CMC Markets vs Trading 212
Since 1 Dec 2001 the FCA has authorised CMC Markets UK plc (FCA, FRN 173730). It holds client money. Since 1 Oct 2014, Trading 212 UK Limited has been authorised by the FCA, FRN 609146, and holds client money.
Trading 212 and CMC Markets compared side by side
Every figure comes from the broker, along with the date we checked it. The figures follow the order people search for them, not a preferred ranking.
| Fact | CMC Markets | Trading 212 |
|---|---|---|
| UK firm | CMC Markets UK plc | Trading 212 UK Limited |
| FRN | 173730 | 609146 |
| Regulatory status | Authorised | Authorised |
| Authorised since | 1 Dec 2001 | 1 Oct 2014 |
| Clone firms on the register | 2 | 4 |
| Retail CFD accounts that lose money | 69%, read 2 Nov 2026 | 75%, read 2 Nov 2026 |
| EUR/USD spread as stated | 0.5 pips (minimum, Spread bet / CFD (standard)) | Not stated |
| Smallest deposit | Not stated | £10 |
| Inactivity fee | £If you leave an account with no open positions and don't trade for one year, £10 applies each month.) | Not stated |
| Withdrawal fee | Card and standard bank transfers are free; international bank transfers may have a charge | free (third-party banks may charge) |
| Withdrawal time | A card withdrawal can take anywhere from within an hour to five working days, based on the issuer. With a UK bank, it takes one to two working days; an international bank takes three to five working days. | Not stated |
| CFDs | Yes | Yes |
| Spread betting | Yes | Not stated |
| Share dealing | Yes | Yes |
| Retail leverage | Not stated | According to the margin table, major currency pairs are 1:30, minor pairs 1:20, other commodities 1:10, while stocks and ETFs are 1:5.) |
| Platforms | You can use MT4, TradingView, CMC Markets web platform, or the CMC mobile app ('CMC Platform').') | Trading 212 app and web platform |
| Demo account | Yes | Not stated |
| Negative balance protection | Not stated | Yes |
| iPhone app rating, UK App Store | 4.21 of 5 (411 ratings) | 4.7 of 5 (412,613 ratings) |
Both brokers have the same FCA status, CFDs and share dealing.
Sources: cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/account-comparison, read 2 Nov 2026; trading212.com/trading-instruments/cfd, read 2 Nov 2026; cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/forex, read 2 Nov 2026; cmcmarkets.com/en-gb/trading-costs, read 2 Nov 2026; trading212.com/terms/cfd, read 2 Nov 2026; helpcentre.trading212.com/hc/en-us/articles/11471872562461-What-are-the-fees-in-the-CFD-account, 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. With this provider, 69% of retail investor accounts lose money through spread betting and/or trading CFDs. Think about whether you understand how our products work, including spread bets, CFDs, OTC options, and any others. You should also consider whether the substantial risk of losing money is affordable for you.
CMC Markets's wording appears at cmcmarkets.com; we read it 2 Nov 2026.
CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Of retail investor accounts trading CFDs with this provider, 75% lose money. You should check whether you understand how CFDs work. You should also check whether you can afford to face a high risk of losing your money.
We read Trading 212's wording on trading212.com on 2 Nov 2026.