Broker comparison · updated 2026-07-29

Capital.com vs CMC Markets

Capital.com suits traders seeking a lower-entry CFD account; CMC Markets offers a broader proprietary-platform market range, subject to entity and country terms.

Capital.com
73.5/ 100 · our score
CySECSCB (Bahamas)
Full Capital.com review
CMC Markets
69.5/ 100 · our score
FCA
Full CMC Markets review

Our verdict

It depends on what you trade.

This Capital.com vs CMC Markets comparison leans toward Capital.com for traders who want a modest published starting deposit and a live EUR/USD pricing example of 0.6 pips on its EU pricing page. CMC Markets is the stronger fit for users who prioritize platform breadth, integrated research, and a much larger proprietary-platform instrument list. Neither is a simple universal choice: both primarily offer leveraged derivatives, and costs, protections, payment methods, and product access depend on the legal entity and country. In the UK, CMC Markets’ FCA-regulated entities provide a particularly clear regulatory route; Capital.com’s relevant entity should be checked before applying.

Both hold up

Capital.com vs CMC Markets at a glance

Capital.com CMC Markets
Our comparison score73.5 / 10069.5 / 100
Founded20161989
Published minimum deposit20 USD/EUR/GBP; wire 50 EURNo UK minimum published
EUR/USD spread reference0.6 pips example; live variableFrom 0.7 pts UK; 0.5 elsewhere
Main platformsWeb/app, MT4, MT5, TradingViewNext Gen, MT4, MT5, TradingView
Stated platform instruments5,500+ CFD assetsAbout 12,000 on proprietary platform
Named regulatory evidenceCySEC 319/17FCA 173730
Inactivity fee10 EUR/USD/GBP monthly after 1 year£10 monthly after 12 months
Demo accountYesYes

marks the stronger side on that row. Key numbers were re-checked on 2026-07-29. Terms differ by legal entity and country — confirm on the broker's own legal pages before funding.

Score breakdown

How Capital.com and CMC Markets earn their comparison scores, component by component — same methodology as every review on this site.

Regulation & oversightout of 30
Capital.com
26
CMC Markets
27
Transparency of termsout of 20
Capital.com
17
CMC Markets
17
Platforms & toolsout of 15
Capital.com
14
CMC Markets
14
Funding & withdrawalsout of 10
Capital.com
9
CMC Markets
8
External sentimentout of 10
Capital.com
8.5
CMC Markets
9.5

Fees comparison: Capital.com has the clearer low-entry route; CMC adds FX Active pricing

Edge: Capital.comPublished 20-unit card threshold and a clear 0.6-pip example.

Choose Capital.com if a published entry threshold matters more than access to a specialist FX pricing schedule. Its help center states a minimum deposit of 20 USD, EUR, or GBP for payment methods generally, while wire transfers require at least 50 EUR or the account-currency equivalent. Its EU pricing explanation uses a 0.6-pip EUR/USD example, although live spreads change with market conditions. CMC Markets states no minimum deposit requirement for UK clients, but sufficient margin is still needed to place a trade. Its standard EUR/USD spread starts from 0.7 points on the UK site; selected regional pages show 0.5 points. FX Active can quote from 0.0 pips on six majors but adds a 0.0025% commission per transaction. Both charge overnight financing where applicable. Compare the exact account’s live deal ticket, not just advertised minimums.

Platform comparison: CMC Markets has more instruments; both support third-party tools

Edge: CMC MarketsAbout 12,000 proprietary-platform instruments versus 5,500+.

CMC Markets is the better match for a trader who wants one proprietary platform to cover a very wide CFD catalogue. CMC says its web platform supports about 12,000 instruments, alongside a mobile app, MT4, MT5, and TradingView connectivity. Its web platform also lists integrated TradingView charts, Reuters news, Morningstar research, TipRanks, and sentiment tools. Capital.com offers its own web platform and app, plus MT4, MT5, and TradingView; its MT5 page says availability depends on region and account type. Capital.com lists 5,500-plus CFD assets on that page, so it remains multi-asset but does not match CMC’s stated proprietary-platform count. For automated-trading users, verify which symbols and order features are available in MetaTrader rather than assuming the web-platform range carries across. Platform availability, instruments, and integrations can differ by entity.

Regulation comparison: check the named entity before weighing either broker’s safeguards

Even matchBoth provide identifiable regulated entities; protections are entity-specific.

CMC Markets has the clearer choice for a UK resident specifically seeking an FCA-regulated provider. CMC Markets UK plc is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority under reference 173730, and CMC identifies a separate FCA-regulated investment entity as well. Capital.com’s Cyprus operation, Capital Com SV Investments Ltd, appears on the CySEC register with licence 319/17, dated April 7, 2017. Capital.com also operates through other group entities, including arrangements outside the EU; CMC likewise serves different regions through different companies. That distinction matters because leverage limits, negative-balance protections, compensation arrangements, permitted products, and complaint routes are entity-specific. Regulatory authorization reduces certain operational risks but does not remove CFD market risk or make leveraged trading suitable for every reader. Confirm the contracting entity in the application documents and legal disclosures before depositing funds.

Funding comparison: Capital.com lists more wallet-style options, while CMC keeps UK funding simple

Edge: Capital.comApple Pay and PayPal appear on selected Capital.com entity pages.

Capital.com is the more flexible-looking choice where its local payment menu includes Apple Pay or PayPal, but those options are not universal. Its Australian payment page, for example, lists PayID, bank transfer, cards, Apple Pay, and PayPal, while its general help material confirms cards and wire transfer. It also requires withdrawals to follow the original funding method up to the deposited amount, consistent with anti-money-laundering controls. CMC Markets’ UK-facing material describes card, bank-transfer, and online-banking funding; its TradingView guide specifically names card, bank transfer, or online banking. Neither broker’s payment list should be treated as global. Processing times, deposit limits, currency conversion, and withdrawal routes may change based on the country, account currency, and payment provider. Before funding, readers should inspect the payment screen for their actual legal entity and test any withdrawal restrictions with a small amount.

Research comparison: CMC Markets embeds more third-party analysis in its main platform

Edge: CMC MarketsReuters, Morningstar, TipRanks, sentiment, and pattern scanning are integrated.

CMC Markets has the advantage for readers who want research tools built into the primary trading interface. Its web-platform description includes Reuters news, Morningstar equity research, TipRanks analysis, a client-sentiment tracker, and pattern-recognition scanning. That package is useful for screening and context, though it is not a substitute for independent analysis or a risk plan. Capital.com puts more emphasis on its proprietary platform, education materials, market pages, and TradingView access. Its platform ecosystem still offers charting and third-party workflow options through MetaTrader and TradingView, but the official CMC platform page provides a more concrete list of embedded research suppliers and tools. The relevant question is practical: traders who already analyze in TradingView may find either broker adequate, while those wanting news, research, and trade management in one native terminal may prefer CMC. Availability can vary across regions and accounts.

Which broker fits you

Choose Capital.com if
  • You want a published 20 USD/EUR/GBP starting deposit for most payment methods.
  • You prefer Capital.com’s proprietary web/app experience with optional MT4, MT5, and TradingView access.
  • You are comfortable checking the relevant Capital.com entity’s local terms, product access, and payment methods.
Choose CMC Markets if
  • You want CMC Markets’ larger proprietary-platform instrument range and built-in research stack.
  • You are a UK resident seeking the clearly identified FCA-regulated CMC Markets UK plc route.
  • You want to compare standard CFD pricing with CMC’s commission-based FX Active account.

Common questions

Is Capital.com or CMC Markets cheaper for EUR/USD trading?

It depends on the entity and account. Capital.com’s EU pricing material gives a 0.6-pip EUR/USD illustration, while CMC Markets’ UK standard pricing starts from 0.7 points and some regional pages show 0.5 points. CMC’s FX Active account can quote from 0.0 pips on selected majors but charges commission. Check live spreads and commissions immediately before trading.

Does Capital.com or CMC Markets require a minimum deposit?

Capital.com publishes a 20 USD, EUR, or GBP minimum for most payment methods and a 50 EUR minimum for wire transfers, subject to account currency and entity. CMC Markets states that UK clients have no mandatory minimum deposit, although a trader must deposit enough to meet margin requirements. Regional terms may differ.

Are Capital.com and CMC Markets available to US residents?

Neither comparison should be read as an offer to US residents. Their core retail offerings discussed here are leveraged CFD products, and availability is determined by residency, product rules, and the contracting entity. Prospective clients should use each broker’s eligibility and legal-entity disclosures rather than relying on a generic global availability assumption.

Which broker has better platform choice, Capital.com or CMC Markets?

Both list proprietary web and mobile platforms plus MT4, MT5, and TradingView access. CMC Markets reports about 12,000 instruments on its proprietary platform and more embedded research tools. Capital.com reports 5,500-plus CFD assets and may suit users who prefer its simpler proprietary interface. Exact platform access varies by region and account type.

Sources for this comparison (8)The primary pages we relied on — worth reading before you open an account.
Risk warning. Forex and CFD trading involves significant risk. Always verify a broker's legal entity, regulator status, fees, restrictions and withdrawal rules before depositing funds.
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