CMC Markets is a forex and CFD provider founded in 1989, regulated by the FCA in the UK and BaFin in Germany, and part of a publicly listed group. It runs its own Next Generation platform alongside MetaTrader 4. CMC's dual UK/German regulation and long track record are genuine trust signals — but confirm the entity that serves your country and judge cost on the full spread-plus-financing picture, not a headline. No spreads, minimums or star ratings until a hands-on review.
Regulation and track record
CMC Markets is regulated by the FCA (United Kingdom) and BaFin (Germany), through separate legal entities, and belongs to a publicly listed group — which means audited accounts and market-disclosure obligations on top of its financial-services licences. Founded in 1989, it has one of the longer operating histories among the brokers covered here, having traded through multiple market cycles and the introduction of the ESMA product-intervention rules. A long public record is something a trader can research, though it is not a guarantee for any individual account.
As with every broker here, the protections that apply to you depend on the specific entity in your account agreement. A UK resident is typically served by the FCA-authorised entity, with FSCS eligibility and client-money (CASS) rules; an EU resident may be served by the BaFin-regulated or an EU-passporting entity under MiFID II. The ESMA-style retail protections — a 30:1 leverage cap on majors, negative-balance protection and the bonus ban — apply through these entities. Confirm which entity holds your account on the FCA or BaFin register before depositing.
Platforms: Next Generation and MT4
CMC Markets leads with its own Next Generation platform, a mature web and mobile platform known for detailed charting and a broad range of tradeable instruments, and also offers MetaTrader 4 for traders who want the standard forex toolset and portability of MT4 expert advisors. That combination covers two common needs: an integrated proprietary experience for traders who want CMC's own tools, and MT4 for those who prefer the long-standing forex standard or run automated strategies.
Which platform suits you depends on how you trade. If you rely on an MT4 expert advisor, the MT4 option matters; if you want deep charting and an integrated experience, Next Generation is the draw. Note that CMC does not offer MetaTrader 5 or cTrader, so a trader committed specifically to those would look elsewhere. As always, confirm the specifics on a demo account — and remember a sophisticated platform makes it easier to take on more risk, not safer to do so.
Costs, and what we will not invent
CMC's pricing differs by instrument, entity and account, and the all-in cost is the spread plus any commission plus overnight financing. Because those figures change and vary by region, we do not publish a spread, minimum deposit or star rating for CMC Markets until we complete a hands-on review. Quoting a stale number on a peak-risk product would defeat the purpose of an independent guide.
To gauge cost, read CMC's current pricing for the entity that serves your country, check whether a given market is priced spread-only or with commission, and include financing if you hold positions overnight. As a retail client in the EU or UK you cannot be offered a trading bonus under ESMA and FCA rules, so any such offer is a red flag. And while CMC's longevity and listed-group status are reassuring, the standardised risk warning still applies: most retail CFD accounts lose money.
Pros & cons
Pros
- One of the longer track records in the industry, founded in 1989.
- Dual FCA (UK) and BaFin (Germany) regulation through separate entities.
- Part of a publicly listed group, so more public disclosure than a private broker.
- Its own Next Generation platform alongside MetaTrader 4.
Cons
- No MetaTrader 5 or cTrader — only MT4 alongside the proprietary platform.
- The entity (and protections) serving your country may differ from the strictest licence.
- Pricing differs by region, so cost needs checking per-entity.
- We have not completed a hands-on review, so we publish no spreads, minimums or ratings.
Frequently asked questions
Is CMC Markets regulated in the UK and EU?
Yes. CMC Markets is regulated by the FCA in the UK and BaFin in Germany, through separate entities, and is part of a publicly listed group. Confirm the specific entity that serves your country on the relevant register before depositing.
Which platforms does CMC Markets offer?
CMC Markets offers its own Next Generation platform alongside MetaTrader 4. It does not offer MetaTrader 5 or cTrader, so a trader committed to those would look elsewhere. Test the platform on a demo account before committing.
How long has CMC Markets been operating?
CMC Markets was founded in 1989, making it one of the longer-established providers covered here. A long history means a deep public record to research, but it is not a guarantee for any individual account, and most retail CFD accounts lose money.