Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs XM Group, 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 transparency and regulatory adherence. It holds a Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, positioning it in the highly trusted category. CMC Markets operates under six Tier-1 licenses, reinforcing its credibility in the financial world. Despite not being a bank, its public listing on a stock exchange adds an extra layer of accountability and reliability, ensuring clients can trade with confidence.
In comparison, XM Group, founded in 2009, also commands a respectable reputation, backed by a Trust Score of 93. While not publicly listed, XM Group's commitment to security is evident through its possession of four Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, classifying it as a trusted broker. Though the firm isn't a bank, its regulatory framework supports safe and reliable trading for its users.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets stands out for low, transparent trading costs. It earned 5 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #4 out of 63 brokers, while also taking the 2025 Annual Award for Commissions and Fees. Typical spreads are tight (0.61 pips on EUR/USD, Aug. 2023 data). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of 0, yielding an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD and several other majors. CMC’s averages tend to track close to its published minimums, and its Price Plus Scheme can lower costs further for high-volume traders, with tiered discounts of up to 20%.
XM Group is more expensive on its Standard account and does not publish average spreads for its commission-based XM Zero account, which makes cost comparison harder. It earns 4 stars for commissions and fees and ranks #34 out of 63 brokers. In short, CMC Markets generally offers lower all-in costs with clearer pricing disclosure, while XM’s pricing can be higher and less transparent for active traders who rely on average spread data.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets offers a much wider range of investments than XM Group, with 12,029 tradeable symbols versus XM’s 1,394. Forex traders get 141 currency pairs at CMC Markets compared with 55 at XM. Both brokers support forex trading via CFDs or spot, provide access to exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, and include copy trading. For crypto, each broker lets you trade cryptocurrency via CFDs but does not offer direct, delivered coins.
For Range of Investments, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #19. Choose CMC Markets if you want the widest selection across markets; pick XM Group if you prefer a smaller lineup that still covers the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 55 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
CMC Markets and XM Group both make it easy to try before you trade with free demo accounts. For platforms, CMC Markets offers its own proprietary platform alongside MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5), while XM Group focuses on the popular MetaTrader suite. Both brokers provide Windows desktop software and web-based platforms, let you trade directly from charts, and support copy trading. Each delivers a variety of charting indicators and customizable watchlists, though the exact counts aren’t specified.
In independent testing of trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com. XM Group earns 4 stars and ranks #27. If you want greater platform choice that includes an in-house experience plus MT4 and MT5, CMC Markets stands out. If you prefer sticking with MetaTrader on desktop and the web while still getting chart trading, copy trading, and a free demo, XM Group is a solid fit.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and XM Group both deliver mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, complete with stock and forex price alerts and watchlist syncing across devices and the web. Each app lets you draw trendlines on charts. A key difference: CMC Markets auto-saves your chart drawings, while XM Group does not.
For charting tools, CMC Markets offers 29 technical studies and XM Group offers 30. In independent testing, CMC Markets earns 5 out of 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and ranks #5 out of 63 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group scores 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #26. If auto-saving drawings and higher-rated mobile performance matter most, CMC Markets stands out; if you want a slightly larger set of built-in studies, XM Group has a small edge.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, both CMC Markets and XM Group deliver a wealth of resources like daily market commentary and forex news from leading sources such as Bloomberg and Reuters. CMC Markets stands out with additional offerings like tools from Autochartist, providing advanced technical and fundamental analysis that XM Group doesn't offer. Conversely, XM Group compensates with tools from Trading Central, catering to those seeking technical analytics expertise. Sentiment-based trading tools, showing the ratio of long or short positions across currency pairs, are available with both brokers, enhancing trader insights into market trends.
Economic calendars showcasing global events are standard with both CMC Markets and XM Group, helping traders anticipate potential market impacts. Despite their varied toolkits, both brokers earn top marks for research, each garnering a 5-star rating. Ranked by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets slightly edges out XM Group, holding the sixth spot in research out of 63 brokers, while XM Group is close behind, ranked eighth. Whether your focus is on comprehensive news or specialized analysis tools, both brokers provide a solid foundation for making informed trading decisions.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
Both CMC Markets and XM Group deliver plenty of forex and CFD education, easily surpassing the 10-piece benchmark. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos, giving new traders a clear starting point and room to grow. Both earn 5 stars for Education from ForexBrokers.com; however, XM Group ranks #5 out of 63 brokers, while CMC Markets ranks #10.
For beginners who want live guidance, XM Group has an edge with online client webinars available at least monthly. CMC Markets does not offer monthly webinars, so its education leans more on-demand. If live classes and Q&A matter to you, XM is the better fit; if you prefer self-paced videos and structured learning materials, either broker will serve you well.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| 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 XM Group. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #16.
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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XM Group
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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CMC Markets vs XM Group: both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading but do not provide the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
Compared to XM Group, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (but not Skrill), while XM Group supports Skrill and bank wires (but not ACH/SEPA or PayPal), with Visa/Mastercard availability not specified for either broker.
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 | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | XM Group Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | No | |
| 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 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1394 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 55 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 2 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XM Group Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | XM Group Review |
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