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CMC Markets vs Coinbase

CMC Markets or Coinbase – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare CMC Markets and Coinbase in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.

CMC Markets vs Coinbase Comparison Table 2025
CMC Markets	Coinbase

4.7	3.5
CMC Markets is ranked #3 among CFD brokers.	Coinbase is ranked #57 among crypto brokers.
Review	Review
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a reputable broker publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange. It holds authorisation from top-tier regulators such as the FCA, ASIC, and CIRO. The brokerage, which has received multiple awards, boasts a global membership exceeding one million traders.	Coinbase, established in 2012, began as a platform for buying and selling Bitcoin using bank transfers. It has since grown into a major player in the crypto world. The company now offers over 240 crypto assets, has developed advanced trading platforms for individual investors, and is listed on the US Nasdaq. Additionally, Coinbase holds licenses from various regulatory bodies.
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.	This post contains affiliate links, and this website will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking the links.
Pros
The CMC web platform offers an exceptional user experience with sophisticated charting tools for trading and customisable options, suitable for both novice and seasoned traders. It supports MT4 but not MT5, and TradingView will be available from 2025. We've upgraded the 'Assets & Markets' rating due to frequent product enhancements in early 2025. These include extended trading hours for US stocks and the introduction of new share CFDs. CMC provides competitive pricing with narrow spreads and low trading fees, except for stock CFDs. The Alpha and Price+ programmes offer additional benefits for active traders, including discounts on spreads of up to 40%. CMC Markets is well-regulated by respected financial authorities, ensuring a secure and reliable trading environment. It upholds a strong reputation, providing traders with confidence. The brokerage excels with an extensive array of valuable resources, such as pattern recognition scanners, webinars, tutorials, news feeds, and research from reputable sources like Morningstar.	As a Nasdaq-listed entity, Coinbase adheres to stringent financial regulations and holds licences in the US, UK, and Europe. Its security measures feature FDIC insurance for USD balances up to $250,000 and implement two-factor authentication (2FA). Coinbase offers support for over 240 cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). The platform also provides early access to newly listed altcoins like $Trump, enabling traders to engage with emerging tokens. In 2025, Coinbase Advanced expanded its trading options with new futures products. These include Ripple (XRP), Natural Gas (NGS), and Cardano (ADA). This enhancement offers traders accessible methods to trade, hedge, or diversify their portfolios. Coinbase Advanced now integrates TradingView, a feature uncommon among crypto platforms. This allows traders to access spot and futures markets directly via real-time charts while utilising robust technical analysis tools. Platforms cater to all traders. Beginners might opt for the straightforward Coinbase app. Meanwhile, Advanced Trade offers reduced fees and professional-grade tools.
Cons
Although there have been improvements, the online platform still needs further refinement to match the user-friendly trading experience offered by competitors such as IG. CMC provides a robust range of assets; however, it does not support trading actual stocks, and UK clients are unable to trade cryptocurrencies. Trading stock CFDs comes with a relatively high commission, particularly when compared to low-cost brokers such as IC Markets. A monthly inactivity charge of $10 is imposed after a year's inactivity, potentially discouraging occasional traders. The CMC Markets app provides a comprehensive trading package; however, its design and user experience lag behind market leaders such as eToro.	Tests show that crypto fees are high, particularly when compared to competitors such as Kraken and BitMEX. This is especially true on the standard trading platform. The research tools available are inadequate. Advanced Trade offers TradingView charts, yet it is missing critical features such as news feeds, economic calendars, and AI-driven market insights. Customer support during testing is frustrating, as most assistance options require a login. This complicates matters for traders who are locked out or do not have an account, as they struggle to access help.
Awards
Best Trading App 2023 - DayTrading.com No.1 Platform Technology 2022 No.1 New Tool 2022 No.1 Most Currency Pairs 2022 Best Trade Execution 2021 Best Forex Broker For Beginners 2021 Most Transparent Forex Broker Europe 2020 Best Trading Platform 2020 Best Trading App 2019 Best Customer Service 2018
FCA Regulated
Yes	Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting	Crypto
Demo Account
Yes	No
Minimum Deposit
$0	$0
Payment Methods
Credit Cards Debit Card Mastercard PayPal Visa Wire Transfer	Apple Pay Credit Cards Debit Card Google Pay Mastercard Visa Wire Transfer
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots	$2
Regulator
FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA	FinCEN, FCA, CBoI, MAS, OAM, DNB, BdE
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android	iOS & Android
Trading App
CMC Markets' award-winning app has revolutionised mobile trading. Its modern, customisable interface provides a unique user experience that sets it apart. Enhanced with 25 technical indicators, 15 drawing tools, and a swift, stable trading platform, it is an outstanding option for traders.	Coinbase boasts an intuitive, frequently updated app that mirrors the desktop experience. It ensures speed and reliability, catering to traders with advanced features, real-time market analysis, staking rewards, secure portfolio management, and education incentives, all secured by stringent regulatory compliance. However, Android user ratings highlight that the interface lags behind the Apple version, citing user experience and notification issues.
iOS App Rating
4.1	4.7
Android App Rating
3.7	4
Margin Trading
Yes	No
Margin Rate
1%
MetaTrader 4
Yes	No
MetaTrader 5
No	No
cTrader
No	No
AlgoTrader
No	No
OmniTrader
No	No
TradingView
Yes	Yes
Autochartist
No	No
eSignal
No	No
Trading Central
No	No
STP Account
No	No
ECN Account
No	No
DMA Account
No	No
MAM Account
No	No
PAMM Account
No	No
LAMM Account
No	No
Demat Account
No	No
AI / Machine Learning
No	No
Robo Advisor
No	No
Negative Balance Protection
Yes	No
Market Maker
Yes	No
P2P Trading
No	No
Spot Trading
Yes	Yes
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
No	No
Social Trading
Yes	No
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes	No
Tournaments
No	No
Demo Competitions
Yes	No
Ethical Investing
No	No
Custodial Account
No	No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Yes	No
Inactivity Fee
$10	$0
Islamic Account
Yes	No
Account Currencies
USD EUR GBP CAD AUD NZD SEK NOK SGD PLN	USD EUR
Commodities
Gold Oil Silver Copper Coffee Wheat Precious Metals Natural Gas Soybeans Orange Juice Nickel Palladium Steel Cannabis Platinum Livestock Sugar Gasoline
CFD
CMC enables trading of CFDs on over 12,000 assets, including currencies, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries. In 2025, new equities will feature sectors like quantum computing, AI learning, and digital car sales. Enjoy competitive spreads without hidden fees, and leverage the renowned MetaTrader 4 platform. Consistently, CMC stands out as a leading CFD broker.
Leverage
1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
FTSE Spread
1 pt
GBPUSD Spread<
0.9
Oil Spread
3.5
Stocks Spread
0.02
Forex
CMC offers a broad selection of over 300 forex pairs, featuring tight spreads and quick execution. This exceeds many competitors in currency variety. Their forex indices provide a distinctive and comprehensive method to speculate on major currencies such as USD, EUR, and GBP.
Assets
300+
GBPUSD Spread
0.9
EURUSD Spread
0.7
EURGBP Spread
1.1
Currency Indices
USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF
Cryptocurrency
CMC Markets provides trading opportunities with popular digital currencies such as Bitcoin. However, it excels in offering crypto indices, granting broader market exposure. With minimal slippage and an impressive 99.9% fill rate, CMC is an excellent choice for active traders in the cryptocurrency sector.	Coinbase offers an excellent trading platform for cryptocurrency enthusiasts. It supports more than 240 digital assets, ranging from Bitcoin to new altcoins. The platform, enhanced by TradingView, provides traders with advanced charting options and comprehensive market data.
Spread
From 1.3	0.5% - 1% (BTC)
Coins
BTC BCH ETH LTC EOS TRON NEO ADA XLM	BCH BTC ETH LTC XRP IOTA NEO EOS XMR FIL WBTC SHIB BNB TRUMP
Crypto Lending
No	Yes
Crypto Mining
No	No
Crypto Staking
No	Yes
Auto Market Maker
No	No

CMC Markets	Coinbase
Review	Review
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 70% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets and CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.	This post contains affiliate links, and this website will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking the links.
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