Admirals vs CMC Markets for gold trading
Across the 22 countries we cover, Admirals scores higher in 16 and CMC Markets in 5. In 1, they are tied or neither is available. The winner depends on where you live, because each broker opens your account with a different company in each country.
40other countries
Higher in 16 countries
—other countries
Higher in 5 countries
Score by country
| If you live in | Admirals | CMC Markets |
|---|---|---|
| Other countries | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| United States | Not accepted | Not accepted |
| United Kingdom | 85 · FCA | 90 · FCA |
| EU / EEA | 74 · CySEC | 90 · BaFin |
| Australia | 79 · ASIC | 84 · ASIC |
| Canada | 40 · FSA | 81 · CIRO |
| Singapore | 40 · FSA | 74 · MAS |
| Malaysia | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Indonesia | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Thailand | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Vietnam | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Philippines | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| India | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Japan | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Hong Kong | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| UAE | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| South Africa | 59 · FSCA | Not accepted |
| Kenya | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Nigeria | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| South Korea | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Turkey | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Mongolia | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
| Brazil | 40 · FSA | Not accepted |
Side by side
| Founded | 2001 | 1989 |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Tallinn, Estonia | London, UK |
| Listed parent | No | LSE: CMCX |
| Regulators | CySEC, FCA, ASIC, FSCA, FSA | FCA, BaFin, ASIC, MAS, CIRO |
| Platforms | MT4, MT5, Own | MT4, TradingView, Own |
| Minimum gold order | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Swap-free account | Yes | No |
| Protection you actually get | 30 | Not measured yet |
| Gold trading cost | Not measured yet | Not measured yet |
| Execution under stress | Not measured yet | Not measured yet |
| Money in and out | Not measured yet | Not measured yet |
| Platforms and gold conditions | 75 | Not measured yet |
Choose Admirals if…
- Retail clients can be served by Tier 1 regulated companies (FCA, ASIC).
- In 4 of the 22 countries we cover, your account would sit with a Tier 1–2 regulated company.
- Offers both MT4 and MT5.
- Swap-free account available.
Watch out for
- Licence details come from the broker’s own pages; our register check is not finished.
- Clients outside its licensed countries are onboarded to Admirals SC Ltd (FSA), a light offshore regulator.
Choose CMC Markets if…
- Parent company is listed (LSE: CMCX), so its accounts are audited and public.
- Retail clients can be served by Tier 1 regulated companies (FCA, BaFin, ASIC, MAS, CIRO).
- In 5 of the 22 countries we cover, your account would sit with a Tier 1–2 regulated company.
- Can be traded directly from TradingView charts.
Watch out for
- Licence details come from the broker’s own pages; our register check is not finished.
- Only accepts clients in the countries where it holds a local licence.
- Does not accept residents of 17 of the 22 countries we cover.
Questions
Is Admirals or CMC Markets better for gold trading?
Across the 22 countries we cover, Admirals scores higher in 16 and CMC Markets in 5. In 1, they are tied or neither is available. The winner depends on where you live, because each broker opens your account with a different company in each country.
Which is safer, Admirals or CMC Markets?
In countries without a local licence, Admirals uses Admirals SC Ltd (FSA). In countries without a local licence, CMC Markets does not accept clients. In licensed countries, check the table: the company that holds your money decides your protection.
Do Admirals and CMC Markets both offer MT5?
Admirals: yes. CMC Markets: no.
See also
Other comparisons
Data checked: November 2026 · CFDs are complex instruments and carry a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. Ratings are our opinion, based on the data and rules described in the methodology. They are not investment advice.