TradingCritique

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Robinhood vs CMC Markets : Fees, Safety & Trading Conditions Compared (2026)

Broker Name

Robinhood

Robinhood

VS
CMC Markets

CMC Markets

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Broker Overview

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

STP

Market maker

Years of Existence / Established Year

2013

1989

Customer Base / Number of Accounts

24.2 M

265k+


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Regulation & Security

Regulations (governing bodies)

FINRA,SIPC, SEC

FCA, ASIC, CIRO, MAS, FMA

Awards Won (count for the last 2 years)

Future Trends Corporates Award -2024, Future Trends Leader Award- 2024

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, FDIC

FSCS

SSL Encryption / 2FA

Yes

Yes

Segregated Funds

No

Yes

Negative Balance Protection

Yes

Yes


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Trading Instruments/Products Offered

Assets Types / Trading Instruments (total count and breakdown)

5000+ trading instruments

12,000+ tradable instruments including shares, Treasuries

Currency Pairs

No

Yes

Commodities

No

Yes

Indices

No

Yes

Cryptocurrencies

Yes

Yes

CFDs

No

Yes

ETFs

Yes

Yes

Stocks

Yes

No

Options

Yes

No

Futures

Yes

No

Bonds

No

Yes

Mutual Funds

No

No

Fractional Shares

Yes

Yes

Exchange Traded Notes (ETNs)

No

No

Precious Metals

No

Yes

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)

No

No

Equities

No

No


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Trading Platforms & Technology

Trading Platform Availability

Yes

Yes

MT4

No

Yes

MT5

No

No

cTrader

No

No

Social Trading

No

Yes

Copy Trading

No

Yes

Other Trading Platforms (proprietary, etc.)

Mobile, web trading, Desktop trading

CMC web platform, iOS and Android app

Platform Compatibility (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)

Yes

Yes


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Account Types & Conditions

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

Margin, IRA, and cash account

Spread betting, CFD account , FX active, Corporate account

Demo Account (Yes/No)

No

Yes

Islamic Accounts (Yes/No)

No

No

Minimum Deposit

$0

$0

Leverage Available

2:1

30:1 to 1:500

Trade Limit (maximum per trade)

Depends on assets class

No information

Commission (per account type)

$0

Standard - No commission, FX active account- $2.50

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

Beginners

Professional and retail traders


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Deposit & Withdrawal Options

Deposit Methods

ACH, Instant bank transfer, Debit card, Wire transfer

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Withdrawal Methods

Instant bank transfer, Debit card, Standard bank transfer

Bank transfer, Debit/credit card, Online banking

Other E-Wallets Supported

No

No


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Tools & Educational Resources

Economic Calendar

Yes

Yes

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

Learning Tutorials, Webinars, Market news and insights, Support and community

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


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Fees & Commissions

Trading-Related Fees

Exchange and regulatory fees: $55 per trade, with a maximum of $0.02, Margin fees: 5.75%

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)

NA

Fixed/Variable

Per Lot Fees

NA

$2.50

Options Contract Fees

$0.01

NA

Futures Contract Fees

NA

NA

Markup Fees on Spread

0.50%

$5.00 per $100,000 in nominal value

Guaranteed Stop Loss Fees

NA

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

2:1

1:500


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Non-Trading Fees

Dormant Fees

$0

$0

Subscription Fees (for premium features, data feeds)

$5 per month

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

NA

NA

Swap Fees (Overnight Financing)

NA

NA

Statement or Document Fee

$2 per month

NA

Account Opening Fee

$0

$0

Account Maintenance Fee

$0

NA

Deposit Fee

$0

$0

Currency Conversion Fee

0.03%

0.50%

Withdrawal Fee

Withdrawal : 1.75%, Bank transfers- 0, Outgoing wire transfer $25 Domestic overnight check delivery $20, ACATS, Outgoing $100

$0


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Bonuses, Promotions & Benefits

Bonuses, Promotions, and Referrals

Yes

Yes

Customer Benefits (e.g., Retirement Plan)

Yes

No


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Trading Hours

Trading Hours (for each asset class if applicable)

8 PM ET Sunday until 8 PM ET Friday

Depends on the instrument offer


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Customer Support

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

7 AM - 9 PM ET

Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm

Customer Support Methods (phone, email, live chat)

App chat 24/7 , Phone- 650-761-7789, Robinhood Crypto- 888-275-8523

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

Support Languages

1

12+


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Additional Information

Headquarters Location

Menlo Park, California , U.S.

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

Complaints (for crypto brokers)

No

No


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.
Robinhood stands out for its zero-commission trading model, appealing to cost-conscious investors. In contrast, CMC Markets offers more comprehensive services with slightly higher fees, especially for advanced tools and asset classes.
Account approval at Robinhood is usually completed within hours, often with automated ID checks. CMC Markets might take longer due to manual reviews, but provides in-depth onboarding support along the way.
Robinhood provides a modern trading experience with its proprietary platform, ideal for technical traders. CMC Markets, on the other hand, offers more research tools and is better suited for data-driven investors.
If you're after professional-grade platforms, Robinhood may be ideal. For casual investors, CMC Markets offers a low-barrier entry.