Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 67% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
Free EbookNavigating risks amid volatile marketsManaging Volatile Market Risks

Compare our accounts

All spread betting, CFD and FX Active account holders automatically enter our tiered-volume discount scheme, Price+.

Eligible spread betting, CFD and FX Active account holders can also join our exclusive Alpha membership.

Spread Betting

Spread betting is a tax-efficient* way of speculating on the price movement of global financial instruments.
  • 12,000+ instruments
  • Trade with leverage
  • CMC web platform, iOS and Android app
  • Tax-free profits*
Available schemes:

CFD Trading

CFDs are derivative product which enables you to trade on the price movement of underlying financial assets, with no stamp duty on profits*.
  • 12,000+ instruments
  • Trade with leverage
  • CMC web platform, iOS and Android app
  • Pay no stamp duty on CFD trading profits*
  • MT4 platform available
Available schemes:

FX Active

A CFD account designed for high-volume traders, who want to get even more from their forex trading.
  • 12,000+ instruments
  • Trade with leverage
  • CMC web platform, iOS and Android app
  • Pay no stamp duty on CFD trading profits*
  • MT4 platform available
  • Spreads from 0.0 pips on 6 major FX pairs††
  • 25% spread discount on 300+ FX pairs
Available schemes (non-FX only):
Your investing journey starts here
Take the next step in investing long-term
Join today and start investing in over 1,300 US and UK shares, 300+ ETFs and Investment Trusts, with real-time pricing and 0% commission. Upgrade to our Plus plan and discover more benefits like our flexible stocks & shares ISA and USD wallet. T&Cs applyCAPITAL AT RISK.Discover CMC Invest
Corporate AccountOur corporate account offers access to a CFD trading account for your business.
  • 12,000+ instruments
  • Trade with leverage
  • CMC web platform, iOS and Android app
  • MT4 platform available
  • 24/5 UK-based customer support
Open a corporate account

Account comparison

Account features

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SPREAD BETTING

CFD

FX ACTIVE

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

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SPREAD BETTING

CFD

FX ACTIVE

12,000+

12,000+

12,000+

330+

330+

330+

80+

80+

80+

100+

100+

100+

9,000+

9,500+

9,500+

50+

50+

50+

Maximum leverage (retail clients)

30:1

30:1

30:1

Trade size

£ per point

Number of units/notional value

Number of units/notional value

Fractional trade sizes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Costs

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SPREAD BETTING

CFD

FX ACTIVE

Spreads from

0.2 points

0.2 points

0.2 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

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SPREAD BETTING

CFD

FX ACTIVE

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

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SPREAD BETTING

CFD

FX ACTIVE

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

Exclusive to CMC

Unlock your potential with CMC Alpha

Loyalty deserves recognition.

Experience a more rewarding way to trade with access to reduced spreads of up to 40%.

  • Earn trading points with every trade
  • Build up your monthly points
  • Receive your spread discounts
  • Carry your spread discounts forward
Unlock your potential with CMC Alpha
Financial times logo

Unlock your potential.

With our new premium membership, CMC Alpha, you'll join a community of like-minded traders who receive all these benefits (and more).

  • Save from 5% to 40% on spreads
  • Free Financial Times subscription
  • Priority customer service

Platform features

Order execution types

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  • 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

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  • 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

  • One-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

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  • Standard close-out

  • Last in first out

  • Largest position loss first

  • Largest position margin first

Charting tools

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • Price

  • Order execution

  • Market calendar & completed chart pattern

Spread Betting

Spread bet with leverage tax-free* on 12,000+ instruments, with no FX fees (other fees may apply).
Spreads from 1 point on UK 100

CFD Trading

Trade with leverage on our full range of instruments, with no stamp duty on profits.*
Spreads from 2.2 points on US 30

FX Active

A CFD account designed for high-volume traders, who want to get even more from their forex trading.
Spreads from 0.0 pips on 6 major FX pairs††

Powerful trading on the move

Packed with advanced features, yet intuitive and available to everyone; whatever the next step in your trading journey is, our platform is ready to help you get there.

And if you need to trade on-the-go, our award-winning mobile app** gives you all the functionality of our web platform in your pocket.

View all platforms

FAQs

Account specifications FAQs

How many types of trading accounts are there?

We offer spread betting, CFD trading and FX Active accounts in the UK and Ireland, available as a standard retail account for all traders. We also offer an Alpha account, which is tailored to premium retail clients; and a CMC Pro account, which is specifically for professional traders. We also offer an institutional account for businesses. For more information, read our articles on spread betting explained and CFDs explained.

What is the difference between a spread betting and CFD trading account?

Spread betting and CFDs are 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. Learn more about each product in our spread betting versus CFDs guide.

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 our spread betting, CFD trading and FX Active 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, a CFD trading demo account, or an FX Active demo account.

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.

What is included in a trading account?

When you open a spread betting, CFD trading or FX Active account, you'll 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.

Which markets can I trade?

You can spread bet or trade CFDs on more than 12,000 financial instruments with us, and speculate on the price movements of forex, indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, treasuries and more. 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 spread betting account to get started.

New to CMC Markets?

Is it free to open an account?

There's no cost when opening a live spread betting, CFD or FX Active 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. 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 segregate client money?

Under the FCA's Client Money rules, we're required to segregate client money (unless you agree with us otherwise) from CMC's own funds. The funds held in segregated bank accounts do not belong to CMC and will be held in a way that enables it to be identified as client money. Learn more about client money regulations

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 over 12,000 financial instruments when you spread bet or trade CFDs with us. See a list of all our popular markets and instruments.

*Tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client. Tax law can change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK. **Awarded No.1 Web Platform, ForexBrokers.com Awards 2023; Best Mobile Trading Platform, ADVFN International Financial Awards 2022. ^Remember, both profits and losses are relative to the full value of your position. Max discount in tier. Discounts are based on our tiered-volume discount scheme and are variable per product. Please check our tiers table on the CMC Price+ T&Cs††Commissions at $2.5 per $100k tradedT&Cs apply. 'FT' and 'Financial Times' are trademarks of The Financial Times Limited.
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