Loading …
Head to head
CMC Markets or Saxo? 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.
A Danish bank that trades like a professional platform — broad, polished, and no longer expensive.
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 both land on 4.4 out of 5. CMC Markets is the cheaper of the two: a reference EUR 5,000 stock order costs €0.00 there against €4.00. Saxo scores 96 against 94 out of 100 on the group index. Your account's protection depends on its legal entity. Saxo covers more ground with 11 of 14 asset classes against 10. We rate platform and app at 4.7 out of 5 for both. Which one is right depends on which of these axes matters for your trading profile.
CMC MarketsSaxoCMC MarketsSaxoCMC MarketsSaxoCMC MarketsSaxoCMC MarketsSaxoUp to four brokers at once — every row a decision point.
Data as of: 30 Aug 2026
| Criterion | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overall score | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Group index | 94 of 100 | 96 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 | Multi-asset portfoliosBond investorsOptions and futures tradersPlatform quality seekersEuropean investors wanting a bank |
| Regulation | FCAFCAFCAASICBaFinMAS | DFSAFCAFINMAMASJFSA |
| Top-tier licences | 6 — Better | 5 |
| Investor protection | £85,000 | CHF 100,000 — Better |
| Listed group | Yes | No |
| Banking licence | No | Yes |
| Segregated client accounts | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Yes | Yes |
| Audited financials | Yes | Yes |
| Disclosed regulatory actions | 1 | None |
| Founded | 1989 | 1992 |
| Headquarters | London, GB | Copenhagen, DK |
| Fees | 4.3 — Better | 4.2 |
| Safety & regulation | 4.6 | 4.7 — Better |
| Trading platform | 4.8 — Better | 4.7 |
| Product range | 4.4 | 4.8 — Better |
| Mobile app | 4.5 | 4.6 — Better |
| Research | 4.4 | 4.5 — Better |
| Customer support | 4.1 — Better | 3.8 |
| Deposit & withdrawal | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Account opening | 4.3 — Better | 4.2 |
| Education | 4.2 — Better | 4.0 |
| Reference order EUR 5,000 | €0.00 — Better | €4.00 |
| Minimum deposit | None | None |
| Stocks (per order) | Free | 0.08 % |
| US stocks | US$0.02/share | 0.08 % — Better |
| ETFs | Free | 0.08 % |
| Options | Free — Better | US$2 |
| Futures | Not offered | US$3 |
| Crypto | n/a | n/a |
| Bonds (order) | n/a | 0.2 % |
| Funds (order) | n/a | Free |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.7 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Index CFD spread | n/a | n/a |
| FX conversion | 0.7 % | 0.25 % — Better |
| Inactivity fee | £10 · after 12 months | None — Better |
| Custody fee | n/a | 0.15 % p.a. |
| Withdrawal fee | free | free |
| Deposit fee | free | free |
| Overnight financing | n/a | n/a |
| Other fees |
|
|
| Asset classes (of 14) | 10 | 11 — Better |
| Exchanges | n/a | 50 |
| Stocks | Yes | Yes |
| ETFs | Yes | Yes |
| Options | Yes | Yes |
| Futures | No | Yes |
| Forex | Yes | Yes |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Crypto | Yes | No |
| Bonds | Yes | Yes |
| Funds | No | Yes |
| Commodities | Yes | Yes |
| Indices | Yes | Yes |
| Warrants | No | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | No |
| Social trading | No | No |
| Platforms | Next Generation (web)Next Generation desktopCMC mobile appMetaTrader 4TradingView | SaxoTraderGOSaxoTraderPROSaxoInvestorSaxo mobile appSaxo OpenAPITradingView integration |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Fractional shares | No | No |
| Maximum leverage | 1:30 | 1:30 · Pro 1:200 |
| Account opening | Online application, usually approved the same day; funded and trading within 24 hours in most jurisdictions | Fully online with electronic ID in most markets; often same day, otherwise 1–3 business days |
| Account types | Spread betting accountCFD accountFX ActiveCorporate accountProfessional account | ClassicPlatinumVIP |
| Payment methods | Bank transferSEPACredit cardDebit card | Bank transferSEPA |
| Account currencies | GBPEURUSDAUDCADNOKNZDPLNSEKSGD | EURUSDGBPCHFDKKSEKNOKAUDCADJPY+9 |
| Deposit time | Instant by debit or credit card; up to 2 business days by bank transfer | SEPA same day to 2 business days; international wire 1–3 business days |
| Withdrawal time | 1–3 business days back to the original funding source | Usually 1 business day to the registered bank account |
| Free withdrawals | n/a | n/a |
| Languages | EnglishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishPolishSwedishNorwegianChinese | EnglishDanishGermanFrenchItalianSpanishDutchPolishCzechSwedish+4 |
| Channels | PhoneEmailLive chat | PhoneEmailLive chatTicket system |
| Availability | 24/5, from the Sunday market open to the Friday close | Monday to Friday, local office hours across 16 service locations; trading desks cover market hours |
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
Saxo
A Danish bank that trades like a professional platform — broad, polished, and no longer expensive.
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.
