Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets, CFDs, OTC options or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Compare our award-winning web platform* with the popular MetaTrader 4 platform.
CMC Next Generation platform
Spread bet or trade CFDs on our web platform, with institutional-grade features and security, and best-in-class insight and analysis.
MetaTrader 4 platform
Spread bet or trade CFDs on forex, indices, and commodities at home or on the go on the popular MT4 platform with us.
Number of instruments
Number of instruments
12,000+
220
Forex
YES (330+)
YES (175+)
Indices
YES (80+)
YES (17)
Cryptocurrencies
YES (19) – professional clients only
YES (12) – professional clients only
Commodities
YES (100+)
YES (15)
Shares and ETFs
YES (10,000+)
NO
Treasuries
YES (50+)
NO
Countdowns
YES – professional clients only
NO
Account properties
100% automatic execution of orders without the mediation and intervention of the dealer
YES
YES
Minimum payment
NO
NO
Free account maintenance
YES
YES
Account currency
CHF, EUR, GBP, NOK, SEK, USD
CHF, EUR, GBP, NOK, SEK, USD
Individual account
YES
YES
YES
NO
CMC Pro offer
YES
YES
Transaction discounts for active customers
YES (professional clients only)
YES (professional clients only)
Maximum leverage
30:1
30:1
Protection against negative balances
YES (retail clients only)
YES (retail clients only)
Available orders
Market order
YES
YES
Limit and stop-entry orders
YES
YES
Stop-loss and take-profit orders
YES
YES
Trailing stop-loss orders
YES (also active after switching off the platform)
YES (must logged in to the platform)
Guaranteed stop-loss orders
YES
NO
Boundary orders (helps prevent slippage)
YES
NO
Access market depth via price ladder
YES
NO
Position size examples
Transaction unit
Unit (equal to the price of the instrument in the base currency)
Lot (according to specification)
Minimum trade size for EUR/USD
400 EUR (= 0.004 lot on MT4)
0.01 lot (= 1000 EUR on CMC platform)
Maximum trade size for EUR/USD
EUR 30 million (= 300 lots on MT4)
40 lots (= EUR 4 million on CMC platform)
Minimum step size for EUR/USD
1 EUR (= 0.00001 lot on MT4)
0.01 lot (= 1000 EUR on CMC platform)
Minimum trade size for Germany 40
0.01 units (= 0.004 lot on MT4)
0.01 lot (= 0.25 units on CMC platform)
Maximum trade size for Germany 40
1,500 units (= 60 lots on MT4)
5 lots (= 125 units on CMC platform)
Minimum step size for Germany 40
0.0001 units (= 0.000008 lot)
0.01 lot (= 0.25 units on CMC platform)
Minimum trade size for Gold
0.4 units (= 0.004 lot on MT4)
0.01 lot (= 1 unit on CMC platform)
Maximum trade size for Gold
7,500 units (= 750 lots on MT4)
10 lots (= 1000 units on CMC platform)
Minimum step size for Gold
0.001 units (= 0.00001 lot on MT4)
0.01 lot (= 1 unit on CMC platform)
Platform properties and tools
Requires installation
NO
YES
Personalise platform appearance
YES
YES (limited)
Personalise order properties
YES
NO
Trade using amounts or units
YES
NO
Choice of forced closure method (close-out)
YES (standard; last in, first out; largest position margin first; largest position loss first)
No (only ordinary)
Choice between netting and hedging
YES
No (only hedging)
Advanced instrument search tools
YES
NO
List of favourite instruments
YES
YES
Custom-stop triggering
YES (at buy, sell or mid-price)
No (only on the right side of the spread)
Advanced charting package
YES
YES
Built-in indicators and drawing tools
YES
YES
Parameters of indicators can be edited
YES
YES
Ability to create your own indicators
NO
YES
Automatic trading
NO
YES (Expert Advisors)
Pattern recognition scanner
YES (candle and line)
NO
Market sentiment tool
YES
YES
1-click transactions
YES
YES
Multi-interval analysis
YES
YES
Offline alerts
YES (free SMS, email, push, inside platform/price, calendar, order fulfilment)
YES
Economic calendar
YES (Reuters)
YES
Fundamental analysis reports of Morningstar Research
YES
NO
Reuters news
YES
NO
Built-in market comments
YES
NO
Price bar (ticker)
YES
NO
Direct access to educational and analytical materials
YES
YES
CCM Next Generation platform
MetaTrader 4 platform
FAQs
Is it free to open an account?
There's no cost when opening a live spread betting or CFD account. You can also view prices and use tools such as charts, Reuters news or Morningstar quantitative equity reports, free of charge. However, you will need to deposit funds in your account to place a trade. You can find out more about the costs of placing a trade.
Is CMC Markets regulated by the FCA?
Yes, CMC Markets UK plc (registration number 173730) and CMC Spreadbet plc (registration number 170627) are fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Retail client money is held in segregated client bank accounts and money held on behalf of clients is distributed across a range of major banks, which are regularly assessed against our risk criteria.
Is CMC Markets covered by the FSCS?
Yes, your eligible deposits with CMC Markets are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensations Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. If CMC Markets ever went into liquidation, retail clients would have their share of segregated money returned, minus the administrator's costs in handling and distributing these funds. Any shortfall of funds up to £85,000 may be compensated under the FSCS.
How does CMC Markets segregate client money?
Under the FCA’s Client Money rules, we’re required to segregate client money (unless you agree with us otherwise) from CMC’s own funds. The funds held in segregated bank accounts do not belong to CMC and will be held in a way that enables it to be identified as client money. Learn more about client money regulations
How does CMC Markets make money?
Our income primarily comes from our spreads, while other fees, such as overnight holding costs, make a minor contribution to our overall revenue.
We never aim to profit from our clients' losses. Our aim is to build long-term relationships by providing the best possible trading experience through our technology and customer service.
What can I trade on with CMC?
You can spread bet and trade CFDs on over 12,000 instruments with us. See a list of all our popular markets and instruments.
Can you spread bet on MT4?
Yes, you can spread bet and trade CFDs on the MetaTrader 4 platform with us.
Is there a minimum payment to get started on the platforms?
There is no minimum deposit to start trading on either platform. However, you will need to ensure you have sufficient funds to cover your leveraged positions to avoid a margin call.
Which markets can I trade on?
With our web platform, you can spread bet and trade CFDs on 12,000+ instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries, as well as our exclusive share baskets. View our range of markets. With MT4, you can spread bet and trade CFDs on over 175 forex pairs, plus key indices and commodities.
Does the CMC web platform offer automated trading?
Our web trading platform doesn’t yet offer automated trading. However, you can create algorithms using Expert Advisors (EAs) and trading robots on MT4 without any coding knowledge. Open an MT4 demo account to practise using automated trading strategies.
What technical analysis tools does MT4 have?
MT4 comes with a wide range of technical indicators and add-ons, such as pivot points, Donchian channels and Renko charts. It also offers the powerful Autochartist tool, which uses pattern recognition software to identify trade ideas and opportunities.
Can I trade on mobile?
What is the client sentiment tool?
The client sentiment tool is available on both our web platform and MT4, to analyse user behaviour and detect whether traders are feeling particularly bullish or bearish about certain instruments. Read more about measuring investor sentiment.
Can you create your own indicators on MT4?
You can create your own leading or lagging indicators on MT4 using Expert Advisors. In order to do this, you should be familiar with MQL4 and MetaEditor tools. Learn how to create MT4 indicators.
What platform features are exclusive to CMC's web platform?
Some exclusive features of our online trading platform include a chart forum, access to free Morningstar fundamental reports, a Reuters news feed, boundary orders and a price ladder to access market depth. Learn more by watching our platform tutorials.
Can I open a demo account?
You can open a demo account to practise with £10,000 of virtual funds on both platforms. Choose between a spread betting demo account, CFD demo account or MT4 demo account to practise trading risk-free.
