Account specifications
We offer a dedicated spread betting and CFD trading account, as well as a corporate account. See the table below to find out which account is best suited for you based on your trading requirements.
Spread betting account
Spread betting is a tax-efficient* way of speculating on the price movement of thousands of global financial instruments.
- Trade on thousands of global markets with no capital gains tax or forex fees*.
- With leverage, you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of a position.
- Spread bet on indices 24 hours a day, five days a week.
CFD account
CFDs are a derivative product which enables you to trade on the price movement of underlying financial assets.
- Pay no stamp duty on profits from trading CFDs*.
- Deposit from just 3.3% of the full value of your position to open a trade.
- Trade with tight spreads on 11,000 markets.
Corporate account
Our corporate account offers access to either a CFD or spread betting account for your business.
- Insights from our expert analysts, plus access to Reuters and Morningstar.
- Discover our award-winning charting package**.
- Manage risk with guaranteed stop-loss orders.
Account comparison
Account features
Take a position on rising and falling markets^
Yes
Yes
Yes
Stamp duty payable
No
No
No
Capital gains tax payable
No*
Yes
Yes
Minimum deposit
£0
£0
£0
Instruments available
11,000+
11,000+
11,000+
330+
330+
330+
80+
80+
80+
Cryptocurrencies (Professional clients only)
14
14
14
100+
100+
100+
9,000+
9,500+
9,500+
50+
50+
50+
Countdowns (professional clients only)
27
27
27
Maximum leverage (retail clients)
30:1
30:1
30:1
Maximum leverage (professional clients)
500:1
500:1
500:1
Trade size
£ per point
Number of units/notional value
Number of units/notional value
Fractional trade sizes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Costs
Spreads from
0.3 points
0.3 points
0.3 points
Commissions
No
Yes (shares only)
Yes (shares only)
Minimum commissions
No
Yes (shares only) - From $10
Yes (shares only) - From $10
Holding costs if held overnight
Yes
Yes
Yes
Market data fees
No
Yes
Yes
GSLO premium
Yes (100% refund if not triggered)
Yes (100% refund if not triggered)
Yes (100% refund if not triggered)
Dormancy fees
After one year of inactivity
After one year of inactivity
After one year of inactivity
Additional key features
Cash rebates (professional clients only)
Yes (Not on shares)
Yes (Not on shares)
Yes (Not on shares)
Demo account
Yes
Yes
No
Negative balance protection (retail clients only)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Order boundaries
Yes
Yes
Yes
Account netting
Yes
Yes
Yes
Accurately hedge a physical position
No
Yes
Yes
Price depth ladder
Yes
Yes
Yes
Account currency
GBP, EUR
GBP, EUR, USD, AUS, CAD, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD
GBP, EUR, USD, AUS, CAD, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD
Telephone trading
Yes
Yes
Yes
Support during market hours
Yes
Yes
Yes
Free with your account
Education, seminars & webinars
Yes
Yes
Yes
CMC market analyst 'Insights'
Yes
Yes
Yes
Market calendar, powered by Thomson Reuters
Yes
Yes
Yes
Reuters news
Yes, live account only
Yes, live account only
Yes, live account only
Morningstar quantitative equity research reports
Yes, live account only
Yes, live account only
Yes, live account only
Client sentiment
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pattern recognition scanner
Yes
Yes
Yes
Market data
N/A
On a limited trial basis for demo accounts
No
Platform features
Order execution types
- Market, limit and stop entry orders (ability to set expiry)
- Guaranteed stop-loss orders
- Regular stop-loss orders
- Trailing stop-loss orders
- Take-profit orders
Advanced order management
- Trade from charts
- Boundary orders (to help prevent slippage)
- Enable/disable account netting (ability to go long and short on the same instrument at the same time)
- Tiered margins
- Trade using unrealised profit
- Custom stop order triggering (specify stops to trigger off buy, mid or sell price)
- Price depth for larger trade sizes
- 1-Click Trading, partially close open trades
- Auto rollover forward positions (with reduced spread); and a range of default order setting options to make placing a trade as quick and as simple as possible
Account close-out methods
- Standard close-out
- Last in first out
- Largest position loss first
- Largest position margin first
Charting tools
- Award-winning** free charting package with 80+ technical indicators and drawing tools
- Intervals from one second, multiple chart presets
- Autosave analysis
- Trade from charts
- Automatic pattern recognition
- Comparison charts, 10 chart types
- Chart forum and advanced mobile charts
Layout management
- Save up to five custom layouts
- Multiscreen support
- Small or large platform resolution
- Easily switch between multiple accounts (demo, live, CFD, spread betting)
- Autosave platform changes, easily load or change module instruments using our quick search options
- Snap modules to grid and fast platform navigation with our module-linking feature
Trading tools
- Comprehensive instrument overviews
- Market calendar
- Price alerts
- Client sentiment (minute by minute updates)
- Morningstar quantitative equity research reports
- Reuters news
- CMC market analysts' 'Insights' feature
- Statement centre
- Price ticker
- CMC TV
- CMC Twitter feed
Mobile trading
- Advanced mobile apps for iPhone
- iPad and Android (tablet and phone)
- Our apps include our complete range of order types
- Advanced charting
- Intelligent watchlists
- Client sentiment
- Market calendar
- Reuters news
- CMC market analysts' 'Insights' feature
- Real-time alerts
- Customisable home screen and swipe login for quicker access to your account
Alerts available
- Price
- Order execution
- Market calendar & completed chart pattern
Spread betting account
CFD account
Corporate account
Institutional-grade tools made simple
FAQs
Account applications FAQs
Is it free to open an account?
There's no cost when opening a live spread betting or CFD account. You can also view prices and use tools such as charts, Reuters news or Morningstar quantitative equity reports, free of charge. However, you will need to deposit funds in your account to place a trade. You can find out more about the costs of placing a trade.
Is CMC Markets regulated by the FCA?
Yes, CMC Markets UK plc (registration number 173730) and CMC Spreadbet plc (registration number 170627) are fully authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK. Retail client money is held in segregated client bank accounts and money held on behalf of clients is distributed across a range of major banks, which are regularly assessed against our risk criteria.
Is CMC Markets covered by the FSCS?
Yes, your eligible deposits with CMC Markets are protected up to a total of 85,000 by the Financial Services Compensations Scheme (FSCS), the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. If CMC Markets ever went into liquidation, retail clients would have their share of segregated money returned, minus the administrator's costs in handling and distributing these funds. Any shortfall of funds up to 85,000 may be compensated under the FSCS.
How does CMC Markets protect my money?
As a CMC client, your money is held separately from CMC Markets' own funds, so that under property, trust and insolvency law, your money is protected. Therefore your money is unavailable to general creditors of the firm, if the firm fails.
How does CMC Markets make money?
Our income primarily comes from our spreads, while other fees, such as overnight holding costs, make a minor contribution to our overall revenue.
We never aim to profit from our clients' losses. Our aim is to build long-term relationships by providing the best possible trading experience through our technology and customer service.
What can I trade on with CMC?
You can trade on 11,000 markets when you spread bet with CMC Markets. See a list of all our popular markets and instruments.
Account specifications FAQs
How many types of trading accounts are there?
We offer spread betting and CFD trading accounts to all clients in the UK and Ireland. These products are available on a standard retail account, which is available to all types of traders; an Alpha account, which is tailored to premium retail clients; and a Pro account, which is specifically for professional traders. We also offer an institutional account for businesses. Read more about our product offering.
What is the difference between a spread betting and CFD trading account?
Spread betting and CFDs are both derivative products that allow you to speculate on the price movements of financial assets without taking ownership. The main difference between the two accounts is how they are taxed, so learn more about each product in our guide to spread bets vs CFDs.
What is the maximum leverage I can trade with?
For retail clients, the maximum leverage you can currently trade with is 30:1 (or 3.3% margin) for both spread betting and CFD trading accounts. Read more about trading with leverage.
Can I open a demo account?
You can open a demo account with us, which enables you to practise trading with £10,000 worth of virtual funds. Choose between a spread betting demo account or a CFD trading demo account.
What is the minimum deposit required to open an account?
There is no minimum deposit required to open an account with CMC Markets. However, you won’t be able to place a trade until there are sufficient funds to cover your position. Learn about how to fund your online account through our dedicated FAQs section.
What is included in a trading account?
When you open a spread betting or CFD trading account, you will have access to a multitude of technical and fundamental analysis tools, as well as trading indicators, draw tools and other charting features. Please note that some of these are only available with a live account. Learn more about our platform by watching our trading tutorials.
What markets can I trade?
With CMC Markets, you can spread bet or trade CFDs on 11,000 financial instruments within the forex, share, commodity, treasury and index markets. Browse our range of markets.
Which types of expenses are shown in my account?
When you open a trading account, you may incur expenses which include the following: spreads, share commissions (CFDs only), overnight holding costs, market data fees (CFDs only), GSLO premiums and dormancy fees. See our trading costs page for an overview of expenses.
What is the most popular type of trading account at CMC Markets?
Our most popular account type is a spread betting account for retail traders. Spread betting allows you to speculate on the financial markets tax-free* in the UK and Ireland. Open a trading account to get started.