Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Xtrade, 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.
When comparing CMC Markets and Xtrade, a few key points emerge about their regulatory standings and trust levels. CMC Markets, established in 1989, stands out with a flawless Trust Score of 99 according to ForexBrokers.com. This reflects its extensive regulatory coverage with six Tier-1 licenses, showcasing a high level of trust and credibility. Additionally, CMC Markets holds a Tier-2 license, further enhancing its reliability. The company is publicly traded, which adds an extra layer of transparency for its users. On the other hand, Xtrade, founded in 2003, holds a Trust Score of 74, indicating an average risk. It has acquired one Tier-1 and one Tier-2 license, indicating a more modest level of trust compared to CMC Markets. Unlike CMC Markets, Xtrade is not publicly traded, which might affect its perceived transparency.
Both CMC Markets and Xtrade are not banks, but their contrasting levels of regulation and public listing status might influence users' decisions based on their preferences for credibility and trust. CMC Markets' longstanding presence and numerous high-trust licenses might appeal to those prioritizing regulatory compliance and transparency. In contrast, Xtrade provides a more moderate option with a focus on essential regulatory adherence, potentially catering to individuals comfortable with average-risk investments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
Looking to keep trading costs low? CMC Markets tops our list for commissions and fees with a 5-star rating and a #1 ranking (out of 63), while Xtrade holds a 2.5-star rating and is ranked #64. CMC’s pricing is transparent and consistently competitive, whereas Xtrade does not provide average spread data, making quick cost comparisons harder.
CMC Markets’ typical EUR/USD spread was 0.61 pips (August 2023). Its FX Active plan charges $2.50 per side with minimum spreads from 0.0, producing an all-in cost of about 0.5 pips on EUR/USD (and several other majors). For example, NZD/USD can drop from a 1.5‑pip spread on a standard account to an all‑in 0.5 pips with FX Active. CMC’s averages have historically stayed close to its quoted minimums, and its Price Plus Scheme can reduce costs further for high-volume traders (earn 2 Trading Points per standard lot; 1,250 lots in a month reaches Tier 4 with a 20% spread discount). FX Active is available on MT4 and Next Generation in select regions.
Xtrade’s average spread data is not available, which limits clarity around day-to-day costs. Its commissions-and-fees rating is 2.5 stars with a #64 ranking. When comparing brokers, focus on average spreads (not just minimums), plus any commissions and overnight financing, and check live quotes in your platform before you trade.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
CMC Markets vs Xtrade: range of investments compared. CMC Markets offers far more markets with 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Xtrade lists 482 symbols and 56 forex pairs. Both let you trade forex as CFDs or spot, and both support crypto CFDs (but not delivered cryptocurrency). A key difference: CMC Markets also offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. and international exchanges, so you can buy actual shares like Apple or Vodafone; Xtrade does not offer exchange-traded shares. CMC Markets also includes copy trading, which Xtrade lacks.
For Range of Investments, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #9 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #50. If you want the widest variety of markets, access to real shares, and copy trading, CMC Markets is the better fit; if you just need a CFD-focused lineup with forex and crypto CFDs, Xtrade may cover your needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 482 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 56 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| 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.
Both CMC Markets and Xtrade offer free demo accounts for paper trading and each has its own in-house trading platform. CMC Markets adds a Windows desktop platform alongside a full web platform, while Xtrade focuses on the web with no Windows desktop download. CMC Markets also supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) and includes copy trading, whereas Xtrade does not offer MT4, MT5, or copy trading. Both brokers let you place trades directly from charts. The number of built-in technical indicators and the available watchlist fields are not specified for either broker.
For trading platforms and tools, ForexBrokers.com rates CMC Markets at 5 stars and ranks it #4 out of 63 brokers, while Xtrade earns 3.5 stars and ranks #59 out of 63. In short, CMC Markets delivers wider platform choice and advanced integrations, while Xtrade provides a simpler, web-first experience; both let you practice with a demo before you trade.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
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Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | N/A |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and Xtrade have iPhone and Android apps. Where they differ is in everyday tools. CMC Markets lets you set price alerts and sync your watchlists with your web account, so symbols you add or remove carry over automatically; Xtrade does not support alerts or syncing. For charting, CMC Markets includes 29 technical studies, lets you draw trendlines, and saves your drawings automatically. Xtrade does not list built-in studies for mobile and does not support trendlines or auto-save.
If mobile features matter, CMC Markets stands out. It earns 5 stars for Mobile Trading Apps and is ranked #5 out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Xtrade earns 4 stars and is ranked #54. In short, both apps cover the basics, but CMC Markets offers more control and convenience for tracking and analyzing markets on the go.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets vs Xtrade: both brokers cover the basics for market research with daily market commentary, forex news from top-tier sources (Bloomberg, Reuters, Dow Jones), and an economic calendar that tracks global events. Where they differ is in tools. CMC Markets adds Autochartist for pattern spotting and trade ideas, plus a sentiment tool that shows the long/short ratio across markets. Xtrade lacks Autochartist and does not provide a sentiment gauge. Neither broker includes Trading Central, TipRanks, or Acuity Trading.
On quality, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #6 out of 63 brokers for research, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #53. If you want richer built-in analysis and sentiment insights, CMC Markets is the stronger pick. If your priority is basic news and an event calendar, Xtrade covers the essentials.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | No |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners comparing CMC Markets and Xtrade, CMC Markets offers a more complete path to learn trading. It has at least 10 beginner-friendly videos and 10+ advanced videos, so you can move from the basics to more complex ideas in one place. Xtrade does not meet the 10‑video threshold for beginner or advanced topics, leaving a smaller set of materials for new traders. Neither broker runs monthly educational webinars.
This gap shows up in independent scores: CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Education and ranks #10 out of 63 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Xtrade holds 3.5 stars and ranks #46. If you want structured video lessons and room to grow as a beginner, CMC Markets is the stronger choice; if you only need a small set of resources, Xtrade may still fit.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Xtrade
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | 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 Xtrade. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Xtrade finished with an overall rank of #60.
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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Xtrade
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|---|---|---|
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 |
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CMC Markets and Xtrade are online brokers that both allow trading in cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither offers the ability to buy or take delivery of actual cryptocurrencies.
CMC Markets vs Xtrade: for deposits and withdrawals, CMC Markets supports ACH/SEPA, PayPal, and bank wire transfers (no Skrill), while Xtrade does not support ACH/SEPA and its availability for PayPal, Skrill, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires is not specified.
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 | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Xtrade Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2003 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or SCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 482 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 56 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | N/A | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $250 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | ||
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | ||
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | N/A | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | N/A | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | No |
| Research | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Xtrade Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Xtrade | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 74 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Xtrade Review |
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