Plus500 vs CMC Markets

If you are reading this article, you are likely having trouble deciding whether Plus500 or CMC Markets is the better trading platform for you. While both platforms generally provide positive user experiences, there are some essential differences to note.

In this Plus500 or CMC Markets review, we outline the highlights of each trading platform to help you make a more informed decision. We evaluate:

FeaturePlus500 (visit site)CMC Markets (visit site)
Headquarter:IsraelUK
Regulation :
CySEC, FCA, ASIC, FMA, FSB, MASFCA
Type of Broker:
Market MakerMarket Maker
U.S. Clients Allowed:
Minimum Deposit:
$100None
Maximum Leverage:
1:301:500
Commissions / Spreads:
Variable SpreadsCommissions and spreads (Varies in regions)
Account 1:
CFDSpread Betting
Account 2:
CFD Trading
Account 3:
CMC Pro
Account 4:
Corporate
Demo Account:
Islamic Account:
Segregated Account:
Managed Accounts:
Institutional Accounts:
Website Languages:
  • imageEnglish
  • image Chinese
  • Other
  • imageEnglish
  • image Chinese
Support Hours:
24/724/5
E-mail Support:
SMS Support:
Chat:
Broker Offers:
86% of retail CFD accounts lose money
.

Features and Platforms

Plus500 and CMC Markets maintain a listing on the London Stock Exchange, but while the former provides merely a below standard proprietary trading platform, the latter developed a cutting-edge webtrader. CMC Markets additionally supports automated trading solutions via the MT4 trading platform. Plus500 does not offer research, and only limited, marketing-inspired educational content. CMC Markets features a more in-depth and high-quality approach to both. Plus500 caters to clients since 2008, but CMC Markets has significantly more experience, being operational since 1989. Per data from both brokers, 76.4% and 79.0% of retail traders operate their portfolios at a loss, at Plus500 and CMC Markets, respectively.

FeaturePlus500CMC Markets
Type of Platform:Proprietary platform, Web-basedMetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, Other
Platform Languages:
  • imageEnglish
  • image Chinese
  • image Spanish
  • image Italian
  • image French
  • image German
  • Other
  • imageEnglish
  • image Chinese
  • image Spanish
  • image Italian
  • image French
  • image German
  • Other
OS Compatibility:
  • imageWindows
  • Mobile
  • Web
  • image iPhone
  • image iPad
  • imageWindows
  • Mobile
  • Web
  • image iPhone
  • image iPad
Trading Signals:
Charting Package:
Market Analysis:
Chart Trading:
Automated Trading:
Scalping:
Hedging:
Mobile Alerts:
Trailing Stops:
Guaranteed Stop Loss:
Guaranteed Limit Orders:
Guaranteed Execution:
One-click Execution:
Interest on Margin:
Web-based Trading:
Mobile Trading:

Available Markets

The asset selection at CMC Markets, with almost 10,000 assets, including over 9,400 equity CFDs, is excellent. While CMC Markets offers equity traders with outstanding market coverage, traders have access to over 330 cash and forward currency pairs, offering one of the most extensive choices among online brokers. Completing the selection are over 90 index CFDs, 100 commodities, 40 treasuries, and ten cryptocurrencies. Plus500 maintains over 2,000 assets, with an acceptable choice across seven categories, including options. One of the most appealing products remains sector indices, allowing traders a more focused trading product. Retail traders will determine the choice of products at both brokers more than sufficient, while CMC Markets can cater to more advanced and professional traders.

FeaturePlus500CMC Markets
ETFs:
CFDs:
Commodities:
Metals:
Stocks:
Oil:
Gold:
Binary Options:
Indices:

Typical Spreads and Fees

Both brokers offer commission-free Forex trading. Plus500 traders may achieve lower costs due to dynamic spreads dependent on market conditions versus a minimum of 0.7 pips at CMC Markets. Equities remain commission-free at Plus500, and CMC Markets charges a minimum of 0.10%, but a rebate structure lowers overall expenses. Traders must pay financing costs on leveraged overnight positions, known as swap rates, but CMC Markets also charges for market data from Australia and Hong Kong. Both brokers levy a monthly $10 or a currency equivalent inactivity fee. The pricing environment remains more competitive at Plus500.

Security and Trust

From a security perspective, Plus500 and CMC Markets are roughly equal. Both are publicly listed companies, adhering to strict capital requirements and business ethics. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) regulates both, but Plus500 maintains an additional six regulators for more comprehensive global coverage. Client deposits remain segregated at both broker, negative balance protection is available, and the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects UK deposits up to a maximum of £85,000 in case of default. CMC Market is more trustworthy than Plus500. All client funds deposited with Plus500’s Cyprus subsidiary are held in segregated client bank accounts in accordance with the Cyprus Security and Exchange Commission’s (CySEC) client funds rules. Plus500AU Pty Ltd holds client money in a segregated trust account, in accordance with the Australian legal requirements.

Plus500 vs CMC Markets – Verdict

CMC Markets maintains a competitive cost structure, but despite elevated spreads at Plus500, the commission-free CFD trading environment can result in notable cost savings. The asset selection at CMC Markets remains significantly broader, allowing traders to take advantage of more trading opportunities and achieve better cross-asset diversification. The trading platform at Plus500 does not support automated trading, and while the user interface is clean, it presents traders with an uncompetitive choice. The CMC proprietary trader offers an excellent trading environment, and the MT4 trading platform is equally available. Plus500 does not provide research to clients, which is where CMC Markets adds additional value via a high-quality department. The valuable educational content echoes the quality add-on service, where Plus500 also falls behind. The slightly higher cost structure at CMC Markets pays off amid an overwhelmingly superior product and services portfolios. Plus500 focuses on the core trading environment, where it does not remain competitive.

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