Switch Markets vs CMC Markets

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

Switch Markets vs CMC Markets Comparison Table 2025
Switch Markets CMC Markets
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3.8
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4.7
Switch Markets is ranked #52 among CFD brokers. CMC Markets is ranked #3 among CFD brokers.
Switch Markets is a multi-asset CFD brokerage regulated by ASIC and SVGFSA. The brand provides trading services on MT4 and MT5 platforms with leverage up to 1:500. It offers more than 2000 instruments and includes features like copy trading services and free VPS hosting. 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.
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
  • Switch Markets provides a good selection of trading tools, such as a market sentiment heatmap, an economic calendar, and VPS access. I value the variety of forex calculators available.
  • I discovered 14 easy deposit methods and 5 base currencies. With average processing times of just 1 minute and 2 seconds, traders will find this particularly appealing.
  • I am impressed by the free access to HowToTrade's educational resources, community forum, and market analysis, all without requiring a deposit.
  • Traders can utilise the MetaTrader Trading Signals to mirror the actions of seasoned traders instantly.
  • The £50 minimum initial deposit for both account types is quite competitive relative to other brands.
  • 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.
Cons
  • I am somewhat worried that the international firm is governed by the SVGFSA, an offshore regulator known for offering minimal financial security to clients.
  • In my view, Standard account holders face relatively high spreads, averaging 1.5 pips for EUR/USD, which are not particularly competitive.
  • 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.
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
No

List of FCA Regulated Brokers

Yes
Instruments
CFDs, Forex, Stocks, ETFs, Cryptos, Futures, Commodities CFDs, Forex, Stocks, Indices, Commodities, ETFs, Treasuries, Custom Indices, Spread Betting
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$50 $0
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
0.01 Lots 0.01 Lots
Regulator
ASIC FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, BaFin, FMA, DFSA
Mobile Apps
iOS & Android iOS & Android
Trading App

The award-winning app from CMC Markets has transformed mobile trading. The app’s modern and customizable interface offers a unique user experience, distinct from competitors. Moreover, with its comprehensive charting capabilities featuring 25 technical indicators and 15 drawing tools, as well as its fast and stable trading environment, it’s an exceptional choice for traders.

iOS App Rating
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4.8
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4.1
Android App Rating
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4.6
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3.7
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
No 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
Yes No
PAMM Account
Yes 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 Yes
Auto Trading
Yes - Equinix Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader
Copy Trading
Yes No
Copy Trading Platform
Switch Markets provides low-cost trading services through the MetaTrader 4 platform, allowing traders to copy strategies efficiently.
Social Trading
Yes Yes
Trade Signals
MT4 Yes
VPS Hosting
Yes Yes
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No Yes
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No Yes
Inactivity Fee
$10
Islamic Account
Yes Yes
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
  • SGD
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • SEK
  • NOK
  • SGD
  • PLN
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Oil
  • Natural Gas
  • Gold
  • Oil
  • Silver
  • Copper
  • Coffee
  • Wheat
  • Precious Metals
  • Natural Gas
  • Soybeans
  • Orange Juice
  • Nickel
  • Palladium
  • Steel
  • Cannabis
  • Platinum
  • Livestock
  • Sugar
  • Gasoline
CFD
Switch Markets provides over 180 CFD instruments, offering leverage up to 1:500 and swift order execution in under 76 milliseconds. Commissions are competitive, at $7 per round turn for Pro account holders. 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
1:500 1:30 (Retail), 1:500 (Pro)
FTSE Spread
1.2 1 pt
GBPUSD Spread<
0.5 0.9
Oil Spread
2.0 3.5
Stocks Spread
Variable 0.02
Forex
The offering of over 60 major, minor, and exotic currency pairs is competitive, particularly with Pro account spreads starting at 0 pips. Seasoned traders can utilise leverage up to 1:500 on the widely-used MT4 platform. 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
60+ 300+
GBPUSD Spread
0.5 0.9
EURUSD Spread
0.1 0.7
EURGBP Spread
0.6 1.1
Currency Indices
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • JPY
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • NZD
  • CHF
Cryptocurrency
Switch Markets offers just six crypto CFDs, but the available leverage of 1:3 is appealing. Additionally, deposit options include BTC, ETH, XRP, USDT, and USDTRC20, which is advantageous for traders. 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.
Spread
Variable From 1.3
Coins
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • BTC
  • BCH
  • ETH
  • LTC
  • EOS
  • TRON
  • NEO
  • ADA
  • XLM
Crypto Lending
No No
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
No No
Auto Market Maker
No No
Switch Markets CMC Markets
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.
More Comparisons
Switch Markets
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