CMC Markets
Virtual Brokers
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Overview
CMC Markets was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in UK, while Virtual Brokers was established in 2008 and is based in Canada. CMC Markets holds licences including Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), while Virtual Brokers is regulated by The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) among others. CMC Markets serves 10,000+ clients worldwide; Virtual Brokers has 10,000+. The minimum deposit is $200 at CMC Markets and $1000 at Virtual Brokers.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $1000 |
| Regulation | Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) | The Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC), Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF) |
| Founded | 1989 | 2008 |
| Country | UK | Canada |
| Clients | 10,000+ | 10,000+ |
Fees
Fees are a critical factor when choosing between CMC Markets and Virtual Brokers, directly affecting your bottom line as a trader. Virtual Brokers has a lower barrier to entry with a minimum deposit of $1000 (vs $200 at CMC Markets). Both brokers charge withdrawal fees. CMC Markets applies inactivity fees on dormant accounts; Virtual Brokers does not. Virtual Brokers charges deposit fees; CMC Markets does not. Overall, CMC Markets scores higher on fees in our assessment.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Min. Deposit | $200 | $1000 |
| Withdrawal Fees | Yes | Yes |
| Inactivity Fees | Yes | No |
| Deposit Fees | No | Yes |
| CFD Fees | No | No |
Platforms
CMC Markets offers MT4, MT5, cTrader, while Virtual Brokers supports MT4, MT5, cTrader. Both brokers provide mobile trading apps for iOS and Android. Virtual Brokers supports social and copy trading features, which CMC Markets does not offer. The two brokers are closely matched on platform offering.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| MT4 | Yes | Yes |
| MT5 | Yes | Yes |
| cTrader | Yes | Yes |
| Windows App | Yes | Yes |
| iOS App | Yes | Yes |
| Android App | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Platforms | Web Trader, Binary, Tablet & Mobile apps | MT4,Desktop,iPhone/iOS |
Education & Research
Education and research tools help traders at every level make more informed decisions, and here's how CMC Markets and Virtual Brokers compare. Both brokers run regular live webinars. Both provide video tutorials, including advanced content. Daily market commentary is available from both brokers. Both integrate third-party research tools including Trading Central. Archived webinars are available at both brokers for self-paced learning. The two brokers are evenly matched on educational content.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Forex Education | Yes | Yes |
| CFD Education | Yes | Yes |
| Weekly Webinars | Yes | Yes |
| Daily Commentary | Yes | Yes |
| Trading Central | Yes | Yes |
| Autochartist | Yes | Yes |
Deposits & Withdrawals
Convenient deposit and withdrawal options reduce friction for traders, especially important when managing positions across time zones. CMC Markets accepts 2 of the tracked payment methods (bank transfer, credit/debit card), while Virtual Brokers supports 2 (bank transfer, credit/debit card). Both brokers support the same set of payment methods.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Bank Transfer | Yes | Yes |
| Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
| PayPal | No | No |
| Skrill | No | No |
| Neteller | No | No |
Support
Responsive customer support matters most when you're locked out of your account or need urgent help with a trade. Both CMC Markets and Virtual Brokers offer live chat support. Both provide phone support. Email support is available at both brokers. CMC Markets supports 8 languages and Virtual Brokers supports 2, giving CMC Markets broader global reach. Both brokers are comparable on support quality.
| Feature | CMC Markets | Virtual Brokers |
|---|---|---|
| Live Chat | Yes | Yes |
| Phone Support | Yes | Yes |
| Email Support | Yes | Yes |
| Languages | English, German, French, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, and Norwegian | English, and Chinese |