OANDA vs CMC Markets at a glance
| | OANDA | CMC Markets |
| --- | --- | --- |
| EUR/USD spread | 0.6 pips | 0.5 pips |
| GBP/USD spread | 0.9 pips | 0.9 pips |
| XAU/USD spread | 0.35 pips | 0.30 pips |
| Commission | Spread-only (core pricing available) | Spread-only on forex |
| Minimum deposit | No minimum | No minimum |
| Max leverage | 1:30 (FCA retail) | 1:30 (FCA retail) |
| Regulation | FCA, ASIC, CFTC/NFA, MAS | FCA, ASIC, BaFin, MAS |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, TradingView, OANDA Trade | Next Generation, MT4, TradingView |
| Withdrawals | 1-2 business days | 1-3 business days |
| Founded | 1996 | 1989 |
Overall verdict
OANDA (founded 1996) and CMC Markets (founded 1989) both offer raw-style pricing, but differ on commission (Spread-only (core pricing available) vs Spread-only on forex), leverage (1:30 (FCA retail) vs 1:30 (FCA retail)) and payout speed (1-2 business days vs 1-3 business days).
Total cost of a 1 lot EUR/USD round turn
The only cost comparison that matters is spread plus commission, measured together:
- OANDA — 0.6 pips plus Spread-only (core pricing available)
- 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
OANDA: FCA, ASIC, CFTC/NFA, MAS. 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
OANDA supports MT4, MT5, TradingView, OANDA Trade. 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: OANDA 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.