A head-to-head comparison of Capital.com and CMC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Very low minimum deposit, AI-powered trading insights, zero commission, and strong FCA/ASIC/CySEC regulation - accessible for new traders.
FCA-regulated and LSE-listed with one of the best proprietary platforms in retail FX and CFDs.
CMC Markets edges ahead with a score of 4.5/5 vs Capital.com's 4.3/5. A narrow margin, so review the breakdown below to see where each broker has a clear advantage.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Capital.com offers tighter spreads from 0.6 pips vs 0.7 pips for CMC Markets, reducing trading costs.
Both brokers show an equally strong safety profile across regulation, fund protection, and client safeguards.
Capital.com has a cost edge: tighter spreads from 0.6 pips.
CMC Markets offers more exclusive platform options: MetaTrader 4, a proprietary platform.
CMC Markets edges out Capital.com with a higher editorial score (4.5/5 vs 4.3/5), indicating a stronger overall experience for new traders.
| Editorial score | 4.3/ 5 | 4.5/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.3 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.4 / 5▲ |
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.2 / 5 |
| Founded | 2016 | 1989 |
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | London, United Kingdom |
| Min deposit | $20 | No minimum |
| Spreads from | 0.6 pips | 0.7 pips |
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
| Max leverage | 30:1 | 30:1 |
| Withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| Regulators | FCA ASIC CySEC CMA MAS | FCA ASIC DFSA BaFin FMA |
| Platforms | Proprietary Web/Mobile | MetaTrader 4 Proprietary Web/Mobile |
| Active bonuses | ||
| Visit broker | Visit Capital.com | Visit CMC Markets |
Pros
Very low $20 minimum deposit
AI-powered pattern recognition built into proprietary platform
Zero commission on all trades
FCA, ASIC, CySEC, and MAS regulation
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
No inactivity fee
Mobile trading app available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
24/5 live chat support
Multilingual customer support
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
Cons
Proprietary platform only - no MT4 or MT5
Limited product range for advanced traders
No phone support
No raw spread account option
No MetaTrader support
Cons
Inactivity fee after 12 months
No raw spread account option
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | Capital.com | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Trust & Regulation | ||
| Top-tier regulator (FCA, ASIC, CFTC, etc.) | Pass | Pass |
| Segregated client funds | Pass | Pass |
| Negative balance protection | Pass | Pass |
| Compensation scheme (e.g. FSCS) | Pass | Pass |
| Fees & Spreads | ||
| Raw/ECN spreads available | Fail | Fail |
| No deposit fee | Pass | Pass |
| No inactivity fee | Pass | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Fail | Pass |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Pass |
| Phone support | Fail | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
Based on our independent editorial scoring, CMC Markets ranks higher with a score of 4.5/5 vs 4.3/5 for Capital.com. The best choice still depends on your individual trading needs; Capital.com and CMC Markets may each suit different trader profiles.
Capital.com offers tighter spreads starting from 0.6 pips, compared to CMC Markets's spreads from 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, particularly valuable for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
CMC Markets has a lower minimum deposit of no minimum required, while Capital.com requires at least $20. This makes CMC Markets more accessible for traders with limited starting capital.
Both Capital.com and CMC Markets hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Both are considered safe. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners: CMC Markets has a lower minimum deposit (no minimum), lowering the barrier to entry; both brokers offer negative balance protection. Also weigh up educational resources and customer support quality before deciding.
Capital.com offers maximum leverage of 30:1, while CMC Markets offers up to 30:1. Available leverage varies by account type, instrument, and jurisdiction. Higher leverage amplifies both potential profits and losses. Always use appropriate risk management.
Capital.com supports Proprietary Web/Mobile and CMC Markets offers MetaTrader 4, Proprietary Web/Mobile; both support Proprietary Web/Mobile; CMC Markets exclusively offers MetaTrader 4.
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