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CMC Markets vs XM Group 2026
A detailed head-to-head comparison of CMC Markets and XM Group across regulation, trading costs, platforms, and more.
Score Breakdown
Category-by-Category Winner
Detailed Comparison
Overview
Trading Costs
Platforms & Features
Instruments
CMC Markets vs XM Group: Our Analysis
Overall Verdict
With an overall score of 83.5/100 vs 80.2/100, CMC Markets slightly edges out XM Group by 3.3 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, CMC Markets offers an average spread of 0.70 pips with a $5.00 round-turn commission, while XM Group comes in at 0.80 pips with a $7.00 commission. CMC Markets offers tighter pricing on EUR/USD. Minimum deposit is $0 at CMC Markets and $5 at XM Group.
Regulation & Safety
CMC Markets holds 5 regulatory licenses with a highest tier of Tier 1 (FCA, ASIC, BaFin), while XM Group has 5 licenses at Tier 1 (CySEC, ASIC, DFSA). Both brokers are equally regulated.
Platform Comparison
CMC Markets offers MT4, Next Generation — uniquely offering Next Generation which XM Group does not have. XM Group supports MT4, MT5, XM App, with exclusive access to MT5, XM App. XM Group provides a wider platform selection.
Who Should Choose Which?
CMC Markets suits cost-conscious traders, traders who want advanced tools, traders who prioritize safety, traders wanting a wide instrument range, while XM Group is better for beginners seeking education. If copy trading matters, XM Group 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 XM Group's 80.2/100. However, "better" depends on your priorities — XM Group 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 0.80 pips at XM Group. 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. XM Group scores 78/100 with CySEC, ASIC, DFSA.
For beginners, XM Group is the stronger choice with an education and research score of 92/100. 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 CMC Markets and XM Group 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.
Reviewed by
Neil CNeil 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