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Head to head

CMC Markets vs Trendo

CMC Markets is licensed by FCA in the United Kingdom, BaFin in the European Union, ASIC in Australia, MAS in Singapore, CIRO in Canada, FMA (New Zealand) in New Zealand and DFSA in the United Arab Emirates (DIFC). Trendo is licensed by FSC Mauritius in Mauritius (international clients). The licence that applies to you depends on where you live, so check which company you would contract with before comparing anything else.

Minimum deposits start at $0 at CMC Markets and $10 at Trendo. Only CMC Markets offers negative balance protection and segregated client money.

Facts last checked: CMC Markets on 20 October 2026, Trendo on 20 October 2026.

CMC Markets profileTrendo profile
Broker 1
Broker 2
Broker 3

Monthly cost uses the account chosen in each slot: cost per lot × your lots. Swap and other fees are extra. The lowest monthly cost is highlighted only as a fact about cost, not as a recommendation.

Broker
CMC MarketsStrictly regulatedRead the profile
TrendoRegulatedRead the profile
Comparing
CMC MarketsUnited Kingdom
TrendoMauritius (international clients)

Overview

Founded
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Headquarters
London, United Kingdom
Port Louis, Mauritius
Official websites
  • cmcmarkets.com
  • cmcinvest.com
  • trendo.com
Facts last checked
20 October 2026
20 October 2026

Regulation and protection

Company you would contract with
CMC Markets UK plc
Trending Markets (International) Ltd
Regulator
FCA
United Kingdom
FSC Mauritius
Mauritius (international clients)
Regulation level
Strictly regulated
Regulated
Licence number
173730
Check the register
GB25205094 (SEC-2.1B Investment Dealer)
Check the register
Clients this company serves
UK residents (spread betting, CFDs and FX Active)
International clients, depending on country of residence; the website does not say which countries go to this company and which to Trendo LLC (Armenia)
All licences held
  • FCA (United Kingdom)
  • BaFin (European Union)
  • ASIC (Australia)
  • MAS (Singapore)
  • CIRO (Canada)
  • FMA (New Zealand) (New Zealand)
  • DFSA (United Arab Emirates (DIFC))
  • FSC Mauritius (Mauritius (international clients))
Segregated client money
Yes
No
Negative balance protection
Yes
No
Compensation scheme
FSCS (UK, CMC Markets UK plc clients); other countries have their own schemes or none
None

Costs

Your monthly cost
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Cost per lot (EUR/USD)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Spread from
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical EUR/USD spread
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Commission per lot (round turn)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Typical GBP/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical USD/JPY spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Typical XAU/USD spread
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Swap-free account
Not yet checked
Yes

Leverage and margin

Maximum retail leverage
1:30 on major currency pairs (UK and EU retail clients)
Up to 1:2000 (1:500 on PAMM accounts and on balances below $50)
Retail leverage by asset class
  • Major currency pairs: 1:30
  • Other currency pairs: 1:20
  • Other commodities and non-major indices: 1:10
  • Share CFDs and spread bets: 1:5
  • Real and demo accounts: 1:25 to 1:2000
  • Balances below $50: Up to 1:500
  • PAMM accounts: Up to 1:500
  • Around major news and market open or close: Cut to 1:500 or 1:200
Margin call level
Not yet checked
100%
Stop-out level
50% of margin (UK and EU retail close-out rule)
70%

Account

Minimum deposit (this account)
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Base currencies
No accounts listed
No accounts listed
Execution
No accounts listed
No accounts listed

Platforms and features

Platforms
  • CMC web platform
  • CMC mobile app
  • MetaTrader 4
  • MetaTrader 5
  • TradingView
  • Trendo app (iOS and Android)
  • Trendo desktop (Windows and Mac)
  • Trendo web trader
Markets
300+ currency pairs on its own platform (175+ on MetaTrader 4), indices, commodities, shares, ETFs, bonds and share baskets as spread bets and CFDs
Forex, gold and metals, cryptocurrencies, stocks and other CFDs
Demo account
Not yet checked
Yes
Copy trading
Not yet checked
Yes
Expert advisors (automated trading)
Yes
Not yet checked
News trading allowed
Not yet checked
Not yet checked
Guaranteed stops
Not yet checked
Not yet checked

Deposits and withdrawals

Deposit methods
Not yet checked
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Tether (TRC20 and BEP20)
  • USDC
  • Bitcoin
  • Ethereum
  • Tron
  • BNB
Withdrawal fee
No charge from CMC for deposits or withdrawals (UK site)
No Trendo fee on any method; blockchain network fees may apply
Inactivity fee
£10 a month (or currency equivalent) after a year with no trading, only taken while the account holds money
Not yet checked

Support

Customer support
24-hour phone line Monday to Friday (UK)
24/7 support and live chat

Our notes

Strengths
  • Every company we checked holds a licence from a strict or standard regulator, from the FCA to the DFSA
  • UK client money is held in segregated accounts under the FCA's client money rules, with FSCS cover for eligible claims
  • No minimum deposit on the UK site and no charge from CMC for deposits or withdrawals
  • Trending Markets (International) Ltd is on the FSC Mauritius register as an investment dealer (SEC-2.1B), licensed since 28 October 2025
  • One simple account from $10, with a published $3 commission per lot
  • No Trendo fees on deposits or withdrawals, with a $10 minimum per transaction
Watch out for
  • Inactivity fee of £10 a month after a year without trading
  • The UK site quotes minimum spreads (from 0.5 pips, or 0.0 pips plus commission on FX Active), not typical spreads, so check live prices before you compare
  • The FCA has warned about clone firms using CMC Markets' details, including ibplatform.info, ib-platform.info, ibplatform.co and marketstradeltd.com
  • Some clients are served by Trendo LLC in Armenia (registration 271.110.1214359); Trendo shows a company registration and charter update for it, and does not cite a financial licence
  • Leverage up to 1:2000 and deposit bonuses that come with trading conditions
  • We found no document setting out where client money is held or whether you have negative balance protection
  • Proprietary platform only; no MetaTrader

Risk warnings

The buttons to a broker’s website above the table are partner links: we may earn a commission if you open an account through them. That never changes the facts shown here. Trading leveraged products such as forex and CFDs carries a high risk of losing money rapidly, and most retail accounts lose money. Each broker’s own warning:

  • CMC Markets: Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how spread bets, CFDs, OTC options or any of our other products work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
  • Trendo: Forex and CFD trading are complex instruments and come with a high risk of rapid capital loss due to leverage. A significant percentage of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. You should consider whether you understand how these instruments work and whether you can afford to take the high risk associated with CFD trading. Trade responsibly: always consider your investment objectives, experience level, and risk appetite. If needed, seek advice from an independent financial advisor.

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Other head-to-head pages

Cost per lot is the typical EUR/USD spread in busy hours × $10, plus any round-turn commission, for one standard lot. “Not yet checked” means we have not confirmed that fact yet. This page compares facts; it does not rank the brokers or recommend either. Confirm costs and licences on each broker’s site and the regulator’s public register before opening an account: see how we review brokers and check a broker yourself.

Nothing on this page is financial advice. Read the full disclaimer.

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