| Feature | XM Trading | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2009 | 1989 |
| Headquarters | Limassol, Cyprus | London, United Kingdom |
| Regulation | ASIC, CySEC, DFSA, FSC-Belize, FSCA | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, IIROC, MAS, FMA |
| Minimum Deposit | $5 | None |
| Maximum Leverage | Up to 1:1000 | Up to 1:500 |
| Trading Instruments | 1,000+ including Forex, Commodities, Indices, Stocks, Cryptocurrencies | 12,000+ including Forex, Indices, Commodities, Shares, ETFs, Cryptocurrencies |
| Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Proprietary 'Next Generation' platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) |
| Account Types | Micro, Standard, Ultra Low, Shares | Spread Betting, CFD, Corporate |
| Spreads | From 0.6 pips | From 0.7 pips |
| Commission | None on most accounts; $3.50 per $100,000 on Zero accounts | None on most products; varies for shares |
| Deposit Methods | Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin | Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Withdrawal Methods | Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Cards, Neteller, Skrill, Bitcoin | Bank Wire, Credit/Debit Cards, PayPal, Skrill, Neteller |
| Customer Support | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone | 24/5 via live chat, email, phone |
| Educational Resources | Webinars, video tutorials, articles, demo accounts | Webinars, tutorials, news feeds, research from Morningstar |
| Research Tools | Market analysis, economic calendar, trading signals | Pattern recognition scanners, economic calendar, market news |
| Mobile Trading | MT4 and MT5 mobile apps | 'Next Generation' mobile app, MT4 mobile app |
| Demo Account | Yes | Yes |
| Islamic Account | Yes | Yes |
| Bonus Programs | Up to $5,000 forex bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus | Not typically offered |
| Copy Trading | Available | Not available |
| Automated Trading | Supported via MT4/MT5 | Supported via MT4 |
| Inactivity Fee | $5 after 90 days of inactivity | £10 monthly after 12 months of inactivity |
| Regulatory Protection | Investor compensation up to €20,000 (CySEC), £85,000 (FCA) | Investor compensation up to £85,000 (FCA) |
| Negative Balance Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Segregated Client Funds | Yes | Yes |
| Additional Features | VPS services, multi-terminal platforms | Advanced charting tools, customizable dashboards |
| Execution Speed | 99.35% of orders executed in under 1 second | Ultra-fast execution with 99.9% fill rate |
| Order Types | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop, One-Cancels-the-Other (OCO) | Market, Limit, Stop, Trailing Stop, Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLO) |
| Slippage Policy | Minimal slippage due to fast execution | Advanced order execution technology to reduce slippage |
| Hedging Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Scalping Allowed | Yes | Yes |
| Algo Trading Support | Yes, via MetaTrader EAs (Expert Advisors) | Yes, via MetaTrader and Next Generation APIs |
| Social Trading | Yes, via copy trading features | No dedicated social trading platform |
| Risk Management Tools | Negative balance protection, margin call alerts, stop-out levels | GSLOs, price alerts, trailing stops, risk/reward ratio tools |
| Market Depth | Not explicitly stated | Level 2 market depth available |
| Custom Indicators | Yes, through MetaTrader 4/5 | Yes, through proprietary platform and MetaTrader 4 |
| Volatility Protection | No specific tools mentioned | Volatility indicator and GSLOs available |
| Swap-Free Trading | Available for Islamic accounts | Available for Islamic accounts |
| Advanced Charting Tools | Standard MT4/MT5 charting features | Over 115 technical indicators, pattern recognition tools |
| Sentiment Analysis | Some tools via MT5 | Client sentiment tool available |
| Fractional Share Trading | Not available | Available on CFDs |
| Number of Indices | 30+ | 80+ |
| Number of Currency Pairs | 55+ | 330+ |
| Crypto CFD Trading | Available (limited) | Available (extensive) |
| Commodities Available | Energy, metals, agriculture | Energy, metals, soft commodities |
| ETF Trading | No | Yes |
| Stock Trading | Available via CFDs | Available via CFDs and spread betting |
| Interest on Unused Funds | Not offered | Interest paid on idle funds above a threshold |
| Trading Contests | Yes, periodic contests | No trading contests available |
| News & Market Analysis | Daily market insights, trading signals | In-depth analysis, Morningstar equity research |
| API Trading | Not directly supported | Available via Next Generation API |
| Custom Alerts & Notifications | Standard MetaTrader alerts | Custom alerts via mobile and web platforms |
| Account Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, JPY, CHF, HUF, PLN | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, SGD, JPY, CAD, NOK, SEK |
| Multi-Account Management (MAM/PAMM) | Available for professionals | Not explicitly supported |
| VIP/Professional Accounts | Available for high-net-worth clients | Available with higher leverage and premium services |
| Reputation & Awards | Multiple awards for best execution and customer service | Multiple awards for best platform and innovation |
| Overall Trading Experience | Strong execution, excellent for forex traders | Advanced tools, ideal for multi-asset traders |
| Total Number of Tradable Instruments | 1,000+ | 12,000+ |
| Forex Pairs | 55+ | 330+ |
| Global Indices | 30+ | 80+ |
| Shares & Stocks | Limited to CFDs | Available as CFDs and spread betting |
| ETFs (Exchange-Traded Funds) | No | Yes |
| Bonds & Treasuries | No | Yes |
| Interest Rate Products | No | Yes |
| Precious Metals | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium | Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium |
| Soft Commodities | Limited selection | Coffee, Cocoa, Sugar, Cotton, etc. |
| Cryptocurrency CFDs | Limited (few pairs) | Extensive list, including BTC, ETH, LTC, XRP, DOGE |
| IPO Trading | No | Available |
| Fundamental Analysis | Limited tools | Extensive news, insights, and research |
| Technical Analysis Tools | Standard MT4/MT5 indicators | Over 115 indicators, pattern recognition tools |
| Market Sentiment Data | Limited | Yes, real-time sentiment indicators |
| Trading Signals | Available | Available |
| AI-Powered Analysis | No | Yes, through proprietary tools |
| Backtesting Tools | Not explicitly available | Yes, via Next Generation platform |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
XM Trading offers high leverage, lower minimum deposits, and strong forex trading conditions, making it ideal for beginners and automated traders. CMC Markets provides a wider asset selection, advanced tools, and deep market research, best suited for professional and multi-asset traders.