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CMC Markets vs FXCM

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

CMC Markets vs FXCM Comparison Table 2025
CMC Markets	FXCM

4.7	4
CMC Markets is ranked #31 among CFD brokers.	FXCM is ranked #24 among CFD 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.	FXCM, a reputable forex and CFD broker founded in 1999, is headquartered in the UK. It has garnered multiple accolades and operates in several regions, including the UK and Australia. Offering more than 400 assets and comprehensive analysis tools without any commission charges, FXCM is a favoured option among traders. The broker is also under the regulation of leading bodies such as the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, FSCA, and BaFin.
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.
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.	In addition to its four charting platforms, FXCM provides a superior selection of specialist software for seasoned traders, featuring QuantConnect, AgenaTrader, and Sierra Chart. The proprietary Trading Station platform is an excellent option for traders seeking a comprehensive tool for their short-term and automated strategies. Traders have access to premium tools such as a market scanner, forex signals, and research from the third-party site eFXPlus. FXCM boasts a strong international reputation, holding licences from the FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and FSCA. With two decades of experience, it commands respect in the trading industry. A variety of funding options, such as bank cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal, are available with immediate processing. The broker provides reduced spreads and additional benefits for seasoned traders through the Active Trader account. FXCM has broadened its trading options by offering stock CFDs via MetaTrader 4.
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.	While FXCM primarily caters to seasoned traders, the absence of managed accounts is unfortunate. There are no retail account options available for traders, and Cent/Micro account alternatives are also absent. The live chat support is often sluggish and inconsistent when compared to leading competitors.
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	Forex, Stock CFDs, Commodities CFDs, Crypto CFDs
Demo Account
Yes	Yes
Minimum Deposit
$0	$50
Payment Methods
Credit Cards Debit Card Mastercard PayPal Visa Wire Transfer	Apple Pay Credit Cards Debit Card Google Pay PayPal Wire Transfer
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots	Variable
Regulator
FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA	FCA, CySEC, ASIC, FSCA, BaFin, CIRO
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android	iOS and 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.
iOS App Rating
4.1	3.1
Android App Rating
3.7	4.5
Margin Trading
Yes	Yes
Margin Rate
1%
MetaTrader 4
Yes	Yes
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	Yes
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	Yes
Market Maker
Yes	Yes
P2P Trading
No	No
Spot Trading
Yes	No
Auto Trading
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
No	Yes
Copy Trading Platform
	FXCM provides social and copy trading options for forex, CFDs, and cryptocurrencies via the widely-used ZuluTrade platform. Registration is swift, and you can monitor your trading outcomes instantly.
Social Trading
Yes	Yes
Trade Signals
Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes	No
Tournaments
No	No
Demo Competitions
Yes	Yes
Ethical Investing
No	No
Custodial Account
No	No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Yes	No
Inactivity Fee
$10
Islamic Account
Yes	Yes
Account Currencies
USD EUR GBP CAD AUD NZD SEK NOK SGD PLN	USD EUR GBP AUD
Commodities
Gold Oil Silver Copper Coffee Wheat Precious Metals Natural Gas Soybeans Orange Juice Nickel Palladium Steel Cannabis Platinum Livestock Sugar Gasoline	Gold Oil Silver Cannabis Corn Copper
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.	You can engage in trading various CFD instruments, such as forex, shares, indices, and commodities. Traders have access to a superb choice of platforms, including TradingView and MT4. Additionally, advanced trading tools like API solutions cater to experienced algorithmic traders.
Leverage
1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)	1:400
FTSE Spread
1 pt	1.18 pts var*
GBPUSD Spread<
0.9	0.5 pips*
Oil Spread
3.5	0.05 (var)*
Stocks Spread
0.02	0.2% Var*
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.	FXCM provides a selection of over 40 currency pairs. There are no commission charges, and spreads are competitive, starting at 0.78 pips for EUR/USD. Additionally, the broker features three forex baskets, focusing on USD, Yen, and emerging market benchmarks.
Assets
300+	40
GBPUSD Spread
0.9	0.5 pips var*
EURUSD Spread
0.7	0.2 pips var*
EURGBP Spread
1.1	0.5 pips var*
Currency Indices
USD EUR GBP JPY CAD AUD NZD CHF	JPY
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.	Trade popular digital currencies with no commission and leverage. FXCM offers a crypto basket, providing exposure to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Bitcoin Cash in a single trade.
Spread
From 1.3	Variable
Coins
BTC BCH ETH LTC EOS TRON NEO ADA XLM	BTC ETH LTC BTC
Crypto Lending
No	No
Crypto Mining
No	No
Crypto Staking
No	No
Auto Market Maker
No	No

CMC Markets	FXCM
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.
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CMC Markets vs	FXCM vs