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) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 2.7 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 2.7 |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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 investors a wide choice of markets, including forex, U.S. exchange-traded shares, and international shares. Each broker also offers cryptocurrency CFDs, but only Trading 212 lets you buy real, delivered crypto. Neither broker supports copy trading. When it comes to forex, CMC Markets has the edge with 303 currency pairs and 21,710 tradeable symbols overall, compared with Trading 212’s 180 forex pairs and 13,000 symbols.
For range of investments, both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars, but CMC Markets is ranked higher by ForexBrokers.com at #9 out of 36, while Trading 212 sits at #15. In simple terms, Trading 212 covers the basics well and stands out for actual crypto buying, while CMC Markets offers a broader selection overall, especially for traders who want more forex pairs and a larger list of instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 13000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 180 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | No | 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 a wider range of trading platforms and tools than Trading 212. It offers a proprietary platform built in-house, a Windows desktop app, and a web platform, plus support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Trading 212 also gives traders a web platform and a free demo account, but it does not have a desktop download option or support for MT4 and MT5, and it does not offer a proprietary platform. Neither broker provides copy trading, and both let you trade directly from a stock chart.
For charting and everyday use, both brokers include paper trading and chart-based order entry, but CMC Markets stands out overall for platform choice and advanced trading access. That stronger setup is reflected in its 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools and its #6 ranking out of 36 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, compared with Trading 212’s 4-star rating and #19 ranking. If you want more platform variety and more tools for active trading, CMC Markets is the stronger pick; if you prefer a simpler web-based experience, Trading 212 still covers the basics well.
| 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 | No | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 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, and each app includes price alerts, watchlist symbol syncing, trendline drawing, and auto-saving of chart drawings. That means you can track stock or forex markets, make chart updates, and have those changes carry over between your mobile app and online account on either platform.
The biggest difference is in charting tools and overall mobile app ratings. Trading 212 offers 104 technical studies in its mobile app, compared with 30 for CMC Markets, which may appeal to traders who want more chart options on the go. Even so, CMC Markets comes out ahead in app quality ratings, earning 5 stars and ranking #5 out of 36 brokers for Mobile Trading Apps, while Trading 212 is rated 4 stars and ranked #17.
| 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 | 30 | 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 learning support, CMC Markets comes out ahead of Trading 212. CMC Markets offers forex and CFD education with at least 10 learning pieces focused on those topics, plus online educational client webinars every month. It also provides at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos, making it a stronger choice for traders who want to keep learning as they gain experience. This matches its 5-star Education rating and #10 ranking out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com.
Trading 212 also gives beginners a solid starting point, with at least 10 beginner trading videos and at least 10 advanced videos. However, it does not offer monthly educational webinars, and its forex or CFD education does not meet the same level as CMC Markets based on the details provided. That helps explain why Trading 212 is rated 3.5 stars for Education and ranks #20 out of 36 brokers, making CMC Markets the better option overall for education-focused beginners.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Trading 212
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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.
When comparing CMC Markets vs Trading 212 for funding options, CMC Markets stands out with ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, while Trading 212 supports ACH/SEPA transfers and bank wires but does not offer PayPal; neither broker supports Skrill, and Visa or Mastercard availability is not specified for either.
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) | 21710 | 13000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 180 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 2.7 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | N/A | 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Trading 212 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | No | 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) | 65 | 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 | 30 | 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 | Yes | 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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