eToro vs CMC Markets at a glance
| | eToro | CMC Markets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR/USD spread | 1.0 pips | 0.5 pips |
| GBP/USD spread | 1.5 pips | 0.9 pips |
| XAU/USD spread | 0.45 pips | 0.30 pips |
| Commission | Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee | Spread-only on forex |
| Minimum deposit | $50 | No minimum |
| Max leverage | 1:30 (FCA retail) | 1:30 (FCA retail) |
| Regulation | FCA, CySEC, ASIC | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS |
| Platforms | eToro Web, eToro App | Next Generation, MT4, TradingView |
| Withdrawals | 1-2 business days | 1-3 business days |
| Founded | 2007 | 1989 |
Spread-by-spread
eToro quotes EUR/USD at 1.0 pips and gold at 0.45 pips; CMC Markets quotes 0.5 pips and 0.30 pips. Raw spreads only tell half the story — add the commission (Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee vs Spread-only on forex) before you decide which is genuinely cheaper on the pairs you trade.
Total cost of a 1 lot EUR/USD round turn
The only cost comparison that matters is spread plus commission, measured together:
- eToro — 1.0 pips plus Spread-only, $5 withdrawal fee
- CMC Markets — 0.5 pips plus Spread-only on forex
- Vantage — 0.0 pips (Raw ECN) plus $3 per side per lot (Raw ECN) (the lowest commission of the raw ECN group)
Across 200 lots a month, a $0.50 per-side commission difference alone is $200 — $2,400 a year kept in or taken out of your account before a single pip of market movement.
Safety and regulation
eToro: FCA, CySEC, ASIC. FCA-regulated UK entity; FSCS cover for eligible retail clients.
CMC Markets: FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS. LSE-listed and FCA-regulated; FSCS cover for eligible UK retail clients.
Whichever you pick, confirm the entity you are onboarded to, that client funds are segregated, and that negative balance protection applies to your account type.
Platforms and execution
eToro supports eToro Web, eToro App. CMC Markets supports Next Generation, MT4, TradingView. MT4 remains best for expert advisors, MT5 adds depth of market, and cTrader gives the clearest view of raw pricing and order book depth.
Verdict: eToro vs CMC Markets
Between the two, pick on the metric that dominates your strategy — commission for scalpers, withdrawal speed for active traders, regulation for long-term capital. But on pure cost, neither beats Vantage: 0.0 pips (Raw ECN) raw spreads, $3 per side per lot (Raw ECN), up to 1:500 leverage, MT4/MT5/cTrader and same-day withdrawals from a $50 minimum deposit. Open a Vantage account.