Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of Markets.com vs GBE brokers, 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.
Markets.com and GBE brokers are both reputable names in the online brokerage industry, serving investors with a history that spans several years, despite neither being publicly traded or a bank. Markets.com, established in 1999, distinguishes itself with a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 93, placing it in the highly trusted category. The broker holds three Tier-1 licenses, cementing its status among the safest options for investors. Additionally, it boasts one Tier-2 license, further underscoring its credibility and commitment to client security.
In contrast, GBE brokers, which began operations in 2013, carries a ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 71, categorized as average risk. This broker holds one Tier-1 license, demonstrating a reasonable level of trustworthiness, though it lacks any Tier-2 licenses. While both platforms offer solid services, Markets.com’s extensive licensing and higher trust score provide a more secure choice for risk-averse investors seeking greater regulatory assurances.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2013 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
When comparing the commissions and fees of online brokers Markets.com and GBE brokers, it's clear that GBE brokers holds a slight edge. Markets.com is rated at 3.5 out of 5 stars, ranking 49th out of 62 brokers according to ForexBrokers.com. This broker does not provide specific average spread data, which can make it challenging for potential investors to estimate trading costs effectively.
In contrast, GBE brokers receives a higher rating of 4 out of 5 stars for its commissions and fees, positioning it 36th out of 62 brokers in the same category. Despite also not offering average spread data, GBE brokers is perceived as offering more competitive rates overall, providing a reasonably favorable environment for traders who are mindful of trading costs.
In summary, while both brokers have their merits, GBE brokers appears to be a better choice for cost-conscious traders. Its better ranking and higher star rating indicate a comparatively more favorable fee structure, even though detailed average spread information remains unavailable for both brokers.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 |
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
When comparing the investment options offered by Markets.com and GBE brokers, both platforms provide the ability to trade forex as CFDs or spot contracts. However, Markets.com offers a significantly larger selection of tradeable symbols, boasting 2179 options compared to GBE brokers' 500. While GBE brokers offers more forex pairs, with 71 options compared to Markets.com's 57, neither platform provides access to exchange-traded securities on US or international exchanges. This means clients cannot purchase shares like Apple or Vodafone directly through either broker.
In terms of additional features, both Markets.com and GBE brokers support copy trading, allowing investors to mimic the trades of experienced traders. Although neither broker allows the purchase of actual cryptocurrencies, they both offer cryptocurrency derivatives. Markets.com is rated slightly higher for its range of investments, receiving 4 stars compared to GBE brokers' 3.5 stars. According to ForexBrokers.com, Markets.com ranks 29th out of 62 brokers in the Range of Investments category, while GBE brokers stands at 44th, reflecting a broader offering from Markets.com in comparison to its counterpart.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 500 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 71 |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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.
Markets.com and GBE brokers both cater to traders who appreciate variety and flexibility in their trading platforms. Both brokers offer a free virtual demo account, making it easy for new users to practice trading without risk. While Markets.com has developed its own proprietary platform, GBE brokers rely on third-party solutions. Both platforms are compatible with Windows, and traders can access web-based platforms through their browsers. For those interested in social trading, both Markets.com and GBE brokers support copy trading. Moreover, they each offer the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms. However, neither broker supports DupliTrade or ZuluTrade integrations.
When it comes to technical tools, GBE brokers provide a more extensive charting experience with 15 drawing tools, compared to Markets.com's four. Additionally, GBE brokers offer the functionality to trade directly from a stock chart, a feature that Markets.com lacks. Watchlist customization is fairly similar, with Markets.com offering six columns compared to GBE brokers' seven. Despite GBE brokers providing more charting options, both platforms are rated with four stars for trading platforms and tools. However, Markets.com ranks higher at #26 by ForexBrokers.com in this category, compared to GBE brokers at #57.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| 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) | 89 | 30 |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 |
Dive deeper: Best MetaTrader 4 Brokers, Best MetaTrader 5 Brokers.
When comparing the mobile trading apps offered by Markets.com and GBE brokers, both platforms cater to iPhone and Android users, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of traders. Each app also supports stock or forex price alerts, allowing users to stay informed about market changes. Users will find the ability to create real-time quote watchlists on both apps, adding a layer of convenience to their trading experience. However, Markets.com stands out with watchlist symbol syncing, which seamlessly updates any changes made across devices, a feature not currently available with GBE brokers.
In terms of charting capabilities, GBE brokers offers 30 different technical studies, lending more options for in-depth market analysis compared to Markets.com. Both allow users to draw trendlines, but GBE brokers provides a more comprehensive experience by offering the ability to view multiple time frames and auto-save any chart drawings. Despite these differences, both apps have received a four-star rating for mobile trading, with Markets.com ranked higher at #33 compared to GBE brokers' #57 by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Alerts - Basic Fields | Yes | Yes |
| Watchlist Syncing | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlist | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When comparing the market research offerings between Markets.com and GBE Brokers, both platforms provide daily market commentary and sentiment-based trading tools to assist traders. A significant differentiator is that Markets.com delivers forex news sourced from top-tier outlets like Bloomberg, Reuters, and Dow Jones, which GBE Brokers does not offer. Additionally, both brokers present clients with comprehensive economic calendars to track global economic news, although neither provides advanced research tools from firms like Autochartist or Trading Central.
Despite some similarities, Markets.com generally provides a more comprehensive research experience, as reflected in their higher research rating of four stars compared to GBE Brokers' three stars. Markets.com also enjoys a stronger reputation in the research category, being ranked 17th out of 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com, while GBE Brokers trails at 61st. This distinction highlights Markets.com's edge for traders seeking a more well-rounded market research experience.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No |
| Autochartist | No | 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 online brokers for educational resources available to beginners, Markets.com stands out more than GBE brokers. Markets.com offers a consistent schedule of online educational webinars specifically designed to help beginners understand the trading world. Additionally, they provide a variety of educational videos tailored to both beginners and experienced traders, making their platform more accommodating for traders at different skill levels. While Markets.com lacks a comprehensive investor dictionary and a searchable archive of webinars, their educational offerings still surpass those of GBE brokers, earning them a 4-star education rating.
In contrast, GBE brokers fall short in providing adequate educational resources for beginners. They do not offer regular educational webinars, nor do they supply a sufficient number of beginner-focused trading videos. Without a noteworthy library of educational materials or an investor dictionary, GBE brokers rank at the bottom of educational resources among 62 brokers on ForexBrokers.com. Their limited offerings have resulted in a 3-star education rating, making Markets.com a more favorable choice for beginners seeking to expand their trading knowledge.
| Feature |
Markets.com
|
GBE brokers
|
|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | No |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 62 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that Markets.com is better than GBE brokers. Markets.com finished with an overall rank of #23, while GBE brokers finished with an overall rank of #56.
Thanks to its web-based MarketsX platform, Markets.com is easy to use and new trader friendly. However, Markets.com is pricey and lacks the feature-rich trading tools required to compete with the best trading platforms.
| Feature |
Markets.com
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GBE brokers
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|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 |
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Both Markets.com and GBE brokers do not offer the ability to buy actual (delivered) cryptocurrency, but they both allow the purchase of cryptocurrency derivatives.
When comparing the deposit and withdrawal options between online brokers Markets.com and GBE brokers, GBE brokers offers more flexibility by supporting ACH and SEPA transfers, as well as PayPal, in addition to the options both brokers share, such as Skrill, Visa or Mastercard, and bank wires, while Markets.com does not support ACH, SEPA transfers, or PayPal.
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 | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
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| Broker Screenshots | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Regulation | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Year Founded | 1999 | 2013 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | No | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 3 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 0 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | No | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | No | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | No | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| UAE (DFSA/Central Bank Authorised) | No | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) | No | No |
| Investments | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 2179 | 500 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 57 | 71 | |
| U.S. Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | No | |
| Int'l Stock Trading (Non CFD) | No | 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 | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Spread EUR/USD - Standard | N/A | N/A | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | N/A | N/A | |
| Active Trader or VIP Discounts | Yes | No | |
| Inactivity Fee | No | No | |
| Execution: Agency Broker | No | No | |
| Execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $100 | $500 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Visa/Mastercard (Credit/Debit) | Yes | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| ACH or SEPA Transfers | No | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Alerts - Basic Fields | No | Yes | |
| Watchlists - Total Fields | 6 | 7 | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 89 | 30 | |
| Charting - Drawing Tools (Total) | 4 | 15 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | No | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Trading | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | (default on MT4, none on Markets app) | 30 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Multiple Time Frames | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Drawings Autosave | No | Yes | |
| Mobile Economic Calendar | No | Yes |
| Research | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary | Yes | Yes | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | No | |
| Autochartist | No | No | |
| Trading Central (Recognia) | No | No | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Social Sentiment - Currency Pairs | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education (Forex or CFDs) | No | No | |
| Client Webinars | Yes | No | |
| Client Webinars (Archived) | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Investor Dictionary (Glossary) | No | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/JPY | Yes | Yes | |
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CAD | Yes | Yes | |
| NZD/USD | No | Yes | |
| AUD/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| Review |
| Overall | Markets.com | GBE brokers | |
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| Trust Score | 93 | 71 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review |
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