CMC Markets vs Zebpay: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between CMC Markets and Zebpay This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on September 3, 2025

CMC Markets

Zebpay

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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CMC Markets is ideal if:

Designed for experienced derivative traders, especially those who value advanced customization and powerful analytical tools across multiple platforms.
Ideal if you seek a highly regulated, globally trusted provider with deep sector expertise and mature infrastructure.
Great choice for anyone wanting access to a wide spectrum of tradable instruments and rich educational resources in one robust ecosystem.

Zebpay is ideal if:

Beginner-Friendly with Smart Tools – Offers intuitive tools like curated CryptoPacks and performance analytics, so newcomers can diversify and follow asset trends easily.
Robust Security & Trust – Maintains rigorous protection with multi-sig cold storage, bug bounty programs, and encryption, building confidence in safeguarding your assets.
Convenient Global Access – Supports fiat-to-crypto transactions across device types in many regions, making it a flexible choice for users worldwide.

CMC Markets isn’t ideal if:

Zebpay isn’t ideal if:

Limited crypto diversity for global users – Outside core markets, the exchange offers a narrower selection of coins compared to larger global platforms.
No margin, leverage, or passive income flexibility – Advanced traders won’t find features like margin trading or extensive staking/investment options.
Mixed customer feedback quality – While some users report responsive support, others cite unresolved disputes or slow resolutions, impacting reliability perception.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

CMC Markets does not operate a traditional maker/taker fee structure or tiered volume discounts and does not offer any cost reductions tied to a native token.

ZebPay’s spot trading fees often follow a tiered structure—beginners may be charged around 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker, while high-volume users can benefit from reduced rates (e.g., 0.06% maker, 0.10% taker)—but there is no public mention of discounts via native token holdings.

Futures/Derivatives

CMC Markets provides CFDs and spread bets on derivatives, but it does not publish distinct maker/taker pricing or funding rates as you’d find on crypto futures exchanges.

Futures trading on ZebPay is available mainly to KYC-verified Indian users via perpetual contracts (e.g., BTC-INR, ETH-INR), though fee and funding specifics aren’t openly disclosed on the main help pages.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

For major crypto pairs like Bitcoin and Ethereum, the platform offers relatively tight spreads—even for top-tier tokens—thanks to aggregated pricing feeds and fast execution.

ZebPay’s publicly shared data doesn’t specify average spreads for pairs like BTC/USDT or ETH/USDT, suggesting this detail isn’t prominently published or may vary by region and market conditions.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Users can fund their account via bank transfers or cards; processing times vary by method, and while there may be standard processing delays, no explicit deposit or withdrawal fees are highlighted.

ZebPay typically offers fee-free fiat deposits and withdrawals via bank transfers, though in some regions instant deposit methods (like UPI or net banking) may carry small flat fees—processing time varies based on the local payment network.

On-chain Withdrawals

CMC Markets does not support direct withdrawals to crypto wallets, so there are no on-chain network fees—either fixed or dynamic—to consider.

Withdrawal fees depend on the specific cryptocurrency and location—e.g., India-based users pay around 0.0006 BTC for a Bitcoin withdrawal, while international users may enjoy free withdrawals; fees for other assets like ETH or TRX aren’t clearly listed.

Hidden Costs

While the platform primarily centers on spreads and overnight costs, indirect expenses may include currency conversion margins or potential costs if accounts go dormant, though these are not prominently marketed.

ZebPay applies a monthly inactivity fee (e.g., 0.0001 BTC plus GST) if there’s no trading or lending activity in the prior month, representing a cost that may be overlooked by inactive users.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you purchased €500 worth of Bitcoin through CMC Markets via CFDs, your effective cost would stem from the spread on the BTC position; since direct crypto ownership and withdrawals aren’t offered, you wouldn’t incur any separate withdrawal costs—just the cost implied by spread and position closure.

For a €500 BTC purchase, you’d incur the current trading fee percentage plus any spread (not publicly quoted), and if you were an Indian user withdrawing BTC, a fixed network fee (e.g., 0.0006 BTC) would apply—resulting in combined but approximated costs based on standard spot fees and withdrawal charge.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

CMC Markets offers CFDs on more than 35 cryptocurrencies—including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, XRP, meme coins, and newly added altcoins—though it doesn’t show distinct listings for “top 20 by volume.” Their platform also provides indices that bundle both major and emerging crypto for broader exposure.

ZebPay supports over 300 different cryptocurrencies, with the top 20 by volume typically including major names like Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, and others among the largest market-cap assets.

Product Range

All crypto offerings come exclusively as leveraged derivative CFDs or spread bets; there’s no true spot crypto, no futures/perps, options, ETFs, staking, lending, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools available.

The platform offers spot trading, perpetual futures (for KYC-verified Indian users), fixed-term crypto lending via a “Lend” feature, and curated CryptoPacks—however, there are no margin trading, options, ETFs, copy-trading, grid bots, or automated DCA tools.

Liquidity

While CMC doesn’t disclose specific 24-hour volumes or depth metrics, its aggregated pricing across multiple sources ensures consistently deep, responsive liquidity, especially for BTC and ETH.

While precise liquidity figures aren’t publicly indicated, ZebPay handles large trading volumes (billions in trade volume reported) implying sufficient depth particularly in BTC/ETH pairs—though order book details remain undisclosed.

Tools

The platform supports advanced trading features, including limit, stop, and OCO orders, real-time alerts, rich charting tools (including native TradingView integration), and robust API and WebSocket access for automated trading.

Users can place basic Market and Limit orders, utilize tools like Take Profit/Stop Loss, and benefit from a single-window interface—advanced features like OCO, native TradingView charts, real-time alerts, or full API/WebSocket support aren’t clearly emphasized.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products like CFDs and spread bets are unavailable in jurisdictions that ban them—such as the U.S.—meaning crypto derivatives are accessible only in regions where CFD trading is permitted under local regulation.

Futures trading is restricted to KYC-verified Indian users, spurred by regional regulatory choices; other products such as lending or spot trading are available more broadly, subject to country eligibility rules.

Innovation

CMC Markets does not offer crypto-focused innovation services like launchpads, launchpools, or flexible/locked staking; its emphasis remains on delivering traditional CFD-based trading experiences rather than DeFi-style earn mechanisms.

ZebPay offers innovative features like CryptoPacks bundles and fixed-term lending with auto-renewal; however, there’s no launchpad or launchpool activity, nor flexible vs locked earn distinctions publicly highlighted.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

CMC Markets plc, founded in 1989 and headquartered in London, operates globally with regional subsidiaries under local regulatory oversight.

ZebPay is operated by Awlencan Innovations India Limited, founded in 2014 and headquartered in India (with ties to Singapore), functioning under Indian jurisdiction for its core operations.

Licenses/Registration

The firm holds multiple high-tier licenses—including from the UK’s FCA, Germany’s BaFin, Australia’s ASIC, Singapore’s MAS, and Canada’s CIRO—providing broad regulatory coverage.

The exchange is registered under India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), reflecting its full compliance with local crypto asset regulations and standards.

Custody

Client deposits are segregated in reputable banks and undergo daily reconciliations and annual audits, though no public proof-of-reserves or cold storage percentages are provided.

ZebPay partners with trusted third-party custody services to implement multi-chain security and cold storage, with around 98% of assets held offline. It claims to maintain 100% reserves and supports third-party audit protocols like Proof of Reserves using Merkle trees.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Eligible retail clients benefit from compensation schemes such as the UK’s FSCS and Canada’s CIPF, alongside negative balance protection, where applicable.

There is no public mention of specifically insured assets or a dedicated protection fund for users, suggesting that standard insurance or compensation policies are not prominently featured.

Incident History

CMC Markets has a clean cybersecurity record with no reported hacks or major incidents, though it faced legal scrutiny over CFD practices in Australia and regulatory breaches in past years.

ZebPay maintains a clean incident record, signalling it has not experienced any hacks, outages, or regulatory penalties to date, demonstrating a strong operational track record.

Risk Controls

The platform offers strong security features including two-factor authentication (via app or SMS, required for withdrawals), encrypted data, anti-fraud mechanisms, and secure API access.

The platform features robust risk controls including mandatory two-factor authentication (2FA), phishing safeguards, bug bounty programs, and advanced wallet protection measures like MPC/Multi-Sig, IP whitelisting, and transaction-level velocity checks.

Transparency

CMC Markets provides regular reporting on execution quality and fund segregation, but does not publish public wallet addresses or formal SLA guarantees.

While ZebPay emphasizes high compliance and security standards, it does not publish regular transparency reports, public wallets, or specific service-level agreements (SLAs), indicating limited user-facing audit transparency.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

CMC Markets accepts deposits via bank transfer, credit/debit cards, and sometimes e-wallets; card deposits can go up to around $50,000 per transaction (depending on card issuer), while bank limits depend on your bank, and funds are typically available almost instantly for cards or on the next business day for bank transfers.

International users can deposit fiat via bank transfer (AUD, EUR, etc.), with minimum/maximum transaction limits visible in the app and typical processing times of up to two business days; Indian users enjoy Instant Deposit via IMPS or UPI and manual NEFT/RTGS options, with region-specific minimums and restricted to registered bank accounts.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

You must complete identity verification before trading; while CMC does not publish tiered verification levels or trading limits, verification is mandatory for full access and withdrawal capabilities.

The platform applies tiered KYC levels—ranging from basic to advanced—with higher verification unlocking larger withdrawal limits and daily transaction caps; upgrading requires submitting additional documents via support ticket.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals are possible via card, bank transfer, or PayPal (where available); there’s a daily cap (e.g., ~$40,000 to card, up to €10,000 to PayPal), unlimited withdrawals to registered bank accounts, and typical processing ranges from same-day to a few business days; direct crypto withdrawals (TRC20/ERC20/BEP20) are not supported.

Crypto withdrawal limits scale by KYC level and whether the address is whitelisted, with whitelisted transfers offering much higher daily caps; fiat withdrawals go to registered bank accounts only, processed within up to two business days.

Customer Support

CMC Markets provides support through email, phone, and live chat (operating during business hours), supported by a rich knowledge base—response times vary but generally align with office hours.

Support is provided via in-app tickets, live chat, and social media channels; response quality varies, with some users praising timely help and others citing unresolved issues—support aims to respond promptly and offers a detailed help base.

Languages & Localization

Services are localized across regions—platforms often display in local languages (including native Spanish where available), show pricing in local fiat (€, etc.), and operate under applicable local regulations.

ZebPay’s interface is natively in English, with fiat values typically displayed in local currencies like €/USD/INR depending on region; the platform tailors its offerings according to local regulations and payment infrastructure.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile and desktop apps are regularly updated and known for robust stability, with very low crash rates reported, though exact metrics aren’t published—users generally report smooth and reliable performance.

ZebPay provides mobile apps for iOS and Android that are generally stable and user-friendly; while crash stats aren’t disclosed, the platform regularly updates the app and pushes security improvements to enhance reliability.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

CMC Markets’ flagship interface, Next Generation, is feature-rich and award-winning, offering saved layouts and module linking for efficient navigation; while there’s no explicit “Lite” mode, their platforms cater to both seasoned traders (via advanced tools and customizable dashboards) and those who prefer a streamlined setup.

ZebPay delivers an approachable interface with a sleek, dark-themed design that guides users—from beginners to pros—through intuitive navigation and educational tooltips; it lacks explicit “Lite” or “Pro” modes but offers a tailored experience via its progressive onboarding quiz.

Performance

Their co-located London data centers and proprietary API connectivity deliver low-latency order execution—even under high loads—though occasional freezing or slippage can happen during peak volatility; KYC processing tends to follow regular timing without widespread reports of long queues during market surges.

The platform maintains solid responsiveness and fast performance under normal conditions, though some mobile users report occasional lag during high volatility; overall, system stability holds up even when many users are onboarded simultaneously due to phased KYC processing.

Education

CMC Markets offers a rich education suite including video guides, platform tutorials, webinars, and articles, plus a risk-free demo account that stays active indefinitely and supports strategy testing—with materials often localized, including Spanish-language versions in select regions.

ZebPay features a rich learning hub with a beginner-focused crypto education series (CryptoKiPathshala) and blog content, yet it lacks a hands-on demo or simulator, and Spanish-language materials are limited or absent.

Community

The platform includes an integrated trading forum where users can share strategies and sentiment, however CMC does not officially promote Discord or Telegram channels, and while referral programs may exist regionally, they’re not prominently advertised.

While ZebPay fosters community via its blog and social channels (like Telegram and Twitter), it currently offers no dedicated forums or Discord, but does include a referral program to encourage user growth and engagement.

Integrations

Users benefit from native TradingView-grade charting and pattern tools, plus API/WebSocket access for third-party automation, although there’s no direct integration with tax-reporting or portfolio accounting platforms.

ZebPay provides robust REST APIs for developers and is exploring visual strategy-building tied to TradingView, though it does not yet support external tax tools or accounting integrations natively.

Who Each One Is Best For

The platform is ideal for analytical, advanced traders who value deep charting tools, customization, and learning resources; it may be less suited to those seeking social trading, mobile-first simplification, or integrated accounting and bot ecosystems.

ZebPay is best suited for users seeking a secure, beginner-friendly platform with mobile-first design and API capability, while active traders needing community forums, multi-language education, or deep third-party integrations might find it less tailored to their needs.