Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs XTB, 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, founded in 1989, stands as a reputable online broker with its shares publicly traded on the stock market. It does not operate as a bank but maintains a strong regulatory presence with six Tier-1 licenses, which are highly trusted, and one Tier-2 license. The company boasts a near-perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com, placing it in the highly trusted category. This score reflects the broker's long-standing presence and solid regulatory framework, making it a popular choice for traders seeking reliability.
In comparison, XTB began operations in 2002 and, like CMC Markets, is publicly traded without offering banking services. XTB holds two Tier-1 licenses and two Tier-2 licenses, reflecting its trusted status among the trading community. The broker achieves a commendable Trust Score of 96 from ForexBrokers.com, indicating a high level of trust. While both brokers are esteemed in the industry, CMC Markets holds a slight edge in regulatory coverage, a factor that traders might consider when choosing a platform for their trading needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2002 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets generally proves cheaper than XTB for day‑to‑day trading costs. In our testing, CMC’s typical EUR/USD spread was about 0.61 pips (Aug 2023), while XTB averaged 1.0 pip (Q4 2023). CMC also offers FX Active, a commission plan that pairs $2.50 per side with zero‑min spreads to deliver an all‑in cost from 0.5 pips on major pairs. Ratings and rankings: CMC Markets earns 5 stars and is ranked #4 out of 63 brokers for Commissions and Fees at ForexBrokers.com; XTB earns 4.5 stars and is ranked #13 out of 63.
CMC Markets won the #1 Commissions and Fees award in 2025 thanks to consistently low pricing that tends to stay close to its advertised minimums. FX Active is available in select regions (including the U.K., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia) on both MT4 and Next Generation. Active traders can also cut costs via the Price Plus Scheme, which unlocks spread discounts based on monthly Trading Points (for example, reaching Tier 4’s 20% discount requires very high volumes).
XTB’s pricing is broadly in line with the industry average but trails cost leaders like CMC. Its Standard account is spread‑only and the best fit for most retail traders, while the commission‑based Professional account is being phased out and limited to eligible elective professionals in the EU and U.K. XTB offers an active‑trader rebate program (Lower Spread Group) that returns 5% to 30% of the spread once you trade from 20 up to 1000 lots per month, which helps narrow the gap for high‑volume clients.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.92 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.92 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs XTB on range of investments, CMC Markets offers the bigger catalog: 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, versus XTB’s 7,184 symbols and 71 forex pairs. Both support forex trading as CFDs and spot, and both let you buy exchange-traded stocks on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can hold real shares alongside your CFD trading if you choose.
Feature-wise, CMC Markets includes copy trading, while XTB does not. Neither broker lets you buy actual cryptocurrency, but both offer cryptocurrency CFDs. For range of investments, each earns 5 stars; however, CMC Markets ranks #9 out of 63 brokers, while XTB ranks #14, reflecting CMC’s larger selection and added copy-trading option.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7184 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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 vs XTB: both brokers deliver in-house trading platforms that run in your browser and as Windows desktop downloads, and both let you place orders directly from charts. If you want MetaTrader, CMC Markets supports both MT4 and MT5, while XTB does not offer either. Indicator lineups and watchlist options are comprehensive on both, giving plenty of ways to analyze markets and track symbols.
For tools, CMC Markets includes copy trading, whereas XTB does not. Each broker offers a free demo account for paper trading. Based on ForexBrokers.com’s Trading Platforms and Tools ratings, CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers, while XTB earns 4.5 stars and ranks #9. In short, choose CMC Markets if you need MetaTrader or copy trading alongside a strong web and desktop experience; pick XTB if you prefer its proprietary platform and still want easy chart trading and a free demo.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 39 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Comparing CMC Markets vs XTB for mobile trading, both brokers check the key boxes: each offers iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, and capable charting with trendline drawing and auto‑saved annotations. That means you can spot moves, mark up charts, and pick up where you left off across sessions without hassle.
The main differences come down to syncing, studies, and recognition. CMC Markets syncs watchlists between the mobile app and your online account, while XTB does not. For charting tools, XTB includes 39 technical studies compared with 29 at CMC Markets. In expert reviews, CMC Markets earns a higher mobile app rating (5 stars vs 4.5 for XTB) and a stronger placement from ForexBrokers.com out of 63 brokers (#5 for CMC Markets vs #8 for XTB).
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 39 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and XTB both deliver daily market commentary, real-time forex news from top-tier sources such as Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus handy staples like an economic calendar and a sentiment tool showing the ratio of long vs. short positions. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading’s Signal Centre. One key difference: CMC Markets provides Autochartist for technical screening and pattern ideas, while XTB does not.
Both brokers earn a 5-star Research rating, yet their standings differ: ForexBrokers.com ranks CMC Markets #6 and XTB #9 out of 63 brokers for Research. If you value built-in Autochartist to help spot trade setups, CMC Markets has the edge. If you mainly want daily commentary, high-quality news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, XTB delivers a similar experience without the Autochartist tool.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| 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.
Comparing CMC Markets and XTB for beginner education, both brokers deliver strong learning libraries focused on forex and CFDs. Each offers at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos that explain key trading ideas in plain language. Both earn 5 out of 5 stars for education overall, with CMC Markets ranked #10 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com and XTB close behind at #11.
One clear difference is live instruction: XTB runs client webinars at least once a month, which is great if you like learning in real time and asking questions. CMC Markets does not host recurring client webinars, so its learning is mainly on-demand. If live classes matter to you, XTB has an edge; if you prefer self-paced videos and tutorials, CMC Markets stands shoulder to shoulder on quality.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 XTB. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while XTB finished with an overall rank of #7.
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
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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CMC Markets vs XTB: both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFD trading, but neither supports buying or holding actual (delivered) cryptocurrencies.
CMC Markets vs XTB: for deposits and withdrawals, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (no Skrill), while XTB supports PayPal, Skrill, and bank wire transfers but not ACH/SEPA; Visa/Mastercard availability is 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 | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | XTB Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | XTB | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2002 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 1 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 7184 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.92 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.92 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 39 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 39 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | XTB Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | XTB | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | XTB Review |
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