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 two notable online brokers serving traders worldwide, but they differ significantly in trust and regulatory status. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets boasts a Trust Score of 99 out of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com, making it highly trusted. It's a publicly traded company with five Tier-1 licenses, adding to its esteem in the financial market ecosystem. In contrast, Trading 212, established in 2004, has a Trust Score of 80, which still places it in the trusted category. It holds three Tier-1 licenses but isn't publicly traded.
Both brokers offer financial services without being banks, but the difference in their foundation years and regulatory backing can influence trader confidence. CMC Markets' public trading status and extensive regulatory licenses make it a formidable player for seasoned traders seeking security and transparency. Meanwhile, Trading 212 appeals to those looking for trusted services based on a still-respectable number of high-trust licenses, despite being a privately held entity.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2004 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
When comparing CMC Markets and Trading 212 in terms of commissions and fees, CMC Markets takes the lead with its award-winning offerings. In the 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets secured the top spot (#1) in the Commissions and Fees category, boasting a 5-star rating. This accolade stems from their consistently low spreads across various account types and customer segments. For instance, the EUR/USD pair typically sees spreads of 0.61 pips based on August 2023 data. Additionally, CMC's active trader program, Price Plus Scheme, provides significant trading cost discounts based on trading volumes. Their innovative FX Active pricing also allows commission-based trades with competitive all-in costs of 0.5 pips for major currency pairs.
On the other hand, Trading 212 offers two types of accounts: Invest and CFD. Specifically focusing on the CFD account, Trading 212 promotes a zero-commission trading approach but charges spreads on CFDs and forex trades. Despite its transparency efforts, Trading 212's average spread for the EUR/USD pair was 2.7 pips in April 2025, which is considerably above the industry average. As a result, Trading 212 only managed to secure the #49 spot, with a 4-star rating for commissions and fees out of 63 brokers reviewed by ForexBrokers.com.
In summary, while CMC Markets excels with their low-cost trading solutions and advanced pricing programs, Trading 212's higher spreads place them at a competitive disadvantage for traders seeking low-fee options. Choosing between the two can heavily depend on individual trading needs and preferences, with CMC Markets standing out for those prioritizing low trading costs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 2.7 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets and Trading 212 in terms of their available range of investments, both platforms offer forex trading as a contract for difference (CFD) and provide access to international and U.S. exchange-traded securities, allowing investors to purchase stocks like Apple and Vodafone directly. While CMC Markets delivers an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols and 156 forex pairs, Trading 212 offers a slightly smaller selection with 7,868 tradeable symbols and 146 forex pairs. However, both brokers allow investors to dive into cryptocurrency derivatives, though neither supports the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
In addition to the expansive range, CMC Markets distinguishes itself with its copy trading feature, a service Trading 212 does not provide. This added flexibility may cater to those seeking to replicate successful trading strategies. As a reflection of their comprehensive offerings, both brokers earn a stellar five-star rating for their range of investments. Nevertheless, in a ranking of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds the 9th position, surpassing Trading 212, which is ranked 15th in the same category. This positions CMC Markets as a slightly more versatile option for investors seeking broader opportunities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 7868 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 146 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 Trading 212 both offer robust trading platforms with an emphasis on user-friendly experiences, yet there are distinct differences that set them apart. Both brokers provide a free virtual demo account, allowing users to practice trading with simulated money. CMC Markets distinguishes itself with a comprehensive suite of trading tools. It offers a proprietary platform available as a Windows desktop download, something that Trading 212 does not provide. Additionally, CMC Markets supports the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 platforms for more advanced trading needs, whereas Trading 212 does not offer these options. Both brokers support web-based trading, enabling users to trade without software downloads. Despite lacking in some areas compared to CMC Markets, Trading 212 remains competitive with its intuitive proprietary web-based platform.
When it comes to charting tools, CMC Markets offers more customization with 40 drawing tools compared to Trading 212’s 20. While both platforms enable trading directly from stock charts, CMC Markets allows for a more detailed view with 11 columns for watch lists, in contrast to Trading 212's 5. Moreover, CMC Markets stands out in industry rankings, securing a 5-star rating and a #4 position among 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category on ForexBrokers.com, while Trading 212 holds a respectable 4-star rating and ranks #20. These features make CMC Markets a strong contender for traders seeking diverse and in-depth trading options, while Trading 212 caters to those preferring a more straightforward approach.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 54 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 20 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 5 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and Trading 212, both brokers offer a comprehensive suite of features for iPhone and Android users. Each provides stock and forex price alerts, as well as syncing capabilities that ensure your watchlists stay updated across mobile and online accounts. Additionally, both apps enable you to draw trendlines and view multiple time frames on stock or forex charts, with the convenience of auto-saving your chart drawings. Real-time watchlists can be effortlessly created in both apps, providing a seamless trading experience.
Notably, Trading 212 offers a striking 104 technical studies for charting, compared to CMC Markets' 29, adding some depth for technical analysis enthusiasts. Despite this edge, CMC Markets' app garners a higher rating with 5 stars, versus Trading 212’s 4-star rating. In the ranks of 63 brokers evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets shines at number 5, while Trading 212 trails at rank 17, making CMC Markets a compelling choice for those prioritizing mobile trading prowess.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 104 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing market research offerings, CMC Markets provides a more comprehensive service than Trading 212. CMC Markets stands out by offering daily market commentary, which can be particularly helpful for staying updated with the latest trends. In contrast, Trading 212 does not provide this feature. Both platforms deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders have access to high-quality information. However, CMC Markets further enhances its research capabilities with tools like Autochartist for technical and fundamental analysis, a feature not available with Trading 212. Additionally, both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, allowing traders to gauge market sentiment effectively.
For traders interested in macroeconomic events, both CMC Markets and Trading 212 offer an economic calendar detailing current and upcoming global news. However, CMC Markets earns a perfect five-star rating for research, ranking 6th among 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, thanks to its diverse offerings and in-depth tools. Meanwhile, Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars and is positioned at 44th place, indicating a significant gap in the research capabilities compared to CMC Markets. Despite some shared features, CMC Markets' broader range of tools and daily insights provide a more detailed trader experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
CMC Markets and Trading 212 both offer a strong suite of educational resources suitable for beginners interested in forex and CFDs trading. Both platforms host over 10 educational pieces like articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex and CFDs, which make it easier for newcomers to get started. Moreover, each broker provides a considerable number of beginner-focused educational videos, ensuring that novices have ample content tailored to their learning level. Advanced traders aren’t left behind either, as both platforms also offer at least 10 advanced videos designed for more experienced users. Complementing these resources, both CMC Markets and Trading 212 offer comprehensive investor dictionaries with over 50 investing terms defined, enhancing the learning experience even further.
While both brokers excel in educational offerings, CMC Markets edges out with a higher educational rating of 5 stars compared to Trading 212's 3.5 stars, as rated by ForexBrokers.com. This difference is also reflected in their rankings: CMC Markets holds the 10th spot among 63 brokers for education, while Trading 212 ranks 20th. While both lack monthly live webinars, they compensate with a rich archive of recorded sessions that are easily searchable, providing additional learning opportunities at users' convenience. Overall, CMC Markets seems to offer a more comprehensive educational experience, which may appeal to traders seeking in-depth learning resources as they begin their trading journey.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | 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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Both CMC Markets and Trading 212 do not provide the option to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, offering instead the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
Both CMC Markets and Trading 212 provide multiple options for depositing and withdrawing funds, including ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, and Visa or Mastercard, while neither offers Skrill, but both do support bank wire transactions.
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 | 5 | 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 (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 7868 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 146 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | 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 | 0.61 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 2.7 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | €1 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | No | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 5 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 54 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 20 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 104 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| 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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