Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Vantage, 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 vs Vantage: CMC Markets (founded 1989) is a publicly traded online broker, while Vantage (founded 2009) is privately held. Neither company is a bank, which makes their regulatory track records especially important for traders comparing safety and oversight.
Regulation and trust: CMC Markets holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license; Vantage holds 2 Tier-1 and 1 Tier-2. According to ForexBrokers.com, CMC Markets has a Trust Score of 99 and Vantage scores 91. On that scale, 90–99 is highly trusted, 80–89 trusted, 70–79 average risk, 60–69 high risk, and under 59 not trusted.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
When it comes to commissions and fees, CMC Markets comes out ahead of Vantage. CMC Markets earned 5 stars and ranked #4 out of 36 brokers for the Commissions and Fees category, thanks to its consistently low spreads across all account types and its low-cost FX Active pricing. Typical EUR/USD spreads were reported at 0.61 pips, and its commission-based FX Active setup can bring all-in trading costs down to 0.5 pips on major pairs.
Vantage is still a strong choice, but its pricing is more mixed. It earned 4.5 stars and ranked #12 out of 36 brokers for commissions and fees. Its Standard STP account is spread-only, while the RAW ECN and PRO ECN accounts add commissions in exchange for tighter spreads. For example, Vantage’s Raw account showed an all-in EUR/USD cost of about 0.75 pips, while the PRO account offers lower commissions for traders who qualify.
In simple terms, CMC Markets is the better pick for traders who want lower overall trading costs and a stronger fee rating, while Vantage offers competitive options for different account types but usually lands a step behind on pricing. If commissions and fees are your main focus, CMC Markets is the more cost-friendly broker overall.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.32 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.72 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing CMC Markets vs Vantage for range of investments, CMC Markets comes out ahead on selection. Both brokers support forex trading, including forex CFDs or spot contracts, and both offer copy trading plus cryptocurrency CFDs. However, CMC Markets gives traders access to a much larger menu of instruments, with 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, compared with Vantage’s 1,000 symbols and 61 forex pairs.
CMC Markets also stands out because it offers exchange-traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares, while Vantage does not offer direct share dealing on those exchanges. Neither broker lets clients buy actual cryptocurrency. Reflecting this wider choice, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, while Vantage is rated 3.5 stars and ranks #32 out of 36.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1000 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 61 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 Vantage both give traders a wide set of platform choices, including a free demo account for practice, their own in-house platform, Windows desktop software, web-based trading, copy trading, and support for MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users place trades directly from a chart, which can make it easier to act quickly when a setup appears. In short, both brokers cover the main tools most traders look for, whether they prefer a browser, desktop app, or MetaTrader.
Where they differ is in ratings and overall standing. CMC Markets is rated 5 out of 5 stars for Trading Platforms and Tools and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers at ForexBrokers.com, while Vantage is rated 4 out of 5 stars and ranks #20. That makes CMC Markets the stronger pick overall for platform quality and trading tools, even though Vantage still offers many of the same key features.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
CMC Markets and Vantage both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, along with price alerts, trendline drawing, and auto-saving chart drawings. Each app also gives traders access to technical chart tools, with CMC Markets offering 29 studies and Vantage offering 30. For everyday mobile use, both brokers cover the basics well, making it easy to track markets and manage trades from a phone or tablet.
The main difference is that CMC Markets supports watchlist symbol syncing, so changes made on the mobile app and online account stay linked, while Vantage does not. CMC Markets also stands out with a 5-star rating for mobile trading apps and a #5 ranking out of 36 brokers from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Vantage’s 4-star rating and #24 ranking. If mobile app quality and watchlist syncing matter most, CMC Markets has the edge.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
CMC Markets and Vantage both give traders a strong set of market research tools, including daily market commentary, news from top-tier sources like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, sentiment data, Autochartist tools, and an economic calendar. This means both brokers make it easier to follow market moves, track key events, and spot possible trading ideas without needing to search far for updates.
The main difference is that Vantage also includes Trading Central research tools, while CMC Markets does not. That extra feature helps Vantage stand out, but CMC Markets still comes out ahead overall for research, with a 5-star rating and a #6 ranking from ForexBrokers.com, compared with Vantage’s 4-star rating and #20 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
CMC Markets and Vantage both give beginners plenty of help with trading education, including at least 10 beginner videos and at least 10 advanced videos for more experienced users. Both brokers also offer forex or CFD learning materials that meet the 10-piece benchmark, so either platform can help new traders build a basic understanding of the markets. That said, CMC Markets stands out for its overall education quality, earning 5 stars for Education and placing #10 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s ranking.
Vantage also provides useful learning content, but it falls a little behind CMC Markets in this area. One clear advantage is that Vantage offers online educational client webinars at least once a month, while CMC Markets does not. Even so, Vantage is rated 4 stars for Education and ranks #23 out of 36 brokers, making CMC Markets the stronger choice overall for beginners who want more highly rated educational support.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Vantage
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than Vantage. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Vantage finished with an overall rank of #24.
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
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Vantage
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 91 |
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CMC Markets vs Vantage: both online brokers offer cryptocurrency CFDs for trading, but neither allows you to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency.
Comparing online brokers CMC Markets vs Vantage: both support PayPal and bank wire deposits/withdrawals; CMC Markets also offers ACH/SEPA while Vantage does not; Vantage supports Skrill while CMC Markets does not; Visa/Mastercard availability is not specified for either broker.
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 | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 2009 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | No | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 2 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 3 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | Yes | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| 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 | No |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1000 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 61 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | 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 | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 1.32 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 0.72 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | No | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | Yes | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $50 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | No |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 30 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | Yes | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | Yes | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | Yes |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Vantage | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 91 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Vantage Review |
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