In a head-to-head between AvaTrade and CMC Markets, traders weigh coin breadth and pricing transparency as key trade-offs.
AvaTrade and CMC Markets are closely matched, with CMC Markets offering far broader coin selection (100 vs 20).
Find out which crypto exchange best suits your trading profile.
Choose AvaTrade if…
Choose AvaTrade if you value fixed crypto CFD spreads and broad regulatory coverage.
Choose CMC Markets if…
Choose CMC Markets if you want a broad 100-coin range and transparent pricing.
Which exchange wins for each type of crypto trader, based on security, fees, coin selection, and editorial scoring.
Equally matched; both offer multi-jurisdiction regulation and compensation schemes.
CMC Markets offers competitive variable spreads.
| Criteria | ||
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | 3.9/ 5 | 4.1/ 5 |
| Min Deposit | $100 | No minimum▼ lower |
| Spreads From | 0.9 pips | 0.7 pips▼ lower |
| Taker Fee | N/A | N/A |
| Inactivity Fee | $50/month (after 3 months) | £10/month (after 12 months) |
A closer look at the specific criteria each exchange meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Cold storage for assets | Fail | Fail |
| Proof of reserves published | Fail | Fail |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees | ||
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Fail | Pass |
| Features | ||
| Staking available | Fail | Fail |
| DeFi integration | Fail | Fail |
| NFT trading | Fail | Fail |
| 500+ coins listed | Fail | Fail |
| Support | ||
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: AvaTrade rates 3.9/5 and CMC Markets rates 4.1/5. CMC Markets has a marginal edge in our scoring, but the difference is small enough that your specific priorities — fees, platforms, or regulatory jurisdiction — should guide the final choice.
CMC Markets lists a lower spread from 0.7, compared with AvaTrade's 0.9. Crypto trading costs are typically quoted as a percentage of the trade value; check each exchange's full fee schedule, as maker/taker rates and volume discounts vary.
CMC Markets has no minimum deposit, while AvaTrade requires at least $100. This makes CMC Markets more accessible for traders looking to start with a smaller crypto investment.
Both AvaTrade and CMC Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each exchange's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, two factors stand out: CMC Markets has no minimum deposit, removing the capital barrier entirely, and both exchanges provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources before deciding.
AvaTrade offers up to 2:1 on perpetual or margin products, versus CMC Markets's 2:1 cap. Margin and futures trading carry higher risk than spot crypto; confirm product availability and jurisdiction-specific limits on each exchange's website.
AvaTrade supports ZuluTrade, MetaTrader 5, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while CMC Markets supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile and MetaTrader 4. AvaTrade has exclusive access to ZuluTrade and MetaTrader 5. CMC Markets has exclusive access to ProRealTime.
CMC Markets is best for beginners due to zero minimum deposit.
Equally matched; neither offers DeFi or Web3 features.
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit cardSkrillNeteller | Bank transferCredit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FSCA ASIC MFSA CBI ADGM | DFSA FMA FCA BaFin ASIC |
|---|
| Cold Storage | No | No |
|---|
| Proof of Reserves | No | No |
|---|
| Staking | No | No |
|---|
| DeFi Integration | No | No |
|---|
| NFT Trading | No | No |
|---|
| 500+ Coins | No | No |
|---|
| P2P Trading | No | No |
|---|
| Crypto Earn / Savings | No | No |
|---|
| Token Launchpad | No | No |
|---|
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 3.9 / 5
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