CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74-89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Does CMC Markets Have Low Fees Overall in the UK?

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Yes — CMC Markets has low fees overall for UK traders. Its spread-based pricing on the Standard CFD account is competitive, the FX Active account offers some of the cheapest forex execution costs available from any FCA-regulated broker, and non-trading fees are minimal across the board. There is no account maintenance fee, no deposit fee, no withdrawal fee, and the only inactivity charge is £10 per month — and only after a full 12 consecutive months without a single trade. For active UK retail traders, CMC Markets sits firmly among the most cost-effective multi-asset brokers on the market today.

How CMC Markets Structures Its Fees: The Architecture Explained

Before comparing individual numbers, it’s worth understanding how CMC Markets makes money — because the fee architecture is genuinely different from many UK brokers.

Like most CFD and spread betting providers, CMC Markets earns the majority of its revenue through the spread — the difference between the buy price and the sell price of any instrument. On most instruments, there is no separate commission on top of the spread. The spread is the trading cost.

This is important for UK traders to understand, because it means the advertised “no commission” headline is accurate for the majority of use cases. The headline spreads, however, vary by instrument and can widen significantly during periods of low liquidity or high volatility — something we cover in detail below.

CMC Markets’ fee categories break down into two groups:

Trading fees — costs incurred when opening or closing positions:

  • Spreads (the primary cost on almost all instruments)
  • Commissions (applicable to share CFDs and the FX Active account)
  • Overnight holding costs / swap rates (charged on leveraged positions held past 5pm New York time)
  • Guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO) premiums — optional, refunded if not triggered
  • Rollover costs (on forward contracts at expiry)
  • Market data subscription fees (relevant for some share CFD traders)

Non-trading fees — costs not directly tied to your open positions:

  • Inactivity fee: £10/month after 12 consecutive months of zero trading activity
  • Currency conversion fee: 0.5% mark-up when assets or deposits are in a currency different to your account base currency
  • International wire transfer fees (applicable in certain jurisdictions; most standard UK methods are free)

The critical point that often gets overlooked in broker fee comparisons is this: CMC Markets charges zero fees in the majority of non-trading categories. There is no account opening charge, no monthly platform fee, no deposit fee, and no withdrawal fee for standard payment methods. That alone puts CMC Markets ahead of many competitors who charge custody or platform fees for simply holding an account — a common complaint among UK investors dealing with certain execution-only stockbrokers.

Forex Fees: Where CMC Markets Is Most Competitive

Forex trading is where CMC Markets is most price-competitive, and it is also where the distinction between account types matters most for UK traders.

Standard CFD Account: Spread-Only Forex Pricing

On the Standard CFD Account — the default account type for most UK retail traders — all forex costs are embedded in the spread. No separate commission is charged. The spreads are variable, meaning they fluctuate based on underlying market liquidity and widen during low-activity periods such as the Asian session open or immediately around major data releases (UK CPI, Bank of England base rate decisions, US Non-Farm Payrolls).

Typical minimum spreads on major forex pairs during peak UK trading hours:

Currency Pair

Typical Minimum Spread

EUR/USD

From 0.5–0.7 pips

GBP/USD

From 0.9 pips

USD/JPY

From 0.7 pips

AUD/USD

From 0.7 pips

EUR/GBP

From 1.0 pip

GBP/JPY

From 1.5 pips

For a UK trader opening a standard lot (100,000 units) of GBP/USD with a 0.9 pip spread, the round-trip cost is approximately £9–£10, depending on exchange rates. On EUR/USD at 0.7 pips, it is approximately $14 per round trip.

These are competitive figures relative to the UK broker market overall, though ECN-model providers can offer tighter raw spreads. What differentiates CMC Markets on the Standard Account is the depth of spread transparency — the platform publishes historical spread data directly within the trading interface, allowing traders to verify actual spread conditions during specific time periods. That level of disclosure is not standard practice across the industry and is particularly valuable for UK traders planning around scheduled economic announcements such as the Autumn Statement or Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meetings.

FX Active Account: Commission-Based Pricing with Raw Spreads

The FX Active Account is CMC Markets’ answer to active forex traders who prioritise execution cost above all else. Available to UK clients, it offers:

  • Spreads from 0.0 pips on six of the most-traded major currency pairs
  • A 25% spread discount on more than 300 additional forex instruments
  • A commission of $2.50 per $100,000 notional value per side — equating to $5 round trip per standard lot

For a UK day trader executing multiple standard lots daily, the total cost of an EUR/USD trade on the FX Active account (spread near zero + $5 commission) frequently undercuts the cost of trading the same instrument on a standard spread-only account at a competing broker with a 0.7–1.0 pip typical spread (which translates to $7–$10 per lot).

It is worth noting that the FX Active account is not available through all CMC Markets entities. UK clients accessing via CMC Markets UK PLC (FCA regulated, firm reference number 173730) can apply for the account. Retail traders in European jurisdictions through other CMC entities have access to spread-only pricing models.

How CMC Markets Forex Fees Compare to Leading UK Competitors

To give UK traders a full picture, here is how CMC Markets’ forex pricing stacks up against the most commonly compared brokers — all of which are reviewed in full on our broker comparison tool:

CMC Markets vs Pepperstone: Pepperstone’s Razor account delivers raw spreads from 0.0 pips with a $7 round-trip commission per standard lot. On a pure execution-cost basis, CMC’s FX Active at $5 per lot is cheaper. Pepperstone holds a broader multi-jurisdictional regulatory footprint and offers cTrader alongside MT4/MT5, which CMC does not. For traders who want the lowest possible commission per lot from an FCA-regulated broker, CMC’s FX Active has the edge.

CMC Markets vs eToro: eToro charges a minimum 1.0 pip spread on EUR/USD with no commission-based account alternative. That is meaningfully wider than CMC’s Standard Account and substantially more expensive than the FX Active account. eToro’s proposition is built around social investing and real share ownership — not forex execution efficiency.

CMC Markets vs IG: IG is CMC Markets’ most direct UK competitor. IG’s standard EUR/USD spread is around 0.6 pips, comparable to CMC’s Standard Account. IG does not offer an equivalent to the FX Active commission model. For high-volume forex traders, CMC Markets is generally cheaper. IG has the edge for spread betting access to certain proprietary features and a longer UK market heritage dating to 1974.

CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets: ThinkMarkets’ ThinkZero account charges $7 per lot round trip at raw spreads — comparable to Pepperstone and more expensive than CMC’s FX Active. ThinkMarkets has strong FCA regulation and a broad instrument range, but CMC wins on forex execution cost for active traders.

Verdict on forex fees: CMC Markets is low-cost for forex. On the FX Active account, it offers one of the cheapest execution cost structures available from any FCA-regulated broker in the UK market. On the Standard Account, it is competitive but not the cheapest if you are specifically looking for raw ECN pricing. If you are an active forex trader based in the UK, the FX Active account should be your starting point. See our full forex broker comparison for a comprehensive breakdown across 100+ reviewed platforms.

Index CFD Fees: Highly Competitive, No Commission Charged

Index CFDs are one of the most actively traded instrument categories among UK retail traders — the FTSE 100, Germany 40 (DAX), US 500 (S&P 500), and Wall Street 30 (Dow Jones) are perennial favourites.

CMC Markets’ index CFD pricing is genuinely strong. All costs are embedded in the spread, with no separate commission charged:

Index

Typical Spread

FTSE 100

From 1.0 point

Germany 40 (DAX)

From 1.0 point

US 500 (S&P 500)

From 0.4 points

Wall Street 30 (Dow Jones)

From 1.0 point

Australia 200

From 1.0 point

Japan 225 (Nikkei)

From 5.0 points

The FTSE 100 spread of 1.0 point is the UK market standard among top-tier regulated brokers. Some ultra-competitive providers occasionally offer tighter spreads during certain hours, but 1.0 point is the typical minimum across the regulated UK broker landscape.

The US 500 spread from 0.4 points is notably tight. On a $4,000 position (approximately 2 contracts at current S&P levels), a 0.4-point spread represents a round-trip cost of roughly $0.80 — competitive with any spread-only provider in the UK market.

Overnight financing on index CFDs is charged at the underlying rate plus a broker mark-up (typically SONIA + 2.5% for long positions, SONIA – 2.5% for short positions, with a minimum rate). For UK traders holding indices overnight on a regular basis, this cost compounds meaningfully and should be factored into any cost-benefit analysis.

CMC Markets does not charge a separate data fee for index CFD prices, making its index offering genuinely inclusive for retail traders. For UK traders who want to compare index CFD costs across brokers, our indices broker comparison pagecovers verified spread data across the most actively used platforms.

Share CFD Fees: Where Small Trades Become Expensive

Share CFDs are where CMC Markets’ fee structure shows its most significant limitation for UK retail traders, particularly those trading in smaller position sizes.

The commission structure for share CFDs at CMC Markets:

  • UK shares: 0.10% of trade value, minimum commission of £9
  • US shares: $0.02 per share, minimum commission of $10
  • European shares: 0.20% of trade value, minimum commission applicable

The minimum commission is the critical number. For a UK trader buying a £500 CFD position on a FTSE 350 stock, the 0.10% commission would normally be £0.50 — but the £9 minimum kicks in, making the effective cost 1.8% per side (3.6% round trip). That is expensive for small position sizes and effectively prices small retail traders out of cost-effective share CFD trading with CMC Markets.

For larger positions, the picture improves substantially. A £10,000 position at 0.10% costs £10 per side — just above the minimum, making the effective rate close to 0.10% as intended. At £20,000, the £20 commission represents a 0.10% rate which is competitive by UK standards.

CMC Markets share CFD fees compared:

Broker

UK Share CFD Commission

Minimum Commission

CMC Markets

0.10%

£9

IG

0.10%

£10

Pepperstone

0.10%

£7

eToro

Spread-only (no commission)

N/A

For UK traders who primarily trade shares in smaller sizes, eToro or fractional share-based platforms may offer better value. However, for traders who want genuine CFD access to shares with the ability to go short, use leverage, and trade across multiple global markets from one account, CMC Markets’ share CFD pricing is broadly in line with the UK market standard for most trade sizes.

Overnight Holding Costs (Swap Rates): Transparent and Competitive

Overnight financing is one of the most frequently overlooked costs in CFD trading — and one of the most important for UK traders who hold leveraged positions for more than a single session.

When you hold a leveraged CFD position past 5pm New York time, CMC Markets charges or credits an overnight rate based on:

  • The relevant benchmark interest rate for the underlying instrument’s currency (SONIA for GBP instruments, SOFR for USD instruments, ESTR for EUR instruments)
  • A CMC Markets mark-up on top of that benchmark rate

For long positions (buying): you pay the benchmark rate plus CMC’s mark-up (typically around +2.5%)
For short positions (selling): you receive the benchmark rate minus CMC’s mark-up (typically around -2.5%)

At current SONIA rates (approximately 4.5% as of early 2026), the effective overnight cost on a long GBP CFD position is approximately 7% annualised. On a £10,000 position, that equates to roughly £1.92 per night — a cost that compounds significantly over weeks or months.

CMC Markets is notably transparent about its overnight rates — they are published in the platform and accessible before opening a position. This contrasts with some competitors whose financing rate disclosures require navigating multiple pages of terms and conditions.

For UK traders who primarily trade intraday (closing positions before the overnight cut-off), this cost does not apply. For swing traders or investors holding CFD positions for days or weeks, overnight costs should be factored explicitly into any trading strategy.

Non-Trading Fees: Low and Largely Absent

This is one of the areas where CMC Markets clearly outperforms the UK broker market average.

Account and Deposit Fees: None

CMC Markets charges no fee to open a trading account. There is no minimum deposit requirement for standard accounts. There is no monthly account maintenance fee. There is no platform access fee. UK traders can hold a funded account indefinitely without incurring any maintenance charge.

Withdrawal Fees: None for Standard Methods

Withdrawals via bank transfer (BACS, Faster Payments, CHAPS) are free. Card withdrawals are also free for standard amounts. Some jurisdictions see fees on international wire transfers, but these are not applicable to the majority of UK retail clients using standard UK banking methods.

Inactivity Fee: £10 Per Month After 12 Months

If you make no trades for 12 consecutive months and still hold funds in your account, CMC Markets charges £10 per month until you either make a trade or withdraw your remaining balance. This fee does not apply if your account balance reaches zero.

In the context of the UK market, this is a reasonable and clearly disclosed inactivity policy. Many brokers impose similar fees; some impose them after as little as three months. CMC Markets’ 12-month threshold is among the more generous in the FCA-regulated CFD broker space.

Currency Conversion Fee: 0.5%

If you deposit in a currency other than your account base currency, or if you trade instruments priced in a currency other than your base, CMC Markets applies a 0.5% currency conversion mark-up. For a UK trader with a GBP account trading US stocks (priced in USD), every profit or loss is converted at the live rate plus 0.5%.

This is a notable cost for traders who frequently deal in cross-currency instruments. It is broadly in line with competitors (Pepperstone charges 0.5%, eToro charges 0.5% on currency conversions), though some specialist brokers offer lower FX conversion rates for multi-currency account holders.

CMC Alpha and Price+: How High-Balance UK Traders Pay Less

CMC Markets operates a tiered rewards programme that meaningfully reduces trading costs for clients who maintain higher account balances or achieve higher trading volumes. This is one of the most favourable cost structures available to active UK professional-grade traders.

Price+: Volume-Based Spread Discounts

Price+ provides spread discounts across selected instruments based on the number of contracts traded per month. Higher monthly volumes unlock progressively tighter spreads. This model rewards consistent activity and is relevant to UK day traders and active swing traders who place multiple positions weekly.

CMC Alpha: The £25,000+ Premium Programme

CMC Alpha is the flagship tier for UK clients maintaining net equity of £25,000 or above. Key benefits include:

  • Dedicated relationship manager and priority phone support
  • Invitations to exclusive UK market events and analysis briefings
  • Enhanced overnight financing rates on selected instruments
  • Potential interest paid on uninvested cash balances

The interest on cash component is particularly notable. CMC Markets pays eligible Alpha clients a return on their uninvested account equity — effectively offsetting a portion of trading costs and overnight holding charges. For a UK trader with £50,000 in account equity, this can amount to several hundred pounds per year in credited interest, which fundamentally changes the total cost picture compared to a broker that pays nothing on idle cash.

When you factor in the interest-on-equity component, CMC Alpha clients at scale can see their total net trading costs reduced to levels that few other UK brokers can match. This is directly comparable to the institutional-grade pricing that was previously available only to professional clients at major investment banks.

Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs): An Optional, Transparent Cost

CMC Markets is one of a small number of FCA-regulated UK brokers that offer guaranteed stop-loss orders (GSLOs) as a standard feature — not a premium add-on. A GSLO guarantees your position will be closed at exactly the price you specify, even in the event of significant market gaps (for example, after a FTSE 100 earnings announcement or a Bank of England surprise rate decision).

The cost of a GSLO is built into a slightly wider spread when the order is placed. Crucially, if the GSLO is not triggered — i.e., the market does not reach your stop level — the premium is refunded in full. You only pay for guaranteed protection when it is actually used.

For UK retail traders who are conscious of the FCA’s negative balance protection rules (which mean your account cannot go into deficit at a UK-regulated broker), GSLOs provide an additional layer of precision that is useful around high-impact UK and US data events.

 

Complete CMC Markets Fee Summary Table  

Fee Category

Amount

Notes

Account opening fee

£0

No charge

Minimum deposit

£0

No minimum required

Monthly account fee

£0

No maintenance charge

EUR/USD spread (Standard)

From 0.5 pips

Variable; widens in low liquidity

EUR/USD spread (FX Active)

From 0.0 pips

Plus $5 commission per lot round trip

FTSE 100 spread

From 1.0 point

Spread-only, no commission

US 500 spread

From 0.4 points

Spread-only, no commission

UK share CFD commission

0.10%

Minimum £9 per trade

US share CFD commission

$0.02/share

Minimum $10 per trade

Overnight holding cost (long)

~Benchmark + 2.5% p.a.

Charged nightly after 5pm NY

Deposit fee

£0

All standard UK methods free

Withdrawal fee

£0

Bank transfer and card free

Inactivity fee

£10/month

Only after 12 months of no trading

Currency conversion fee

0.5% mark-up

On cross-currency instruments

GSLO premium

Built into spread

Refunded if not triggered

 

Who Gets the Best Value from CMC Markets’ Fee Structure?

CMC Markets is not the cheapest broker in every single category — no broker is. Its cost structure is optimised for certain trader profiles. Here is where UK traders get the best and worst value:

Best value for:

  • Active forex traders using the FX Active account, particularly those trading EUR/USD, GBP/USD, and other major pairs with tight spreads and the $5 per lot commission. The all-in cost is among the lowest available from any FCA-regulated UK broker.
  • Index CFD traders who trade FTSE 100, US 500, and Germany 40 frequently. The spread-only model with no commission and tight minimum spreads is excellent value for short-to-medium-term traders.
  • High-balance traders (£25,000+) who qualify for CMC Alpha and benefit from interest on cash equity, relationship management, and enhanced financing rates.
  • UK spread bettors (CMC Markets is one of the original UK spread betting providers) who want tax-efficient trading on a huge range of instruments with no commission.
  • Traders who want fee certainty on non-trading costs — knowing there are no account fees, no deposit fees, and no withdrawal fees removes a common source of unexpected cost that affects many UK broker accounts.

Less optimal for:

  • Small-position share CFD traders — the £9 minimum commission on UK share CFDs makes small-sized equity CFD trades disproportionately expensive relative to the position value.
  • Traders requiring swap-free (Islamic) accounts — CMC Markets does not currently offer Islamic account structures for UK retail clients.
  • Very high-frequency algorithmic traders who need ultra-low latency VPS infrastructure (CMC does not currently offer VPS hosting).
  • Traders requiring cTrader — CMC Markets offers MT4 and its own Next Generation platform, but cTrader (preferred by many systematic traders for its order book depth features) is not available.

 

CMC Markets vs Key UK Competitors: Full Fee Verdict

Understanding how CMC Markets’ fees stack up requires a like-for-like comparison. Here is a definitive breakdown covering the brokers UK traders most commonly evaluate alongside CMC:

CMC Markets vs IG

IG and CMC Markets are the two longest-established UK CFD and spread betting providers. IG was founded in 1974; CMC in 1989. Both are FCA-regulated, LSE-listed, and have comparable instrument ranges.

On forex, IG’s standard EUR/USD spread is 0.6 pips — broadly comparable to CMC’s Standard Account. IG does not offer an equivalent to CMC’s FX Active commission model. For active forex traders, CMC Markets is cheaper at scale.

On share CFDs, IG charges a minimum of £10 for UK shares (versus CMC’s £9), meaning CMC is marginally cheaper. IG’s spread betting minimum ticket sizes are slightly different and worth checking for smaller position traders.

Both brokers offer guaranteed stop-loss orders. Both offer interest on cash balances for higher-tier clients. The primary differentiator for most UK traders will be platform preference: IG’s own platform versus CMC’s Next Generation.

CMC Markets vs Pepperstone

Pepperstone is the most commonly cited alternative to CMC Markets for active CFD traders in the UK. Pepperstone is FCA-regulated and ASIC-regulated, and offers a wider choice of trading platforms (MT4, MT5, cTrader, TradingView). For pure forex execution cost, CMC’s FX Active ($5 per lot) beats Pepperstone’s Razor account ($7 per lot). For traders who need cTrader or sophisticated copy trading infrastructure, Pepperstone has the advantage. Both brokers have no minimum deposit and no account maintenance fees.

CMC Markets vs eToro

eToro is a fundamentally different proposition from CMC Markets, and the comparison is less meaningful for pure CFD and forex traders. eToro’s EUR/USD spread of 1.0 pip is wider than both CMC accounts. eToro does not offer a commission-based forex account. eToro’s advantage lies in real share ownership, fractional investing, and social copy trading — not trading cost competitiveness.

CMC Markets vs Eightcap

Eightcap offers a Raw account at 0.0 pips + $7 round trip per lot — more expensive than CMC’s FX Active and comparable to Pepperstone. Eightcap has strong MT4/MT5 infrastructure and is a good choice for algorithm traders. For forex execution cost, CMC’s FX Active remains cheaper per lot.

CMC Markets vs ThinkMarkets

ThinkMarkets is an FCA and ASIC-regulated broker with competitive forex and CFD pricing. Its ThinkZero account ($7 per lot round trip) is more expensive than CMC’s FX Active. ThinkMarkets offers TradingView integration and a strong mobile app. CMC Markets has the pricing edge for active forex traders; ThinkMarkets may suit those who prioritise TradingView as their primary charting environment.

Spread Betting and UK Tax Efficiency: CMC Markets’ Unique Advantage

One factor that is frequently underweighted in CMC Markets fee discussions is the spread betting option. CMC Markets is one of the original UK spread betting brokers, and spread betting profits in the United Kingdom are currently exempt from Capital Gains Tax (CGT) and stamp duty.

For UK retail traders, this is a significant indirect cost reduction. A trader who makes £10,000 profit on a CFD position could face up to £2,400 in CGT (at the 24% higher rate on investment gains). The same profit made through a spread bet is currently tax-free.

CMC Markets offers spread betting on an equivalent instrument range to its CFD accounts, with comparable spread pricing. For UK-resident traders, the spread betting account should be the default choice in most circumstances — the CGT exemption makes it the most cost-efficient trading structure available from a UK-regulated provider.

Note: Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and can change. The above is general information only and does not constitute tax advice. UK traders should consult a qualified tax adviser regarding their specific situation.

For traders looking specifically for the best spread betting platforms available in the UK market, our spread betting broker comparison guide covers pricing, regulation, and platform quality across the most widely used UK spread betting providers.

Hidden Costs UK Traders Should Watch

No broker review would be complete without flagging the costs that are technically disclosed but easy to overlook in practice:

  1. Spread widening during news events. The Standard Account’s variable spreads can widen materially during high-impact UK economic releases (CPI, MPC decisions, UK employment data) and US releases (Fed decisions, CPI, NFP). Traders who routinely trade around these events should check historical spread data on the CMC platform before placing orders, or consider the FX Active account’s tighter pricing.
  2. The overnight financing compounding effect. A 7% annualised overnight rate on a leveraged position does not feel significant after one night. After 30 nights, on a £10,000 position, it is approximately £57.50. Swing traders and anyone holding positions for extended periods should model this cost explicitly.
  3. Currency conversion on profit/loss. If you are a UK trader with a GBP account trading US shares or US indices, every P&L calculation involves a GBP/USD conversion at live rate + 0.5%. On a volatile day, this can add meaningfully to effective costs. Traders with significant US market exposure should be aware of this.
  4. Market data fees for share CFDs. CMC Markets may charge for premium market data feeds on certain share CFDs, particularly for real-time pricing on exchanges where delayed quotes are the default. These fees are disclosed at account setup but occasionally catch traders unaware when first accessing international markets.
  5. GSLO availability. Guaranteed stop-loss orders are not available on all instruments. They are most commonly available on the most liquid indices, forex pairs, and large-cap shares. For less liquid instruments, standard (non-guaranteed) stops are the only option, which means market gaps remain a potential risk.

 

Frequently Asked Questions  

Does CMC Markets charge a fee to open an account in the UK?
No. Opening a CMC Markets account is entirely free. There is no minimum deposit requirement, and the account opening process is completed online in under 20 minutes for most UK applicants with a valid driving licence or passport.

Are CMC Markets’ profits from spread betting tax-free in the UK?
Spread betting profits are currently exempt from Capital Gains Tax and stamp duty for UK residents under current HMRC rules. CMC Markets offers spread betting accounts to UK retail clients. Tax treatment is subject to individual circumstances and HMRC’s rules at the time; always consult a qualified tax adviser.

What is the FX Active account and how do I qualify for it?
The FX Active account is available to UK clients through CMC Markets UK PLC. It offers raw spreads from 0.0 pips on six major pairs and a $2.50 commission per $100,000 notional value per side. There is no minimum deposit requirement to access it, but it is most cost-effective for traders placing at least a few standard lots per week. Apply through the account settings once registered.

Does CMC Markets charge overnight fees on spread betting positions?
Yes. Both CFD and spread betting positions held overnight incur a financing charge based on the relevant benchmark interest rate plus CMC’s mark-up. The spread betting account does not eliminate overnight holding costs — only the CGT liability on profits.

What happens if I don’t trade for 12 months?
CMC Markets applies a £10 per month inactivity fee after 12 consecutive months without a trade. If you hold a zero balance, no fee applies. Withdrawing all funds before the inactivity period expires avoids the charge entirely.

Is CMC Markets regulated in the UK?
Yes. CMC Markets UK PLC is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), firm reference number 173730. UK retail clients benefit from negative balance protection, access to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000, and all protections under the FCA’s Consumer Duty.

How does CMC Markets compare to IG for UK traders?
Both are FCA-regulated, LSE-listed, and offer comparable instrument ranges and spread betting. CMC Markets is generally cheaper for active forex traders (especially on FX Active), while IG has a marginally longer UK heritage and slightly different platform features. For most UK retail traders, the choice between the two comes down to platform preference. See our full CMC Markets review for a detailed breakdown.

Can I compare CMC Markets against other UK brokers on this site?
Yes — CompareBroker has reviewed over 100 regulated brokers since 2020. Use our broker comparison tool to filter by regulation (FCA), instrument type, spread type, and account features to find the broker that best matches your trading needs.

 

CMC Markets Fee Verdict: Summary for UK Traders

CMC Markets has genuinely low fees overall for UK traders — particularly active ones. The complete picture:

Strong on:

  • Forex pricing on the FX Active account (some of the cheapest per-lot costs from any FCA broker)
  • Index CFD spreads (competitive on FTSE, S&P, DAX)
  • Non-trading fees (no account, deposit, or withdrawal charges)
  • Spread betting availability with UK CGT exemption
  • Transparency of fee disclosure
  • CMC Alpha programme for high-balance traders

Less competitive on:

  • Share CFD minimum commissions (£9 minimum disadvantages small position sizes)
  • Currency conversion mark-up (0.5% adds up for cross-currency traders)
  • No swap-free (Islamic) account option
  • No cTrader platform

For the majority of UK retail CFD and spread betting traders — particularly those focused on forex and major indices — CMC Markets stands up well against every comparable FCA-regulated alternative. For high-balance traders qualifying for CMC Alpha, it is arguably the most cost-effective multi-asset broker available in the UK regulated space today.

Ready to compare further? Explore our best CFD brokers guide, our top stock brokers comparison, and our FCA-regulated forex broker list for verified, independently reviewed data across more than 100 platforms.

 

CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Between 74–89% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or a personal recommendation. CompareBroker.io is authorised to publish financial promotions in the UK as an Appointed Representative. Spread betting and CFD trading involves significant risk of loss.

Last reviewed: May 2026 | Author: CompareBroker Editorial Team | UK entity: Compare Broker Ltd., 71-75 Shelton Street, London, WC2H 9JQ

 

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