CMC Markets Forex Broker Review
FCA-regulated and LSE-listed with one of the best proprietary platforms in retail FX and CFDs.
Also reviewed as:
How CMC Markets ranks
Trust & Regulation
#9of 55
Fees & Spreads
#12of 55
Platforms & Tools
#9of 55
Customer Support
#13of 55
Min Deposit
No minimum
Spreads From
0.7 pips
Max Leverage
30:1
Founded
1989
HQ
London, United Kingdom
Last Reviewed
May 3, 2026
CMC Markets Pros
- FCA-regulated, LSE-listed
- Excellent proprietary platform
- MT4 also available
- Client funds held in segregated accounts
- Negative balance protection
- Investor compensation scheme coverage
- No deposit fees
- MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5 supported
- Mobile trading app available
- Advanced charting tools included
- Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
- 24/5 live chat support
- Phone support available
- Multilingual customer support
CMC Markets Cons
- Inactivity fee after 12 months
- No raw spread account option
CMC Markets Forex Broker Review
The platform is the product
CMC Markets' Next Generation platform is one of the few proprietary retail trading platforms that stands up to independent scrutiny. The charting engine supports 115+ technical indicators, pattern recognition tools, and a customisable workspace that experienced traders will find genuinely useful. Reuters news, client sentiment data, and economic calendar integration are built in rather than bolted on. For UK traders who want spread betting on a platform that doesn't feel like a compromised ECN terminal, Next Generation is the strongest option in the field.
Spread betting in the UK
CMC is one of the dominant names in UK spread betting - a tax-free product under HMRC rules that offers equivalent exposure to CFDs without capital gains liability on profits. The product breadth is real: UK traders can spread-bet on global equities, commodities, indices, and FX from the same Next Generation account. This alone positions CMC well above most brokers for UK-based active traders.
Trading costs
EUR/USD spreads average 0.7 pips during London hours - not the cheapest but tight for a market maker of this scale. Major equity indices carry 1-point spreads. There is no commission on any instrument, which simplifies the cost calculation. A GBP/USD spread of around 0.9 pips is typical. Overnight financing is standard and clearly disclosed.
Regulation
FCA (173730), ASIC (238054), BaFin, DFSA, and FMA New Zealand. LSE-listed with public annual reporting. UK clients get FSCS coverage up to GBP 85,000.
Where it falls short
An inactivity fee applies after 12 months of no trading - GBP 10/month for UK accounts. Customer support quality is adequate but not consistent outside UK hours. Research depth doesn't quite match IG's integrated Reuters/Morningstar ecosystem. MT4 is available but feels like an afterthought compared to the strength of Next Generation.
Bottom line
CMC is the right choice for UK traders who want spread betting, a genuinely good proprietary platform, and FCA-plus-LSE-listing credibility. Outside the UK, it competes in a tighter field and the cost advantage over ECN brokers narrows considerably.
CMC Markets Score Breakdown
4.5/ 54/440% of total score+0.4 above average#9 of 55
4.6/ 5- Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.)
- Segregated client funds
- Negative balance protection
- Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS)
2/430% of total score+0.2 above average#12 of 55
4.4/ 5- Raw/ECN spreads available
- No deposit fee
- No inactivity fee
- Transparent pricing page
4/420% of total score+0.3 above average#9 of 55
4.5/ 5- MT4/MT5 available
- Proprietary platform
- Mobile app
- Advanced charting tools
3/310% of total score+0.1 above average#13 of 55
4.2/ 5- 24/5 live chat
- Phone support
- Multilingual support
Last reviewed: May 3, 2026
CMC Markets Active Forex Bonuses
2Volume Rebate
GBP Up to 25% tighter spreads for active traders(~$675,438)
CMC Markets Price+ Active Trader Program
High-volume CMC Markets clients qualify for Price+ status, reducing spreads on major FX pairs by up to 25%.
Referral
Cash reward for each successful referral
CMC Markets Refer a Friend
Refer a friend to CMC Markets and earn a cash reward when they open a live account and execute their first trade.
Researching your options? Browse our full list of the best forex brokers to compare scores, spreads, and regulation side by side.
CMC Markets Regulatory Licences
Verified regulation is a key factor in identifying a reliable choice for forex traders.
CMC Markets Forex Trading Platforms
Compare the leading forex trading platforms supported by CMC Markets.
CMC Markets Markets & Instruments
Forex
Indices
Commodities
Shares CFDs
Crypto
Countries Where CMC Markets Is Available
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Spain
Finland
France
Greece
Netherlands
Norway
United Kingdom
Australia
Germany
Singapore
Canada
United Arab Emirates
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Hungary
Malta
New Zealand
Ireland
Italy
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Latvia
Portugal
Poland
Romania
Sweden
Slovenia
SlovakiaReady to trade with CMC Markets?
Open your account and start trading today.
Frequently Asked Questions About CMC Markets Forex Trading
CMC Markets is regulated by top-tier authorities including FCA, ASIC, BAFIN. Client funds are held in segregated accounts at tier-1 banks, separate from company funds. Negative balance protection ensures clients cannot lose more than their deposited capital. Eligible clients may be covered by an investor compensation scheme such as the FSCS (UK) or ICF (EU) within published limits. Always verify the licence on the regulator's public register before depositing.
CMC Markets has no fixed minimum deposit - you can open a live account with any amount. In practice a balance of at least $100–$250 is recommended to provide adequate margin for standard forex pairs.
CMC Markets quotes spreads from 0.7 pips with no separate commission - all costs are included in the spread. Deposits are free on standard funding methods. An inactivity fee applies after an extended period without trading - check the broker's fee schedule for details.
CMC Markets supports MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and a proprietary web and mobile platform. A mobile trading app is available for iOS and Android. Advanced charting tools are included.
CMC Markets customer support is available via live chat during trading hours (24 hours a day, Monday to Friday). Phone support is also available. Support is provided in multiple languages.
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