CMC Markets vs OANDA for gold trading
Across the 22 countries we cover, CMC Markets scores higher in 5 and OANDA in 17. The winner depends on where you live, because each broker opens your account with a different company in each country.
Score by country
| If you live in | CMC Markets | OANDA |
|---|---|---|
| Other countries | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| United States | Not accepted | 70 · CFTC |
| United Kingdom | 90 · FCA | 85 · FCA |
| EU / EEA | 90 · BaFin | 40 · FSC |
| Australia | 84 · ASIC | 79 · ASIC |
| Canada | 81 · CIRO | 76 · CIRO |
| Singapore | 74 · MAS | 70 · MAS |
| Malaysia | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Indonesia | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Thailand | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Vietnam | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Philippines | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| India | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Japan | Not accepted | 70 · JFSA |
| Hong Kong | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| UAE | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| South Africa | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Kenya | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Nigeria | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| South Korea | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Turkey | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Mongolia | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
| Brazil | Not accepted | 40 · FSC |
Side by side
| Founded | 1989 | 1996 |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | London, UK | New York, US |
| Listed parent | LSE: CMCX | No |
| Regulators | FCA, BaFin, ASIC, MAS, CIRO | CFTC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, JFSA, FSC |
| Platforms | MT4, TradingView, Own | MT4, MT5, TradingView, Own |
| Minimum gold order | 0.01 | 0.01 |
| Swap-free account | No | No |
| Protection you actually get | Not measured yet | 30 |
| 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 | Not measured yet | 75 |
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.
Choose OANDA if…
- Retail clients can be served by Tier 1 regulated companies (CFTC, FCA, ASIC, MAS, CIRO, JFSA).
- In 6 of the 22 countries we cover, your account would sit with a Tier 1–2 regulated company.
- Offers both MT4 and MT5.
- 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.
- Clients outside its licensed countries are onboarded to OANDA Global Markets Ltd (FSC), a light offshore regulator.
- No swap-free account.
Questions
Is CMC Markets or OANDA better for gold trading?
Across the 22 countries we cover, CMC Markets scores higher in 5 and OANDA in 17. The winner depends on where you live, because each broker opens your account with a different company in each country.
Which is safer, CMC Markets or OANDA?
In countries without a local licence, CMC Markets does not accept clients. In countries without a local licence, OANDA uses OANDA Global Markets Ltd (FSC). In licensed countries, check the table: the company that holds your money decides your protection.
Do CMC Markets and OANDA both offer MT5?
CMC Markets: no. OANDA: yes.
See also
Profiles
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.