Loading …
Head to head
CMC Markets or IC Markets? Fees, regulation, platform and product range compared side by side — with a verdict drawn from the data.
Risk warning: CFDs and leveraged products are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly. Investments can fall in value. Past performance is not an indicator of future results.
The best charting package in retail CFD trading, wrapped around a narrower product range than the market count suggests.
One of the cheapest routes to raw institutional FX pricing - as long as you check which entity you are signing with.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Four decision axes, each derived from the recorded data.
Overall CMC Markets takes it, 4.4 against 4.2 out of 5. CMC Markets is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €0.00 there against €5.00. CMC Markets scores 94 against 70 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. CMC Markets covers more ground with 10 of 14 asset classes against 9. On platform and app CMC Markets is ahead, 4.7 against 4.1 out of 5. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
CMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsCMC MarketsUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 — Better | 4.2 |
| Group index | 94 of 100 | 70 of 100 |
| Best for | Technical and chart-driven tradersUK and Irish spread bettingActive FX traders on FX ActiveShare CFD traders in UK and EuropeSmall starting balances | Algorithmic and EA tradersScalping and high-frequency FXcTrader usersHigh-volume tradersCopy trading |
| Regulation | FCAFCAFCAASICBaFinMAS | ASICCySECFSCAFSASCBCMA |
| Top-tier licences | 6 — Better | 1 |
| Investor protection | £85,000 — Better | €20,000 |
| Listed group | Yes | No |
| Banking licence | No | No |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | 1 |
| Founded | 1989 | 2007 |
| Headquarters | London, GB | Sydney, AU |
| Fees | 4.3 | 4.7 — Better |
| Safety & regulation | 4.6 — Better | 3.9 |
| Trading platform | 4.8 — Better | 4.5 |
| Product range | 4.4 — Better | 3.7 |
| Mobile app | 4.5 — Better | 3.6 |
| Research | 4.4 — Better | 3.6 |
| Customer support | 4.1 | 4.5 — Better |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.0 | 4.4 — Better |
| Account opening | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Education | 4.2 — Better | 3.3 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €0.00 — Better | €5.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None — Better | €200 |
| Stocks (per order) | Free | 0.1 % |
| US stocks | US$0.02/share | US$0.02/share |
| ETFs | Free | Not offered |
| Options | Free | Not offered |
| Futures | Not offered | in the spread |
| Crypto | n/a | in the spread |
| Bonds (order) | n/a | in the spread |
| Funds (order) | n/a | n/a |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.7 pips — Better | 0.8 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.7 % | n/a |
| Inactivity fee | £10 · after 12 months — Better | €10 · after 6 months |
| Custody fee | n/a | None |
| Withdrawal fee | free | free |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 10 — Better | 9 |
| Exchanges | n/a | n/a |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | No |
| Options | Yes | No |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | Yes |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | No |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | No |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
| Social trading | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Next Generation (web)Next Generation desktopCMC mobile appMetaTrader 4TradingView | MetaTrader 4MetaTrader 5cTraderTradingViewIC Markets appFIX API |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | No |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 | 1:30 · Pro 1:500 |
| Account opening | Online application, usually approved the same day; funded and trading within 24 hours in most jurisdictions | Digital application, usually approved within one business day |
| Account types | Spread betting accountCFD accountFX ActiveCorporate accountProfessional account | Raw Spread (MT4/MT5)cTrader RawStandardRaw ProRaw Pro+Swap-free |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit card | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit cardPayPalSkrillNetellerApple PayGoogle PayCrypto |
| Account currencies | GBPEURUSDAUDCADNOKNZDPLNSEKSGD | EURUSDGBP |
| Deposit time | Instant by debit or credit card; up to 2 business days by bank transfer | Instant to 12 hours on cards and e-wallets, 1-3 business days by bank transfer |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days back to the original funding source | Same day to 1 business day on e-wallets and crypto, 2-5 business days by bank wire |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | EnglishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishPolishSwedishNorwegianChinese | EnglishGermanSpanishFrenchItalianPortugueseChineseVietnameseThaiArabic |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chat | PhoneEmailLive chat |
| Availability | 24/5, from the Sunday market open to the Friday close | 24/7 |
Editorial assessment based on the recorded data.
CMC Markets
The best charting package in retail CFD trading, wrapped around a narrower product range than the market count suggests.
Pros
Cons
Best for
IC Markets
One of the cheapest routes to raw institutional FX pricing - as long as you check which entity you are signing with.
Pros
Cons
Best for
Open an account with either
A demo account costs nothing and answers the platform question in ten minutes.
Advertising disclosure: where a partnership is active, we may earn a commission through broker links. The provider’s terms apply. Commissions do not influence our ratings; paid placements are separately labelled as sponsored.
Alternatives people weigh up alongside these two.
