Updated September 29, 2026 · BrokerCue Editorial Team
Capital.com vs EC Markets
Capital.com vs EC Markets: the differences
| Compare |  Capital.com |  EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum deposit | £20 | $10 |
| Markets | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Bonds, Spread betting | Stocks, ETFs, Forex, CFDs, Crypto, Metals |
| Regulators | FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) | SIPC |
| Investor protection | FSCS up to GBP 85,000 | SIPC up to USD 500,000 |
| Platforms | Web platform, Mobile app, MT4, TradingView | MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App |
| Maximum retail leverage | 1:30 | 1:1000 |
| Stock trade fee | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Account fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Inactivity fee | £0 | Not confirmed |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65% | Not confirmed |
| Deposit and withdrawal fees | Free deposits and withdrawals | Not confirmed |
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Key differences
- Capital.com scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only Capital.com offers FCA, Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
- Regulators: only EC Markets offers SIPC.
- Capital.com is licensed in 1 more country.
- Markets: only Capital.com offers Bonds, Spread betting.
- Markets: only EC Markets offers Metals.
- Platforms: only Capital.com offers Web platform, Mobile app, MT4.
- Platforms: only EC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, EC Markets App.
- Features: only Capital.com offers Demo account.
Our verdict on each
Capital.com
Capital.com suits traders who want one account across shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds without a monthly or inactivity charge. UK clients sit under FCA regulation with FSCS protection of FSCS up to GBP 85,000. The minimum deposit of £20 is the only cost barrier, above CFI at $0.
EC Markets
EC Markets suits active traders who want retail leverage of 1:1000 across forex, CFDs, stocks and crypto in one account. The US entity behind the brand, RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC, sits under SIPC up to USD 500,000, so the safety side is easier to check than with an offshore-only broker.
Score breakdown
| Area | Capital.com | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2HigherAccount fee of £0, stock trade fee of $0 and no inactivity charge, with free deposits and withdrawals. | 9.0The $10 minimum deposit sits below the €4.64 site median, so the cost of opening an account is low. |
| Offer | 9.5 | 9.5 |
| Trust | 9.1Higher | 8.6 |
Side by side, item by item
| Markets | Capital.com | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | No |
| Metals | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
What we checked
Capital.com
- capital.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- investingreviews.co.uk: 4 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- forexrev.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sashares.co.za: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
EC Markets
- ecmarkets.com: 5 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- sipc.org: 3 facts, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | Capital.com | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Stock and ETF brokers | 65 of 471 | 138 of 471 |
| Forex brokers | 28 of 147 | 58 of 147 |
| Low-spread forex brokers | 26 of 145 | 56 of 145 |
| CFD brokers | 22 of 122 | 47 of 122 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Capital.com | EC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Demo account, Mobile appCovers more | Mobile app |
| Pricing model | Commission free, Low fees | Not confirmed |
| Legal entity | CAPITAL VAULT LTD | RB INTERNATIONAL MARKETS (USA) LLC |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2016 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Chat, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Capital.com | EC Markets | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stock trade fee | $0at the median | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Account fee | £0at the median | Not confirmed | £0 |
| Retail accounts that lose money | 65%lowest quarter | Not confirmed | 72.05% |
Median across 91 listed brokers.
Pros and cons
Capital.com
Pros
- No account fee at all, which puts it joint first on that measure in our data (£0).
- No inactivity charge, also joint first in our data, so an unused balance is not quietly billed (£0).
- Stock trades cost $0 under a commission-free model.
Cons
- The minimum deposit of £20 is far higher than CFI, which asks for $0.
- Support runs on chat and help centre, so there is no phone line for questions about a leveraged position.
- Retail accounts lose 65% of money, and the market is open around the clock.
EC Markets
Pros
- One account spans stocks, etfs and forex, so you are not locked into a single asset class.
- You can trade on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App, with the mobile app listed under mobile app.
Cons
- Retail leverage of 1:1000 magnifies losses, and on the site's forex list 72.13% of retail accounts lose money.
- The $10 entry point sits above CFI's $0 and Vantage's $5, so the cheapest way in is elsewhere.
Who each suits
Capital.com
Who it suits
- Traders who want shares, forex, CFDs, crypto and bonds in one account
- UK residents who want FSCS protection alongside a CySEC regulated entity
- People who keep a balance and would otherwise pay inactivity fees
Who should look elsewhere
- eToro, if you want a social platform with copy trading
- Vantage, if you would rather start from a smaller deposit of $5
EC Markets
Who it suits
- Active traders who want 1:1000 retail leverage on forex and CFDs
- US-based investors who want protection stated at SIPC up to USD 500,000
- Newcomers who can start at $10 and learn on MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and EC Markets App
Who should look elsewhere
- CFI, if you want to open an account with no minimum at $0
- Vantage, if the entry deposit matters more than the market list, since it starts at $5
- eToro, if you trade futures, which its market list stocks, etfs and forex covers
Questions about each
Capital.com
What is the minimum deposit at Capital.com?+
The minimum deposit is £20 in the UK. That is higher than CFI at $0 and Vantage at $5. Clients who want a smaller opening balance may prefer a rival on that measure.
What does it cost to open and hold an account?+
There is no account fee, so the account costs £0. There is also no inactivity charge, at £0. Both rank the brand joint first on our data, so an unused balance is not billed.
EC Markets
What is the minimum deposit at EC Markets?+
The minimum deposit is $10 to fund an account. That sits above the €4.64 site median, so it is a low entry point rather than the lowest one available. Anyone starting small should confirm which account the deposit applies to before adding funds.
Is money held at EC Markets protected?+
Protection is stated as SIPC up to USD 500,000, under the SIPC scheme named in the brand's licences. That figure is the scheme's stated ceiling rather than a promise of returns, and the scheme's own terms set the conditions, so read them before depositing.
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