Overview
CMC Markets is a London broker that's been going since 1989 and is listed in the FTSE 250. Its bread and butter is spread betting and CFDs, and it's a good fit for forex and index traders who want a huge range of markets, especially currency pairs, where it lists more than 300. It also runs ISAs and a SIPP. The UK business is regulated by the FCA, and the group also holds licences from ASIC in Australia, the FMA in New Zealand, MAS in Singapore and CIRO in Canada. It doesn't take US clients.
Accounts and costs
None of the accounts has a minimum deposit. The CFD and spread betting accounts price mostly through the spread, from 0.2 points, with commission only on share and ETF CFDs (US ones start at $10, UK and European ones are free). FX Active swaps that for a commission and spreads from 0.0 pips on six major pairs. Retail leverage tops out at 30:1, and every trader drops into Price+, which trims spreads by up to 40% as your monthly volume grows. After a year without trading you'll pay £10 a month. Worth knowing: 69% of retail CFD and spread bet accounts lose money here.
Platforms and markets
You can trade on CMC's own web platform and mobile app, MT4, MT5, or link the account to TradingView. Markets cover forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, treasuries, options and crypto CFDs. There's a free demo account too.
Money in and out
Deposits go in by bank transfer or debit card, and reviewers also list PayPal in some regions. CMC doesn't charge for deposits or standard withdrawals, though your bank might on international wires. UK client money sits in segregated accounts, and eligible deposits are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000.
Good
- Regulated by the FCA, ASIC, MAS, FMA and CIRO, and listed on the London Stock Exchange
- No minimum deposit on any account
- Over 300 forex pairs and 21,000+ instruments to spread bet or trade as CFDs
- Own web platform plus MT4, MT5 and TradingView
- Price+ scheme cuts spreads by up to 40% for active traders
- Stocks and Shares ISA, SIPP and GIA with fractional shares on the investing side
Watch for
- 69% of retail spread bet and CFD accounts lose money with this provider
- US share CFDs carry a commission from $10
- £10 monthly inactivity fee after a year without trading
- No swap-free accounts and no US clients
Accounts and costs
What each account needs to open and what you pay to trade on it.
| Account | Min deposit | Pricing | Max leverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFD trading | None | Spreads from 0.2 points, no commission except on share and ETF CFDs (US from $10, none on UK and European) | 30:1 (retail) |
| Spread betting (UK) | None | Spreads from 0.2 points, no commission | 30:1 (retail) |
| FX Active | None | Commission-based forex, spreads from 0.0 pips on six major pairs and 25% off spreads on other FX pairs | 30:1 (retail) |
| Equities (CMC Invest) | None | 0% commission and no platform fee on the Core plan, FX fee may apply on international trades | — |
Regulation
Which entity holds which licence. Your protection depends on the entity you open an account with.
Investor protection: FSCS up to £85,000 for eligible UK clients
Platforms and markets
Platforms
Markets
Deposits and withdrawals
- Methods
- Bank transfer, Card, PayPal
- Minimum deposit
- None
- Not available in
- US
What traders say
Scores from the sites traders use, and our summary of what they're saying, checked 6 October 2026.
CMC Markets gets mostly good marks from its own clients, with a gap between platform praise and a minority of service complaints. It holds 4.2 on Trustpilot from about 3,400 reviews, 4.2 on TradingView from about 1,200 ratings (as reported by CompareForexBrokers) and 4.2 from about 240 Good Money Guide users. The Australian site ProductReview.com.au is much lower at 2.5. Forex Peace Army has a long-running page with mixed write-ups but no score in our evidence.
What traders like
The platform. Reviewers on Trustpilot and TradingView often describe the Next Generation platform as stable, quick to open and close positions, and well equipped for charting.
Range of markets. Many pick CMC for its breadth across forex, indices, shares, commodities and treasuries, and some Reddit users say no other CFD broker they found covers as much.
TradingView connection. Several TradingView reviewers say the integration works well, even if CMC's own interface takes time to learn.
Common complaints
Withdrawals and account access. A minority of reviewers on Trustpilot and ProductReview.com.au say withdrawals sat pending for weeks or that they were locked out of an account. Review aggregators such as Tradomatix and WikiFX summarise the same pattern, while BrokerListings says it found no credible pattern of refused withdrawals.
Forced closures. Some reviewers on Reddit and Forex Peace Army say positions were closed without their say, including the Turkish lira contracts CMC shut in April 2025.
Execution and costs. Some say slippage and spreads widen in fast markets, and that swap and share CFD costs run high.
App and login bugs. Several mention glitches, MFA problems and trouble connecting through TradingView.
Recently
July 2026: one Forex Peace Army reviewer says CMC liquidated their open positions in error and offered small compensation.
May to August 2026: BrokerChooser's summary of forum opinion for that period lists app bugs, verification problems and occasional slippage. Trustpilot's score held at 4.2 in August.
Where this comes from
Trustpilot: the main review page, the largest pool.
Forex Peace Army: trader reviews and disputes.
TradingView: reviews from traders who connected an account.
Good Money Guide: user ratings alongside an expert review.
ProductReview.com.au: Australian customer reviews.
Myfxbook: a small set of trader comments.
Reddit search: threads in r/Daytrading, r/Forex and r/AusFinance.
Verified reviews
Reviews from traders who've connected an account at CMC Markets to Chartnaut, so you know they actually traded there. Opening soon.