Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Capital.com, 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.
CMC Markets, established in 1989, is a seasoned player in the online brokerage world. As a publicly traded company, CMC Markets offers transparency that is generally appealing to investors. With a remarkable ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, CMC Markets is regarded as highly trustworthy. The broker holds five Tier-1 licenses, contributing to its strong reputation for reliability, along with one Tier-2 license. Despite not being a bank, its regulatory compliance ensures clients can trade with confidence.
In contrast, Capital.com, founded in 2016, is a younger entrant in the market. While not publicly listed, it has still managed to establish its credibility with a Trust Score of 87 out of 99, marking it as a trusted broker. Capital.com holds three Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, providing a solid assurance of its commitment to security and client protection. While neither CMC Markets nor Capital.com operate as banks, both offer secure platforms for online trading, with regulatory licenses ensuring a dependable trading environment.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of CMC Markets and Capital.com, it's clear that both brokers offer cost-effective trading options, with each holding a 5-star rating in this category. CMC Markets stands out by earning the number one spot in our 2025 Annual Awards for Commissions and Fees. This top ranking is largely due to their consistently low spreads, such as an average of 0.61 pips on the EUR/USD. Their unique Price Plus Scheme enhances value further by providing spread discounts for active traders based on trading volume. Additionally, their FX Active commission-based pricing model, available in select regions, offers competitive all-in costs, working out to 0.5 pips for EUR/USD, thanks to minimal spreads and a commission fee of $2.50 per side.
On the other hand, Capital.com ranks third in our Commissions and Fees category, also boasting a 5-star rating. Their pricing model is slightly better than the industry average, with a competitive spread of 0.67 pips on the EUR/USD as verified in April 2024. This makes Capital.com a strong contender for low-cost trading. They offer a universal account for retail traders and a professional account for those who qualify, ensuring flexible options to meet different trading needs.
Both CMC Markets and Capital.com offer budget-friendly forex trading solutions, each excelling in their own unique aspects. CMC Markets takes the lead with innovative pricing structures and active trader rewards, while Capital.com excels with consistently low spreads, making them both worthy choices depending on your trading preferences and needs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.67 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.67 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| 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 the range of investments offered by online brokers CMC Markets and Capital.com, CMC Markets stands out with an impressive selection. It provides access to 11,925 tradeable symbols, including 156 forex pairs, and allows clients to engage in forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts. Additionally, CMC Markets offers the opportunity to trade exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges. This means clients can purchase shares directly, such as Apple or Vodafone, rather than just engaging in CFD trades. CMC Markets also supports copy trading and offers cryptocurrency derivatives, although it doesn't allow for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies.
On the other hand, Capital.com offers a more limited array with 3,007 symbols and 125 forex pairs available for trading. Like CMC Markets, it also enables forex trading through CFDs or spot contracts and provides access to cryptocurrency derivatives. However, Capital.com does not offer the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies or exchange-traded U.S. and international stocks. Furthermore, it lacks copy trading features. Despite the broader range of investments at CMC Markets, Capital.com maintains a competitive offering and is rated at 4.5 stars for its investment range compared to CMC Markets' 5-star rating. In rankings by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets holds the 9th position, while Capital.com is positioned at 22nd out of 62 brokers.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 3007 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 125 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| 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.
CMC Markets and Capital.com both cater to traders with versatile trading platforms. Both brokers offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts, allowing you to practice without financial risk. Each has developed its own proprietary platform and provides Windows-based desktop and web-based trading options, making it adaptable for different user preferences. While both CMC Markets and Capital.com support MetaTrader 4, only CMC Markets extends its platform offering to MetaTrader 5. Additionally, CMC Markets supports copy trading, an option not available with Capital.com, giving CMC Markets an edge in terms of features for users interested in social trading strategies.
In the realm of technical tools, CMC Markets offers a more extensive selection with 40 drawing tools compared to Capital.com's 18, allowing for detailed chart analysis. Both brokers enable trading directly from charts, and provide watch lists with 11 customizable columns. CMC Markets has received a 5-star rating for Trading Platforms and Tools from ForexBrokers.com and holds the 4th position among 62 brokers. Meanwhile, Capital.com is rated at 4.5 stars, placing it at the 12th rank in the same category, highlighting CMC Markets as a slightly stronger choice for those prioritizing platform and tool variety in their trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No |
| DupliTrade | No | No |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 83 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 18 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
Both CMC Markets and Capital.com offer robust mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android users, with comprehensive features tailored for on-the-go investors. Users of both platforms can enjoy features like stock and forex price alerts, trendline drawing capabilities, and the ability to view different time frames on charts. Both apps also support the creation of watchlists with real-time quotes. However, a notable difference lies in watchlist synchronization: CMC Markets allows seamless syncing of watchlists between a mobile app and a client's online account, while Capital.com does not offer this feature.
When it comes to technical studies available in their charting tools, Capital.com edges out with 30 studies compared to CMC Markets' 29. Furthermore, both apps ensure user-friendly experiences by auto-saving drawing on charts—an added bonus for technical traders. CMC Markets, rated 5 stars, leads the pack being ranked 5th out of 62 brokers in the Mobile Trading Apps category by ForexBrokers.com. Capital.com, with a rating of 4.5 stars, holds the 12th rank. These rankings reflect their respective strengths in providing user-centric, functional trading platforms for investors.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| 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 it comes to market research, CMC Markets and Capital.com both offer daily market commentary to keep users updated on financial trends. CMC Markets stands out with forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, while Capital.com does not offer news from such sources. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools that reveal trader positions across different instruments. However, only CMC Markets offers research tools from Autochartist, enhancing its technical and fundamental analysis capabilities, unlike Capital.com.
CMC Markets and Capital.com both provide essential features like an economic calendar to inform traders about global news events. Capital.com differentiates itself by offering market research through TipRanks, while CMC Markets does not. Despite these offerings, CMC Markets scores a higher 5-star rating for research compared to Capital.com's 4.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets secures the 6th spot out of 62 brokers in the research category, making it a preferred choice over Capital.com's 14th position.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | Yes |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When it comes to educational resources tailored for beginners, both CMC Markets and Capital.com have a lot to offer. Both platforms provide a rich array of learning materials, including over ten educational articles and videos focused on forex and CFDs. Beginners can also benefit from a well-organized archive of recorded webinars, helpful for shadowing past discussions and lessons at their convenience. Additionally, they each offer more than ten instructional videos specifically designed for novices in trading. For those keen on expanding their vocabulary, both brokers feature an extensive investor dictionary that breaks down more than 50 investing terms.
Despite not delivering monthly live webinars, both brokers maintain commendable educational resources with high ratings. CMC Markets earns a full five-star rating for its educational offerings, boasting a #10 ranking in ForexBrokers.com's Education category. Meanwhile, Capital.com holds a slightly lower educational rating of 4.5 stars but secures a higher placement at #8 in the same ranking. Both platforms support learners of all levels, providing a comprehensive learning path whether you are just starting or looking to refine advanced trading skills.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 Capital.com. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Capital.com finished with an overall rank of #10.
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
|
Capital.com
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Markets and Capital.com do not offer the ability to purchase actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both provide options for trading cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, CMC Markets stands out by offering ACH or SEPA transfers for deposits and withdrawals, unlike Capital.com, although both platforms support PayPal, Visa, and Mastercard transactions, with Capital.com additionally supporting Skrill, while both brokers provide the option for bank wire transfers.
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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Capital.com Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2016 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 3007 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 125 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | Yes | No | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 0.67 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.67 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $20 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Social Trading / Copy Trading | Yes | No | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | No | |
| cTrader | No | No | |
| DupliTrade | No | No | |
| ZuluTrade | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 11 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 83 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 18 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 30 | |
| 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 | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | Yes | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Capital.com Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Capital.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 87 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Capital.com Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill