CMC Markets Review 2024: Pros and Cons Revealed

Broker	CMC Markets
Founded Year	1989
Headquarters	London
Regulations	FMA, FCA, CIRO, MAS
Product Offering	Share Investing: International Shares, Domestic Shares, ETFs, Options, Crypto
	CFD Trading: Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, Shares
Min. Deposit	$0
Account Types	Standard Account, FX Active Account
Demo Account	✅
Max. Leverage	1:30 (retail clients )/1:500 (professional clients )
Spread	From 0.6 pips (Standard account)
Trading Platforms	CMC Web platform, CMC Mobile App, and MT4 platform
Inactivity Fee	$15 AUD monthly (no open positions and no other trading activity for a continuous period of one year)
Promotion	❌

What Type of Investor Is CMC Markets Suitable for？

CMC Markets is suitable for a diverse range of investors, including:

1. Active Traders: With advanced trading platforms like MT4 and CMCs proprietary platform, CMC Markets caters to those who actively trade and require robust tools for technical analysis and quick execution.
2. Experienced Traders: Investors who have experience with CFDs, forex, and other complex financial instruments will find CMC Markets range of products and sophisticated features advantageous.
3. Beginner Traders: CMC Markets offers educational resources and a demo account option, making it a good choice for beginners who want to practice trading without risk.
4. Investors Seeking Low Costs: The competitive spreads and commissions, along with features like the guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO), appeal to those looking to minimize trading costs.
5. Global Investors: With access to a wide range of international markets and instruments, CMC Markets is suitable for investors looking to diversify their portfolios across global assets.

Overall, CMC Markets is well-suited for both novice and experienced traders seeking a flexible, cost-effective platform with comprehensive tools and resources.

CMC Markets Pros & Cons

✅Where CMC Markets Shines:

Operate under a strong regulatory frame: CMC Markets has strong regulatory endorsement. CMC Markets are regulated by top-tier financial authorities, including FMA, FCA, CIRO, and MAS. A strict regulatory system can protect the security of users' assets.

Low spreads and low trading commissions (except stock CFDs): CMC Markets has the lowest fee structure in the industry. Traders trading on this platform can get a better trading experience, but its stock CFD trading fees are higher.

Provide a wide range of trading varieties: Trade CFDs on more than 12,000 instruments across global markets with confidence, including Forex, Indices, Commodities, Cryptocurrencies and more.

Wide range of educational resources: CMC Markets provides investors with a knowledge hub for news & analysis, learn CFD trading and platform guides. Investors can choose learning resources that suit them according to their characteristics and improve their trading capabilities.

No minimum deposit: CMC Markets has no minimum deposit, which is a great advantage for many investors with small amounts of capital.

❌Where CMC Markets Falls Short:

High stock CFD trading fees: Although CMC Markets low trading fees are an advantage, its stock CFD trading fees are very high, and stock CFD investors need to choose other cheaper traders for trading.

Not support MT5 trading platform: Although CMC Markets provides MT4 trading platform services, it does not support the more advanced MT5 trading platform, which is disadvantageous for investors who are accustomed to the MT5 trading platform.

Is CMC Markets Legit？

When traders choose a trading platform for investment, they must first ensure that the trading platform is legal and compliant and that the safety of users' funds can be guaranteed. The key factor in evaluating whether a trader is legal is whether it is legally regulated. CMC Markets has a strict regulatory system. It is regulated by the FMA, FCA, CIRO, and MAS regulators.

Logo
Regulatory Agency	Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)	Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)	Financial Markets Authority (FMA)	Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO)	Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA)
Current Status	Regulated	Regulated	Regulated	Regulated	Regulated
Regulated Country	United Kingdom	United Kingdom	New Zealand	Canada	Singapore
Regulated Entity	CMC Markets UK plc	CMC Spreadbet Plc	CMC MARKETS NZ LIMITED	CMC Markets Canada Inc.	CMC MARKETS SINGAPORE PTE LTD
License Type	Market Making (MM)	Market Making (MM)	Market Making (MM)	Market Making (MM)	Retail Forex License
License No.	173730	170627	41187	Unreleased	Unreleased

How to Open a CMC Markets Account？

Step 1: Start the Process

Visit the CMC Markets website and click the “Open account” button located at the top right of the navigation bar, or click the “Open an account” button on the homepage.

Step 2: Choose Your Platform

You will be prompted to select between CMC CFD or MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Each option provides two types of accounts: a real account for live trading or a demo account for practice. We recommend starting with a demo account to trade risk-free and familiarize yourself with the broker's trading conditions and platforms.

Step 3: Complete the Application

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete your application. You will need to fill in your personal information, including your email address, password, and more.

Step 4: Verify and Fund Your Account

Once your application is processed, verify your identity if required, and then you can fund your account to begin trading.

CMC Markets Trading Platform

CMC Markets provides investors with three trading platforms, namely CMC Web Platform, CMC Mobile App, and MT4 platform.

CMC Web Platform

The CMC Web Platform trading platform supports any strategy and provides advanced functionality and strong security on all devices. The platform features top-notch security and lightning-fast execution speeds.

CMC Mobile App

CMC Mobile App provided by CMC Markets is available on iOS and Android phones and tablets, allowing users to trade anytime and anywhere using the mobile app. The app is designed to be both powerful and intuitive, making it suitable for all traders. No matter what stage of trading you are at, MC Markets will provide support for users in the next step of learning.

MT4 platform

CMC Markets also offers the MetaTrader 4 (MT4) platform, a widely used and versatile trading tool favored by many traders for its robust features and ease of use. With CMC Markets, MT4 users benefit from:

• Comprehensive Charting Tools: MT4 provides advanced charting capabilities, including a wide range of technical indicators and drawing tools to analyze market trends and make informed trading decisions.
• Automated Trading: The platform supports Expert Advisors (EAs), allowing traders to automate their trading strategies and execute trades based on predefined criteria without manual intervention.
• Customizable Interface: MT4 is highly customizable, enabling users to adjust the interface and trading environment to suit their preferences and trading style.
• Access to Global Markets: By using MT4 with CMC Markets, traders gain access to a broad range of financial instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and more.
• Reliable Execution: CMC Markets ensures that MT4 users experience reliable trade execution, with competitive spreads and swift order processing.

CMC Markets Education

CMC Markets provides a comprehensive knowledge hub. Here, you can access market news and analysis, and learn about share investing with guides on getting started, platform use, investing basics, ETFs, and international markets. Additionally, you can explore CFD trading through their CFD knowledge hub, platform guides, MT4 academy, trading strategies, and trading guides.

CMC Markets also provides a user-friendly navigation system with various labels to help you quickly find what you need. These labels include Beginner, Advanced, Forex, How-to, Shares, Indices, Charting, Platform, Research, Strategy, Treasuries, Rates and Bonds, Commodities, Share Baskets, and Research Tools.

For instance, if you're a beginner looking for educational resources, simply click the “Beginner” label to view relevant materials. If you're interested in tutorials, the “How-to” label will guide you to those resources.

Explore more on their website for a well-designed and intuitive user experience.

CMC Markets Fees Review

Spreads & Commissions (Trading Fees)

CMC Markets charges spreads and commissions vary on the account type and asset class.

Share CFD commissions vary on the country where the share product originates.

For detailed pricing, visit: CMC Markets Pricing (https://www.cmcmarkets.com/en-au/cfd/pricing)

Non-Trading Fees

Non-trading fees are straightforward: holding costs apply but are clearly outlined, and there are no additional market data fees for most regions, which is advantageous. The Guaranteed Stop-Loss Order (GSLO) offers valuable protection for a premium, with a full refund if not triggered, adding an extra layer of security for traders.

Holding Cost

At the end of each day (5 pm New York time), open CFD trading positions may be subject to a holding cost.

Market Data Fee

Notes:

• Monthly subscription charges may apply based on market data classification and account type.
• Subscriptions activated mid-month incur the full monthly charge.
• Market data subscription runs until midnight local time on the first day of the following month.
• Local taxes and duties may apply.

Guaranteed Stop-loss Order Charge

A Guaranteed Stop-Loss Order (GSLO) functions similarly to a standard stop-loss order but with added security. It guarantees that your trade will be closed at the specified price, no matter how volatile or gapping the market becomes. This guarantee comes at a premium. If GSLO is not activated, the premium paid will be fully refunded.

Dormant Account Charge

If an account remains inactive for one year—meaning no open positions or trading activity—it is considered dormant. For such accounts, a monthly inactivity fee of $15 AUD (or the equivalent in other currencies) will be charged. This fee is deducted from the account balance, usually within three business days of the start of the new month.

Key Points:

• Inactivity Fee: $15 AUD per month (or equivalent).
• Criteria for Dormancy: No open positions and no trading activity for one year.
• Fee Deduction Timing: Within 3 business days of the start of the new month.
• Fee Refund: If you reactivate the account by trading, fees for up to three previous months (maximum $45) will be refunded.
• No Negative Balance: The account will not go into a negative balance due to these fees.
• Fee Conditions: The fee is applied until the account is closed, trading activity resumes, or the balance reaches zero.

Overall, CMC Markets fee structure is competitive, with transparent charges and useful features. They offer a solid choice compared to other brokers, especially for those who value low trading costs and protective trading options.

CMC Markets Review on Products

CMC Markets provides a wealth of trading varieties, and users can choose the varieties that suit their own trading strategies according to their own needs. CMC Markets provides share investing in International Shares, Domestic Shares, ETFs, Options, and Crypto, and CFD trading on Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, and Shares. These trading products can effectively diversify investors' potential risks and increase investors' options.

CMC Markets Account Type

CMC Markets provides two account types, namely Standard account and FX Active account. No matter which type of account a user chooses, the products available to the user are very rich. The following introduces the specific contents of the two accounts.

Compare to Similar Brokerages

Logo
Broker	CMC Markets	ATFX	Forex.com	Pepperstone
Regulation	FMA, FCA, CIRO, MAS	ASIC, SFC, FCA, CYSEC, SCA (general registration)	ASIC, FCA, FSA, NFA, CIRO, MAS	ASIC, CYSEC, FCA, DFSA, SCB
Account Minimum	$0	$/€/£500	$100	$0
Product Offering	Share investing in International Shares, Domestic Shares, ETFs, Options, and Crypto, and CFD trading on Forex, Indices, Commodities, Crypto, and Shares	Forex, Indices, Commodities, US & European Share CFDs	Forex, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrency, Commodities, Gold/Silver	Forex, Cryptocurrencies, Shares, ETFs, Indices, Commodities
Demo Account	✅	✅	✅	✅
Promotion	❌	✅	✅	✅
Best for	Novice traders and professional traders	Novice traders	Novice traders and professional traders	Most traders

FAQs

Is CMC Markets a safe and trustworthy brokerage？

Yes, CMC Markets is considered safe and trustworthy. It is regulated by multiple agencies, including FMA, FCA, CIRO, and MAS. Additionally, user funds are kept separate from company funds for added security.

Does CMC Markets truly offer commission-free trading？

Yes, CMC Markets offers commission-free trading for forex on the Standard account. However, commissions apply to share CFD trading, varying by country (e.g., 0.08% for UK shares, 2 cents per unit for US shares, 0.09% for Australian shares).

What kind of trading platform does CMC Markets offer？

CMC Markets offers its own advanced trading platform with extensive tools and features, as well as MetaTrader 4 (MT4) for those preferring a popular, customizable trading environment. Both platforms are accessible via mobile apps for trading on the go.

Is CMC Markets suitable for beginners？

Absolutely. CMC Markets is suitable for novice traders due to its extensive educational resources, no minimum deposit requirement, and availability of demo accounts for practice. These features help beginners learn and improve their trading skills with ease.