Here is a review comparing the U.K. based brokers CMC Markets versus ActivTrades.
We wrote this review based on information from their UK websites. If you are not living in the U.K. the offerings from these brokers may not be the same.
General Information
CMC Markets has been in operation for over 35 years, founded in 1989, making it one of the most established retail brokers in the UK. It is a FTSE 250-listed company with 12 global offices and over 2 million traders and investors worldwide.
ActivTrades, by contrast, has been operating since 2001 — a respectable 25 years — and serves over 100,000 traders across 170+ countries. CMC Markets is the larger and more publicly visible firm; ActivTrades is a privately held, more boutique operation.
Brokers Regulation & Fund Safety
Both brokers are regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which is the most important factor for UK-based traders. However, there is a meaningful difference when it comes to fund protection.
CMC Markets clients are covered by the FSCS up to £85,000 per eligible person. ActivTrades goes considerably further: its client funds insurance covers amounts up to £1,000,000, backed by a private insurance certificate beyond the standard FSCS limit. All client accounts at ActivTrades are held in segregated accounts with internationally recognised financial institutions.
ActivTrades is also regulated across five jurisdictions — the UK (FCA), Portugal (CMVM), Brazil (BACEN & CVM), Mauritius (FSC), and the Bahamas (SCB). CMC Markets focuses primarily on its FCA authorisation for UK clients, with additional offices in Frankfurt, Australia, and Singapore.
Edge: ActivTrades on fund protection limit. Both are equally sound on FCA regulation.
2026 Best Broker List >Trading Instruments & Markets
CMC Markets offers access to over 12,000 financial instruments, spanning spread betting and CFD trading across shares, indices, forex, commodities, ETFs, bonds, and share baskets. It also offers equities trading (direct share dealing) and options trading, making it a notably broader multi-asset platform.
ActivTrades offers trading across 1,000+ instruments spanning 7 asset classes — forex, indices, commodities, stocks, and more.
CMC Markets wins on sheer breadth, particularly for traders who want to access individual shares from 25 countries, bonds, share baskets, and options under one roof.
Edge: CMC Markets on instrument range and asset class depth.
Range of Trading Products
This is one of the most significant differences between the two brokers.
CMC Markets offers:
- Spread betting
- CFD trading
- Equities (direct share trading, no commission)
- Options trading
- Tax-efficient investing: Stocks & Shares ISA, SIPP, and GIA (via CMC Invest)
- CMC Spectre — unlimited tax-free trading for professional clients, with no financing costs or margin calls
ActivTrades offers:
- Spread betting
- CFD trading
CMC Markets has invested over £100 million in its platform technology and built a comprehensive multi-product suite — including ISA and pension wrappers — which ActivTrades does not offer. For traders who want to consolidate trading and long-term investing with a single provider, CMC Markets is the stronger choice.
Edge: CMC Markets — significantly wider product range.
Trading Platforms
CMC Markets provides its own proprietary Next Generation web and mobile platform, MetaTrader 4 (MT4), and TradingView.
ActivTrades provides ActivTrader (its own proprietary platform), MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), and TradingView.
ActivTrades builds and owns its trading systems, citing this as a key reason for reliability during turbulent market conditions. The inclusion of MT5 gives ActivTrades a slight edge for traders who prefer the MetaTrader ecosystem, as CMC only supports MT4. However, CMC’s proprietary platform is widely regarded as one of the most polished in the industry.
Edge: Draw — CMC has a more acclaimed proprietary platform; ActivTrades offers MT5 support.
Costs & Fees
Both brokers are spread-only on forex and indices (no commission), with overnight holding costs applying to positions held past 10pm UK time.
ActivTrades advertises forex CFD spreads starting from 0.5 pips, with transparent pricing and no hidden commissions.
CMC Markets charges no commission on spread betting or CFD forex/indices, and no commission on UK and European share CFDs (excluding Greek shares). A currency conversion fee applies at mid-price ±0.5% for non-GBP instruments. There is also a £10 monthly inactivity fee on accounts dormant for more than 12 continuous months. ActivTrades does not prominently advertise a similar fee — worth confirming directly before opening an account.
Both brokers offer Guaranteed Stop-Loss Orders (GSLOs) at a premium.
Edge: Broadly comparable — check live spreads on your specific instruments before deciding.
Customer Support
ActivTrades provides 24-hour support five days a week in 14 languages, across chat, phone, and email. It has won awards specifically for customer service at the ADVFN International Financial Awards.
CMC Markets is available whenever the markets are open — Sunday night through to Friday night — by phone and email.
Edge: ActivTrades — multi-language support and an award-winning customer service reputation are notable differentiators.
Risk Warning Comparison
The regulatory risk warnings published by each broker offer a useful transparency signal:
- CMC Markets: 68% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs.
- ActivTrades: 71% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs.
CMC Markets’ slightly lower loss rate may reflect its client base or product mix, but both figures are high — a clear reminder that these products carry substantial risk for retail traders.
Summary Comparison Table
| CMC Markets | ActivTrades | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1989 (35+ years) | 2001 (25 years) |
| FCA Regulated | ✅ | ✅ |
| Fund Protection | FSCS £85,000 | Up to £1,000,000 |
| Instruments | 12,000+ | 1,000+ |
| Spread Betting | ✅ | ✅ |
| CFD Trading | ✅ | ✅ |
| Direct Equities | ✅ | ❌ |
| Options Trading | ✅ | ❌ |
| ISA / SIPP | ✅ | ❌ |
| Platforms | Proprietary, MT4, TradingView | ActivTrader, MT4, MT5, TradingView |
| Avg. Execution | 0.009s (median) | <0.004s (average) |
| Inactivity Fee | £10/month after 12 months | Not prominently listed |
| Support Languages | English (primarily) | 14 languages |
| Retail Loss Rate | 68% | 71% |
Bottom Line
Choose CMC Markets if you want a comprehensive multi-asset platform — spread betting, CFDs, direct equities, options, and tax-efficient investing (ISA/SIPP) all in one place, with the widest instrument selection and a highly developed proprietary platform.
Choose ActivTrades if you prioritise execution speed, superior fund protection (up to £1,000,000), multi-language support, and a clean, focused trading experience. It is particularly appealing for active forex and CFD traders who value reliability and transparency over breadth.
See The Best Brokers >Disclaimer: This comparison is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always verify current terms directly on each broker’s website. CMC Markets and ActivTrades are both authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom. Consider seeking independent financial advice before opening a trading account.