary or Autochartist.
This difference shows up in the ratings as well: CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars for Research and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 scores 3.5 out of 5 stars and ranks #33. For traders who want more built-in market analysis and research support, CMC Markets is the stronger choice.
| 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 looking for trading education, both CMC Markets and Trading 212 offer a wide range of learning material, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced traders. Both platforms also provide forex or CFDs education, with enough content to meet the minimum standard of 10 or more learning pieces focused on those markets. However, neither broker offers online educational client webinars on a monthly basis, so that part of their support is limited.
Overall, CMC Markets has the edge for education. It holds a 5-star Education rating and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 earns 3.5 stars and ranks #20. If you want a broker with stronger learning support and a better selection of educational content for trading beginners, CMC Markets is the stronger choice.
| 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
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 82 |
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CMC Markets vs Trading 212: Trading 212 lets you buy real (delivered) cryptocurrencies and trade crypto CFDs, while CMC Markets offers crypto CFDs only and does not provide access to actual delivered coins.
CMC Markets vs Trading 212: both brokers support ACH/SEPA and bank wire deposits/withdrawals, neither supports Skrill, CMC Markets supports PayPal while Trading 212 does not, and Visa/Mastercard availability is unspecified for both.
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 | 82 | |
| 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 | 82 | |
| 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 CMA 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 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | 102 | |
| 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 | 82 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Trading 212 Review |
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