Two regulated retail FX brokers, CMC Markets and Saxo Bank, face off on regulation, pricing and platform depth. The axis of tension centers on safety, cost, and platform power.
Saxo Bank edges ahead of CMC Markets with an editorial score of 4.7 vs 4.5, supported by stronger trust/regulation and platforms.
Find out which broker best suits your trader profile.
Choose CMC Markets if…
Choose CMC Markets if you want MT4/MT5 support and 24/5 live chat for assistance.
Choose Saxo Bank if…
Choose Saxo Bank if you want 71,000+ instruments and premium SaxoTraderGO/PRO platforms.
Which broker wins for each type of trader, based on costs, safety, platforms, and editorial scoring.
Saxo Bank offers tighter spreads from 0.60 pips vs 0.70 pips for CMC Markets, reducing trading costs.
| Editorial score | 4.5/ 5 | 4.7/ 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Score Breakdown | ||
Trust & Regulation 40% weight | 4.6 / 5 | 4.9 / 5▲ |
Pros
FCA-regulated, LSE-listed
Excellent proprietary platform
MT4 also available
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
A closer look at the specific criteria each broker meets or misses within each scoring category.
| Criteria | CMC Markets | Saxo Bank |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Fail | Fail |
| Transparent pricing page | Pass | Pass |
| Platforms & Tools | ||
| MT4/MT5 available | Pass | Fail |
| Proprietary platform | Pass | Pass |
| Mobile app | Pass | Pass |
| Advanced charting tools | Pass | Pass |
| Customer Support | ||
| 24/5 live chat | Pass | Fail |
| Phone support | Pass | Pass |
| Multilingual support | Pass | Pass |
The scores are close: CMC Markets rates 4.5/5 and Saxo Bank rates 4.7/5. Saxo Bank 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.
Saxo Bank starts from 0.6 pips, tighter than CMC Markets's 0.7 pips. Tighter spreads lower the cost per trade, which matters most for high-frequency and scalping strategies.
Neither CMC Markets nor Saxo Bank requires a minimum deposit, making both accessible regardless of starting capital.
Both CMC Markets and Saxo Bank hold licences from top-tier regulators, indicating a high standard of regulatory oversight. Check each broker's specific regulatory bodies to confirm coverage in your jurisdiction.
For beginners, both brokers provide negative balance protection. Also compare demo account availability and educational resources on each broker's site before deciding.
CMC Markets lists maximum leverage of 30:1, while Saxo Bank lists up to 30:1. Available leverage depends on your jurisdiction. EU retail clients under ESMA rules are capped at 1:30 on major forex pairs.
CMC Markets supports ProRealTime, Proprietary Web/Mobile, MetaTrader 4, while Saxo Bank supports SaxoTraderGO, Proprietary Web/Mobile. Both provide Proprietary Web/Mobile. CMC Markets has exclusive access to ProRealTime and MetaTrader 4. Saxo Bank has exclusive access to SaxoTraderGO.
Saxo Bank wins due to Danish licensing and higher trust/regulation score.
Saxo Bank is better suited for scalpers: tighter spreads from 0.60 pips.
Saxo Bank wins for platform choice with SaxoTraderGO/PRO.
CMC Markets wins for beginners due to zero deposit and MT4/MT5 access.
Saxo Bank wins for instrument variety with 71,000+ instruments.
Fees & Spreads 30% weight | 4.4 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
|---|
Platforms & Tools 20% weight | 4.5 / 5 | 4.8 / 5▲ |
|---|
Customer Support 10% weight | 4.2 / 5 | 4.6 / 5▲ |
|---|
| Founded | 1989 | 1992 |
|---|
| Headquarters | London, United Kingdom | Copenhagen, Denmark |
|---|
| Min Deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
|---|
| Spreads From | 0.7 pips | 0.6 pips▼ lower |
|---|
| Commission / lot | N/A | N/A |
|---|
| Max Leverage | 30:1 | 30:1 |
|---|
| Inactivity Fee | £10/month (after 12 months)▼ lower | $100/quarter (low-balance accounts) |
|---|
| Deposit Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Deposit methods | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card | Bank transferCredit cardDebit card |
|---|
| Withdrawal methods | Bank transferCredit card | Bank transfer |
|---|
| Withdrawal Fee | Free | Free |
|---|
| Regulators | FCA ASIC DFSA FMA BaFin | FCA ASIC JFSA MAS DFSA FINMA Finanstilsynet ACPR CNMV Finanstilsynet MFSA SFC Finansinspektionen CBI KNF CMA FSC |
|---|
| Platforms | ProRealTime Proprietary Web/Mobile MetaTrader 4 | SaxoTraderGO Proprietary Web/Mobile |
|---|
| Active bonuses |
|---|
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
Pros
Licensed bank (Denmark)
Best-in-class multi-asset platform
Tiered active-trader pricing
Regulated by top-tier authorities (FCA, ASIC, CySEC)
Client funds held in segregated accounts
Negative balance protection
Investor compensation scheme coverage
No deposit fees
Mobile trading app available
Proprietary trading platform available
Advanced charting tools included
Transparent pricing with clear cost disclosure
Phone support available
Multilingual customer support
Cons
Inactivity fee after 12 months
No raw spread account option
Cons
Higher minimums on classic accounts than ECN brokers
No MT4 / MT5
No raw spread account option
Inactivity fee applies
No MetaTrader support
No 24/5 live chat
Dig deeper into each broker’s features, fees, and regulation.
Score 4.5 / 5
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