E*TRADE vs CMC Markets : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

E*TRADE

CMC Markets

Broker Overview

Broker Type (e.g., Market Maker, ECN/STP)

Both ECN and STP broker

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

1982

1989

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

5.2 million client accounts

265k+

Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FRS, FINRA, SIPC, SEC, NFA, FDIC

FCA, ASIC, CIRO, MAS, FMA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Investor App and #1 Web Trading Platform for 2024, Benzinga's 2023 Global Fintech Awards

Best Mobile Trading Platform, No.1 Most Currency Pairs, Best for CFDs -2024, No.1 Web Platform, Best Forex Broker, Best In-House Analysts 2023

Security Measures

SIPC

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Segregated Funds

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

Over 50,000 offerings, including US Treasury trades

12,000+ tradable instruments including shares, Treasuries

Currency Pairs

Yes

Commodities

Yes

Indices

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

CFDs

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Stocks

Yes

Options

Yes

Futures

Yes

Bonds

Yes

Mutual Funds

Yes

Fractional Shares

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

Precious Metals

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

Equities

Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

MT4

Yes

MT5

cTrader

Social Trading

Yes

Copy Trading

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Power Etrade web, Power Etrade app

CMC web platform, iOS and Android app

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Account Types & Conditions

Account Types (Retail, Pro, VIP, etc.)

Brokerage, Retirement, Core portfolio, Managed portfolio, Small business retirement , bank

Spread betting, CFD account , FX active, Corporate account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

Minimum Deposit

Leverage Available

30:1 to 1:500

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

No information

Commission (per account type)

Standard - No commission, FX active account- $2.50

Best Suited For (e.g., beginners, experienced traders)

Beginners to experienced traders

Professional and retail traders

Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

Transfer money, Wire transfer, Transfer an account, Deposit a check ,Direct Deposit

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Withdrawal Methods

E-wallets, check, Wire transfer

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Other E-Wallets Supported

Electronic transfer

Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Tools & Educational Resources (tutorials, webinars, market news, etc.)

Educational Resources, Tools, Market News and Insights, Tutorials and Webinars

Learn spread betting, Learn to trade CFDs, Learn forex trading, technical indicators, Fundamental analysis, Webinars & events, Platform guides, Trading guides

Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Stocks, options, mutual funds, ETFs- $0, Bonds- $1, FINRA trading activity fee- $0.000166

CFD trading -US shares from $10; FX active - US shares from $10; Typical STP: Spread of 1.2 pips, Typical ECN: Spread of 0.2 pips, Spread- starts from 0.0 to 0.6 pips, Overnight holding costs: 0.0027%

Spread (typical, fixed, variable)

Fixed/Variable

Per Lot Fees

$2.50

Options Contract Fees

$0.65

Futures Contract Fees

$1.50

Markup Fees on Spread

$5.00 per $100,000 in nominal value

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

Crude Oil Brent $0.02 per unit, Apple Inc $0.41 per unit, US 30 $1.50 per unit, GBP/USD $0.00015 per

Maximum Leverage

1:500

Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

ASX Dynamic Data package $41.25 a month (non-professional investors) $118.80 a month, International Data service fees (US) $11, International Data service fees (NZ) $11, Live Data package Free

Advisory Fees

0.30%

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

Statement or Document Fee

Account Opening Fee

Account Maintenance Fee

$15/ month

Deposit Fee

Currency Conversion Fee

Direct trade-$0.005 per share, Broker assisted trader- $25

0.50%

Withdrawal Fee

Check return - $25, Electronic return -$25

Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

Sunday 5 p.m. CT to Friday 4 p.m. CT

Depends on the instrument offer

Customer Support

Support Hours (e.g., 24/7, weekdays only)

8 AM - 8 PM ET on weekdays

Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

Live chat, FAQ, Phone- 800-387-2331, 800-838-0908, Beneficiary Services: [email protected] General inquiries: [email protected]

Email: [email protected], Phone: +44 (0)20 7170 8200

Support Languages

12+

Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Arlington, Virginia, United States Buyenlarge, Getty

CMC Markets UK plc, 133 Houndsditch, London, EC3A 7BX, United Kingdom

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

At TradingCritique, we don't just list brokers. We test, compare, and simplify your decision-making. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, our data-driven comparisons are built to match your trading style and region. Learn how we Evaluate a broker.

Both E*TRADE and CMC Markets offer affordable fee structures, but E*TRADE generally edges out with no inactivity fees and lower commissions on standard trades, whereas CMC Markets shines with bundled research and platform access.

E*TRADE uses a digital-first onboarding approach with clear instructions and fast ID verification. CMC Markets goes a step further with manual checks and optional account tiers, ideal for serious professionals.

While E*TRADE focuses on mobile-first design and clean user experience, CMC Markets includes features like in-depth charting, integrated news feeds, and strong desktop performance.

For market veterans, E*TRADE brings the tools they need. New investors might find CMC Markets more approachable and cost-effective.

Explore More Broker Matchups

Here are more Comparisons to help you choose wisely

Compare E*TRADE and Plus500

Compare E*TRADE and Firstrade

Compare E*TRADE and TMGM

Compare CMC Markets and Vantage

Compare CMC Markets and EC Markets

Compare CMC Markets and axi

Our Latest Contents

Stay updated with our newest insights and guides!

Top Broker Reviews

Discover brokers trusted by global traders.

Select Your Brokers to Compare