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FXCM vs Markets.com 2025

ForexBrokers.com

Written by ForexBrokers.com

February 05, 2025

In this head to head comparison of FXCM vs Markets.com, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.

FXCM
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: Starts from $50
  • Trust Score: 95
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 440
Markets.com
4.5/5 Stars Overall
  • Minimum Deposit: $100
  • Trust Score: 93
  • Tradeable Symbols (Total): 2179

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.

Regulation

When comparing FXCM and Markets.com, both brokers have a strong regulatory presence, having been founded in 1999. FXCM is publicly traded, unlike Markets.com, which offers an added layer of transparency for potential investors. In terms of regulatory licenses, FXCM holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating a high level of trust, while Markets.com holds three. Both brokers are not banks, yet they are well-regarded in the forex trading world.

The ForexBrokers.com Trust Score further underscores their reliability, with FXCM scoring a 95 out of 99, denoting a highly trusted broker status. Markets.com follows closely behind with a Trust Score of 93, also placing it in the highly trusted category. FXCM has the edge with additional Tier-2 licenses, holding two compared to Markets.com's one, further enhancing its trusted status among online traders.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Year Founded info 1999 1999
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1

Fees

When comparing FXCM and Markets.com in terms of commissions and fees, FXCM's pricing for forex trading tends to be slightly above the industry average. For its standard account spreads, FXCM's time-weighted average spread on the EUR/USD currency pair in May 2024 was 0.78 pips for its EU, U.K., and Australia offerings, while for its St. Vincent and the Grenadines entity the spread was 1.38 pips—higher than the industry norm. Commission-based accounts exhibited average spreads of 0.28 pips, but the effective spread is approximately 0.74 pips after incorporating the commission-equivalent of 0.50 pips per round-turn trade.

FXCM also offers an Active Trader Rebate Program outside the U.K. and EU, featuring a five-tier rebate structure. Depending on the trading volume—beginning at a minimum of $10 million per month—traders can receive rebates ranging from $5 to $25 per million traded. Despite these rebates, competitors like Tickmill and FP Markets may provide more appealing rates for active traders. For FXCM clients in the U.K., a $25,000 account balance and $50 million in monthly trading volume could see significant fee reductions, where commissions per side could fall to $2.5, bringing the effective spread to 0.78 pips based on the same time reference data.

For commissions and fees, FXCM earns a rating of 4 out of 5 stars and ranks 25th out of 63 brokers as per ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Markets.com, for which specific average spread data is not available, receives a slightly lower rating of 3.5 stars and holds the 50th position among the 63 brokers evaluated. These ratings and rankings can guide traders in determining which platform might align more closely with their cost considerations and trading strategies.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $100
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.78 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.78 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.

Featured Offers


Range of investments

When comparing the investment offerings of FXCM and Markets.com, both online brokers provide forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts. FXCM offers 440 tradeable symbols, which includes 46 forex pairs, while Markets.com provides a larger selection with 2179 tradeable symbols and 57 forex pairs. Despite the wider selection at Markets.com, neither broker offers exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, so clients cannot purchase shares like Apple or Vodafone directly through these platforms.

Both FXCM and Markets.com support the exciting feature of copy trading, allowing clients to replicate the trades of successful investors. For those interested in cryptocurrencies, both brokers offer cryptocurrency derivatives but do not facilitate the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. When examining their ratings, FXCM holds a 3.5-star rating for its range of investments, while Markets.com edges higher with a 4-star rating. According to ForexBrokers.com, FXCM is ranked #47 out of 63 brokers in the Range of Investments category, whereas Markets.com stands at #29, indicating a broader array of investment options at the latter.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 2179
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 57
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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.

Trading platforms and tools

When comparing the trading platforms and tools of FXCM and Markets.com, both brokers provide a solid range of features, including the availability of free virtual demo accounts and proprietary platforms. Each broker offers a Windows-based desktop download platform and a web-based trading platform accessible via the browser. Additionally, both support the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4), but only Markets.com extends its offerings to include MetaTrader 5 (MT5). For those interested in copy trading, FXCM supports ZuluTrade whereas Markets.com does not. Neither broker offers DupliTrade.

FXCM provides a more comprehensive charting experience with 10 drawing tools compared to Markets.com's four. Additionally, FXCM allows traders to execute trades directly from stock charts, a feature not available with Markets.com. When it comes to watch lists, FXCM offers functionality with 13 columns, versus Markets.com's six. Overall, FXCM is rated five stars for trading platforms and tools, with a strong ranking of 6th out of 63 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Markets.com, while offering a commendable suite of tools, is rated four stars and ranked 27th in the same category.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes info No
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 89
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 10 4
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 13 6

Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.

Forex trading apps

When it comes to mobile trading apps, both FXCM and Markets.com deliver apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, allowing users to trade conveniently on the go. Both platforms also enhance user experience by offering stock and forex price alerts and seamless syncing of watchlists between the app and the online account. FXCM, however, takes a lead with its offering of 59 technical studies for charting, while Markets.com primarily relies on the default studies available on the MT4 platform. Both apps allow users to draw trendlines on charts, but FXCM stands out by offering multiple time frame views, unlike Markets.com.

Additionally, FXCM's app automatically saves chart drawings, a feature that Markets.com's app lacks. Traders looking to create watchlists with real-time quotes will find that both platforms support this functionality. However, in terms of overall user satisfaction, FXCM has an edge with a rating of 4.5 stars out of five, compared to the 4 stars awarded to Markets.com. This is further reflected in their rankings by ForexBrokers.com, where FXCM holds the 16th position, significantly ahead of Markets.com, which ranks 33rd out of 63 brokers. These distinctions highlight FXCM's superior mobile trading experience.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 59 (default on MT4, none on Markets app)
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.

Market research

FXCM and Markets.com both provide strong market research support for traders looking to stay updated and informed. They each offer daily market commentary and deliver forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, ensuring users receive high-quality information. Additionally, both platforms include sentiment-based trading tools and economic calendars to help traders make more informed decisions. However, a closer look reveals some key differences. FXCM stands out by offering Trading Central analytics, which Markets.com does not, providing an edge for those who value comprehensive technical insights. FXCM also includes market research from TipRanks, adding another layer of depth to its research offerings, while Markets.com does not. Neither platform, however, features Autochartist or Acuity Trading research tools.

When it comes to ratings, FXCM has a slight edge over Markets.com in research, earning a 4.5-star rating and ranking 11th out of 63 brokers in the Research category by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Markets.com holds a 4-star rating, ranking 17th among its peers. While both brokers offer valuable resources for traders, FXCM's higher rating and rank suggest a more comprehensive suite of research tools and support, potentially making it a more attractive option for those prioritizing in-depth analysis and insights in their trading decisions.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
TipRanks info Yes No
Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) info No No
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes

Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.

Beginners and education

When comparing the educational resources for beginners at FXCM and Markets.com, there's a noticeable difference in the breadth and depth of material available. FXCM offers a comprehensive range of over ten educational pieces focused on forex and CFDs, ensuring beginners have a strong foundation. Meanwhile, Markets.com does not match this level of educational content, providing fewer resources in these areas. Both platforms hold monthly webinars to help clients expand their trading knowledge, but FXCM further supports learning with a searchable archive of past webinars, a feature Markets.com lacks. Additionally, FXCM and Markets.com each provide over ten beginner-friendly educational videos, catering to new traders eager to grasp essential trading concepts.

For those seeking an extensive educational experience, FXCM stands out with an investor dictionary containing more than 50 terms, a resource that Markets.com doesn’t offer. Both brokers do a commendable job in presenting advanced educational videos, which is beneficial for experienced traders hoping to enhance their skills. When rated, FXCM achieves 4.5 stars for education, positioning itself as a more favorable option compared to Markets.com, which holds 4 stars. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, FXCM enjoys a higher placement at #14 out of 63 brokers, while Markets.com comes in at #34, reflecting the stronger emphasis on educational offerings at FXCM.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No

Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.

Winner

After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that FXCM is better than Markets.com. FXCM finished with an overall rank of #15, while Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23.

For traders who appreciate advanced trading tools and quality market research, FXCM is a winner, especially for algorithmic trading. Its range of tradeable markets is fairly narrow, however, and the pricing at FXCM is just average.

Feature FXCM logoFXCM
Markets.com logoMarkets.com
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 93
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars

FAQs

Can you trade cryptocurrency with FXCM or Markets.com?

Both FXCM and Markets.com do not provide options to purchase actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade in cryptocurrency derivatives.

What funding options does each broker offer?

FXCM outshines Markets.com in terms of funding flexibility by supporting ACH and SEPA transfers and embracing PayPal alongside Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com accepts withdrawals and deposits through Skrill, Visa, Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks the option for ACH, SEPA, or PayPal transactions.




announcementPlease 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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Compare

0 of 5
Overall Rating FXCM Markets.com
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 93
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review
Broker Screenshots FXCM Markets.com
Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) info
Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) info
Research Gallery (click to expand) info
Education Gallery (click to expand) info
Regulation FXCM Markets.com
Trust Score info 95 93
Year Founded info 1999 1999
Publicly Traded (Listed) info Yes No
Bank info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-1 Licenses info 4 3
Tier-2 Licenses info 2 1
Tier-3 Licenses info 0 0
Tier-4 Licenses info 0 1
Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) FXCM Markets.com
Australia (ASIC Authorised) info Yes Yes
Canada (CIRO Authorised) info Yes No
Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) info No No
Japan (SFC Authorised) info No No
Singapore (MAS Authorised) info No No
Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) info No No
United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) info Yes No
USA (CFTC Authorized) info No No
New Zealand (FMA Authorised) info No No
Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). info Yes info Yes info
Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) FXCM Markets.com
Kenya (CMA Authorised) info No No
Israel (ISA Authorised) info Yes No
South Africa (FSCA Authorised) info Yes Yes
UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) info No No
India (SEBI Authorised) info No No
Jordan (JSC Authorised) info No No
Investments FXCM Markets.com
Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) info Yes Yes
Tradeable Symbols (Total) info 440 2179
Forex Pairs (Total) info 46 info 57
U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) info No No
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
Cryptocurrency (Physical) info No No
Cryptocurrency (Derivative) info 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 FXCM Markets.com
Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard info 0.78 info N/A info
All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active info 0.78 info N/A info
Active Trader or VIP Discounts info Yes Yes
Inactivity Fee info Yes No
Execution: Agency Broker info Yes No
Execution: Market Maker info Yes Yes
Funding FXCM Markets.com
Minimum Deposit info Starts from $50 $100
PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes No
Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) info Yes Yes
Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) info Yes Yes
ACH or SEPA Transfers info Yes No
Trading Platforms FXCM Markets.com
Proprietary Platform info Yes Yes
Desktop Platform (Windows) info Yes Yes
Web Platform info Yes Yes
Social Trading / Copy Trading info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 4 (MT4) info Yes Yes
MetaTrader 5 (MT5) info No Yes
cTrader info No No
DupliTrade info No No
ZuluTrade info Yes info No
Trading Tools FXCM Markets.com
Virtual Trading (Demo) info Yes Yes
Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes No
Watchlists - Total Fields info 13 6
Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) info 115 89
Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) info 10 4
Charting - Trade From Chart info Yes No
Charts can be saved info Yes Yes
Mobile Trading FXCM Markets.com
Android App info Yes Yes
Apple iOS App info Yes Yes
Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields info Yes Yes
Mobile Watchlist info Yes Yes
Watchlist Syncing info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies info 59 (default on MT4, none on Markets app)
Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines info Yes Yes
Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames info Yes No
Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave info Yes No
Mobile Economic Calendar info Yes No
Research FXCM Markets.com
Daily Market Commentary info Yes Yes
Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) info Yes Yes
Autochartist info No No
Trading Central (Recognia) info Yes No
TipRanks info Yes No
Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs info Yes Yes
Economic Calendar info Yes Yes
Education FXCM Markets.com
Education (Forex or CFDs) info Yes No
Client Webinars info Yes Yes
Client Webinars (Archived) info Yes No
Videos - Beginner Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Videos - Advanced Trading Videos info Yes Yes
Investor Dictionary (Glossary) info Yes No
Major Forex Pairs FXCM Markets.com
GBP/USD info Yes Yes
USD/JPY info Yes Yes
EUR/USD info Yes Yes
USD/CHF info Yes Yes
USD/CAD info Yes Yes
NZD/USD info Yes No
AUD/USD info Yes Yes
Review FXCM Review
Overall FXCM Markets.com
Overall Rating info 4.5/5 Stars 4.5/5 Stars
Commissions & Fees 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Range of Investments 3.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Platforms & Tools 5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Mobile Trading 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Research 4.5/5 Stars 4/5 Stars
Education 4/5 Stars 3.5/5 Stars
Trust Score info 95 93
Winner check_circle
Review FXCM Review
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