Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Eightcap, 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.
When comparing online brokers CMC Markets and Eightcap, both have distinctive features concerning their establishment, trading status, and regulatory credentials. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a publicly traded company listed on a stock exchange, which tends to enhance transparency and trust. Eightcap, on the other hand, began its operations in 2009 and remains privately owned. Neither company is a bank, ensuring both focus primarily on providing trading services. This difference in establishment and ownership might influence trader preferences, especially those seeking more or less public corporate scrutiny.
From a regulatory standpoint, CMC Markets stands out with its impressive 99 Trust Score from ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its highly trusted status. This is supported by its acquisition of five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, which signify high levels of regulatory compliance. Eightcap, though considered trusted with a Trust Score of 85, holds three Tier-1 licenses but lacks Tier-2 licenses. The distinctions in regulatory oversight between CMC Markets and Eightcap suggest different levels of assurance for traders seeking a reliable trading environment.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 3 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
CMC Markets and Eightcap present different approaches to commissions and fees, catering to various trading preferences. CMC Markets takes the lead with a 5-star rating and is ranked #1 out of 62 brokers in the Commissions and Fees category, thanks to its low spread offerings available across diverse account types. On the EUR/USD pair, CMC Markets offers an average spread of 0.61 pips, which consistently ranks above the industry average. Their active trader program, known as the Price Plus Scheme, allows traders to enjoy discounts based on trading volume, making it an attractive option for frequent traders.
In 2022, CMC Markets introduced the FX Active pricing structure, which combines competitive spreads with a commission fee. This means traders are charged $2.50 per side with minimum spreads of zero pips, leading to an all-in cost of 0.5 pips for EUR/USD. This structure currently spans several regions, making CMC Markets a standout choice for traders focusing on competitive rates and flexible pricing schemes.
Eightcap, earning a 4-star rating, is ranked #26, offering two account types: the commission-based Raw account and the spread-only Standard account. For the Raw account, Eightcap lists a competitive average spread of 0.06 pips. However, with the addition of a $3.50 commission per side, the overall cost rises to 0.76 pips, slightly under the industry benchmark of 0.8 pips. Although Eightcap may be marginally more costly than some of the lowest-cost brokers, it still provides appealing options for traders who prefer a combination of fixed commissions and variable spreads.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.0 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.76 |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| 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 CMC Markets and Eightcap for their range of investments, CMC Markets clearly stands out with a comprehensive suite of offerings, totaling 11,925 tradeable symbols. This includes a broad range of 156 forex pairs, enabling diverse trading opportunities. In contrast, Eightcap provides 736 tradeable symbols, with 56 forex pairs available for traders. A notable difference between the two platforms is that CMC Markets also offers access to exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, allowing clients to directly invest in stocks like Apple and Vodafone. This feature is not available with Eightcap, which focuses exclusively on CFDs.
Both brokers facilitate forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts and provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives. Additionally, they offer copy trading services to their users. While neither platform allows for the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, CMC Markets receives a higher rating for its range of investments with five stars and is ranked ninth out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Eightcap, on the other hand, is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 40th, highlighting a considerable gap in the diversity of investment options available to traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 736 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 56 |
| 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 it comes to comparing CMC Markets and Eightcap for their trading platforms and tools, both brokers offer a comprehensive set of options tailored to meet the needs of various traders. CMC Markets shines with its proprietary trading platform, which is developed in-house, while Eightcap does not offer its own platform but supports popular choices like MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which are available with both brokers. Both CMC Markets and Eightcap provide simulated trading through virtual demo accounts, enabling beginners to practice without risks. Moreover, they each offer Windows-based desktop and web-based trading platforms, along with features like copy trading and trading directly from stock charts.
In terms of additional tools, CMC Markets boasts 40 drawing tools for charting, surpassing Eightcap's 15. For customizing watch lists, CMC Markets again leads with 11 columns compared to Eightcap's 7. These differences echo in their ratings and rankings: CMC Markets holds a prestigious five-star rating and ranks fourth among 62 brokers for trading platforms and tools, whereas Eightcap is rated four stars and ranks thirty-eighth. Both companies offer a solid array of technical indicators, although the precise number is unspecified. Overall, CMC Markets stands out for its advanced functionalities and customization options, making it a preferred choice for those seeking enhanced trading capabilities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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.
When considering mobile trading apps, both CMC Markets and Eightcap have established themselves as strong contenders, offering apps for both iPhone and Android users. Each app provides essential features such as stock and forex price alerts, the ability to draw trendlines, and the option to view multiple time frames on charts. Additionally, both platforms offer seamless watchlist symbol syncing between their mobile apps and online accounts, ensuring a comprehensive trading experience. With real-time quote watchlists available in each app, traders can keep an eye on market movements effortlessly.
Where the CMC Markets app distinguishes itself is in its user ratings and rankings. Boasting 5 stars for its mobile trading app, CMC Markets is ranked #5 out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. Meanwhile, Eightcap has a commendable 4-star rating but falls behind at #38 in the same ranking. In terms of technical study offerings for charting, Eightcap slightly edges out with 30 studies compared to CMC Markets’ 29. Nonetheless, both platforms auto-save charting drawings, ensuring that traders' settings and analyses are preserved for future use.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| 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 comparing the market research offerings between CMC Markets and Eightcap, several key differences emerge that may influence your choice of broker. Both brokers provide daily market commentary and offer essential tools for keeping up with the latest economic trends, including an economic calendar. However, CMC Markets distinguishes itself by offering forex news through top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones. This advantage ensures that traders receive high-quality insights from some of the most trusted names in financial news.
In terms of analytical tools, CMC Markets also includes features like Autochartist, offering valuable technical analysis resources that Eightcap does not. Both brokers provide sentiment-based trading tools, helping traders gauge market moods effectively. Despite these useful offerings, neither broker supplies resources from TipRanks or Acuity Trading. In terms of overall research quality, CMC Markets receives a higher rating of 5 stars compared to Eightcap's 3.5 stars and stands at 6th place in research rankings out of 62 brokers, while Eightcap is positioned at 39th. This comprehensive edge makes CMC Markets a preferred choice for those prioritizing market research capabilities.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Signal Centre (Acuity Trading) | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
When comparing the educational resources available for beginners at CMC Markets and Eightcap, both brokers offer a solid foundation to help newcomers understand the world of forex and CFDs. CMC Markets and Eightcap each provide at least 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, to give traders a comprehensive introduction to the markets. Additionally, both brokers maintain searchable archives of previously recorded webinars, allowing traders to revisit these resources at their convenience. Both platforms offer over 10 beginner-focused educational videos, ensuring a broad understanding of trading basics for novice traders. However, only CMC Markets extends their range to include over 10 advanced educational videos, catering to more experienced traders seeking deeper insights.
Both CMC Markets and Eightcap include an investor dictionary with definitions for more than 50 trading terms, enhancing the learning experience by making complex jargon accessible and understandable. Despite these similarities, CMC Markets holds a higher educational ranking, scoring an impressive 5 out of 5 stars and placing 10th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. In contrast, Eightcap is rated at 3.5 stars and ranks 40th in the same category. This distinction highlights CMC Markets' commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of educational tools that cater to traders of various experience levels, setting it apart as a top choice for those new to trading.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Eightcap. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Eightcap finished with an overall rank of #38.
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
|
Eightcap
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 |
| Range of Investments |
|
|
| Commissions & Fees |
|
|
| Platform & Tools |
|
|
| Research |
|
|
| Mobile Trading |
|
|
| Education |
|
|
Both CMC Markets and Eightcap do not offer the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies but provide the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
CMC Markets supports ACH or SEPA transfers, PayPal, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires for deposits and withdrawals, but not Skrill, while Eightcap provides options for PayPal, Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, but lacks ACH or SEPA transfer 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 736 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 56 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | 0.61 | 1.0 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.51 | 0.76 | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Eightcap Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Eightcap | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
|
| |
| Commissions & Fees |
|
| |
| Range of Investments |
|
| |
| Platform & Tools |
|
| |
| Mobile Trading |
|
| |
| Research |
|
| |
| Education |
|
| |
| Trust Score | 99 | 85 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Eightcap Review |
IG
CMC Markets
FOREX.com
XTB
eToro
AvaTrade
Plus500
Pepperstone
FP Markets
Tickmill