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 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets edges out XTB overall. CMC Markets earns 5 stars and ranks #4 out of 36 brokers for this category, while XTB holds 4.5 stars and ranks #13 out of 36. CMC’s standard spread-only account showed an average EUR/USD spread of 1.3 pips, which is higher than its advertised 0.8 pip minimum, but its FX Active pricing can lower the all-in cost to about 1.15 pips on a standard lot, including commission. XTB’s Standard account posted an average EUR/USD spread of 1 pip, which is competitive, though it still sits a bit behind the best low-cost brokers.
For everyday traders, both brokers keep things fairly straightforward, but their fee structures differ. CMC Markets offers competitive pricing through its FX Active plan, plus volume-based rebates for active traders in some regions. It also stands out for having no minimum deposit and no inactivity fee until after a full year without trading. XTB’s main appeal is its spread-only Standard account, which is usually the better choice for smaller trades, while its commission-based Professional account is only available to certain eligible clients in the U.K. and Europe and is being phased out in most places.
Overall, CMC Markets is the stronger pick for commissions and fees if you want better pricing options and active trader discounts. XTB remains a solid choice for simple, spread-based trading, but its pricing is less competitive than CMC’s best rates and it ranks lower in this category. If low trading costs are your top priority, CMC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $0 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.06 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer (Deposit/Withdraw) | 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.
CMC Markets and XTB both give traders access to forex as CFDs or spot contracts, along with exchange-traded shares on both U.S. and international markets. Neither broker offers copy trading, and both let you trade cryptocurrency CFDs. Where they differ is in choice: CMC Markets lists 21,710 tradeable symbols and 303 forex pairs, while XTB offers 10,521 symbols and 71 forex pairs. For everyday investors looking at market variety, CMC Markets clearly has the wider selection.
XTB does have one advantage in that it lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency, not just crypto CFDs, while CMC Markets does not. Still, both brokers earn 5 out of 5 stars for range of investments, showing strong overall coverage. In ForexBrokers.com’s rankings for this category, CMC Markets places higher at #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with XTB at #14, which reflects CMC Markets’ larger menu of available markets and products.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 21710 | 10521 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 71 |
| 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.
When comparing CMC Markets vs XTB for trading platforms and tools, both brokers give beginners and active traders a strong start with free demo accounts, in-house platforms, and web-based trading access. Each also lets you trade directly from a chart, which can make placing orders faster and easier. Neither broker offers copy trading, so this area is more focused on self-directed trading.
CMC Markets stands out for platform choice and depth, especially if you want a Windows desktop platform and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. XTB does not offer a desktop download platform or MetaTrader, which may matter if you prefer those tools. This gap helps explain why CMC Markets scores higher for Trading Platforms and Tools, with a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking out of 36 brokers, compared with XTB’s 4.5 stars and #9 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 92 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and XTB both make it easy to trade on the go, with iPhone and Android apps, price alerts, watchlist syncing, trendline tools, and auto-saved chart drawings. For everyday mobile trading needs, both apps cover the basics well and let users track markets and manage trades from their phones.
The main difference is in charting and overall app ratings. XTB offers more technical studies in its mobile app, with 104 compared with CMC Markets’ 30, which may appeal to traders who want more chart analysis tools. However, CMC Markets comes out ahead in third-party rankings, earning 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and a #5 spot out of 36 brokers, while XTB is rated 4.5 stars and ranks #8.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
CMC Markets and XTB both give traders daily market commentary, a sentiment tool showing long and short positions, and an economic calendar to track key global events. Each broker is also rated 5 stars for Research, showing that both offer a strong set of market insights for everyday traders. In ForexBrokers.com’s Research ranking, CMC Markets places higher at #6 out of 36 brokers, while XTB comes in at #9.
Where CMC Markets pulls ahead is in the quality and depth of its news and analysis. It offers forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, plus Autochartist tools for technical and fundamental research. XTB does not provide those same premium news sources or Autochartist, which may matter for traders who want more third-party analysis and trade ideas. Neither broker offers Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading research tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| 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 trading education, both CMC Markets and XTB offer a strong range of learning tools. Each broker provides forex and CFD education with at least 10 related learning pieces, monthly online webinars, and more than 10 beginner videos as well as more than 10 advanced videos. Both are also rated 5 out of 5 stars for Education, so either choice gives new traders plenty of material to start learning at their own pace.
There is only a small difference between them in ForexBrokers.com’s Education ranking, where CMC Markets places #10 out of 36 brokers and XTB follows closely at #11. In simple terms, both brokers are well suited for beginners who want clear trading lessons, regular webinars, and video content that covers the basics as well as more advanced topics.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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 21,710 tradeable instruments and 303 forex pairs, the largest currency lineup in the industry.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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XTB
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 96 |
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When comparing CMC Markets vs XTB, both brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs, but only XTB allows clients to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency, while CMC Markets does not support direct crypto purchases.
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 CMA 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) | 21710 | 10521 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 303 | 71 | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Spread-only account | 1.3 | 1.06 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Raw spread account | 1.15 | N/A | |
| 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 (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 65 | 92 | |
| 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 | 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 | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | XTB | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | Yes | 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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