Written by ForexBrokers.com
In this head to head comparison of CMC Markets vs Libertex, we will compare the trading platforms, mobile apps, range of investments, costs, market research, and more. Let's dive in.
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CMC Markets and Libertex are both well-known online brokers, but they differ a lot in their company background and regulation. CMC Markets was founded in 1989, is publicly traded, and is not a bank. It holds 6 Tier-1 licenses and 1 Tier-2 license, which helps explain its ForexBrokers.com Trust Score of 99 out of 99, placing it in the “highly trusted” range. Libertex, founded in 1997, is also not a bank but is not publicly listed. It holds 1 Tier-1 license and 1 Tier-2 license, with a Trust Score of 79, which puts it in the “average risk” range.
For traders comparing CMC Markets vs Libertex, the main takeaway is that CMC Markets has the stronger regulatory profile and higher trust rating. That may matter most for people who want a broker with more top-tier oversight and a longer track record. Libertex still has regulatory coverage, but its lower Trust Score and fewer Tier-1 licenses mean it is generally viewed as less trusted than CMC Markets by ForexBrokers.com.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1997 |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No |
| Bank | No | No |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
CMC Markets is the stronger pick on commissions and fees, earning a 5-star rating and ranking #4 out of 36 brokers in ForexBrokers.com’s Commissions and Fees category. It stands out for consistently low spreads across all account types, including an average EUR/USD spread of 0.61 pips based on its August 2023 pricing data. For active traders, its Price Plus Scheme can lower trading costs further through Trading Points, and its FX Active pricing offers commission-based trading at $2.50 per side with very tight all-in costs, including 0.5 pips on EUR/USD.
Libertex is also competitively priced, but it comes in behind CMC Markets with a 4-star rating and a #21 ranking out of 36 brokers. On headline forex pairs, its published EUR/USD spread of 0.3 pips looks attractive, though it is based on a single recent trading day rather than a longer monthly average, so it should be viewed as an estimate. Libertex uses a spread-plus-commission model, charging 5 euros per side on its main platform and 6 euros per side on MT4 and MT5, which may still appeal to traders looking for simple pricing and a low $10 minimum deposit.
Overall, CMC Markets offers the better value for most forex traders thanks to its lower typical costs, wider pricing transparency, and strong active trader discounts. Libertex can still be a good choice for traders who want a low entry deposit and straightforward account setup, but its fees and commissions are not as consistently low as CMC Markets’.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 |
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.3 |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Low Spread Forex Brokers.
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When it comes to the range of investments, CMC Markets offers a wider selection than Libertex. CMC Markets provides 12,029 tradeable symbols and 141 forex pairs, while Libertex lists 1,573 symbols and 46 forex pairs. Both brokers support forex trading as CFDs or spot contracts, and both also offer copy trading and cryptocurrency CFDs. However, neither broker lets you buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
CMC Markets also stands out for share investing, because it offers exchange traded securities on both U.S. and international exchanges, such as Apple and Vodafone shares. Libertex does not offer these types of exchange traded securities. Reflecting this larger product range, CMC Markets earns 5 stars for Range of Investments and ranks #9 out of 36 brokers, compared with Libertex’s 4 stars and #25 ranking.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1573 |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 46 |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
Dive deeper: Best Copy Trading Platforms.
CMC Markets and Libertex both give traders a strong set of platform choices, including free demo accounts for paper trading, web-based platforms, Windows desktop downloads, copy trading, and support for both MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5. Each broker also lets users trade directly from charts, which is helpful for quick order placement and chart-based analysis. For everyday users, that means both brokers make it fairly easy to test ideas, manage trades, and use familiar trading software across desktop and browser setups.
The biggest difference is that CMC Markets also offers its own in-house trading platform, while Libertex does not. That extra proprietary platform helps CMC Markets stand out, and it lines up with its higher rating for Trading Platforms and Tools: 5 stars versus 4 stars for Libertex. ForexBrokers.com also ranks CMC Markets much higher in this category, placing it #6 out of 36 brokers, compared with #26 for Libertex.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes |
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 43 |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes |
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CMC Markets and Libertex both offer mobile trading apps for iPhone and Android, and both include stock or forex price alerts plus watchlist syncing between the app and online account. Where CMC Markets stands out is in charting tools: its mobile app offers 29 technical studies, trendline drawing, and automatic saving of chart drawings, while Libertex does not include these chart features in its app.
For mobile trading app quality, CMC Markets is rated 5 stars and ranks #5 out of 36 brokers by ForexBrokers.com, compared with Libertex at 4 stars and #27. If mobile charting and easy-to-use trading tools matter to you, CMC Markets appears to be the stronger choice, while Libertex still covers the basics well for traders who want a simpler app.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 0 |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Trading Apps.
When it comes to market research, CMC Markets has the edge over Libertex. CMC Markets provides daily market commentary, forex news from major sources like Bloomberg and Reuters, Autochartist tools, sentiment data, and an economic calendar. Libertex also gives traders forex news, sentiment data, and an economic calendar, but it does not offer daily market commentary or Autochartist. Instead, Libertex stands out with Trading Central research tools, which CMC Markets does not provide.
Overall, CMC Markets earns a 5-star Research rating and ranks #6 out of 36 brokers for this category, while Libertex receives 4 stars and ranks #25. Both brokers cover the basics well, but CMC Markets offers a wider range of research features for traders who want more built-in market insight, while Libertex is a solid choice for those who value Trading Central tools.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | No |
| Trading Central | No | Yes |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes |
| TipRanks | No | No |
| Acuity Trading | No | No |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
Dive deeper: Best Brokers for Forex Research.
For beginners looking for learning support, CMC Markets stands out ahead of Libertex. CMC Markets offers forex and CFDs education with at least 10 learning pieces, plus 10 or more beginner videos and 10 or more advanced videos, making it easier for new traders to start with the basics and keep learning as they gain experience. It also earns a 5-star rating for Education and ranks #10 out of 36 brokers in the ForexBrokers.com Education category.
Libertex provides some educational content, but it is more limited for beginners. It does not appear to meet the 10-piece mark for forex or CFDs education, does not offer at least 10 beginner videos, and does not offer at least 10 advanced videos. It also does not provide monthly educational webinars. As a result, Libertex is rated 4 stars for Education and ranks #33 out of 36 brokers, making CMC Markets the stronger choice for trading education overall.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
Dive deeper: Best Forex Brokers for Beginners.
After testing 63 of the best forex brokers, our research and account testing finds that CMC Markets is better than Libertex. CMC Markets finished with an overall rank of #5, while Libertex finished with an overall rank of #32.
CMC Markets is well-trusted across the globe, and delivers a terrific trading experience thanks to its excellent pricing and selection of over 12,000 tradeable instruments.
| Feature |
CMC Markets
|
Libertex
|
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 |
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Both CMC Markets and Libertex let traders access cryptocurrency CFDs, but neither broker offers the ability to buy actual, delivered cryptocurrency.
When comparing CMC Markets vs Libertex for funding and withdrawals, both support ACH/SEPA transfers, PayPal, and bank wires, but Libertex also offers Skrill while CMC Markets does not.
Please note:
We review each broker’s overall global offering – a “Yes” checkmark in our Compare Tool does not guarantee the availability of any specific features in your country of residence. To verify the availability of any features within your country of residence, please contact the broker directly.
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0 of 5| Overall Rating | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Broker Screenshots | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
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| Regulation | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1997 | |
| Publicly Traded (Listed) | Yes | No | |
| Bank | No | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes | |
| Tier-1 Licenses | 6 | 1 | |
| Tier-2 Licenses | 1 | 1 | |
| Tier-3 Licenses | 0 | 0 | |
| Tier-4 Licenses | 0 | 2 |
| Tier-1 Licenses (Highly Trusted) | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia (ASIC Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Canada (CIRO Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Hong Kong (SFC Authorised) | No | No | |
| Japan (FSA Authorised) | No | No | |
| Singapore (MAS Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Switzerland (FINMA Authorised) | |||
| United Kingdom (U.K.) (FCA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| USA (CFTC Authorized) | No | No | |
| New Zealand (FMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| Regulated in one or more EU or EEA countries (MiFID). | Yes | Yes |
| Tier-2 Licenses (Trusted) | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenya (CMA Authorised) | |||
| Israel (ISA Authorised) | No | No | |
| South Africa (FSCA Authorised) | No | Yes | |
| UAE (DFSA, FSRA, or CMA Authorised) | Yes | No | |
| India (SEBI Authorised) | No | No | |
| Jordan (JSC Authorised) |
| Investments | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forex Trading (Spot or CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Tradeable Symbols (Total) | 12029 | 1573 | |
| Forex Pairs (Total) | 141 | 46 | |
| U.S. Stocks (Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Global Stocks (Non-U.S. Shares) | Yes | No | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| Cryptocurrency (Underlying) | No | No | |
| Cryptocurrency (CFDs) | Yes | Yes | |
| Disclaimers | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). | Note: Crypto CFDs are not available to retail traders from any broker's U.K. entity, nor to U.K. residents (except to Professional clients). |
| Cost | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average spread (EUR/USD) - Standard account | 1.3 | 0.3 | |
| All-in Cost EUR/USD - Active | 0.65 | 1.3 | |
| Inactivity Fee | Yes | Yes | |
| Order execution: Agency | No | No | |
| Order execution: Market Maker | Yes | Yes |
| Funding | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Deposit | $0 | $10 | |
| PayPal (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Skrill (Deposit/Withdraw) | No | Yes | |
| Bank Wire (Deposit/Withdraw) | Yes | Yes | |
| Non-wire bank transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proprietary Desktop Trading Platform | Yes | No | |
| Desktop Platform (Windows) | Yes | Yes | |
| Web Platform | Yes | Yes | |
| Copy Trading | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 4 (MT4) | Yes | Yes | |
| MetaTrader 5 (MT5) | Yes | Yes | |
| cTrader | No | No |
| Trading Tools | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual Trading (Demo) | Yes | Yes | |
| Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Charting - Indicators / Studies (Total) | 73 | 43 | |
| Charting - Trade From Chart | Yes | Yes | |
| Charts can be saved | Yes | No |
| Mobile Trading | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Android App | Yes | Yes | |
| Apple iOS App | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Price Alerts | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Watchlist [DELETED] | |||
| Mobile Watchlists - Syncing | Yes | Yes | |
| Mobile Charting - Indicators / Studies | 29 | 0 | |
| Mobile Charting - Draw Trendlines | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Charting - Trendlines Autosave | Yes | No | |
| Mobile Research - Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Research | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Daily Market Commentary (Articles) | Yes | No | |
| Forex News (Top-Tier Sources) | Yes | Yes | |
| Autochartist | Yes | No | |
| Trading Central | No | Yes | |
| TipRanks | No | No | |
| Client sentiment data | Yes | Yes | |
| Economic Calendar | Yes | Yes |
| Education | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webinars | No | No | |
| Videos - Beginner Trading Videos | Yes | No | |
| Videos - Advanced Trading Videos | Yes | No |
| Major Forex Pairs | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
|---|---|---|---|
| GBP/USD [DELETED] | |||
| USD/JPY [DELETED] | |||
| EUR/USD | Yes | Yes | |
| USD/CHF [DELETED] | |||
| USD/CAD [DELETED] | |||
| NZD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| AUD/USD [DELETED] | |||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
| Overall | CMC Markets | Libertex | |
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| Trust Score | 99 | 79 | |
| Winner | check_circle | ||
| Review | CMC Markets Review | Libertex Review |
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