CMC Markets

CMC Markets is a long-standing name in the online trading space, founded in 1989 and headquartered in London. The broker is regulated by top-tier authorities including the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Germany’s BaFin, and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). This gives it a strong regulatory profile across multiple key regions.

CMC offers an extensive selection of products—over 12,000 instruments—spanning forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, and treasuries. The product range is genuinely among the broadest we’ve seen. Rather than relying on MetaTrader, CMC has built its own proprietary platform, Next Generation, which forms the centrepiece of the trading experience.

CMC stands out from most brokers by offering a sophisticated, in-house platform that doesn’t just compete with MetaTrader—it arguably improves on it. The Next Generation platform is clean, modern, and offers a huge degree of customisation. Advanced charting tools, price projection tools, client sentiment data, and over 80 technical indicators make it a serious platform for active traders.

Spread-wise, CMC performs reasonably well across a number of asset classes. In particular, we found their index spreads to be some of the more competitive available among brokers offering DMA-style execution. Trading the FTSE or DAX during active hours is generally cost-effective. Forex spreads are variable, and while not always the cheapest in our testing, they are consistent and fair for a broker of this tier.

CMC also earns points for its strong research and educational resources. Market commentary, webinars, and platform tutorials are all accessible from within the trading interface. There’s also a comprehensive economic calendar and integrated news feed. The broker seems to invest effort into helping its clients become better traders—a quality we always value.

Regulation is another strong point. With FCA oversight in the UK, clients benefit from negative balance protection, segregated accounts, and access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) should anything go wrong.

While CMC Markets has a lot going for it, spreads on forex pairs can sometimes be higher than those offered by more aggressive, commission-based brokers. For example, EUR/USD spread fluctuations may not be ideal for scalpers or those trading high volume on tight margins. It’s worth noting that all spreads are variable, so conditions can change depending on market volatility.

There’s also no MT4 or MT5 access. This won’t matter to traders who prefer a more modern trading environment, but for those who rely on MetaTrader’s ecosystem—such as using EAs or custom indicators—it could be a limitation.

Lastly, the platform, while powerful, may feel overwhelming at first. Traders used to simpler setups may face a learning curve when adapting to CMC’s feature-rich interface.

CMC Markets is one of the most established brokers on the market, with strong regulation and an exceptionally well-developed proprietary platform. It’s a great choice for active traders who want access to a huge product list and sophisticated tools without being locked into the MetaTrader ecosystem.

The broker performs especially well on indices and has a transparent fee structure with no surprises. While forex traders may find slightly lower spreads elsewhere, the overall trading experience—including support, platform quality, and education—is strong.

CMC doesn’t try to chase gimmicks or trend-chasing features. Instead, it offers a mature, professional-grade trading environment that suits self-directed traders looking for reliability, product depth, and excellent platform technology.

For traders in the UK and beyond who prioritise platform quality and regulation, CMC Markets is an excellent option that has stood the test of time.