CMC Markets Review 2026
CMC Markets, founded in 1989 and listed on the London Stock Exchange, is one of the most established CFD and spread betting brokers in the world. FCA-regulated with ASIC, MAS, and BaFin oversight, CMC's flagship Next Generation platform has consistently won awards for platform technology and charting tools.
Regulation & Safety
- FCA (UK) — FRN 173730, FSCS protection up to £85,000 for UK clients
- ASIC (Australia) — AFSL 238054
- BaFin (Germany) — regulated for German clients
- MAS (Singapore) — licensed for Singapore
- IIROC (Canada) — regulated for Canadian clients
CMC Markets is a publicly listed company (LSE: CMCX), which means it publishes audited financials and is subject to public market scrutiny — an additional layer of accountability beyond standard broker regulation.
Account Types
| Account | Spread (EUR/USD) | Commission | Min Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| CFD Trading | From 0.7 pips | No commission (forex) | £0 / $0 |
| Spread Betting (UK only) | From 0.7 pips | No commission | £0 |
| CMC Invest (shares) | Market price | From £3 per trade | £0 |
Next Generation Platform
🏆 Award-Winning Platform Technology
- 80+ technical indicators built into the charting interface
- Pattern recognition — auto-identifies chart patterns in real time
- Module-based layout — fully customisable workspace
- 12,000+ instruments — forex, indices, commodities, shares, treasuries
- News & sentiment feeds integrated directly into the platform
- Risk management tools — guaranteed stop-loss orders available
Next Generation was designed in-house by CMC Markets and represents over three decades of refinement. It's available as a web platform and iOS/Android app, with no software download required.
Instruments: 12,000+
- 330+ forex pairs including majors, minors, and exotics
- 80+ indices including all major global indices
- 1,000+ shares CFDs from UK, US, European, and Asian exchanges
- 100+ commodities including oil, metals, and agricultural products
- Treasuries & rates including UK Gilts, US T-Notes, Bunds
Spread Betting (UK Only)
For UK residents, CMC Markets offers tax-free spread betting. Profits from spread betting are exempt from Capital Gains Tax and Stamp Duty in the UK, making it a highly tax-efficient way to speculate on markets without the complexities of declaring CFD gains.
Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- FCA + ASIC + BaFin — tier-1 regulation
- Publicly listed company (LSE: CMCX)
- Next Generation platform: best-in-class
- 12,000+ instruments
- FSCS protection up to £85K (UK)
- No minimum deposit
❌ Cons
- Spreads slightly wider than ECN brokers
- No cTrader or MT5
- No crypto CFDs available for UK clients
- MT4 available but limited vs Next Gen
Final Verdict
CMC Markets earns 4.5/5 as one of the best-regulated and most technologically advanced CFD brokers available. The Next Generation platform is genuinely best-in-class for charting and analysis. The combination of FCA/ASIC regulation, 35+ years of history, public listing, and FSCS protection makes CMC Markets one of the safest brokers for UK and international traders.
The main trade-off is that ECN traders looking for the tightest raw spreads with commission accounts should look at IC Markets or Tickmill. CMC's strength is platform quality and regulatory standing, not the lowest per-trade cost.