Compare CFD & Forex Trading Accounts

Q: How many types of trading accounts are there?

We offer standard CFD trading and FX Active account types. They are both available on our proprietary CMC trading platform and the MT4 platform, for all traders. We also offer a corporate account for businesses.

Q: What is the maximum leverage I can trade with?

Leverage varies across different products. We offer the most competitive margin rates in compliance with CIRO regulations. The leverage for each product is fixed unless otherwise notified. To check the leverage for a specific product, simply log in to your CMC web portal and select "Product Overview" from the drop-down menu of the product window.

Q: Can I open a demo account?

You can open a free CFD trading demo account in our CMC platform and MT4 platform with us, which enables you to practice trading with $10,000 worth of virtual funds.

Q: What is the minimum deposit required to open an account?

There is no minimum deposit required to open an account with us. However, you won't be able to place a trade until there are sufficient funds to cover your position. Learn how to fund your online account through our dedicated FAQs section.

Q: What is included in a trading account?

When you open a standard CFD trading or FX Active account, you'll have access to our award-winning platform and app, which includes financial instruments, and a multitude of technical and fundamental analysis tools and indicators, and other charting features. Please note that some of these are only available with a live account.

Q: Which markets can I trade?

You can trade CFDs on financial instruments with us, and speculate on the price movements of forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, bonds and more. Browse our range of markets.

Q: Which types of expenses are shown in my account?

When you open a trading account, you may incur some of the following costs, depending on what and how you trade with us: overnight holding costs, commissions, guaranteed stop-loss order (GSLO) premiums (which are refunded if the GSLO isn't triggered), and market data fees. View our trading costs for more details.

Q: How does CMC Markets protect my money?

Client money is held in segregated accounts, in line with applicable regulatory requirements. Segregation means client money is kept separate from the firm's own money. Regulatory protection doesn't remove the risk of trading losses.

Q: Is CMC Markets regulated?

Yes, CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO). CFDs are distributed in Canada by CMC Markets Canada Inc. acting as principal.

Q: Is it free to open an account?

There's no fee to open an account. Trading costs may apply when you trade, including spreads, commissions, holding costs, and other applicable charges.

Why compare online trading accounts?

Not all online trading accounts work in the same way. The markets you can access, the platform you use, and the costs you pay can vary between providers and account types.
Comparing accounts can help you understand the basics before you open one. This includes what you can trade, how pricing works, whether spreads or commissions apply, and what tools are available to help you manage your account.
It is also worth checking whether the provider is regulated in Canada and what risks apply to the products you want to trade

Trading accounts available with CMC Markets Canada

At CMC Markets Canada, we offer two main CFD account types: Standard and FX Active. Both are available on the CMC platform and MetaTrader 4/5, with access to a wide range of financial instruments. The right account type depends on the markets you want to trade, the platform you prefer, and how you want trading costs to be structured.

CFD Trading - What is CFD Trading? - Symbol

Standard account

Available on the CMC Platform and MT4/5, a traditional FX/CFD account with spread based pricing across FX, indices and commodities.

11,000+ financial instruments available
$0 commission on all global shares and FX pairs
No minimum deposit required
No asymmetrical slippage
Ability to take long or short positions

Open a demo account

FX Active account

Available on the CMC platform and MT4/5, a CFD account designed for high-volume traders, offering commission-based FX trading and tight spreads.

Spreads from 0.0 pips for six major FX pairs
$0 commission on all global shares
25% spread discount on 300+ FX pairs
Fixed commission at $2.5 per $100,000 notional value traded
11,000+ financial instruments available
No minimum deposit required

Compare CMC Markets Canada trading account features

Compare account features

	Standard CFD account	FX Active CFD account	What this means
Main Pricing Model	Spread-based pricing	Lower minimum FX spreads on 6 FX pairs than a standard CFD account, plus commission	Standard has a simpler spread-based pricing structure. FX Active is designed for high-volume traders and uses commission-based FX pricing, so traders should understand both spread and commission before comparing total costs.
Setup cost	$0	$0	There is no setup cost for either account type, but trading costs and other charges may still apply.
Forex Spreads (pips)	Spreads from 0.5 pips	Spreads starting from 0.0 pips on selected major FX pairs	Lower minimum spreads do not always mean lower total trading costs. With FX Active, commission also applies.
Forex Commission	No separate forex commission	$2.50 (per lot, per side)	With a Standard account, forex trading costs are mainly reflected in the spread. With FX Active, commission is charged separately, so the total cost includes both spread and commission.
Trading Platform	CMC platform and MT4/5	CMC platform and MT4/5	Platform tools and available features may vary, so it is worth reviewing the platform details before opening an account.
Instruments offered	11,000+	11,000+	Both account types provide access to a wide range of CFD instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and more.
Close out level	50%	50%	The close-out level is the same on both account types. Traders should understand margin requirements before trading leveraged products.
Demo account	All	All	A demo account lets you explore the platform and pricing structure using virtual funds before trading with real money.

Factors to consider when comparing trading accounts

When comparing online trading accounts, it is useful to look beyond headline spreads. Total trading costs can include spreads, commissions, overnight holding costs, and other charges that may apply.

Other factors traders often consider include:

Markets and products

The range of instruments you can trade, such as forex pairs, indices, commodities, and other CFDs.

Platforms and tools

Whether you can use web, mobile, and third‑party platforms like MT4 and MT5, and what charting, analysis, and risk‑management tools are built in.

Order types and risk management

The tools available to help place and manage trades, including stop-loss orders where applicable.

Regulation and oversight

Whether the provider is regulated in Canada and how client money is handled.

Support and education

Access to platform guides, FAQs, and client support.

Trade on our award-winning platforms¹

To trade with us, you choose a CFD account that suits the platform you want to use.

The standard or FXActive CFD accounts provide access to our proprietary and award-winning CMC platform, available on PC and mobile. This account can also be linked to TradingView.

To trade on Metatrader 4 or Metatrader 5, you must create a separate standard or FXActive account.

Read more below about the platforms we offer and find out which one best suits your trading style.

2023 Winner

Best-in-Class Platform & Tools

ForexBrokers.com Awards

CMC platform

The CMC platform is designed for active traders who want access to charts, watchlists, order tickets, technical indicators, and risk-management features in one place.

Use the platform to:

Monitor forex pairs and other markets
Place and manage CFD trades
Access advanced charting and technical tools
Set alerts and manage watchlists
Review open positions, orders, and account performance
The platform is available on desktop and can be used alongside the CMC mobile app.

Mobile app

The CMC Markets mobile app gives you access to forex markets from your phone or tablet.

Use the app to:

Monitor live prices
Place and manage trades
Access mobile-optimized charts
Set price alerts
Review open positions and account activity

MetaTrader

MetaTrader, also known as MT4 or MT5, is a widely used third-party trading platform for forex and CFD trading.

With CMC Markets Canada, a standard or FX Active account is available on the MT4/5 platforms, and doesn't provide access to the CMC platform or TradingView.

MT4/MT5 includes tools such as technical indicators, automated trading features, and Expert Advisors. Automated tools can support analysis and execution, but they don't remove trading risk.

Compare trading platforms

You can trade with CMC Markets Canada using our web trading platform, our mobile app, or the MT4 or MT5 platforms. The table below summarizes how these platforms compare.

Key features

	CMC Web Platform	CMC mobile app	MT4/5 Platform
Access method	Browser-based platform for desktop and laptop trading.	Native app for iOS and Android devices.	Downloadable desktop and mobile trading platform.
Instruments available	Access a wide range of CFD instruments available with your account, including forex, indices, commodities, and more	Access all of the same CFD instruments available through your account on the web platform.	Access a wide range of forex pairs and other CFDs available with your CMC account on MT4 or MT5.
Charting and analysis	Charting tools, multiple timeframes, drawing tools, technical indicators, watchlists, and market insights.	Mobile-optimized TradingView charts, indicators, watchlists, and price alerts for monitoring markets on the go.	MetaTrader charting, indicators, and platform tools, with access to CMC pricing and eligible instruments.
Order types	A range of order types for opening, managing, and closing positions, including risk-management tools	Core order types for opening, managing, and closing positions from mobile.	MetaTrader order types and tools are aligned with your CMC account and platform settings.
Platform experience	Designed for traders who want a broader desktop view of markets, charts, tools, and account features.	Designed for traders who want to monitor markets and manage their accounts from a mobile device.	Designed for traders who prefer the MetaTrader 4 or MetaTrader 5 environment.
Demo availability	Open a demo account to explore the platform and practice CFD trading with virtual funds.	Access a demo account on mobile to explore platform features using virtual funds	Open a Standard or FX Active demo account on MT4 or MT5, where available, to explore the platform using virtual funds.

Products offered

	CMC Platform	MT4/5 PLATFORM
Forex	340+ cash and futures	175+ cash
Commodities	130+ cash and futures	15+ cash
Indices	95+ cash and futures	15+ cash
Shares	9,700+ international shares	1,100+ US shares (MT5 Only)
ETFS	1,100+ international ETFs	-
Bonds	50+ cash and futures	-

Regulation and risk for CMC Markets Canada accounts

CMC Markets Canada Inc. is a member of the Canadian Investment Regulatory Organization (CIRO) and operates as a self‑directed, order‑execution‑only provider. This means we execute your trading instructions, but we don’t provide personalized advice or recommendations on which account type or trades are suitable for you.
CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high degree of risk. Trading on margin can magnify both profits and losses, and you should ensure you understand how CFD trading works, including the impact of leverage, before you open an account. Capital is at risk, and market movements can result in losses that are significant relative to your deposit.

What are other traders saying about CMC Markets?

As a financial services pioneer, we combine technical excellence with 37 years of industry know-how. That‘s why 2 million+ global traders and investors put their confidence in us.²

Great demo accountGreat demo account. Easy to use and very detailedcustomer,4 hours ago

cmc markets have more than above…cmc markets have more than above average indicators: supertrend, linear100, chandle. Once you understand how these works, you're on your way to reading the market accurately. Thank you very much. Therese Therese Leignel,9 hours ago

Great choice of productsEasy funding of account and huge choice of products to trade.Tom Tom,2 days ago

Great App and communication.The app is very clear and easy to use, even if you've never traded before. Lots of advice, tips and news. Never had any issues,at all, which is rare with apps these days. Always been extremely helpful when I've contacted them.Jeff V ,2 days ago

SimplicitySimplicity Jamezy,3 days ago

Lots of communicationLots of communication. I haven't used other brokers besides questrade, and compared to them the user interface on the website is about the same, I would rate it 4/5. But overall, excellent experience.Douglas,3 days ago

User FriendUser Friendly Platform / Easy to Use / Nice charts ly Platform / Easy to Use /…User Friendly Platform / Easy to Use / Nice charts M D Khorasani,4 days ago

great chartsgreat chartsYves Larochelle,5 days ago

like numbersnumberslike numbersAlbert,6 days ago

So easy to useSo easy to use, no irritating complication like I’ve experienced on other platform, I certain that I’m sticking with them…Millie,7 days ago

FAQs

Account specification - FAQs

How many types of trading accounts are there?

What is the maximum leverage I can trade with?

Can I open a demo account?

What is the minimum deposit required to open an account?

What is included in a trading account?

Which markets can I trade?

Which types of expenses are shown in my account?

New to CMC Markets?

How does CMC Markets protect my money?

Is CMC Markets regulated?

Is it free to open an account?

How does CMC Markets make money?

What can I trade with CMC Markets?

Do you have any questions?

Our client services team is here whenever the markets are open.
Email us at clientmanagement@cmcmarkets.ca or call us on 1-866-884-2608.

¹Leverage amplifies gains and losses equally.

²Recent awards include: Best Spread Betting Broker, Good Money Guide Awards 2026; No.1 Most Currency Pairs & Best-in-class for Overall Excellence, MetaTrader, Mobile Trading App, Professional Trading, Research & TradingView, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2026; Best Broker for Active Traders, Professional Trader Awards 2025; Best Mobile Trading Platform and Best Spread Betting & CFD Education Tools, ADVFN International Financial Awards 2025; No.1 for Commissions & Fees, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2025.

³Based on over 2 million unique user logins across CMC's trading and investing platforms, including partners, as at November 2025.

Compare trading accounts

Why compare online trading accounts?