FBS vs CMC Markets - Fees Review included
Which broker is better FBS or CMC Markets? Our expert assessment conducted according to TU’s own methodology showed that FBS is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 7.33 out of 10. CMC Markets is one of the top brokers in the financial market with the TU Overall Score of 6.45 out of 10. Find out more about TU Overall Score.
| Feature | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
4.3 |
3.9 |
4.6 |
4.5 |
|
3.9 |
4.4 |
|
4.1 |
4.8 |
|
Investment Instruments |
4.7 |
1 |
Platforms and Charting Tools |
4.5 |
3.4 |
Deposit and Withdrawal |
4.2 |
3.9 |
Research |
3.9 |
3.7 |
Education |
4.2 |
3.9 |
Support |
3.9 |
4.3 |
Bonuses |
5 |
1 |
|
|
FBS vs CMC Markets: Pros and Cons
FBS (fbs.com) is an international broker operating in 190 countries. The brokerage company has been on the market for over 10 years, and during this time it has earned about 40 international awards. It is regulated by the CySEC under license number 331/17 and provides flexible conditions for Forex trading. FBS is especially popular in Asian countries such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia.
CMC Markets (https://www.CMC Markets.com/en/) is one of the leading companies in Forex and CFD trading, founded in 1989. The broker is regulated by the FCA (UK Financial Conduct Authority). The company provides a wide range of trading assets, including indices, stocks, and cryptocurrencies. Solid experience in the financial services market, regulation in the UK, and segregated accounts for clients are the foundation of a high level of traders' trust. The broker also has a risk management program. CMC Markets is popular in many countries, for example, in Australia.
| FBS | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Pros | A large selection of trading instruments | a wide range of assets |
| Copyt trading platform | FCA-regulated broker | |
| $140 no-deposit bonus (not available for EU clients) | high level of security and compensation in case the company is recognized as illiquid | |
| Crypto account | ||
| Overall Cons | Hihg trading fees | No direct trading, only CFDs and spread betting |
| Slow exacution speed | The CMC Markets broker does not provide investment programs for clients |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Safety and Regulation
| FBS | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
Max. Regulation Level |
Tier-1 |
Tier-1 |
Investor protection |
€20,000 |
£85,000 €100,000 (DE) |
FCA UK Regulation |
No |
Yes |
FINRA (U.S) |
No |
No |
BaFin (Germany) |
No |
Yes |
ASIC (Australia) |
No |
No |
CFTC (U.S) |
No |
No |
MAS |
No |
Yes |
FSCA SA |
No |
No |
BVI FSC |
No |
No |
VFSC |
No |
No |
FSA (Seychelles) |
No |
No |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Trading Conditions
| Trading Conditions | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Minimum Deposit |
$1 |
$0 |
Trading Platforms |
MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, FBS Trader |
MT4 |
Max Leverage (Futures) |
401769 |
1-30 |
Supported Markets |
Forex, CFDs on stocks, indices, metals, energies, crypto |
Spread Betting Account, CFD Account, Corporate Account, and Demo Account |
Trading assets |
200+ |
10000+ |
Trading Accounts |
Standard, Cent, ECN, Micro, Zero Spread, Copy Trade |
Spread Betting, CFD Account, Corporate Account |
Base Account Currencies |
EUR, USD |
USD, EUR, GBP |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Fees
| FBS | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, min pips |
0,7 |
0,5 |
Standard acc. spread EUR/USD, max pips |
1,3 |
0,8 |
ECN Commission |
3 |
|
ECN Spread EUR/USD |
0,1 |
|
Deposit fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, % |
No |
No |
Withdrawal fee, USD |
No |
No |
Inactivity fee, $ |
No |
10 |
A conversion fee may be applied as withdrawals and deposits are conducted in USD. Any other currency will have to be converted.
FBS vs CMC Markets: Trading Assets
| Asset Name | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Overall |
200+ |
10000+ |
Forex |
Yes |
Yes (CFD) |
Stocks |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Metals |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Cryptocurrencies |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Energy |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
Indices |
Yes (CFD) |
Yes (CFD) |
ETFs |
No |
Yes (CFD) |
Bonds |
No |
No |
Mutual funds |
No |
No |
Stock options |
No |
No |
Futures Trading |
No |
No |
Binary Options |
No |
No |
FBS or CMC Markets: Investment Programs
| Asset Name | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Copy Trading |
Yes |
No |
MAM/PAMM |
Yes |
No |
Managed Accounts |
No |
No |
Other |
No |
The CMC Markets broker does not provide investment programs for clients |
Trading Platforms: CMC Markets or FBS
| FBS | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
MT4 |
Yes |
Yes |
MT5 |
Yes |
No |
cTrader |
No |
No |
Appropriate platform |
FBSTrader |
No |
Others |
No |
No |
|
|
FBS vs CMC Markets: Deposit and Withdrawal Methods
| FBS | CMC Markets | |
|---|---|---|
Bank Wire |
Yes |
Yes |
Bank Card |
Yes |
Yes |
Neteller |
Yes |
Yes |
BTC |
No |
No |
Wise |
No |
No |
Payoneer |
No |
No |
USDT |
No |
No |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Research
| Research Type | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
News Feed |
Yes |
Yes |
Fundamental Data |
Yes |
Yes |
Chart Analysis |
Yes |
Yes |
Trading Ideas |
Yes |
Yes |
E-Mail Reports |
Yes |
Yes |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Education
| Education Type | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Demo-account/Paper Trading |
Yes |
Yes |
Webinars |
Yes |
Yes |
Articles |
Yes |
Yes |
Videos |
Yes |
Yes |
Cent account |
Yes |
no |
CMC Markets vs FBS: Support
| Support Features | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Working Days |
24/5 |
24/5 |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Phone |
Yes |
yes |
Online chat |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
FB Messenger |
No |
FBS vs CMC Markets: Forex Bonuses and Promo
| Promo | FBS | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
Forex Bonus |
$140 no deposit bonus, up to 100% deposit bonus (Bonuses are not available for EU and UK clients) |
No |
Affiliate Program |
Gray Label is targeted at licensed investment companies and trading account management firms. It allows you to copy the trading conditions of a broker. Cooperation is discussed individually with each partner. White Label allows the broker to use the CMC Markets network to promote the broker’s business. API Direct provides access to CFD and FX liquidity and stable prices for over 400 assets. Prime Derivatives allow counterparties to trade CFDs through the FIX API that is located in multiple data centers around the world and connected directly to the order management system. |
|
Other Promos |
By activating the option in the personal account, a trader can receive a cashback of up to $15 per lot |
No |
|
|
Top 5 Reviews on CMC Markets
-
Comment
I chose CMC Markets because of its high level of reliability and strong regulatory oversight. The company has been operating since 1989 and holds licenses from the FCA, BaFin, CNMV, ASIC, and other authorities — which is very important to me. It offers one of the lowest minimum deposits at just $1, along with strong fund protection: the FCA compensation scheme covers up to £85,000, which far exceeds the protection offered by most brokers. I was also impressed by the wide range of available assets — stocks, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and bonds — with spreads starting from just 0.1 pips. The only downside is that all sections are in English, but that’s not an issue for advanced users.
-
Comment
CMC Markets suits me when it comes to trading. Although I have been working with this company for a little over a year, I managed to withdraw trading profits several times. Withdrawing funds from CMC Markets is not fast because I use bank transfer. Of course, there is a fee. But the broker seems reliable, although there are some disadvantages.
-
Comment
I do not recommend that you continue working with CMC мarkets. The conditions there are not good at all. Spreads are high, swaps are crazy, and the platform operates disgustingly. Therefore, if you want to trade, trade with normal brokers. There are many of them - you can confidently take the top 10 companies from the rating and open an account there.
-
Comment
Trading on the СMC мarkets platform is a complex task. Achieving sustainable profits here requires extensive experience and skills. The broker charges high fees and sets consistently high spreads. This can make you a losing trader in the long run and the broker will take advantage of this knowing that you may end up losing. Therefore, I do not recommend that novice traders choose СMC мarkets for trading, since it is unlikely that they will be able to remain in the black for a long time.
-
Comment
I still don’t understand why CMC Markets exists? It seems to allow you to trade, explore the platform, start trading on a demo account, and even trade with real money. Naturally, there is a problem. If you lose, everything is fine, but if you win, they don’t allow you to withdraw your profits. The funny thing is that you can withdraw exactly as much as you deposited into the company. I deposited $500, which is exactly what I got back. But they don’t allow you to withdraw your profits. CMC Markets is some kind of fraud!
Top 5 Reviews on FBS
-
Comment
Broker FBS provides access to trading on more than 150 markets, including forex, indices, metals, and futures contracts. The minimum deposit is $5, making FBS accessible for beginner traders. Leverage goes up to 1:3000, and the minimum spread on major currency pairs starts from 0.7 pips. Trading platforms available include MetaTrader 4, MetaTrader 5, and FBS Trader, with a minimum trade size of 0.01 lots.
-
Comment
I've been working with FBS for over six months. Withdrawals to a card usually take up to 48 hours, and fees depend on the chosen method. On the Pro account, spreads start from 0.5 pips but can widen during news releases. The company is regulated by the IFSC — not the strictest regulator, but it's something.
-
Comment
I occasionally use copy trading from FBS. It’s convenient that you can start with just $1. However, when choosing a trader, it’s important to carefully analyze their statistics — not all of them trade consistently. On the plus side, there’s automation; on the downside, the search filters are limited.
-
Comment
I started working with FBS because of the wide variety of account types. The conditions vary: for example, the Cent account requires just a $1 minimum deposit, while the ECN account starts at $1000. Each account suits a different trading strategy. The key is to carefully review the spreads and commissions before opening an account.
-
Comment
I did not get the answer I was seeking or I might have read a different thing online, I really can’t say because when I contacted the FBS support team. After trying the live chat option to no avail, I decided to try the Telegram channel. Initially, it was supposed to be a bot but I got a message that an agent would join. When I asked for the accounts available and features and the ideal one for Forex I got a long message which I did not understand (I was expecting a list of accounts and their features). Later the agent said they only offer standard accounts.
FAQs
What should I start Forex trading with?
It is desirable for novice traders to explore trading using a demo account to learn the market and how to work on the trading platform without the risk of suffering losses. At the same time, it is advisable to review the educational materials of the broker, learn trading basics. Then you can deposit the minimum required amount to perform a small number of transactions. If you manage to close several months in a row in the black, without substantial drawdowns on the account, then you can try increasing your deposit. Also trying to copy trades automatically is a good option for a start.
What amount should I start trading with?
The minimum deposit of $10 may be enough to trade on the cent account. However, for trading on Standard/ECT accounts, experts recommend starting with at least $200-500. With this amount, you can use not a very big leverage. Remember, getting carried away with the margin is the main cause of losses among beginners.
What should I take into consideration when choosing a broker?
Experts recommend looking at the broker’s reliability first and foremost. The other important features include basic trading conditions, commissions and fees, customer reviews. If brokers are approximately the same in terms of basic criteria, you need to choose based on your experience and tasks. One broker may be good for professionals and another – for novice traders.
Is it possible to be scammed by a broker with a license from a reputable regulator?
In theory, yes. But in practice, it takes so much time and money to comply with the requirements of reputable regulators that it is not worth it for scammers to bother obtaining a legitimate license.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.