Markets.com Review

CFD and forex traders

CySEC FSCA ASIC FSA

Founded 2008 · Cyprus · Finalto (IOM) Limited

Why investors choose this broker

Regulated by CySEC, FSCA and ASIC
No commissions on trades - spread-only pricing
No deposit or broker withdrawal fees
Proprietary platform plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5

Review summary

Markets.com is a multi-regulated CFD and forex broker offering over 2,200 instruments across forex, shares, indices, commodities, ETFs, crypto and bonds via its proprietary platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Pros

Regulated by CySEC, FSCA and ASIC
No commissions on trades - spread-only pricing
No deposit or broker withdrawal fees
Proprietary platform plus MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5
Over 2,200 tradable instruments across multiple asset classes
Free demo account for practice trading
Negative balance protection for retail clients

Cons

FCA authorisation surrendered in 2025 - UK retail services including spread betting discontinued
Inactivity fee of 10 per month triggered after just 90 days
Spreads wider than ECN or STP competitors
No copy trading or social trading functionality
Demo account expires after 90 days of inactivity
No cTrader platform
No VPS service

Company background

Markets.com was founded in 2008 and operates primarily through Safecap Investments Limited, a Cyprus-based entity licensed by CySEC under license number 092/08. The brand is owned by Finalto (IOM) Limited, acquired by Gopher Investments from Playtech in July 2022. The platform claims over 4.7 million registered traders globally and offers CFD and forex trading across more than 2,200 instruments including forex pairs, share CFDs, indices, commodities, ETFs, crypto and bonds.

Markets.com operates under a multi-entity structure. The CySEC-licensed entity serves EEA clients, Markets South Africa (Pty) Ltd (FSCA, license 46860) serves South African clients, and Finalto (Australia) Pty Ltd holds AFSL 424008 for Australian clients. In 2025, Markets.com surrendered its UK FCA authorisation and discontinued retail services under the Markets.com brand in the UK.

Fees and pricing

Markets.com uses a spread-only pricing model with no commissions. The broker lists no deposit fees and no broker-side withdrawal fees, though external providers may apply their own charges. The EUR/USD spread is approximately 1.0 pip on the standard account under normal conditions. A 0.6% currency conversion fee applies when trading in a currency that differs from the account base currency. Overnight financing charges apply to leveraged positions held past daily market close and vary by instrument.

An inactivity fee of 10 in the account base currency applies per month after 90 days of dormancy, defined as no open or closed positions, no deposit and no login. The minimum deposit is approximately 100 in the account base currency.

Regulation and safety

Markets.com is regulated by CySEC (Safecap Investments Ltd, licence 092/08), FSCA (Markets South Africa Pty Ltd, licence 46860), ASIC (Finalto (Australia) Pty Ltd, AFSL 424008) and the FSA in St. Vincent and Grenadines. CySEC clients may claim up to EUR 20,000 under the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund. The broker provides negative balance protection for all retail clients. The FCA-regulated entity surrendered its UK authorisation in 2025 and ceased retail operations under the Markets.com brand.

Platform experience

Markets.com offers its proprietary web-based platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. The proprietary platform includes sentiment indicators, an economic calendar and XRAY educational webinars. MT4 and MT5 support algorithmic trading via Expert Advisors. Mobile apps for iOS and Android are available for the proprietary platform and both MetaTrader versions. A free demo account with virtual funds is provided for practice.

Pros and cons

Markets.com main strengths are its multi-regulatory framework, commission-free spread-only pricing, broad instrument range and choice of platform including MT4 and MT5. Key drawbacks are an inactivity fee triggered after only 90 days, spreads wider than ECN or STP competitors, no copy trading functionality and the 2025 surrender of its FCA licence which removes UK FSCS protections.

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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

Markets.com charges no commissions, no deposit fees, and no broker-side withdrawal fees. An inactivity fee of 10 in the account's base currency applies monthly after 90 days of dormancy.

Fees

Item	Fee
Cfds	Spread-only; no commission; overnight financing charges apply to positions held past market close
Crypto	Spread-based CFD trading; overnight fees apply
Margin	Overnight financing charges apply to leveraged positions
Account	No account opening fee
Deposit	No broker deposit fee; external payment provider fees may apply
Inactivity	10 in base currency per month after 90 days of no trading activity or login
Withdrawal	No broker withdrawal fee; minimum withdrawal varies by method; external provider fees may apply
Fx Conversion	0.6% currency conversion fee

Trading platform & features

Platforms

Markets.com Platform
MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
Web app
iOS app
Android app

Regulation and investor protection

Markets.com operates through regulated entities including Safecap Investments Limited (CySEC, license 092/08), Markets South Africa Pty Ltd (FSCA, license 46860), Finalto (Australia) Pty Ltd (ASIC, AFSL 424008), and Markets International Ltd (FSA, St. Vincent and Grenadines). The FCA-regulated entity surrendered its UK authorisation in 2025.

Broker FAQs

Is Markets.com safe?

Markets.com operates through entities regulated by CySEC, FSCA and ASIC. Client funds are held in segregated accounts and the broker provides negative balance protection for retail clients.

Is Markets.com a scam?

No. Markets.com has operated since 2008 and holds active regulatory licences from CySEC in Cyprus, FSCA in South Africa and ASIC in Australia.

Is Markets.com regulated and by whom?

Yes. Markets.com is regulated by CySEC (Safecap Investments Ltd, licence 092/08), FSCA (Markets South Africa Pty Ltd, licence 46860), ASIC (Finalto (Australia) Pty Ltd, AFSL 424008) and the FSA in St. Vincent and Grenadines. Its FCA authorisation was surrendered in 2025.

Does Markets.com keep client funds in segregated accounts?

Yes. Markets.com states that client funds are held in segregated accounts, separate from company operating funds, in accordance with requirements from its regulators including CySEC, FSCA and ASIC.

What happens to my money if Markets.com goes bankrupt?

CySEC-regulated clients may be eligible for compensation of up to EUR 20,000 under the Cyprus Investor Compensation Fund. Segregated client accounts mean funds should be ringfenced from company assets, though recovery in an insolvency is not guaranteed.

What products does Markets.com offer?

Markets.com offers CFD trading on forex pairs, share CFDs, index CFDs, commodity CFDs, ETF CFDs, cryptocurrency CFDs and bonds.

Does Markets.com offer forex trading?

Yes. Markets.com offers CFDs on over 60 forex currency pairs including major, minor and exotic pairs.

Does Markets.com offer crypto trading?

Yes. Markets.com offers CFDs on cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum and other digital assets. These are leveraged derivative products, not direct crypto ownership.

Does Markets.com offer share trading?

Markets.com offers share CFDs on over 1,800 company stocks from global exchanges. These are CFD positions, not direct share ownership, so they do not carry voting rights or standard dividend entitlements.

What does Markets.com charge for forex trading?

Markets.com uses spread-only pricing with no commissions. The EUR/USD spread is approximately 1.0 pip on the standard account under normal market conditions. Overnight financing charges apply to positions held past daily market close.

What does Markets.com charge for CFD trading?

Markets.com charges no commissions on CFD trades. Costs are embedded in the spread, which varies by instrument and market conditions. Overnight financing fees apply to positions held overnight.

Is there a withdrawal fee at Markets.com?

Markets.com does not charge a broker-side withdrawal fee. External payment providers may apply their own transfer charges. The minimum withdrawal amount varies by payment method.

Does Markets.com charge an inactivity fee?

Yes. Markets.com charges an inactivity fee of 10 in the account's base currency per month after 90 days of no trading activity, no deposits and no login activity.

What is Markets.com's currency conversion fee?

Markets.com charges a 0.6% currency conversion fee when trading an instrument denominated in a currency different from the account's base currency.

Does Markets.com have a demo account?

Yes. Markets.com provides a free demo account with virtual funds. The demo account becomes inactive after 90 days with no activity, at which point open positions are liquidated.

Does Markets.com have a mobile app?

Yes. Markets.com offers mobile apps for iOS and Android for both its proprietary platform and MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5.

Is Markets.com good for beginners?

Markets.com offers a free demo account, educational webinars (XRAY), a proprietary platform with built-in research tools and negative balance protection. However, CFD trading carries significant risk and the inactivity fee activates after only 90 days.

Is Markets.com good for long-term investing?

Markets.com is primarily a leveraged CFD and forex trading platform, not a long-term investment service. It does not offer direct share ownership, ISAs or SIPPs. Long-term CFD positions carry overnight financing costs that accumulate over time.

Bottom line

Markets.com suits users who want a spread-only CFD and forex broker with a choice of MT4, MT5 and a proprietary platform, multi-regulatory oversight across CySEC, FSCA and ASIC, and a broad instrument range across forex, shares, indices, commodities and crypto. It may not suit users who want direct share ownership, ISA or SIPP wrappers, copy trading features, ECN-level tight spreads, or UK FSCS protection following the surrender of the FCA licence in 2025.

Markets.com

CFD and forex traders

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Your capital is at risk. Other fees apply.