Trading212 vs CMC Markets: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Trading212 and CMC Markets 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 August 16, 2025

Trading212

CMC Markets

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Available Countries

United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Trading212 is ideal if:

Great if you want hands-off investing – Trading 212 offers features like automated “Pies” portfolios and recurring contributions to simplify building a diversified portfolio.
Ideal for multi-currency flexibility – You can hold and invest in multiple currencies within a single account, which helps reduce foreign exchange friction.
Best suited for casual or beginner investors – The platform’s intuitive interface, fractional share access, and educational tools make it a friendly environment for those starting out or preferring simplicity.

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.

Trading212 isn’t ideal if:

Not for advanced traders seeking sophisticated tools – lacks algorithmic trading, advanced order types, and third-party platforms like MT4/MT5.
Limited asset variety available – missing options like bonds, mutual funds, options, and has a narrow selection of cryptocurrencies.
CFDs carry high risk and hidden costs – volatility-prone leveraged instruments, wider spreads, and FX conversion expenses may deter cautious or risk-averse investors.

CMC Markets isn’t ideal if:

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

Trading 212 doesn’t operate on a typical maker/taker fee model or tiered volumes, nor does it offer discounts using a native token—fees are built into spreads and FX conversions, keeping the pricing straightforward and flat across all users.

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.

Futures/Derivatives

Trading 212 does not provide traditional futures or derivatives with maker/taker pricing or funding rates; instead, it offers CFDs with dynamic spreads and overnight holding fees, avoiding explicit derivative-style fee structures.

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.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

While specific BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT spreads aren’t published publicly, Trading 212’s CFD spreads are dynamic and vary based on market conditions—more liquid instruments tend to carry narrower spreads, visible directly in the app’s instrument details.

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.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Trading 212 supports multiple deposit and withdrawal methods—bank transfers, cards, e-wallets, etc.—typically with no service charges, and withdrawals are often processed quickly by the platform, though third-party or bank processing fees may apply depending on your provider and location.

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.

On-chain Withdrawals

Trading 212 does not support on-chain crypto withdrawals (e.g., to external wallets on Bitcoin, Ethereum, TRX networks), so there are no network-based fees to report.

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

Hidden Costs

While Trading 212 charges no inactivity or express KYC fees, the primary less-obvious cost comes from its currency conversion fee whenever you trade or fund in a currency different from your account base—this is the main “hidden” expense to watch.

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.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

Let’s say you purchase €500 worth of BTC via Trading 212’s CFD interface—your cost includes the dynamic spread embedded in the buying price plus a small FX conversion if your account isn’t denominated in euros, making up the total cost you’ll see reflected after execution.

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.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Trading 212 no longer offers direct cryptocurrency trading; previously it provided a limited selection of major crypto CFDs (roughly 10–15), without extensive pair support or detailed volume rankings available to users.

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.

Product Range

Trading 212 currently offers only CFD-based cryptocurrency exposure—no spot crypto, margin, perpetuals, options, crypto ETFs, staking, lending, copy trading, grid bots, or automatic DCA are available.

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.

Liquidity

As Trading 212 doesn’t support actual crypto spot markets, there’s no public data for liquidity, 24-hour volumes, or order-book depth for BTC or ETH—you’re instead trading over-the-counter CFDs.

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.

Tools

Trading 212 includes basic tools like limit and stop orders and charting on web/mobile, plus alerts and AutoInvest functionality, but lacks advanced features such as OCO orders, native TradingView integration, or a public API/WebSocket.

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.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Certain products—especially crypto and crypto-derivative CFDs—are restricted in some regions like the UK due to local regulation, although crypto CFD access is expanding in jurisdictions with CySEC oversight.

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.

Innovation

Trading 212 doesn’t offer features like launchpads or launchpools nor differentiated earn products (flexible vs locked); innovation has focused instead on user-friendly automation tools like Pies and AutoInvest.

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.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

The platform operates through several legally registered entities—Trading 212 UK Ltd (UK, regulated by the FCA), Trading 212 Markets Ltd (Cyprus, regulated by CySEC), FXFlat Bank GmbH (Germany, regulated by BaFin), and a branch in Australia (ASIC oversight)—all under the umbrella of Trading 212 Group Limited, founded in 2004 with current headquarters in London.

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

Licenses/Registration

Trading 212 is authorised under major financial regulators: FCA in the UK, CySEC in the EU (subject to MiFID II), BaFin in Germany, and ASIC in Australia; while it is not a VASP, its EU operations align with MiCA’s regulatory architecture.

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.

Custody

Client assets and cash are held in segregated accounts with trusted third-party custodians—such as Interactive Brokers and Bank of New York Mellon—with daily reconciliations and both internal and external audits by firms like Buzzacott; there’s no public Proof of Reserves or cold storage percentage disclosed.

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.

Insurance & Protection Funds

Clients benefit from compensation schemes: up to £85,000 under the UK’s FSCS via FCA regulation, up to €20,000 under the ICF in Cyprus via CySEC, and coverage under Germany’s EdW scheme via BaFin; in addition, CySEC-covered clients may receive extra insurance up to €1M per client.

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

Incident History

Trading 212 maintains a largely clean track record; there are no publicly reported major hacks, platform-wide freezes, or regulatory fines—a testament to its stable operations and longstanding regulatory compliance.

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.

Risk Controls

The platform offers standard protections such as two-factor authentication, anti-phishing advice, and strong infrastructure defence (like WAFs, DDoS mitigation, and penetration testing), though it lacks sub-account segregation or granular API permission options for users.

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.

Transparency

Trading 212 publishes annual financial statements and audit oversight but does not offer public wallet addresses or monthly reporting for users, nor a formal service-level agreement (SLA) publicly—though its regulatory disclosures offer a degree of transparency.

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

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Users can fund accounts via a wide range of payment methods—including bank transfers, instant bank transfers, cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, iDEAL, and regional options like Carte Bleue or Blik; minimum amounts depend on account type but generally must be whole numbers (with exceptions for specific formats like ISA), and deposits are credited swiftly depending on method and region.

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.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

The platform enforces mandatory verification procedures that align with AML regulation; while they don’t advertise tiered KYC levels (like Basic/Advanced) publicly, completing verification fully—including adding and verifying payment methods—lifts limitations on withdrawals and access to features.

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.

Withdrawals

Withdrawals must respect the original deposit method and are subject to method-specific limits until verification is complete; typical processing takes up to three business days, followed by transfer times that vary by provider—there’s no crypto-on-chain withdrawal functionality, so network distinctions like ERC-20 or TRC-20 don’t apply.

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.

Customer Support

Support is accessible via the app’s “Contact us” button or official form, and also by email or community forums; live chat availability fluctuates based on load, response times can vary during high volume, but there’s an extensive self-help knowledge base with detailed guidance on common queries.

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.

Languages & Localization

The app interface supports multiple languages—including native Spanish—so users can navigate in their preferred language, with fees and amounts displayed in their account’s currency (e.g., euros), and client services and regulation adapted to each user’s jurisdiction based on where they register.

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.

App Quality & Stability

Trading 212’s apps are regularly updated across iOS and Android, with stability improved over time via interface enhancements like streamlined withdrawal flows; while there’s no public crash rate figure, development notes suggest a focus on reliability and responsiveness.

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.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

Trading 212 delivers an intuitive interface that lets users switch effortlessly between Invest and CFD modes, with a low barrier to entry for beginners; while there’s no official “Lite/Pro” toggle yet, a community-proposed “Pro mode” aimed at power users is under review.

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.

Performance

Overall, Trading 212 offers consistent execution speeds and reliable uptime, though users sometimes note interface sluggishness during sharp market moves—and while onboarding may lag in surges, there’s no widespread record of platform crashes during volatility peaks.

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.

Education

The platform features an unlimited, fully functional demo that mirrors both Invest and CFD accounts, complete with virtual capital and integrated tutorials, making it excellent for learning; it also offers educational resources in multiple languages, including Spanish.

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.

Community

Trading 212 supports an active community via its official user forums where updates, feedback, and tips circulate; while there’s no public Discord or Telegram channel, a referral program enables users to invite peers—usually offering bonuses or perks in return.

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.

Integrations

Although advanced chart layouts on mobile have improved, and web charting is robust, Trading 212 lacks built-in TradingView integration, external bot support, or direct tax/accounting tool integrations—so users manage analytics and reporting separately.

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.

Who Each One Is Best For

Trading 212 is ideal for beginners and buy-and-hold investors focused on simplicity, fractional investing, and automated portfolio building; it may feel limiting to professional or algorithmic traders who require advanced customization, deep integrations, or high-speed execution.

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.