Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Exness, 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 and Exness offer online trading services, but their regulatory standings and trust levels differ notably. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is a well-established entity, publicly traded, and holds a perfect Trust Score of 99, positioning it in the highly trusted category according to ForexBrokers.com. The broker boasts five Tier-1 licenses and one Tier-2 license, reflecting strong regulatory compliance and extensive oversight. Though not a bank, CMC Markets’ long-standing presence and robust regulatory framework make it a highly credible choice for traders.
Founded in 2008, Exness is a privately owned online broker carrying a Trust Score of 81, categorizing it as a trusted broker by ForexBrokers.com. Exness holds two Tier-1 and three Tier-2 licenses, indicating fair regulatory oversight. While not listed on any stock exchange, the broker provides a level of trustworthiness due to its regulatory compliance. Traders may find Exness a suitable option, although its trust rating and regulatory licenses are fewer compared to CMC Markets.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
CMC Markets excels in offering highly competitive commissions and fees, earning the top spot in our 2025 Annual Awards for this category. With a star rating of 5 out of 5, it stands as the #1 ranked broker among 62. CMC Markets provides consistently low spreads, such as an average of 0.61 pips on EUR/USD. They recently enhanced their active trader program with the Price Plus Scheme, enabling discounts based on trading volume and earning Trading Points. Their FX Active pricing model adds to their allure by offering commission-based pricing at $2.50 per side, resulting in a total 0.5 pip cost on key currency pairs.
Exness, rated 4 out of 5 stars, ranks #35 out of 62 brokers for commissions and fees. They offer a broad range of account types, each with unique trading conditions. Their two commission-based accounts offer lower spreads compared to the commission-free options. The Zero Spread account, for instance, charges a commission of $0.05 per trade, while the Raw account can go up to $7 per round turn lot. Although Exness offers variety, its trading costs and account features generally produce slightly higher spreads compared to CMC Markets.
Ultimately, CMC Markets proves to be the leader in the commissions and fees sector, attributed to its attractive pricing models and reduced trading costs. Exness offers an array of account types with flexible execution methods but at relatively higher spreads and commissions. Whether you're an active trader seeking discounts through marginal pricing or looking for tailored account types, both brokers provide distinctive pathways to optimize trading costs.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| 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.
CMC Markets and Exness both offer a diverse range of investment opportunities for traders, but they differ significantly when it comes to the variety of their offerings. CMC Markets stands out with an impressive 11,925 tradeable symbols, including 156 forex pairs, giving traders a vast selection that spans global markets. Furthermore, CMC Markets allows clients to purchase exchange-traded securities from both U.S. and international exchanges, enabling the direct buying of shares such as Apple and Vodafone without resorting to CFDs. This positions CMC Markets as a versatile choice for traders interested in exploring a wide array of investment avenues.
Exness, on the other hand, offers a more focused selection with 227 tradeable symbols and 96 forex pairs. While this may suit traders who prefer a more streamlined list of options, Exness does not provide access to trade exchange-traded securities directly on U.S. or international exchanges, unlike CMC Markets. Both brokers facilitate forex trading via CFDs, offer copy trading features, and provide access to cryptocurrency derivatives. In terms of the range of investments, CMC Markets receives a 5-star rating and is ranked 9th out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, while Exness garners a 3.5-star rating and holds the 55th position. This comparison highlights CMC Markets' broader investment scope compared to Exness's more limited but strategically focused offerings.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 227 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 96 |
| 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 trading platforms and tools, both CMC Markets and Exness provide a comprehensive range of options for traders. They each offer simulated trading through free virtual demo accounts as well as proprietary platforms crafted in-house. Both brokers ensure their clients have access to Windows-based desktop platforms, web-based platforms, and the popular MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. In addition, they support copy trading, but neither offers DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integrations. For traders interested in drawing tools, Exness offers a wider selection with 87 drawing tools compared to CMC Markets’ 40. Similarly, both brokers allow trading directly from stock charts, enhancing user experience. However, CMC Markets provides more customizability in watch lists with 11 column fields versus Exness’s 7.
In terms of ratings and rankings, CMC Markets takes a lead with a perfect five-star rating for its trading platforms and tools, ranking fourth out of 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com. On the other hand, Exness achieves a respectable four-star rating, placing it at the 26th position. This distinction highlights CMC Markets' superior performance in offering diverse and user-friendly trading tools, catering effectively to the needs of traders who value customizable and feature-rich platforms.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes |
| 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 | 107 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 87 |
| 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 Exness provide highly accessible trading experiences with dedicated mobile apps for iPhone and Android users. If you're someone who values seamless integration, CMC Markets takes the lead with its watchlist symbol syncing, ensuring that your customized watchlists are consistent across devices. This is an option not currently available with Exness. While both brokers cater to active traders using stock and forex price alerts and the ability to draw trendlines or view charts across multiple time frames, CMC Markets further sets itself apart by auto-saving chart drawings, a convenience Exness does not offer.
For traders passionate about technical analysis, CMC Markets and Exness offer 29 and 35 technical studies, respectively, making them both strong contenders. However, user reviews and industry rankings spotlight CMC Markets as a standout performer, earning a five-star rating and ranking #5 among 62 brokers for mobile trading apps by ForexBrokers.com. In comparison, Exness garners a solid four-star rating and ranks #26. Both platforms allow creating watchlists with real-time quotes, but CMC Markets edges ahead with smoother watchlist management and extra features that enhance the mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 35 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research features, both CMC Markets and Exness provide daily market commentary and forex news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. Traders will find sentiment-based trading tools available with both brokers, offering insights into market positioning across currency pairs. However, while CMC Markets stands out with the technical analysis tools provided by Autochartist, Exness counters with Trading Central’s comprehensive analytics. Both platforms offer economic calendars to keep traders informed of global events, though neither provides research tools from TipRanks or Acuity Trading.
In terms of overall research ratings, CMC Markets has earned a stellar 5-star score, ranking #6 out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, showcasing its robust offering of market insights and analysis tools. In comparison, Exness, with a 3.5-star rating, is positioned at #41, reflecting a more modest yet valuable range of research facilities. Each broker has its strengths, making them appealing to traders with different research needs and preferences.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes |
| 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 it comes to educational resources for beginner traders, both CMC Markets and Exness have commendable offerings. Each broker provides a substantial collection of over 10 educational pieces, including articles, videos, and archived webinars, primarily focused on forex and CFDs. Furthermore, both platforms boast a searchable archive of past client webinars, making it easy for newcomers to access and learn from previously recorded sessions. In addition, both CMC Markets and Exness cater to beginners by offering at least 10 introductory videos on various trading topics. However, CMC Markets has the edge when it comes to more detailed content for advanced traders, offering more than 10 advanced educational videos, while Exness falls short in this area.
Another useful tool for novice investors is an investor dictionary, and both brokers provide one with definitions for at least 50 investing terms, helping traders enhance their jargon comprehension. Despite these considerable educational resources, neither CMC Markets nor Exness hold regular monthly live webinars, which could be a limitation for those who appreciate real-time guidance. However, in terms of overall educational quality, CMC Markets shines brighter with a 5-star rating compared to Exness's 3.5 stars. Reflecting their comprehensive educational resources, CMC Markets ranks as the 10th best broker in the education category out of 62, while Exness lands at 47th, indicating a more limited scope for newcomers seeking in-depth learning experiences.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 Exness. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while Exness finished with an overall rank of #43.
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
|
Exness
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 |
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Both CMC Markets and Exness do not provide the option to purchase actual cryptocurrencies, focusing instead on offering cryptocurrency derivatives for their trading platforms.
CMC Markets offers ACH or SEPA transfers and PayPal for deposits and withdrawals, unlike Exness, which lacks these options but provides Skrill, with both brokers supporting Visa, Mastercard, and bank wire transactions.
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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2008 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 3 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| 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 | Yes |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 227 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 96 | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 11 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 79 | 107 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 40 | 87 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | 35 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Exness | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Exness Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Exness | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 81 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Exness Review |
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