Quick Verdict — United States Traders
Best Overall
AvaTrade
Higher overall score & more features
Best Spreads
CMC Markets
Lower trading costs for scalpers
Islamic Accounts
AvaTrade
Swap-free for United States Muslims
Best for Beginners
AvaTrade
Better education & support
AvaTrade and CMC Markets are two globally recognized online brokers, but for traders in the United States, their availability and offerings differ significantly. This comparison provides a factual breakdown of regulation, costs, platforms, and account types to help US traders make an informed choice. While both have strong international reputations, only one is fully licensed to accept US clients directly.
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Overall Scores Comparison

AvaTrade
CBI · ASIC · JFSA
4.3
CompareBroker score
Winner
VS

CMC Markets
FCA · ASIC · MAS
4.2
CompareBroker score
Trading Costs
Spreads, commissions
Platforms
MT4, MT5, cTrader, TV
Regulation
Safety, oversight
Customer Support
24/5, chat, phone
Education
Webinars, guides
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Trading Costs - Spreads & Commissions
| Instrument | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| EUR/USD avg spread | 0.09 pips + $3.5/lot | 0.0 pips + $3.5/lot | CMC Markets |
| XAU/USD (Gold) | $0.14 typical | $0.12 typical | CMC Markets |
| GBP/USD avg spread | 0.29 pips | 0.23 pips | CMC Markets |
| Standard acc spread | from 1.0 pips | from 0.8 pips | CMC Markets |
| ECN commission | $3.5/lot/side | $3.5/lot/side | Tie |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 | CMC Markets |
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Account Types Comparison
| Account Type | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|
| Standard account | ✓ | ✓ |
| ECN / Raw spread | ✓ | ✓ |
| Islamic (swap-free) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Demo account | ✓ | ✓ |
| PAMM / MAM account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Zero spread account | ✗ | ✗ |
| Copy trading | ✓ | ✗ |
| Min deposit | $100 | $0 |
⚖️
Leverage Comparison - United States Traders
| Entity / Asset | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|
| United States (offshore) | Up to 1:400 | Up to 1:1 |
| Forex major pairs | 1:400 | 1:1 |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | 1:200 | 1:200 |
| Indices | 1:100 | 1:100 |
| Cryptocurrencies | 1:2 to 1:10 | 1:2 to 1:10 |
Leverage Warning for United States Traders
Traders in United States typically open accounts under offshore entities with up to 1:500 leverage. High leverage significantly increases risk.
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Trading Instruments - Assets Available
| Asset Class | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| Forex pairs | 90+ | 65+ | AvaTrade |
| Gold (XAU/USD) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Oil (WTI/Brent) | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stock indices | 25+ indices | 20+ indices | AvaTrade |
| Crypto CFDs | 30+ | 20+ | AvaTrade |
| Stocks / Share CFDs | ✗ | 1,700+ | CMC Markets |
| ETFs | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
⚡
Execution Quality - Speed & Slippage
| Factor | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| Execution model | ECN/STP | True ECN | CMC Markets |
| Avg execution speed | ~30ms | ~40ms | AvaTrade |
| Slippage | Very low | Very low | Tie |
| Requotes | Very rare | Very rare | Tie |
| Scalping allowed | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| EA / Bot trading | ✓ | ✗ | Tie |
🛡️
Regulation & Safety for United States Traders
| Safety Factor | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|
| Primary regulator | CBI | FCA |
| Top-tier regulated | ✓ | ✓ |
| Investor protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Segregated funds | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neg. balance protection | ✓ | ✓ |
Verify regulation independently
Always verify your broker's registration directly on the official regulator website before depositing. Regulation details for United States traders may differ by entity.
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Deposits & Withdrawals for United States
| Payment Method | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|
| Bank Wire Transfer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Visa / Mastercard | ✓ | ✓ |
| Skrill | ✓ | ✓ |
| Neteller | ✓ | ✗ |
| USDT / Crypto | ✗ | ✗ |
| Withdrawal time | Card/e-wallet 24-48hrs after approval; Wire Transfer up to 7-10 business days | 5 business days |
☪️
Islamic Accounts - Swap-Free for United States Muslims
| Islamic Account Feature | AvaTrade | CMC Markets |
|---|
| Swap-free available | ✓ | ✗ |
| Admin fee instead of swap | On some instruments | On some instruments |
| MT4 / MT5 supported | ✓ | ✓ |
| How to apply | Contact support | Contact support |
Islamic Account Note
Always verify current swap-free terms directly with broker support before trading. Admin fees or holding period restrictions may apply.
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Customer Support Comparison
| Support Feature | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| Live chat | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Phone support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Email support | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| 24/7 support | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
| Response time (chat) | <2 minutes | <3 minutes | AvaTrade |
| Mobile Feature | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| iOS App Store rating | 4.5 stars | 4.3 stars | AvaTrade |
| Google Play rating | 4.3 stars | 4.2 stars | AvaTrade |
| Biometric login | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Push notifications | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Full charting on mobile | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| TradingView mobile | ✗ | ✗ | Tie |
📚
Education & Research Tools
| Resource | AvaTrade | CMC Markets | Winner |
|---|
| Video tutorials | 100+ videos | 50+ videos | Tie |
| Webinars (live) | Weekly | Monthly | Tie |
| Economic calendar | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Market analysis | Daily | Basic | AvaTrade |
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Real User Reviews - Trustpilot
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Pros & Cons of Each Broker
AvaTrade
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
+Islamic swap-free account
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
CMC Markets
Pros
+Top-tier regulated
Cons
-No TradingView
-No 24/7 support
👤
Who Should Use Which Broker? - United States Guide
Choose AvaTrade if you...
Are a beginner trader in United States
Want TradingView integration
Have less than $200 to start
Choose CMC Markets if you...
Are a beginner trader in United States
Are a scalper or EA trader
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FAQ - AvaTrade vs CMC Markets in United States
Can US traders use AvaTrade? +
Is CMC Markets available to US traders? +
Which broker has lower spreads for US traders? +
Final Verdict - United States 2026
AvaTrade wins overall
After comparing 12 categories, AvaTrade comes out ahead for most United States traders.
Risk Disclaimer: CFDs and forex trading involve significant risk of loss. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. All data verified as of July 2026.