CMC Markets Review 2026
Pros
- +Award-winning Next Generation platform
- +Excellent charting with 115 indicators
- +No minimum deposit required
- +Competitive spreads
- +Strong regulation and 35+ years experience
Cons
- βForex spreads wider than some competitors
- βLimited social/copy trading
- βStockbroking has higher fees
- βInactivity fee after 1 year
Overview
CMC Markets is a London-based, publicly traded broker founded in 1989. The company pioneered online CFD trading and has won numerous awards for its Next Generation trading platform.
With over 35 years of experience, CMC serves clients in 60+ countries with a reputation for reliability and innovation.
Regulation & Safety
CMC Markets operates under top-tier regulation:
- FCA (UK) - Financial Conduct Authority
- ASIC (Australia) - Australian Securities and Investments Commission
- BaFin (Germany) - Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
- MAS (Singapore) - Monetary Authority of Singapore
Listed on the London Stock Exchange (CMCX), the broker provides excellent transparency.
Trading Platforms
Next Generation
CMC’s proprietary platform is consistently rated best-in-class:
- Advanced charting - 115 technical indicators
- Pattern recognition - Automated chart pattern scanner
- Client sentiment - Real-time positioning data
- Price projection - Technical analysis tools
- Customizable interface - Drag-and-drop modules
- Mobile app - Full functionality on iOS/Android
MetaTrader 4
Full MT4 support for those preferring the industry standard:
- Expert Advisor compatibility
- Custom indicators
- VPS hosting available
Fees & Spreads
Spread Comparison
| Market | Spread |
|---|---|
| EUR/USD | 0.7 pips |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 pips |
| UK 100 | 1 point |
| Gold | 0.3 points |
| Oil | 2.8 points |
Fee Structure
- Commission: None on CFDs (spread-only)
- Deposit fees: None
- Withdrawal fees: None
- Inactivity fee: $10/month after 1 year
- Guaranteed stop premium: Variable
Product Range
CMC offers 12,000+ instruments:
- Forex - 330+ currency pairs
- Indices - Major global indices
- Stocks - 9,500+ shares
- Commodities - Metals, energy, agriculture
- Cryptocurrencies - 14 crypto CFDs
- Treasuries - Government bonds
- ETFs - Popular ETF CFDs
Research & Education
CMC provides excellent learning resources:
- Trading guides - Comprehensive educational content
- Platform tutorials - Video walkthroughs
- Daily analysis - Market insights
- Economic calendar - Integrated into platform
- Pattern recognition - Automated technical analysis
Customer Support
Support available via:
- Live chat
- Phone (24/5)
- Comprehensive FAQ
Generally responsive with knowledgeable staff.
Verdict
CMC Markets offers an excellent all-round package. The Next Generation platform is genuinely one of the best in the industry, with unmatched charting capabilities.
Spreads are competitive (though not the absolute lowest for forex), and the no minimum deposit policy makes it accessible. A great choice for intermediate to advanced traders.
Best For:
- Technical analysts
- Chart-focused traders
- Those valuing platform quality
- UK spread betters
Not Ideal For:
- Scalpers seeking lowest spreads
- Social trading enthusiasts
- Inactive traders (due to fees)
Risk Warning: 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with CMC Markets. You should consider whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Disclosure: This review may contain affiliate links. Commissions never influence our ratings β see our Editorial Standards. Trading CFDs involves substantial risk of loss.