CMC Markets Review

Active forex and CFD traders

BMA

Founded 1989 · BM

Why investors choose this broker

No minimum deposit required to open an account
No CMC deposit or withdrawal fees currently charged
FX Active spreads from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs
25% spread discount on 300+ other forex pairs with FX Active

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Review summary

CMC Markets is a CFD and forex broker founded in 1989, with MT4, MT5, TradingView and its own web and mobile platforms.

Pros

No minimum deposit required to open an account
No CMC deposit or withdrawal fees currently charged
FX Active spreads from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs
25% spread discount on 300+ other forex pairs with FX Active
$2.50 commission per $100,000 currency trade on FX Active
0% commission on UK and European share CFDs
GSLO premium refunded 100% when the order is not triggered
MetaTrader accounts allow hedging positions by default

Cons

£10 monthly inactivity fee after one year without trading
Market data subscriptions may apply for some share CFDs
Guaranteed stop-loss orders require a premium
MT4 CFD accounts cannot access Next Generation or TradingView
MT4 offers only currencies, indices, commodities and cryptocurrencies
MT4 and MT5 demo accounts expire after 30 days of inactivity
MetaTrader close-out can occur below 50% of margin requirement
Term deposits for client money may require up to 95 days' notice

Company background

CMC Markets is a CFD and forex broker founded in 1989. It offers leveraged trading on markets such as forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates and bonds, and cryptocurrencies. The broker provides a standard CFD trading account and an FX Active account for active forex traders.

Fees and pricing

CMC Markets' income comes predominantly from the spread, which is built into buy and sell prices. FX Active offers spreads from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs and charges 0.0025% commission per transaction, equal to $2.50 per $100,000 worth of currency traded. At that notional volume, opening and closing a trade costs $5.

There is no minimum deposit required to open an account. CMC Markets and CMC Markets Services Limited do not currently charge fees for deposits or withdrawals, although payment providers may charge their own fees. A £10 monthly inactivity fee applies to dormant accounts after one year without trading activity, but no deduction is made if there are no funds in the account.

Regulation and safety

CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Client money is held separately from CMC Markets' own funds in segregated client bank accounts. Retail clients receive negative balance protection, which limits losses to the amount deposited.

Platform experience

CMC Markets supports its proprietary web and mobile platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView. The standard CFD account gives access to the Next Generation platform on PC and mobile and can be linked to TradingView. A separate MT4 CFD account is required for MetaTrader 4 and does not provide access to Next Generation or TradingView.

Pros and cons

The main strengths are no minimum deposit, no CMC deposit or withdrawal fees, specific FX Active pricing, and a broad choice of CFD platforms. The main limitations are the £10 dormancy fee, possible market data subscriptions for some share CFDs, premium charges for guaranteed stop-loss orders, and MT4 product restrictions.

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Open an account directly with the broker. Confirm current fees and account eligibility on the broker's website before depositing.

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.

Trading fees & commissions

FX Active offers spreads from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs and charges 0.0025% commission per transaction, equal to $2.50 per $100,000 worth of currency traded. There is no minimum deposit, and CMC Markets and CMC Markets Services Limited do not currently charge fees for deposits or withdrawals. Dormant accounts are charged £10 per month after one year with no trading activity, unless there are no funds in the account.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Spreads are built into the buy and sell prices; overnight holding costs may apply
Deposit	CMC Markets and CMC Markets Services Limited do not currently charge any fees to make deposits
Inactivity	£10 per month on dormant accounts after one year of no trading activity
Share Cfds	0% commission on UK and European share CFDs
Withdrawal	CMC Markets and CMC Markets Services Limited do not currently charge any fees to make withdrawals of funds
Market Data	Monthly subscription charges may apply for certain share CFD instruments
Min Deposit	There is no minimum deposit required to open an account
Fx Active Commission	$2.50 per $100,000 worth of currency trade
Guaranteed Stop Loss	GSLO premium refunded 100% if the GSLO is not triggered

Trading platform & features

Platforms

CMC Web platform
CMC mobile app
MT4
MT5
TradingView
Web app
iOS app
Android app
Desktop app

Regulation and investor protection

CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Client money is held in segregated client bank accounts, and retail clients receive negative balance protection under BMA rules.

Broker FAQs

Is CMC Markets safe?

CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. Client money is held in segregated client bank accounts, and retail clients receive negative balance protection under BMA rules.

Is CMC Markets a scam?

No. CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed to conduct investment business and digital asset business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

Is CMC Markets regulated and by whom?

CMC Markets Bermuda Limited is licensed by the Bermuda Monetary Authority. CMC Markets entities are licensed and regulated by local authorities.

What happens to my money if CMC Markets goes bankrupt?

In the event of CMC Markets' liquidation, clients would have their share of segregated money returned, minus the administrator's costs for handling and distributing those funds.

Does CMC Markets keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. Client money is held separately from CMC Markets' own funds in segregated client bank accounts. CMC Markets performs daily client money reconciliations.

What products does CMC Markets offer?

CMC Markets offers CFD trading on markets including forex, indices, stocks, commodities, shares, ETFs, rates and bonds, and cryptocurrencies. It also offers a standard CFD trading account and an FX Active account.

Does CMC Markets offer crypto?

Yes. CMC Markets lists cryptocurrencies as a market and states that MT4 supports trading on cryptocurrencies. The broker also supports funding and withdrawals with USDT and USDC via Binance Pay.

Does CMC Markets offer ETFs?

Yes. CMC Markets lists ETFs among its markets and refers to ETF CFDs in its trading costs information.

What is the minimum deposit at CMC Markets?

There is no minimum deposit required to open an account. You need sufficient funds in the account before placing a trade.

Does CMC Markets have a demo account?

Yes. CMC Markets offers a free demo account for all platforms. MT4 and MT5 demo accounts are available for an initial 30-day period and expire after 30 days of inactivity, while the Next Generation demo account has no expiry date.

Does CMC Markets have a mobile app?

Yes. CMC Markets offers a mobile app. MetaTrader mobile apps and TradingView mobile apps are also available through the App Store and Google Play Store.

What does CMC Markets charge for FX Active?

FX Active charges 0.0025% commission per transaction across forex pairs. This works out as $2.50 per $100,000 worth of currency traded, or $5 to open and close a trade at that notional volume.

Does CMC Markets charge an inactivity fee?

Yes. Dormant accounts are charged £10 per month after one continuous year with no trading activity, but no deduction is made if there are no funds in the account.

Is there a withdrawal fee at CMC Markets?

CMC Markets and CMC Markets Services Limited do not currently charge fees to make deposits or withdrawals of funds. A card issuer or payment service provider may charge a fee directly.

What platforms does CMC Markets offer?

CMC Markets offers its proprietary web and mobile platform, MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5 and TradingView. The CMC platform does not require downloads, while MT4 and MT5 require downloads to fully use features such as Expert Advisors.

What is the maximum leverage at CMC Markets?

For retail clients, the maximum leverage available with CMC Markets' CFD trading and FX Active accounts is 200:1, or 0.5% margin.

Is CMC Markets good for day trading?

CMC Markets' FX Active account is designed for active forex traders and offers spreads from 0.0 pips on six major FX pairs with fixed commission. The platform set also includes MT4, MT5 and TradingView.

Bottom line

CMC Markets suits active CFD and forex traders who want MT4, MT5, TradingView and detailed FX Active pricing. It may be less suitable for users who want direct ownership investing or who prefer to avoid inactivity fees, market data subscriptions and CFD-specific platform restrictions.

CMC Markets

Active forex and CFD traders

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.