A review of Markets.com, a forex CFD broker owned by Playtech
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Markets.com Broker Review

Review By: Alan Little
Review Updated: 2021-05-18
4.2
Rating
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CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 80.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

Bottom Line Summary

Markets.com’s journey from its establishment in 2008 to its present-day status as one of the most trusted Forex and CFD brokers is a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence in every aspect of its operations. Its global presence, exceptional trading services, and innovative investment platform make it the ideal choice for traders looking to maximize their trading potential.

Overall Ratings
4.2
Markets.com Fees
3.9
Accounts/Membership Levels
3.8
Deposit and Withdrawal
4.4
Trading Platforms
4
Mobile Trading App
4
Markets and Products
4.1
Market Research
4.7
Customer Service
4.5
Education
4.5

Markets.com broker features

Feature Markets.com
Minimum deposit: 100 GBP, EUR, USD
Withdrawal fee amount: None
Inactivity fee charged (Y/N): Y
Max leverage: 1:300 (applicable to EU professional clients only and clients under BVI and FSCA regulation.) 1:30 For the rest of the regulations (UK, SA and retail clients for EU)
Spread from: 0
Number of instruments: over 3000
Year founded: 2008
Time to open account: 1-2 business days
Demo account provided (Y/N): Y
Countries of regulation: UK, Cyprus, Australia, BVI, South Africa
Products offered: CFDs

Markets.com pros and cons

Pros
  • Heavy regulatory compliance – FCA, CySEC, ASIC and others
  • Tight spreads and low fees
  • Beginner-friendly MT4/MT5 shop
  • Top-notch customer service
  • No commission fees on CFDs

 

Cons
    • Website manoeuvrability can be confusing
    • Research tools are behind industry leaders

 

 

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Review Sections:

Who are Markets.com?

Founded in 2008, Markets.com has rapidly expanded to become a leading CFD broker, with a well-deserved reputation for reliability and trustworthiness in the highly competitive financial markets. As a testament to its commitment to providing excellent service, Markets.com is fully regulated by several respected global financial authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), and the British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVI FSC). This means that customers can rest assured that they are dealing with a company that operates in full compliance with strict financial regulations.

With a global presence, Markets.com is committed to providing seamless trading services to customers from around the world. Its innovative investment platform offers a user-friendly interface that is packed with powerful tools and features, enabling traders to access more than 3,000 trading instruments, including currencies, commodities, indices, and equities. Additionally, the platform comes equipped with a range of technical and analytical tools that traders can use to conduct in-depth market analysis and make informed trading decisions.

In summary, Markets.com has established itself as a top-tier  CFD broker by providing its customers with a secure, reliable, and highly innovative trading platform that delivers unparalleled trading services. With its global reach and commitment to customer satisfaction, it is no wonder why Markets.com has become the broker of choice for traders from around the world.

 

Over the past decade, Markets.com has also organized five separate operating entities, as depicted above, to comply with and accommodate the needs of regional regulatory regimes. There are separate companies for the UK, EU, Australia, and South Africa, while all other clients in accepted countries trade through the British Virgin Islands subsidiary. Primary regulators are the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC.

The draw is for Forex and CFD trading of over 3,000 instruments if you are on the Markets.com platform. Support and training materials are top class, and near-professional level spreads can be had on the Markets.com platform.

*Crypto CFDs are not offered to retail clients in the UK

Markets.com Fees

3.9
Rating

The broker offers tight spreads across all asset classes. Whether you are trading through the Markets.com platform or the MT4/MT5 platforms, spreads and fees remain the same. Markets.comdoesnotchargeany commission feeswhen trading CFD instruments and there are no deposit nor withdrawal fees. There is a minimal inactivity fee of $10 per month after three months of having an idle account. 

Accounts/Membership Levels

3.8
Rating

Markets.com has a single, standard account with a free demo platform. Thestandardaccountisavailable on both MT4 and MT5 as well as on the Markets.com proprietary platform. The broker also offers a professional account that is only availabletoclientsthatfulfil certaincriteria.To find out more regarding the professional account you can visit the Markets.com website. Finally, anIslamicaccount is also offered.

Minimum deposits are 100 units of GBP, USD, or EUR. Negative Balance Protection is also provided as a standard feature. Opening an account is easy and can be accomplished in less than a day in most cases. As with all global brokers, personal ID information must be verified, and registration may require another day if there is a problem. Access to a free demo is granted immediately.

Deposit and Withdrawal

4.4
Rating

Our deposit and withdrawal review revealed no fees and various payment methods. For deposits, you have the convenience of wire transfers, credit and debit cards, PayPal, Skrill, and Neteller, along with a few regional payment choices. Withdrawals are automated and can be made with wires, credit and debit cards, and, in some cases, direct payment to an electronic wallet. The minimum amount for withdrawing funds depends on the payment method you use. Credit/debit cards as well as PayPal have a minimum of $10. For Skrill and Neteller the minimum amount is $5 while for wire transfers the minimum is $100 and €20 within the EU.

There are strict legal rules on accounts that will receive a withdrawal, a reason to be sure your documentation is in order and that you have fulfilled any bonus requirements before initiating the process. Note that payment intermediaries can cause delays and charge fees for their services. You may also choose from several base currencies for your account, a benefit when transferring funds for avoiding conversion fees. There are as many as 11 on Markets.com but only seven on MT4 and MT5.

Trading Platforms

4
Rating

The MT4 platform is known to be the traditional platform that is mostly used in the market. Through the MT4 platform, you can make use of multiple trading tools and features, including advanced charting tools and access to Trading Central. In turn, the MT5 platform is the upgraded version of the MT4 and offers more functions such as additional timeframes as well as automated orders such as buy-stop and sell-stop limit. Both platforms work on Windows, Mac and on a number of browsers such as Google Chrome and Internet Explorer.

The Markets.com platform has won awards and does receive good reviews from its users, but it is a departure from the tried and true. Ample trading tools, indicators, and features are present, and the platform enables scalping strategies but not automated trading. These platforms support CFD trading. Access to this system is restricted to those traders who access the broker via its CySEC-regulated subsidiary.

Mobile Trading App

4
Rating

MT4 and MT5 mobile apps are supported on Android and iOS devices, and the firm’s proprietary mobile app for Markets.com also receives positive reviews. Although it attempts to mirror the functionality of the website and desktop versions, our trading review revealed that a few small items do not easily transfer to the app related to alerts and available indicators.

Markets and Products

4.1
Rating

Forex pairs and CFD trading of 2,100+ financial instruments equate to a broad portfolio that should satisfy the most discriminating tastes. The only issue is access, which is controlled by the trading platform of your choice or by your operating entity. Even with these restrictions, however, the most popular and highly traded assets are available to all traders. Leverage is capped at “1:30” in the EU, Australia and UK but can be as high as “1:300” from the BVI and South African entities.

*Bonuses are offered to clients that reside in certain regions

Market Research

4.7
Rating

This broker has made a good effort in the research area. There is a wealth of information at your fingertips in the Knowledge Centre and on the firm’s YouTube channel. Plus, third-party research reports include a news feed, trading ideas, recommendations on market commentary. You may get more from a large banking broker, but the trend today is to seek research separately from trusted sources, not just your broker.

Customer Service

4.5
Rating

Markets.com continually scores at the high end of the scale regarding its Customer Service Department. The firm supports every contact tool in the industry – direct phone lines, email, live chat, and an online query form. Representatives were multilingual and quick in their response rates. Answers were professional and informed. The only shortcoming found was that support was only “24X5”. There is no support at the weekend.

Address: Markets.com, Ritter House, Wickhams Cay II, Road Town, Tortola, VG1110, British Virgin Islands

Education

4.5
Rating

During our broker review, Markets.com did receive high marks for its educational materials. This broker does not take shortcuts in addressing the needs of beginners. A demo is free, and there is a burgeoning library of videos, tutorials, and frequent webinars to provide support. The broker’s FAQ section was also extensive and covered many detailed questions. The firm’s YouTube channel is also impressive with its array of commentary and instructional guides.

Safety

Safety is never an issue with Markets.com. Compliance with the FCA, ASIC, and CySEC ensures top-tiered compliance. Oversight from BVI and South Africa are extras, and the transparency that comes from dealing with a subsidiary of an LSE traded entity is even more assurance that security is a top priority. All client deposits are segregated in separate bank accounts, and participation in regional compensation programmes offers further coverage, although their applicability depends on which operating entity is your home base.

Verdict – Is Markets.com right for you?

If you prefer the safety and security that comes with a highly regulated broker, then Markets.com would be a wise choice as a financial business partner. The firm has a long history of delivering quality service, has several awards, and has a support infrastructure that can make beginners feel welcome. To get the complete offering of this broker, you might have to use its proprietary Markets.com platform, but it, too, has received high marks and awards for ease of use and excellence.

Alternatives to Markets.com

Markets.com is a significant player on the global forex and CFD scene, and is a firm listed on the London Stock Exchange. This large powerhouse offers an extensive array of products and features, but it is not without worthy competitors. If you would like to check out a few of the other brokerage firms, we have listed for your convenience below just a few of Markets.com’s opponents, each one a perennial favourite with the review community:

If you are a beginner and would like additional support when looking for your first forex broker, we can also help you in your search.

FAQ

How does Markets.com make money?

Like other forex/CFD brokers, Markets.com makes its income via its spreads, overnight funding charges, and minimal trading fees, but it also records profits on a net basis on CFD contracts. Margin interest and pass-through income from other partners complete the income stream picture.

Is Markets.com regulated?

Markets.com is one of the most heavily regulated brokers in the industry, complying with the FCA, CySEC, ASIC, BVI, and the FSCA. As a result, you are dealing in one of the safest and most secure environments the forex industry offers.

How do you sign up with Markets.com?

Account openings are seamless and fully automated; just tap a “Create Account” button on any website page. After a quick registration process, you can gain access to a free demo account. To trade, you will have to upload personal ID information, as mandated by international law, and answer a few questions to aid the broker in providing you with service appropriate for your level of knowledge. Markets.com does not accept citizens from the US, Canada, and a few other countries.

Does Markets.com offer any bonuses?

Regulators in the UK and Europe currently prohibit promotional programmes designed to encourage trading in CFDs, but traders may find incentives outside the UK and EEA countries. These programmes vary from Refer-a-Friend to account opening bonuses, with trading requirements attached to them.

Is Markets.com good for beginners?

Yes, Markets.com does come highly rated for beginners with ample training and educational resources at your fingertips. There is also an extensive grouping of materials, both educational and informative. There is commentary daily on its proprietary YouTube channel.

What do you do if Markets.com is down?

Whether on the MT4, MT5 or the Markets.com platform, closing a position or selling short with a CFD is simple and straightforward. An execution template displays the pertinent information with a single click, and execution order types are shown. Simply click “Execute”, and your order with be quickly processed with funds delivered to your account.

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