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FOREX.com vs. CMC Markets – Which Broker is the Best for Your Trading Needs?

FOREX.com and CMC Markets are leading global Forex brokers, but which one should you trust your Forex portfolios with?

I have conducted an in-depth review of Forex.com vs. CMC Markets to determine which presents the better overall choice and which traders will benefit the most at either broker.

Headquarters
United StatesUnited Kingdom
Regulators
ASIC, CFTC, CIMA, CySEC, FCA, FSA, IIROC, NFAFCA
Tier 1 Regulator(s)?
Owned by Public Company?
Year Established
20011989
Execution Type(s)
Market MakerMarket Maker
Minimum Deposit
$100N/A
Negative Balance Protection
N/A
Trading Platform(s)
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary platform, Trading ViewMetaTrader 4, Proprietary platform, Web-based
Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.1 pips0.6 pips ($6.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.3 pips0.9 pips ($9.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.035 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.63 $0.34
Retail Loss Rate
73.00%N/A
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.8 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
$5 per $100KN/A
Islamic Account
Signals
US Persons Accepted?
Managed Accounts
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Here is a snapshot of the most notable advantages of FOREX.com:

  • Ultra-low trading fees in the Raw Spread account.
  • Six-tier volume-based rebate program with up to $50 per $1M traded.
  • Capitalise AI for code-free algorithmic trading.
  • 99.69% of trade execution in less than one second.
  • Average execution speed of 0.03 seconds.
  • 58.24% of limit orders with price improvement.
  • Average Forex price improvement of 0.73 pips or $7.30 per 1.0 standard lot.

Here is a snapshot of the most notable advantages of CMC Markets:

  • Cutting-edge proprietary web-based trading platform featuring an automated pattern recognition scanner.
  • Low commission-free trading fees.
  • Three-tier volume-based rebate program.
  • Refundable guaranteed-stop loss order fee if it is untriggered.

Features & Platforms

MT4
MT5
MT4/MT5 Add-Ons
N/A
cTrader
Proprietary Platform
Automated Trading
Social/Copy Trading
N/A
DOM?
Guaranteed Stop Loss
Scalping
Hedging
One-Click Trading
OCO Orders
Interest on Margin
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Available Markets

Currency Pairs
Cryptocurrencies
N/A
Commodities
Crude Oil
Gold
Metals
Equity Indices
Stocks (non-CFDs)
Bonds
N/A
ETFs
Futures
Synthetics
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My CMC Markets review shows the broker offers a selection of 11,500 CFDs, including an industry-leading 330+ Forex pairs. During my FOREX.com review, the asset selection included 80+ currency pairs and 5,500+ equity-focused trading instruments.

Here is why FOREX.com is a better choice for most traders:

  • Faster order execution
  • Superior price improvement technology
  • Lower trading fees
  • Higher volume-based rebate program

Typical Spreads & Fees

Average Trading Cost EUR/USD
1.1 pips0.6 pips ($6.00)
Average Trading Cost GBP/USD
1.3 pips0.9 pips ($9.00)
Average Trading Cost WTI Crude Oil
$0.035 $0.03
Average Trading Cost Gold
$0.63 $0.34
Average Trading Cost Bitcoin
$60 $75.00
Minimum Raw Spreads
0.0 pipsN/A
Minimum Standard Spreads
0.8 pipsN/A
Minimum Commission for Forex
$5 per $100KN/A
Deposit Fee
N/A
Withdrawal Fee
N/A
Inactivity Fee
$15 monthly after 12 monthsN/A
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FOREX.com offers a choice of commission-free and commission-based Forex fees versus commission-free only at CMC Markets, but which ones are cheaper?

FOREX.com is the better option due to lower spreads and overall trading fees that are 20%+ cheaper than CMC Markets.

Account Types

The FOREX.com account types have commission-free and commission-based choices, while the CMC Markets account types feature swap-free Islamic accounts.

Are there any other noteworthy differences in the account structure between Forex.com vs. CMC Markets?

Here is what stands out the most:

  • FOREX.com has lower commissions.
  • FOREX.com has higher rebates.
  • FOREX.com connects to TradingView.
  • CMC Markets offers one CFD account type.
  • CMC Markets has no minimum deposit requirement.

Minimum Deposit

How difficult is it to deposit at FOREX.com vs. CMC Markets?

The FOREX.com minimum deposit is a reasonable $100 versus the CMC Markets minimum deposit of $0, but CMC Markets recommends $100. Neither Forex broker allows cryptocurrency deposits and FOREX.com and CMC Markets favour bank-related transactions via online banking or credit/debit card deposits, making deposits less convenient for many traders.

Minimum Withdrawal

Which withdrawal process is better: FOREX.com or CMC Markets?

FOREX.com and CMC Markets have trusted withdrawal infrastructures, and internal withdrawal fees are non-existent. The FOREX.com withdrawal methods require a $100 minimum withdrawal versus no minimum at the CMC Markets withdrawal methods with faster processing times. Both brokers lack cryptocurrency withdrawals and modern e-wallets from emerging markets.

Security & Trust

Country of the Regulator
Australia, Canada, Cyprus, Japan, Cayman Islands, Singapore, United Kingdom, United StatesUnited Arab Emirates, Australia, Canada, Germany, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom
Name of the Regulator
ASIC, CFTC, CIMA, CySEC, FCA, FSA, IIROC, NFAFCA
Regulatory License Number
0339826,291, Undisclosed, 446717, 400/21, 25033, 345646, Undisclosed173730, 170627,154814, 238054, 41187, 101320, F002740, Undisclosed but confirmed
Regulatory Tier
N/A1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2
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Which broker is more secure and trustworthy?

I rank both brokers as equally secure and trustworthy. FOREX.com and CMC Markets segregate client deposits from corporate funds and offer negative balance protection. CMC Markets is a publicly listed company in the UK with more operational experience, but both Forex brokers have 20+ years of clean regulatory performance.

CMC Markets versus Forex.com Verdict

FOREX.com

Pros
Cons
80+ currency pairs and overall quality asset selection
Limited funding options
High-quality proprietary web-based and desktop trading platform plus MT4/MT5
Competitive trading costs for active traders
Research, education, and quality trading tools

CMC Markets

Pros
Cons
Cutting-edge proprietary trading platform for manual traders
Limited deposit and withdrawal methods
Excellent asset selection and leading Forex broker with 330+ currency pairs
In-depth educational platform for beginner traders and quality research
Publicly listed company with a clean track record and decades of experience

Which Forex broker is better?

FOREX.com and CMC Markets offer traders cutting-edge trading environments with a competitive edge in various sectors, and I highly recommend traders test the trading environment in the Forex.com demo account.

Here is my verdict:

CMC Markets is an excellent broker, but Forex.com will be the better choice for most traders, with Capitalise AI for algorithmic trading in a code-free environment and lower Forex trading fees.

FAQs

Is FOREX.com a good broker?

FOREX.com is an industry-leading broker with low fees, volume-based rebates, cutting-edge trading platforms, and Capitalise AI for code-free algorithmic trading.

Is FOREX.com real or fake?

FOREX.com is a legit broker with 20+ years of operational experience, compliance with five regulators, and a clean track record.

Who are the competitors of CMC Markets?

FOREX.com, Saxo Bank, Interactive Brokers, Robo Forex, IG Markets, Pepperstone, and IC Markets are among the primary CMC Markets competitors.

Is CMC Markets good for Forex?

CMC Markets is an excellent Forex broker with competitive commission-free trading fees and an industry-leading choice of 330+ currency pairs. Traders also get a cutting-edge proprietary web-based trading platform alongside MT4.

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