Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs ATFX, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 51% and 89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Founded in 1989, CMC Markets has established itself as a highly trusted online broker, achieving a perfect Trust Score of 99 from ForexBrokers.com. This platform, publicly traded and widely recognized, holds a total of five Tier-1 licenses, which reflects its top-tier regulatory security. Additionally, CMC Markets maintains one Tier-2 license, further ensuring its credibility and commitment to secure trading for its clients. Despite not being a bank, the company's longevity and extensive regulatory oversight underscore its strong reputation in the trading sector.
In comparison, ATFX, which began operations in 2017, is not publicly traded but maintains a respected position with a Trust Score of 85 from ForexBrokers.com. It holds four Tier-1 licenses, indicating strong regulatory compliance, complemented by two Tier-2 licenses, which further affirm its reliability. Although comparatively newer to the market, ATFX has swiftly garnered trust among traders, demonstrating that solid regulatory practices and a keen focus on customer security can significantly bolster a broker's standing. Neither CMC Markets nor ATFX functions as a bank, yet both prioritize robust regulatory practices to safeguard their client’s interests.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2017 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets stands out prominently, winning the top spot in the 2025 Annual Awards for this category. Offering a 5-star rating and consistently low spreads, CMC Markets ensures competitive pricing across all customer segments and account types. The broker provides average spreads of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD pair, showcasing pricing that surpasses the industry average. An attractive feature of CMC Markets is its revamped active trader program, the Price Plus Scheme, which offers trading cost discounts based on collected Trading Points. Additionally, CMC Markets introduced the FX Active pricing structure, enabling traders to access low commission costs alongside minimal spreads, particularly benefiting traders in regions such as Southeast Asia, Australia, and the U.K.
In contrast, ATFX finds itself lower in the rankings at 59th place for commissions and fees according to the ForexBrokers.com review of 62 brokers. This broker has been awarded a 3-star rating in this domain, largely due to the lack of available average spread data, which can be a crucial factor for traders seeking transparency in trading costs. Without detailed information on spreads, traders may find it challenging to make informed decisions regarding potential trading expenses, especially when compared to the meticulously documented spread and cost descriptions provided by CMC Markets.
Overall, for traders focused on minimizing costs and maximizing transparency, CMC Markets offers a clear advantage with its comprehensive spread data, tiered discount programs, and thoughtful pricing strategies. Meanwhile, those considering ATFX should thoroughly investigate potential fees with the understanding that average spread data may not be readily accessible, which can impact overall trading cost evaluations.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets and ATFX for their range of investments, CMC Markets stands out with an impressive array of 11,925 tradeable symbols, significantly surpassing ATFX's 150 symbols. Both platforms offer forex trading as CFDs, but CMC Markets provides 156 forex pairs compared to ATFX's 44. Additionally, CMC Markets allows users to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, offering broader opportunities for those interested in stocks like Apple or Vodafone, which ATFX does not provide.
Both brokers facilitate traders seeking cryptocurrency derivatives and copy trading services. However, neither allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies. In terms of investment range, CMC Markets earns a stellar 5-star rating, placing them 9th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. Conversely, ATFX receives a 3.5-star rating, ranking 57th, reflecting its narrower selection of investment options.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 150 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 44 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
When comparing the trading platforms and tools offered by CMC Markets and ATFX, both brokers provide a range of features that cater to different types of traders. CMC Markets stands out with its proprietary platform, developed in-house, and offers a comprehensive 5-star experience. On the other hand, ATFX does not provide a proprietary platform but supports popular options like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, similar to CMC Markets. Both brokers offer Windows-based desktop downloads, web-based trading platforms, and copy trading, ensuring flexibility for users across various devices. A key advantage of CMC Markets is its broader range of drawing tools for charting, boasting 40 tools compared to ATFX's 15. Additionally, CMC Markets allows for 11 watch list columns, offering traders more ways to customize their experience than ATFX, which provides 7 columns.
CMC Markets is notably rated higher for its trading platforms and tools, earning a top-tier ranking of 5 stars and securing the #4 position out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, ATFX scores 3.5 stars and ranks #61, indicating a more modest offering in this category. Both brokers offer simulated (paper) trading through free virtual demo accounts, enabling new and experienced traders to practice their strategies without financial risk. While neither broker provides access to platforms like DupliTrade or ZuluTrade, traders still have a robust selection of industry-standard tools like MT4 and MT5 to manage and execute trades efficiently on both platforms.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and ATFX offer mobile trading apps compatible with iPhone and Android devices, catering to modern investors who value flexibility. These apps allow users to set up price alerts for stocks and forex, ensuring that traders stay informed of market movements wherever they are. While both platforms support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes, only CMC Markets offers watchlist symbol syncing between the mobile app and the user's online account. This feature is a notable convenience, giving CMC Markets an edge for users looking for seamless portfolio management.
When it comes to charting tools, CMC Markets stands out with 29 technical studies compared to ATFX's seven. Both platforms allow users to draw trendlines on charts and view multiple time frames, while also offering auto-save functions for chart drawings, maintaining continuity even when switching devices. CMC Markets’ app has garnered a five-star rating for its comprehensive features and intuitive design, ranking 5th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, ATFX holds a 3.5-star rating and ranks at the bottom of the list, indicating a clear preference for CMC Markets among users seeking advanced mobile trading capabilities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 7 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings of online brokers CMC Markets and ATFX, both provide daily market commentary and access to economic calendars for tracking significant global events. However, CMC Markets stands out with its inclusion of forex news sourced from top-tier providers like Bloomberg and Reuters, ensuring traders stay informed with high-quality information. While both brokers use Autochartist tools to support technical analysis, only ATFX adds a layer of technical analytics through Trading Central, attracting traders who value diverse toolsets.
When it comes to sentiment tools, CMC Markets provides unique insights through a sentiment-based trading tool, offering traders a glimpse into market positions across different currency pairs—a feature absent from ATFX. Despite both lacking research partnerships with companies like TipRanks and Acuity Trading, CMC Markets' comprehensive approach to research tools and information results in a higher research rating of 5 stars and a superior ranking of #6 by ForexBrokers.com, compared to ATFX's 3-star rating and #54 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For those new to online trading, both CMC Markets and ATFX offer a solid collection of educational materials focusing on forex and CFDs. While each platform provides a minimum of ten educational pieces, such as articles, videos, and archived webinars, they both fall short of hosting regular live webinars for ongoing learning. However, both firms maintain a searchable archive of past webinars, which can be invaluable for learners who prefer a self-paced approach.
When it comes to beginner-focused video content, both CMC Markets and ATFX supply newcomers with at least ten educational videos. CMC Markets takes an additional step by also offering a series of advanced videos for more seasoned traders, something ATFX currently lacks. Both brokers provide a comprehensive investor dictionary to help users navigate basic investing terms, featuring definitions of over fifty terms. In terms of educational excellence, CMC Markets receives a 5-star rating and ranks 10th among 62 brokers, whereas ATFX garners 3 stars and ranks 28th, highlighting a notable difference in their educational offerings for traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than ATFX. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while ATFX finished with an overall rank of #51.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
ATFX
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Markets and ATFX do not offer the ability to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do provide options for purchasing cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets provides a range of options for depositing or withdrawing funds, including ACH, SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas ATFX does not support ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal, but does offer Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wire options.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
Select Brokers
↓×Compare
0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trading Platforms Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Mobile Trading Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Research Gallery (click to expand) |
| ||
| Education Gallery (click to expand) |
|
| Regulation | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2017 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 4 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 2 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 150 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 44 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Physical) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (Derivative) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | No | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 7 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | ATFX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill