Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs FXOpen, 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 FXOpen, both established online brokers, offer distinct trust levels and regulatory environments for forex traders. Founded in 1989, CMC Markets is publicly listed and holds a top-tier status with five Tier-1 licenses, known for being highly trusted by ForexBrokers.com. This contributes to its impressive Trust Score of 99 out of 99, effectively positioning it as a highly trusted choice among online brokers. In contrast, FXOpen, founded in 2003, remains privately held with two Tier-1 licenses, indicating a lower but still notable level of trust. It carries a Trust Score of 76, marking it as an average risk in the eyes of ForexBrokers.com.
While neither CMC Markets nor FXOpen operates as a bank, their regulatory standings are significant. CMC Markets' regulatory reach extends further with an additional Tier-2 license, further enhancing its trustworthiness in regulatory compliance. On the other hand, FXOpen does not hold any Tier-2 licenses, underscoring a more modest regulatory framework. The distinction in trust ratings and regulatory coverage makes CMC Markets a prime choice for those seeking a highly regulated and trusted trading environment, while FXOpen caters to traders who accept a moderate risk level in exchange for potentially different offerings.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2003 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 5 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of CMC Markets against FXOpen, it's clear that CMC Markets stands out for its attractive pricing strategy. In the 2025 Annual Awards, CMC Markets clinched the top spot in the Commissions and Fees category thanks to its consistently low spread offerings across various customer segments and account types. The typical spread on EUR/USD is 0.61 pips as of August 2023. Their active trader program, Price Plus Scheme, offers additional discounts on trading costs based on Trading Points accrued through monthly trading volumes, enhancing cost-effectiveness for frequent traders. In 2022, CMC Markets introduced FX Active, a commission-based pricing structure with highly competitive spreads, rolling this out in several regions including Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the U.K.
FXOpen, on the other hand, falls short when it comes to average spread data transparency. Although it earned a respectable rating of 4 out of 5 stars in the commissions and fees category, it trails behind CMC Markets, which boasts a perfect 5-star rating. This is further reflected in their ranking, as CMC Markets takes the #1 spot out of 62 brokers, while FXOpen is placed at #45. The strong ranking of CMC Markets is partly owed to its FX Active program, which offers a compelling all-in cost of 0.5 pips when trading EUR/USD, using the August 2023 data.
The difference in the star ratings and rankings between these two brokers underscore CMC Markets' leadership in offering competitive pricing and the breadth of their offerings. In contrast, FXOpen, while still regarded positively, lacks the depth and transparency in fee and spread disclosures that might entice seasoned traders. Ultimately, CMC Markets provides a more favorable and clearly outlined fee structure that can benefit a wide range of traders.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 |
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 FXOpen for their investment options, CMC Markets clearly stands out with its broad array of choices. CMC Markets offers an impressive selection of 11,925 tradeable symbols, catering to investors interested in a diverse portfolio. With a particular strength in forex trading, CMC Markets provides access to 156 forex pairs, and also allows users to invest in exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as buying shares in major companies like Apple and Vodafone. For those interested in cryptocurrency derivatives, both platforms offer the option, but neither provides the ability to purchase the actual cryptocurrency.
In contrast, FXOpen offers a more limited range with just 87 tradeable symbols and 25 forex pairs. Unlike CMC Markets, FXOpen doesn't support investment in exchange-traded securities on U.S. or international exchanges, which could be a significant consideration for traders looking to diversify into equities. However, like CMC Markets, FXOpen does offer copy trading, which can be a useful tool for beginner investors looking to mimic the strategies of successful traders. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets earns a strong 5-star rating and ranks 9th out of 62 brokers for its investment range, while FXOpen receives a 3-star rating and is positioned at a considerably lower rank, at 61st.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 87 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 25 |
| 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). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and FXOpen both provide comprehensive online trading platforms that cater to a wide range of traders, each offering virtual demo accounts for simulated trading experiences. A significant difference between the two brokers is that CMC Markets provides its own proprietary platform, while FXOpen does not. Traders looking for a familiar setting can find Windows desktop download and web-based platforms available with both brokers. Furthermore, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) are supported by both CMC Markets and FXOpen, making them a suitable choice for MetaTrader enthusiasts. While copy trading is possible with both platforms, ZuluTrade is specifically available through FXOpen, offering an additional option for copy-trading fans.
Both brokers facilitate trading directly from stock charts; however, CMC Markets boasts a more in-depth charting experience with 40 drawing tools compared to FXOpen’s 15. Additionally, CMC Markets provides the capability to customize watch lists with up to 11 fields, surpassing the 7 fields offered by FXOpen. Evaluated by ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets excels in the Trading Platforms and Tools category, achieving a 5-star rating and ranking 4th out of 62 brokers, whereas FXOpen receives a 4-star rating and ranks 53rd. This distinction highlights CMC Markets as a leader in delivering powerful trading tools and a versatile trading platform.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| 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 comparing the mobile trading apps of CMC Markets and FXOpen, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, offering convenience for traders on the go. While they each provide stock and forex price alerts and the ability to create watchlists with real-time quotes, CMC Markets takes a slight edge with its watchlist symbol syncing feature. This allows users to seamlessly synchronize their watchlists across mobile and online platforms, a capability FXOpen lacks. Although FXOpen includes a marginally higher number of technical studies for charting, both apps allow drawing trendlines and viewing charts in multiple time frames. However, CMC Markets distinguishes itself by automatically saving chart drawings, a feature not available with FXOpen.
In terms of ratings and industry recognition, CMC Markets shines with a 5-star rating for its mobile app, securing the 5th position out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. FXOpen, meanwhile, holds a 4-star rating and ranks 54th, indicating room for improvement. Overall, while both apps offer a wealth of features for forex and stock traders, CMC Markets seems to provide a more integrated and user-friendly mobile trading experience.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 | No |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets and FXOpen both provide essential resources, such as daily market commentary and forex news from renowned sources like Bloomberg and Reuters. However, CMC Markets stands out by offering technical analysis tools from Autochartist and a sentiment-based trading tool that provides insights into market trends. In contrast, FXOpen does not feature these analytical tools, potentially limiting its appeal to traders who rely heavily on detailed technical indicators and market sentiment data.
Both brokers include economic calendars to help traders stay informed about significant global events. Despite some similar offerings, CMC Markets receives a 5-star research rating and ranks 6th among 62 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, reflecting its comprehensive research capabilities. FXOpen, on the other hand, with a 3-star rating and placement at the bottom of the list, may not be the first choice for research-oriented traders seeking extensive market analysis options.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No |
| 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.
When it comes to educational resources for beginners, CMC Markets stands out as a strong choice compared to FXOpen. CMC Markets offers a wide array of educational materials including more than ten articles, videos, and archived webinars focused on forex or CFDs. They also provide a searchable archive of past webinars and a variety of videos tailored to both beginner and advanced traders, ensuring that newcomers and experienced traders alike can find valuable content to enhance their skills. Additionally, CMC Markets offers a comprehensive investor dictionary that explains over 50 investing terms, helping users become familiar with essential trading jargon.
In contrast, FXOpen falls short in several key areas. They do not meet the minimum requirement of educational pieces focused on forex or CFDs, nor do they offer a searchable archive of webinars or a sufficient number of educational videos for beginners and advanced traders. While FXOpen does provide an investor dictionary similar to CMC Markets, the overall educational support is less extensive, resulting in a lower educational rating of 3 stars compared to CMC Markets' 5 stars. Consequently, ForexBrokers.com ranks CMC Markets significantly higher at #10, while FXOpen is positioned at #58. Overall, for beginners seeking informative resources to start their trading journey, CMC Markets offers more comprehensive educational support than FXOpen.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars | No | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| 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 FXOpen. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #4, while FXOpen finished with an overall rank of #54.
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
|
FXOpen
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 |
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Both CMC Markets and FXOpen do not provide the option to buy actual delivered cryptocurrency, but they do offer the ability to trade cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing online brokers, CMC Markets offers more diverse account funding options with ACH, SEPA, PayPal, Visa/Mastercard, and bank wires, whereas FXOpen provides Visa/Mastercard, Skrill, and bank wires but does not support ACH, SEPA, or PayPal 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.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2003 | |
| 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 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 11925 | 87 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 156 | 25 | |
| 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). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | Yes | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $100 | |
| 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 | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Yes |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | No | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | No | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars | No | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | FXOpen | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | FXOpen | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 76 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review |
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