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AvaTrade vs CMC Markets 2026

A detailed head-to-head comparison of AvaTrade and CMC Markets across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.

AvaTrade logo - BrokerAudit
AvaTrade

Est. 2006 · Dublin, Ireland

CBIASICFSCA
79.8/100
Good
CMC Markets logo - BrokerAudit
CMC Markets

Est. 1989 · London, United Kingdom

FCAASICBaFin
83.5/100
Excellent

Score Breakdown

RegulationCostsPlatformsAccountsDepositSupportEducation
AvaTradeCMC Markets

Category-by-Category Winner

Category
AvaTrade
CMC Markets
Regulation & Trust
85
92
Trading Costs
68
78
Platforms & Tools
78
85
Account Conditions
78
82
Deposit & Withdrawal
82
82
Customer Support
82
78
Education & Research
90
80
Overall Score
79.8
83.5

Detailed Comparison

Overview

Year Founded
2006
1989
Headquarters
Dublin, Ireland
London, United Kingdom
Publicly Listed
Top Regulators
CBI, ASIC, FSCA
FCA, ASIC, BaFin
Total Instruments
1,250
12,000

Trading Costs

EUR/USD Spread
0.90 pips
0.70 pips
GBP/USD Spread
1.50 pips
1.10 pips
USD/JPY Spread
1.10 pips
0.90 pips
Min. Deposit
$100
$0
Commission/Lot
None
$5.00
Inactivity Fee
$50 after 3 months, $100 admin fee after 12 months
£10/month after 12 months

Platforms & Features

MetaTrader 4
MetaTrader 5
cTrader
TradingView
Copy Trading
API Trading
VPS Hosting
Demo Account
Islamic Account

Instruments

Forex Pairs
55
330
CFD Stocks
600
9,000
Indices
33
80
Commodities
17
100
Crypto CFDs
20
20

AvaTrade vs CMC Markets: Our Analysis

Overall Verdict

With an overall score of 83.5/100 vs 79.8/100, CMC Markets slightly edges out AvaTrade by 3.7 points. Both brokers are closely matched, so your choice should come down to specific features that matter most to you.

Trading Costs

On the EUR/USD pair, AvaTrade offers an average spread of 0.90 pips commission-free, while CMC Markets comes in at 0.70 pips with a $5.00 commission. CMC Markets offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $100 at AvaTrade and $0 at CMC Markets.

Regulation & Safety

AvaTrade holds 6 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (CBI, ASIC, FSCA), while CMC Markets has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, BaFin). AvaTrade has more regulatory licenses overall.

Platform Comparison

AvaTrade offers MT4, MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions — uniquely offering MT5, AvaTradeGO, WebTrader, AvaOptions which CMC Markets does not have. CMC Markets supports MT4, Next Generation, with exclusive access to Next Generation. AvaTrade provides a wider platform selection.

Who Should Choose Which?

AvaTrade suits beginners seeking education, while CMC Markets is better for cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools, traders who prioritize safety, traders wanting a wide instrument range. If copy trading matters, AvaTrade has the edge. Both brokers offer demo accounts, so you can test each before committing real funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Based on our testing, CMC Markets scores higher overall at 83.5/100 compared to AvaTrade's 79.8/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — AvaTrade may be superior in specific categories like certain niche features.

CMC Markets offers tighter spreads with an average EUR/USD spread of 0.70 pips, compared to 0.90 pips at AvaTrade. Check our detailed comparison table above for GBP/USD and USD/JPY spreads as well.

CMC Markets scores higher for regulation and trust at 92/100, holding licenses from FCA, ASIC, BaFin. AvaTrade scores 85/100 with CBI, ASIC, FSCA.

For beginners, AvaTrade is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 90/100. It offers structured trading courses, webinars, and a free demo account. CMC Markets scores 80/100 for education.

Yes, there is no restriction on having accounts with both AvaTrade and CMC Markets simultaneously. Many experienced traders maintain accounts with multiple brokers to take advantage of each broker's strengths — for example, using one for its lower spreads on majors and another for its wider instrument range or better platform features.

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Reviewed by

Neil C

Neil C is a financial markets analyst and forex trading specialist with over 10 years of experience evaluating broker platforms, trading conditions, and regulatory frameworks. He has personally tested accounts with dozens of brokers and brings a data-driven methodology to every review.

Last updated: April 2026

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