CMC Markets Forex Broker Review
FXMARE editorial rating, not user reviews.
Reviewed by the FXMARE Research Desk under our review methodology · licences last verified 2026-06-25
CMC Markets is a London-listed, FCA-regulated veteran founded in 1989, offering 12,000+ CFDs on an award-winning proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5 and TradingView, with competitive raw spreads via its FX Active account.
Spread from: 0 pips (raw/ECN) · Max leverage: 1:30 (EU/UK/AU retail), 1:500 (professional clients) · Instruments: (Next Generation); ~2,220 on MT5; ~220 on MT4
Spreads, minimum deposit and leverage are indicative and vary by account type and jurisdiction — confirm current terms on the broker’s site.
Between 74% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
You should consider whether you understand how CFDs and leveraged products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. FXMARE is not a broker and does not offer these products; figures are indicative of those disclosed by regulated providers. This page is information, not financial advice. See our full risk disclosure.
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CMC Markets Overview
CMC Markets is a London-listed, FCA-regulated veteran founded in 1989, offering 12,000+ CFDs on an award-winning proprietary platform alongside MT4/MT5 and TradingView, with competitive raw spreads via its FX Active account.
CMC Markets is regulated by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), CIRO (Canada), FMA (New Zealand), DFSA (Dubai / DIFC). Independently verifiable licences include FCA (UK) — CMC Markets UK plc, FRN 173730; ASIC (Australia) — CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, AFSL 238054; FMA (New Zealand) — CMC Markets NZ Limited, FSP41187; CIRO (Canada) — CMC Markets Canada Inc.. It ranks among the most trusted, tier-1-regulated brokers in this comparison.
EUR/USD spreads start around 0 pips on the raw/ECN account (about 0.7 pips on the standard, commission-free account), with $5 (FX Active: 0.0025% per side, ~$5 round-turn on standard lot) commission. The minimum deposit is $0 and maximum retail leverage is 1:30 (EU/UK/AU retail), 1:500 (professional clients). It does not provide a dedicated swap-free (Islamic) account (As of mid-2025 no CMC Markets entity offers an Islamic or swap-free account. Overnight swap fees apply to all positions.), so standard overnight swaps apply.
Platforms include CMC Next Generation, MT4, MT5, TradingView. CMC Markets provides ~12,000+ CFDs (Next Generation); ~2,220 on MT5; ~220 on MT4 across Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds, Options, funded via Bank transfer, Credit/debit card, PayPal (select regions).
CMC Markets is one of the most credible and well-regulated brokers in the industry, holding six Tier-1 licences and being publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2016 — a level of institutional transparency very few peers can match. The proprietary Next Generation platform is genuinely capable, and the FX Active account's 0.0 pip raw spreads with a 0.0025% commission make it cost-competitive against ECN-first rivals for high-volume forex trading. The main gaps are the absence of any Islamic/swap-free account offering and the fact that the full 12,000-instrument universe is only available on the proprietary platform, not MT4.
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom · Funding: Bank transfer, Credit/debit card, PayPal (select regions)
Pros
- Tier-1 regulated in six jurisdictions including FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, FMA, and DFSA; publicly listed on LSE (CMCX)
- Exceptional instrument breadth — 12,000+ CFDs on the proprietary platform, more than most peers
- Award-winning Next Generation platform with 115+ indicators plus full TradingView integration
- FX Active account delivers 0.0 pip spreads on six major pairs with low 0.0025% commission — competitive all-in cost for active traders
- No minimum deposit required to open an account
Cons
- No Islamic / swap-free account available across any entity
- MT4 limited to ~220 instruments; full range only accessible via the proprietary platform or MT5
- Retail leverage capped at 1:30 under FCA/ASIC/ESMA rules; offshore/higher-leverage options not offered
- 68% of retail accounts lose money — prominently disclosed, reflecting complexity of products
CMC Markets Ratings Breakdown
CMC Markets Fees, Spreads & Leverage
CMC Markets Regulation & Entities
Licence numbers link to each regulator’s public register so you can verify them yourself. Last checked 2026-06-25.
CMC Markets is authorised by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), CIRO (Canada), FMA (New Zealand), DFSA (Dubai / DIFC). Brokers regulated in tier-1 jurisdictions are generally required to hold client money separately from company funds and may offer protections such as negative-balance protection or an investor-compensation scheme — the exact safeguards depend on the entity you sign up with. As with all trading, your capital is at risk. Confirm which entity, licence and protections apply to your country on the regulator’s register before funding an account.
Want a deeper, sourced safety check? See our broker safety checks — regulator registers, review-platform sentiment and unresolved questions, in one place.
CMC Markets Platforms & Execution
Available on desktop, web and mobile. Tradable across Forex, Indices, Stocks, Commodities, Crypto, ETFs, Bonds, Options. Track every position you take with CMC Markets in the FXMARE trading journal.
CMC Markets Verdict — Is It Safe & Legitimate?
CMC Markets is one of the most credible and well-regulated brokers in the industry, holding six Tier-1 licences and being publicly listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2016 — a level of institutional transparency very few peers can match. The proprietary Next Generation platform is genuinely capable, and the FX Active account's 0.0 pip raw spreads with a 0.0025% commission make it cost-competitive against ECN-first rivals for high-volume forex trading. The main gaps are the absence of any Islamic/swap-free account offering and the fact that the full 12,000-instrument universe is only available on the proprietary platform, not MT4.
Affiliate link · $0 min deposit · Trading CFDs is high-risk
CMC Markets — frequently asked questions
Is CMC Markets regulated?
CMC Markets states it is authorised by FCA (UK), ASIC (Australia), MAS (Singapore), CIRO (Canada), FMA (New Zealand), DFSA (Dubai / DIFC). We last checked those licence details against the regulators' own public registers on 2026-06-25. Licences are entity-specific: the group company that onboards you depends on your country, so confirm which entity your client agreement names before depositing.
What is the minimum deposit at CMC Markets?
CMC Markets lists $0 min deposit. Minimums vary by account type, funding method and regional entity, so treat this as indicative and confirm the figure on the broker's own site for the account you intend to open.
What spreads does CMC Markets offer on EUR/USD?
CMC Markets advertises spreads from 0 pips (raw/ECN), with EUR/USD quoted around 0.7 pips (standard) · 0 pips + commission (raw). Commission: $5 (FX Active: 0.0025% per side, ~$5 round-turn on standard lot). Advertised "from" figures are floors seen in ideal conditions rather than averages — compare total cost per round turn (spread plus commission) at the volume you actually trade.
What is the maximum leverage at CMC Markets?
CMC Markets advertises up to 1:30 (EU/UK/AU retail), 1:500 (professional clients). Leverage caps are set by the regulator of the entity you trade with, so retail clients in the UK, EU and Australia receive materially lower caps than the headline figure. Higher leverage magnifies losses as much as gains.
Does CMC Markets offer swap-free (Islamic) accounts?
No. CMC Markets does not currently advertise a swap-free (Islamic) account. As of mid-2025 no CMC Markets entity offers an Islamic or swap-free account. Overnight swap fees apply to all positions.
Which platforms does CMC Markets support?
CMC Markets supports CMC Next Generation, MT4, MT5, TradingView. Platform availability can differ by entity and account type — a platform offered in one region is not guaranteed in another, so verify it is available on the specific account you plan to open.
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Complaints & Resolutions
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FXMARE may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page, including any placement marked Sponsored. This does not affect our independent rating of CMC Markets. Trading forex and CFDs carries a high level of risk and most retail accounts lose money. This review is information, not financial advice — verify all terms with the broker directly.
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