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 as a top choice for those seeking affordable trading with outstanding pricing structures, earning it the distinction of being ranked #1 by ForexBrokers.com for Commissions and Fees. Achieving a perfect 5-star rating, CMC Markets is recognized for its low spread offerings available to all client segments. For traders interested in the EUR/USD pair, CMC Markets offers competitive average spreads of 0.61 pips based on August 2023 data. The company's innovative Price Plus Scheme rewards active traders by providing discounts on trading costs, contingent on monthly trading volumes. Additionally, its FX Active pricing structure adds further value, with a commission of $2.50 per side and spreads as low as zero pips, resulting in cost-efficient trades.
In contrast, XM Group has garnered a 4-star rating and is ranked #33 out of 63 brokers in the same category by ForexBrokers.com. Despite offering a commission-based XM Zero account, XM Group does not publish its average spreads for this account type, making it challenging for traders to compare potential costs. Standard account holders may face higher expenses due to the relatively expensive spreads. While XM's options may appeal to certain traders, CMC Markets offers greater transparency and generally more competitive rates, which is reflected in its superior ranking and ratings.
Ultimately, CMC Markets provides a more cost-effective and transparent trading experience, particularly for those trading substantial volumes who can benefit from their active trader discounts and competitive pricing. XM Group, while a viable option, lags behind CMC Markets in terms of fees and commissions, as highlighted by their respective positions in industry rankings.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.6 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment offerings of CMC Markets and XM Group, both brokers provide impressive options for traders. CMC Markets distinguishes itself with an extensive arsenal of 12,029 tradeable symbols, far surpassing XM Group's 1,394. In the forex market, CMC Markets offers access to 141 currency pairs, while XM Group provides 55 pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, allowing for diverse foreign exchange opportunities.
For those interested in stock investments, clients of both CMC Markets and XM Group can purchase exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international stock exchanges, including well-known companies like Apple and Vodafone. While neither broker offers the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, both facilitate trading with cryptocurrency derivatives. Offering copy trading capabilities, both platforms cater to passive investors as well. CMC Markets edges out XM Group in the investment range category, earning a 5-star rating and placing 9th out of 63 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com, while XM Group holds a 4.5-star rating and ranks 24th in the same category.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1394 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 55 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
When evaluating online brokers for their trading platforms and tools, CMC Markets and XM Group both offer valuable features to traders. Each broker provides a virtual demo account, allowing users to practice trading in a risk-free environment. CMC Markets boasts a proprietary platform developed in-house, while XM Group relies on third-party platforms. Both brokers offer downloadable trading platforms for Windows users and accessible web-based platforms for those who prefer browser-based trading. Traders who enjoy using MetaTrader 4 (MT4) or MetaTrader 5 (MT5) will find both options available with these brokers. Additionally, each broker supports copy trading, enhancing social trading experiences, although they do not offer DupliTrade or ZuluTrade. For charting, CMC Markets offers more drawing tools with 36 compared to XM Group’s 15.
CMC Markets and XM Group both allow traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, offering convenience and efficiency. When it comes to organizing watch lists, CMC Markets provides 11 columns for detailed data analysis, surpassing XM Group's 7 columns. This attention to tools and platform capabilities earns CMC Markets a 5-star rating, ranking it 4th out of 63 brokers in the Trading Platforms and Tools category on ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, XM Group receives a 4-star rating, placing it at the 32nd position in the same category. This highlights CMC Markets' superior standing in terms of overall trading platform offerings and user experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and XM Group, both brokers provide apps available for iPhone and Android users, offering a range of features to enhance trading on the go. They both offer stock and forex price alerts, symbol syncing with online accounts, and the ability to view multiple time frames for charts. Their charting capabilities allow for trendline drawing and a comprehensive set of technical studies. CMC Markets offers 29 technical studies while XM Group offers a slight edge with 30 studies. However, only CMC Markets automatically saves drawings on charts, giving it an advantage in user convenience.
Both platforms allow users to create watchlists with real-time quotes, which is vital for traders wanting to stay updated. In terms of ratings, CMC Markets shines with 5 stars, outranking XM Group’s 4-star rating. This difference is reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where CMC Markets stands at #5 out of 63 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category, while XM Group is positioned at #30. These distinctions indicate that CMC Markets might offer a more refined mobile trading experience, although both apps are well-equipped for modern traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
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 | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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.
Both CMC Markets and XM Group provide comprehensive educational resources for beginners interested in forex and CFD trading. They offer over ten educational pieces, which include articles, videos, and archived webinars, specifically focused on these trading subjects. Beginners can access numerous educational videos from both brokers, designed to cover a variety of trading topics. While CMC Markets lacks regular monthly webinars, XM Group compensates with consistently scheduled webinars for ongoing trader development. Additionally, both brokers facilitate learning with searchable archives of recorded webinars.
For those requiring more advanced trading knowledge, both CMC Markets and XM Group deliver with specialized video content catering to experienced traders. CMC Markets takes a slight edge in supporting new traders with an in-depth investor dictionary featuring over 50 terms, which XM Group does not offer. In terms of educational ratings, both brokers earn a commendable 5-star score. However, according to ForexBrokers.com, XM Group holds a slightly higher rank of 7th compared to CMC Markets' 10th position among 63 brokers, partly due to their regular webinar offerings.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XM Group
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
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 #4, while XM Group finished with an overall rank of #17.
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
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 93 |
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Both CMC Markets and XM Group do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide the option to purchase cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets and XM Group differ in their payment options, with CMC Markets supporting ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while XM Group offers Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal.
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 (SFC 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/Central Bank 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. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 1.3 | 1.6 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.8 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $5 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 36 | 15 | |
| 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 Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | XM Group | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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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