Comparison of CMC Markets and CommSec
| Feature | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
| Broker | ||
| Year Founded | 1989 | 1995 |
| Broker Type | MM | DMA |
| Dealing | B-book | A-book |
| Execution | Market | Market |
| Regulation | FCA, BaFin, FMA, KNF, FSAN, CNMV, CIRO, ASIC, NZ FMA, MAS, DFSA | ASIC |
| Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), CMC Markets | CommSec Web, CommSec App, CommSec Pocket |
| Spread | ⬊ Low | ⮕ Average |
| Maximum Leverage | 1:30 | 1:10 |
| Minimum Deposit | $1 | $1 |
| Base Currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD | AUD |
| Funding Methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal | Linked CDIA bank account, NetBank transfer, BPAY |
| Inactivity Fee | $15 per month after 12 months | ✖ |
| Interest on Margin | ✖ | ✔ |
| Withdrawal Fee | ✖ | ✖ |
| Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | - |
| Protection Size | £85 000 | - |
| Segregated Accounts | ✔ | ✔ |
| Negative Balance Protection | ✔ | ✖ |
| Guaranteed Stop Loss | ✔ | ✖ |
| Copy Trading | ✖ | ✖ |
| VPS | ✖ | ✖ |
| MAM/PAMM | ✖ | ✖ |
| Scalping Allowed | ✔ | ✖ |
| EAs/Robots | ✔ | ✖ |
| Depth of Market (DOM) | ✖ | ✔ |
| Tradable Assets (CFDs) | Currencies, Indices, Stocks, ETFs, Bonds, Metals, Energies, Soft Commodities | Shares, ETFs, options, managed funds, margin lending |
| Review | CMC Markets Review | CommSec Review |
About CMC Markets
CMC Markets is a well-established forex and CFD broker founded in 1989, renowned for its robust trading platforms, competitive spreads, and extensive range of tradable assets. With a global presence and regulation in top-tier jurisdictions, the broker caters to both beginners and experienced traders. CMC Markets offers access to forex, indices, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and shares, supported by advanced tools and educational resources to enhance trading experiences.
Pros
- Regulated by top-tier authorities, including the FCA and ASIC
- Comprehensive range of tradable instruments across multiple asset classes
- Intuitive and feature-rich proprietary trading platform, Next Generation
- Competitive pricing with tight spreads and no commission on most trades
- Exceptional educational resources and market research tools
Cons
- Does not offer services to U.S. clients due to regulatory restrictions
- Trading fees can be higher for less active traders
- Limited deposit and withdrawal methods compared to other brokers
About CommSec
CommSec is Australia’s largest online stockbroker and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank. Founded in 1995, it offers direct market access to the ASX plus 13 international exchanges, $0 account-keeping fees, tiered brokerage from A$5 per trade, and integrated banking via the CDIA settlement account. Clients can trade on desktop or via the CommSec and Pocket mobile apps, access Morningstar research, and finance portfolios through a margin-loan facility. Regulated by ASIC, CommSec is CHESS-sponsored for Australian equities, but accounts are available only to Australian residents.
Pros
- ASIC-regulated, backed by Commonwealth Bank
- Intuitive mobile app
- CHESS sponsorship for ASX shares
- Access to 13 global markets
- Integrated CDIA cash account with fast settlement
- Comprehensive research & Morningstar data
Cons
- Available only to Australian residents
- Higher brokerage than new discount brokers
- No MT4/MT5 or cryptocurrency trading
- No negative-balance protection
- Limited derivative line-up (no CFDs/FX)
CMC Markets & CommSec Regulation
| Feature | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Companies | CMC Markets UK plc, CMC Markets Germany GmbH, CMC Markets Canada Inc, CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, CMC Markets NZ Limited, CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd, CMC Markets Middle East Ltd | Commonwealth Securities Ltd |
Countries | United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates | Australia |
Regulators | FCA, BaFin, FMA, KNF, FSAN, CNMV, CIRO, ASIC, NZ FMA, MAS, DFSA | ASIC |
Investor Protection | UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) | - |
Investor Protection Size | £85 000 | - |
Publicly Traded | ||
Segregated Accounts | ||
Guaranteed Stop Loss | ||
Negative Balance Protection |
Companies
CMC Markets
CMC Markets UK plc, CMC Markets Germany GmbH, CMC Markets Canada Inc, CMC Markets Asia Pacific Pty Ltd, CMC Markets NZ Limited, CMC Markets Singapore Pte Ltd, CMC Markets Middle East Ltd
CommSec
Commonwealth Securities Ltd
Countries
CMC Markets
United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, United Arab Emirates
CommSec
Australia
Regulators
CMC Markets
FCA, BaFin, FMA, KNF, FSAN, CNMV, CIRO, ASIC, NZ FMA, MAS, DFSA
CommSec
ASIC
Investor Protection
CMC Markets
UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
CommSec
-
Investor Protection Size
CMC Markets
£85 000
CommSec
-
Publicly Traded
CMC Markets
CommSec
Segregated Accounts
CMC Markets
CommSec
Guaranteed Stop Loss
CMC Markets
CommSec
Negative Balance Protection
CMC Markets
CommSec
Account Types
| Account | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Market Maker Account | ||
| Account Name | CFD | — |
| Min Deposit | $1 | — |
| Lot Size | 0.01 | — |
| Spread Type | Floating | — |
| Execution | Market | — |
| Min Spread | 0.7 | — |
| Fee | No | — |
| Max Leverage | 1:30 | — |
| Stop Out | 50% | — |
| Margin Call | 80% | — |
DMA Account | ||
| Account Name | — | Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA) |
| Min Deposit | — | $1 |
| Lot Size | — | 0.01 |
| Spread Type | — | Floating |
| Execution | — | Market |
| Min Spread | — | 1 |
| Fee | — | $10 per 1 lot |
| Max Leverage | — | 1:1 |
| Stop Out | — | - |
| Margin Call | — | - |
| Additional Features | ||
| Demo Account | ||
| VIP Account | ||
| Swap-Free Account | ||
| Copy Trading | ||
| VPS | ||
| PAMM/MAM Accounts | ||
Market Maker Account
Account Name
CMC Markets
CFD
CommSec
—
Min Deposit
CMC Markets
$1
CommSec
—
Lot Size
CMC Markets
0.01
CommSec
—
Spread Type
CMC Markets
Floating
CommSec
—
Execution
CMC Markets
Market
CommSec
—
Min Spread
CMC Markets
0.7
CommSec
—
Fee
CMC Markets
No
CommSec
—
Max Leverage
CMC Markets
1:30
CommSec
—
Stop Out
CMC Markets
50%
CommSec
—
Margin Call
CMC Markets
80%
CommSec
—
DMA Account
Account Name
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
Commonwealth Direct Investment Account (CDIA)
Min Deposit
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
$1
Lot Size
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
0.01
Spread Type
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
Floating
Execution
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
Market
Min Spread
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
1
Fee
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
$10 per 1 lot
Max Leverage
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
1:1
Stop Out
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
-
Margin Call
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
-
Additional Features
Demo Account
CMC Markets
CommSec
VIP Account
CMC Markets
CommSec
Swap-Free Account
CMC Markets
CommSec
Copy Trading
CMC Markets
CommSec
VPS
CMC Markets
CommSec
PAMM/MAM Accounts
CMC Markets
CommSec
Funding and Fees
| Feature | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Base currencies | USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD | AUD |
Deposit and withdrawal methods | Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal | Linked CDIA bank account, NetBank transfer, BPAY |
Inactivity fee | $15 per month after 12 months | |
Interest on margin | ||
Withdrawal fee |
Base currencies
CMC Markets
USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, CAD, NOK, NZD, PLN, SEK, SGD
CommSec
AUD
Deposit and withdrawal methods
CMC Markets
Bank Wire, Credit Card, Debit Card, PayPal
CommSec
Linked CDIA bank account, NetBank transfer, BPAY
Inactivity fee
CMC Markets
$15 per month after 12 months
CommSec
Interest on margin
CMC Markets
CommSec
Withdrawal fee
CMC Markets
CommSec
Trading Platforms and Conditions
| Feature | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Trading Platforms | MetaTrader 4 (MT4), CMC Markets | CommSec Web, CommSec App, CommSec Pocket |
Execution Speed | 0 ms | 3 ms |
Scalping | ||
Expert Advisors (EAs) | ||
Depth of Market (DOM) | ||
Spread | low | average |
Trading Platforms
CMC Markets
MetaTrader 4 (MT4), CMC Markets
CommSec
CommSec Web, CommSec App, CommSec Pocket
Execution Speed
CMC Markets
0 ms
CommSec
3 ms
Scalping
CMC Markets
CommSec
Expert Advisors (EAs)
CMC Markets
CommSec
Depth of Market (DOM)
CMC Markets
CommSec
Spread
CMC Markets
low
CommSec
average
Trading Assets
| Asset | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Currencies | 336 | 0 |
Indices | 99 | 0 |
Stocks | 10099 | 2200 |
Cryptocurrencies | 336 | 0 |
Bonds | 71 | 0 |
Metals | 19 | 0 |
Energies | 45 | 0 |
Soft Commodities | 58 | 0 |
ETFs | 1200 | 200 |
Currencies
CMC Markets
336
CommSec
0
Indices
CMC Markets
99
CommSec
0
Stocks
CMC Markets
10099
CommSec
2200
Cryptocurrencies
CMC Markets
336
CommSec
0
Bonds
CMC Markets
71
CommSec
0
Metals
CMC Markets
19
CommSec
0
Energies
CMC Markets
45
CommSec
0
Soft Commodities
CMC Markets
58
CommSec
0
ETFs
CMC Markets
1200
CommSec
200
Education and Analytics
| Feature | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Economic Calendar | ||
Indicators | ||
Robots | ||
Signals | ||
Autochartist | ||
Expert Analytics | ||
News Feed | ||
Education Articles | ||
Webinars | ||
Seminars |
Economic Calendar
CMC Markets
CommSec
Indicators
CMC Markets
CommSec
Robots
CMC Markets
CommSec
Signals
CMC Markets
CommSec
Autochartist
CMC Markets
CommSec
Expert Analytics
CMC Markets
CommSec
News Feed
CMC Markets
CommSec
Education Articles
CMC Markets
CommSec
Webinars
CMC Markets
CommSec
Seminars
CMC Markets
CommSec
Customer Support
| Contact | CMC Markets | CommSec |
|---|---|---|
Email | clientmanagement@cmcmarkets.co.uk | hoax@cba.com.au |
Phone | — | +61283971206 |
Facebook | — | |
LinkedIn | — | |
YouTube | YouTube | YouTube |
Instagram | — | |
Twitter |
Email
CMC Markets
CommSec
Phone
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
Facebook
CMC Markets
CommSec
—
LinkedIn
CMC Markets
CommSec
—
Instagram
CMC Markets
—
CommSec
Which Broker is Better?
After comparing CMC Markets and CommSec, CMC Markets comes out ahead as our overall pick. It ranks higher in our internal scoring and delivers a stronger balance of pricing (spreads/fees), platform experience, and product range. That said, the runner-up may still be a better fit if you prioritize specific needs—like a particular account type, funding method, or niche instruments. This is not financial advice; always choose a broker that matches your goals and local regulatory requirements.
More Comparisons
Andriy Bondarenko
Broker Analyst
Andriy is a seasoned expert in broker reviews with over a decade of experience in finance and trading. Under his leadership, the team produces in-depth and unbiased analyses of leading trading platforms.