CMC Markets vs Plus500
Since 1 Dec 2001, CMC Markets UK plc has been authorised by the FCA, FRN 173730. It holds client money. Since 29 Jun 2010, Plus500UK Ltd has been authorised by the FCA, FRN 509909, and holds client money.
CMC Markets and Plus500 side by side
Every figure comes from the broker and includes the date we checked it. People search for them in the order shown, which doesn't reflect a preference.
| Fact | CMC Markets | Plus500 |
|---|---|---|
| UK firm | CMC Markets UK plc | Plus500UK Ltd |
| FRN | 173730 | 509909 |
| Regulatory status | Authorised | Authorised |
| Authorised since | 1 Dec 2001 | 29 Jun 2010 |
| Clone firms on the register | 2 | 12 |
| Retail CFD accounts that lose money | 69%, read 2 Nov 2026 | 76%, read 2 Nov 2026 |
| EUR/USD spread as stated | 0.5 pips (minimum, Spread bet / CFD (standard)) | Not stated |
| Inactivity fee | ££10 per month for dormant accounts (no open positions, plus no trading for one year)) | A monthly fee of up to USD 10 applies once you go three months or more without logging in. |
| Withdrawal fee | No charge for card payments and standard bank transfers; international bank transfers may attract fees. | Free (We Don’t Charge Deposit and Withdrawal Fees); taking out less than the stated minimum may bring charges. |
| Withdrawal time | Card processing takes from within an hour to five working days, depending on the issuer. A UK bank transfer takes one or two working days. An international bank transfer takes three through five working days. | Processing normally takes 1-3 working days; e-wallets take 3-7, while bank transfers take 5-7. |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | Not stated |
| Share dealing | Yes | Not stated |
| Retail leverage | Not stated | 1:30 on Forex CFDs; 1:5 on share CFDs |
| Platforms | MT4, TradingView, CMC Markets web platform, plus the CMC mobile app ('CMC Platform')') | Plus500 trading platform (web and app) |
| Demo account | Yes | Yes |
| Negative balance protection | Not stated | Yes |
| iPhone app rating, UK App Store | 4.21 of 5 (411 ratings) | 4.25 of 5 (7,849 ratings) |
FCA status, CFDs and demo account are the same for both.
Source: plus500.com/en-GB, read 2 Nov 2026; cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/account-comparison, read 2 Nov 2026; cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/forex, read 2 Nov 2026; cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/trading-costs, read 2 Nov 2026; plus500.com/en-gb/aboutus, read 2 Nov 2026.
How the two loss rates stand against the wider field
The full risk warning from each broker
Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Among retail investor accounts that spread bet and/or trade CFDs with this provider, 69% lose money. Whether you understand how CFDs, OTC options, spread bets or any of our other products work should form part of your decision. Whether taking the high risk of losing your money is affordable for you should be considered as well.
This is CMC Markets's wording from cmcmarkets.com, read 2 Nov 2026.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. When trading CFDs with this provider, 76% of retail investor accounts lose money. Consider whether you understand how CFDs work. You should also consider whether you can afford the high risk involved in losing your money.
This is Plus500's wording from plus500.com, read 2 Nov 2026.