CMC Markets is a UK-headquartered broker that has been around since its inauguration in 1989. It is now the everyday broker of various traders the world over, and one of its appealing characteristics is the reasonable trading costs. Spreads can fall below 1 pip, and one of the account types involves a commission of just $2.50 (per lot, per side). You can find further information about CMC Markets’ costs below.
CMC Markets Trading Costs
When it comes to trading currencies, the main costs forex devotees will need to keep in mind are the spread and the commission. For many traders, CMC Markets provides the option to open a Standard CFD account, which has all trading costs built into the spread. Another account type, which is dubbed FX Active, is what users can pick if they wish to have access to lower spreads.
Standard CFD Account Trading Costs
At CMC Markets, traders are treated to relatively competitive spreads if they stick to the Standard CFD Account. The EUR/USD pair, for instance, has spreads that can go as low as 0.5 pips. With such a spread, traders will incur costs per standard lot of $5, while micro lots can cost a mere $0.05. To calculate the Standard lot spread cost, traders must multiply the spread value by 100,000:
0.00005 x 100,000 = $5.
The process is similar when it comes to micro lots, except you only need to multiply the spread by 1,000. The following is a summary of the minimum costs associated with some of CMC Markets’ most popular pairs:
| Minimum Spread Costs With Standard CFD Account | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency Pair | Spreads | Commission Per Lot, Per Side | Costs per Micro Lot | Costs per Standard Lot |
| AUD/USD | 0.6 | $0 | $0.06 | $6 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.8 | $0 | $0.09925 | $9.9248 |
| EUR/JPY | 1.2 | $0 | $0.0773 | $7.73017 |
| EUR/USD | 0.5 | $0 | $0.05 | $5 |
| GBP/JPY | 1.8 | $0 | $0.11595 | $11.59525 |
| GBP/USD | 0.9 | $0 | $0.09 | $9 |
| NZD/USD | 1.1 | $0 | $0.11 | $11 |
| USD/CAD | 1.3 | $0 | $0.0899 | $8.99001 |
| USD/CNH | 2 | $0 | $0.02733 | $2.73301 |
| USD/JPY | 0.8 | $0 | $0.05153 | $5.15344 |
FX Active Trading Costs
If you are looking to trade with lower spreads, it is worth looking into CMC Markets’ FX Active account. This option features commissions, which in turn means that calculating the total cost per standard lot per side is done by adding the spread cost to the commission. As major pairs have spreads that can fall to 0 pips, this means that the minimum cost can be the commission itself:
| Minimum Spread Costs With FX Active Account | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency Pair | Spreads | Commission Per Lot, Per Side | Costs per Micro Lot | Costs per Standard Lot |
| AUD/USD | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
| EUR/GBP | 0.6 | $2.50 | $0.09944 | $9.943 |
| EUR/JPY | 0.9 | $2.50 | $0.08298 | $8.29762 |
| EUR/USD | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
| GBP/JPY | 1.35 | $2.50 | $0.11196 | $11.19644 |
| GBP/USD | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
| NZD/USD | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
| USD/CAD | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
| USD/CNH | 1.5 | $2.50 | $0.0455 | $4.54976 |
| USD/JPY | 0 | $2.50 | $0.025 | $2.50 |
We should stress that the FX Active account type is not available on all CMC Markets entities. Clients in most of Europe, for instance, can only pick between a CFD account, an MT4 account, and a Corporate account, and their forex spreads will start from 0.2 pips regardless of which option they go for. In some jurisdictions, a spread betting account is also available. The CMC Markets entities that do offer FX Active accounts are under the supervision of the financial authorities of jurisdictions like the UK, Canada, or Bermuda, among others.
CMC Markets Overnight Funding Costs
If you decide to keep your positions , you may be subject to CMC Markets’ swap rates based on the difference between the interest rates of the currencies. If the currency that is being sold has an interest rate higher than the one that is being bought, you will be charged a fee. In contrast, if the position moves in your favor with the purchased currency’s interest rising higher than that of the sold currency, the swap rate will be positive. In other words, you will earn interest.
As stated on CMC Markets’ website, swap fees are applied at 5am New York time every day. The example costs shown here were published on February 4th, 2025:
| CMC Markets Swap Fees (04.02.2025) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Currency Pair | Base Currency | Volume in Lots | Holding Cost Buy (Daily) | Holding Cost Sell (Daily) | Holding Cost Buy (Yearly) | Holding Cost Sell (Yearly) |
| AUD/USD | USD | 1 | -0.00321% | 0.00252% | -1.17130% | 0.91940% |
| EUR/GBP | USD | 1 | -0.00864% | -0.00278% | -3.15210% | -1.01500% |
| EUR/JPY | USD | 1 | 0.00492% | 0.01068% | 1.79480% | 3.89880% |
| EUR/USD | USD | 1 | -0.00663% | -0.00104% | -2.41820% | -0.38030% |
| GBP/JPY | USD | 1 | 0.00973% | 0.01567% | 3.55210% | 5.71790% |
| GBP/USD | USD | 1 | -0.00181% | 0.00394% | -0.66090% | 1.43880% |
| NZD/USD | USD | 1 | -0.00503% | 0.00564% | -1.83530% | 2.05910% |
| USD/CAD | USD | 1 | 0.00076% | 0.00677% | 0.27770% | 2.46950% |
| USD/CNH | USD | 1 | -0.00272% | 0.00819% | -0.99450% | 2.98940% |
| USD/JPY | USD | 1 | 0.00886% | 0.01459% | 3.23480% | 5.32450% |
As you can see above, CMC Markets showcases both the annual and daily swap rates. The former is essentially historical data, while the latter is subject to regular changes. Traders should check the daily rate on CMC Markets’ website each time they consider leaving a position overnight.
Swap-Free Trading Costs at CMC Markets
At the time of writing, none of CMC Markets’ entities offer swap-free accounts. Swap rates are basically mandatory when it comes to forex positions that are held overnight. If this presents a problem, CMC Markets will not be suitable for you.
CMC Markets Non-Trading Costs
In addition to the costs we have discussed thus far, there are a few other charges that one should consider before they create a CMC Markets account. In general, the broker does not charge fees for opening an account, making a deposit, or withdrawing, but this can differ depending on where a given trader resides. In Canada, for instance, deposits and cashouts made via wire transfers can be subject to a $10 fee.
If you are looking to trade with a virtual private server (VPS), Beeks is CMC Markets’ VPS supplier of choice. Usually, signing up and utilizing a Beeks server will involve a monthly fee that can range from £30 to £95, depending on your plan. However, you can get a VPS for free if you trade with CMC Markets, provided your monthly trading volume will need to be at least 15 standard lots. As for the benefits of a VPS, such servers are known for offering impressive execution speeds, excellent security, low latency, and automated trading capabilities.
Last but not least, if you ever decide that you no longer wish to use your CMC Markets trading account, it is crucial that you be aware that CMC Markets may charge an inactivity fee. Your account will be considered inactive if you do not execute trades for a total of 12 months, and the fee will vary depending on your local CMC Markets entity. For example, UK traders with a dormant account will need to pay a £10 monthly fee. In addition, CMC Markets charges a $15 monthly fee in Singapore and Canada. As for European forex enthusiasts, specifically those who have an account at CMC Markets’ BaFin-licensed entity, they are not subject to inactivity fees.
| CMC Markets Costs at a Glance | |
|---|---|
| Deposit Fees | Free* |
| Withdrawal Fees | Free* |
| Account Opening Fees | Free |
| Inactivity Fee | $15/£10 monthly fee** after 12 months of inactivity |
| VPS Hosting Subscription | Beeks Monthly Fee: £30 (Bronze), £53 (Silvert), £94 (Gold) |
* Fees may be charged depending on your jurisdiction and payment method
** Not charged at CMC Markets Germany GmbH
Closing Thoughts on CMC Markets Fees
Plenty of traders will find CMC Markets’ fees to be relatively low. This, coupled with the fact that this respected broker has earned the regulatory approval of supervisory entities like Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) and the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), makes CMC Markets an appealing option for many. If you run across any cost-related issues while trading or simply have questions about your personal trading account, you can reach out to CMC Markets’ support via email, phone, or live chat. The support team is prepared to assist clients around the clock, every day of the week except on weekends.
