Markets.com Review: Is It a Trustworthy Brokerage?

Key Advantages and Drawbacks

Markets.com’s published terms for the first quarter of 2026 set out a clear pattern of strengths and weaknesses. What follows covers the firm’s own platform and MT5 on desktop and mobile, the cost of trading major currency pairs, indices and shares, and the published support arrangements. Cost figures are worked out against a reference balance of 300 dollars. The summary comes first, before the detail.

Advantages

• A wide range of more than 2,200 instruments in total, covering shares, forex, indices, commodities, digital currencies, exchange-traded funds and bonds
• Multiple licences from strong regulators, CySEC, FCA, ASIC and FSCA among them, which layers supervision across jurisdictions
• No trading commissions, with the cost built entirely into the spread
• An easy-to-use proprietary web platform with charting from TradingView, alongside MT4 and MT5
• No deposit or withdrawal fees from the company’s own side
• Execution in as little as 0.35 milliseconds, on the company’s own published figure
• Customer service available 24/5 in several languages

Drawbacks

• No swap-free Islamic account, a material drawback for traders in the Arab region who want Sharia-compliant trading
• A single account type (Standard) with no raw-spread or ECN option for professional traders
• An inactivity fee of 10 dollars a month after 90 days without trading
• The spread on some pairs sits above average against brokers that specialise in low spreads, such as IC Markets or Pepperstone
• Arabic-language support is limited next to brokers running a full Arabic desk

Taken together, Markets.com suits traders who want a wide instrument range and a simple interface alongside supervision by strong regulators. It is a weaker fit for anyone who needs an Islamic account, or who is looking for the lowest trading costs available.

Company Information

Markets.com was founded in 2008 and today forms part of the Finalto group, the financial arm of Playtech, which is listed on the London Stock Exchange. In 2015, Playtech acquired TradeFX, then the parent company of Markets.com, for 458 million euros, and the business was later restructured under the Finalto group. The principal operating office is in Limassol, Cyprus, with further offices in the United Kingdom, Australia and South Africa.

The official website as published in February 2026 carries some striking figures: more than 4.7 million traders in more than 170 countries, and trading volume above 3 trillion dollars. Those numbers reflect the scale of the operation, though they most likely count every account registered since inception rather than only those currently active. Being part of a group listed on the London Stock Exchange (Playtech plc) adds a layer of transparency and financial accountability, since supervision applies at parent-company level as well.

Is Markets.com a scam? The question appears repeatedly in Arabic-language search. On the public registers the answer is no. The company holds licences from four regulators at tier one and tier two, belongs to a group listed on the London Stock Exchange, and is subject to regular financial audit. That does not remove the risk: 72.4% of retail client accounts lose money trading contracts for difference with this company, a proportion in line with most brokers in the industry. For a way to check any brokerage independently, see the guide on how to avoid scam brokers.

Why Some Traders Choose Markets.com

Several factors set Markets.com apart from its direct competitors, judged on what the firm publishes. None of them makes it the best broker for everyone, but they do give it a clear edge in particular situations.

An exceptional range of instruments: This is the feature that stands out most. With more than 2,200 instruments, covering 1,837 CFD shares from 12 major markets, 65 currency pairs, 38 indices, 28 commodities, 60 exchange-traded funds (ETF), 24 digital currencies and 4 bonds, Markets.com offers one of the widest selections among contract-for-difference brokers. Being able to trade shares from several markets, American, British, German and French among them, from a single account gives real flexibility.

Simplicity and ease of use: The firm’s own platform (Web Trader) is built around a clean, intuitive interface. A beginner can start trading within minutes without working through complicated manuals. Charting powered by TradingView provides advanced technical analysis tools inside a simplified layout.

A simple pricing model: No commission on any trade, with the cost built entirely into the spread. That makes the total cost easier to work out than at brokers charging a variable spread plus a fixed commission. The model suits anyone starting out on learning the basics of trading who does not want to deal with complicated account structures.

Supervision in several jurisdictions: Licences from FCA, CySEC, ASIC and FSCA mean the company answers to more than one authority, in different jurisdictions. In theory that adds a further layer of oversight compared with brokers operating on a single offshore licence.

Research and analysis tools: The platform carries sentiment analysis (Sentiment Analysis), built-in trading signals, an economic calendar and daily commentary. These tools are not the most advanced in the industry, but they are a useful starting point for a trader who wants to base decisions on data.

Licences and Regulation

The Markets.com authorisations as they stood on the public registers in February 2026 match the record each regulator publishes. The company operates through several legal entities belonging to the Finalto group, each supervised by a different authority.

Is Markets.com genuinely licensed? Yes, and the record is public. The CySEC register (cysec.gov.cy) returns Safecap Investments Ltd against licence number 092/08. The FCA authorisation, number 481853, can be checked at register.fca.org.uk. For more on what a licence means in the trading industry, its types and its tiers, see the detailed guide.

What does that mean in practice for an Arabic-speaking trader? Traders in most of the Middle East and North Africa are most likely onboarded either to the Cypriot CySEC entity (Safecap Investments Ltd) or to the offshore BVI entity, depending on country of residence. The CySEC entity operates inside the European MiFID II framework, which brings with it the investor compensation fund (ICF), whose stated ceiling is 20,000 euros for an eligible claim. The BVI entity carries lighter regulatory obligations. Checking which entity will hold the account at the point of opening it is worthwhile. For how to verify any broker’s authorisation, read the guide to checking a trading firm’s licence.

In fairness, holding licences from three tier-one authorities (FCA, CySEC and ASIC) puts Markets.com in a stronger regulatory position than many competitors relying on offshore licences alone. That spread of authorisations reflects the group’s commitment to international regulatory standards.

Opening an Account and Verification

The account-opening process, as documented in February 2026, is direct but takes more steps than at some brokers. Initial registration starts with an email address and a password, then moves on to a profiling form covering personal and financial details and the applicant’s level of trading experience.

Identity verification (KYC) calls for proof of identity, either a passport or a national identity card, and proof of address in the form of a recent utility bill or bank statement. No target turnaround for the check is published, so the length of the wait is not quantified here; a broker such as Exness advertises verification measured in hours rather than days.

The minimum deposit is 100 dollars, or the equivalent in another currency, which is higher than at competitors allowing a start at 10 or 50 dollars. It still sits within a reasonable range for most serious traders.

Markets.com also offers a demo account (Demo) with unlimited virtual funds for 3 months, useful for anyone who wants to try the platform before risking real money. Readers new to trading who want the general mechanics of opening an account can turn to the guide on opening a trading account.

The account-opening steps, in brief:

• Visit the Markets.com website, enter an email address and create a password
• Complete the profiling form (personal and financial details, plus experience level)
• Upload the verification documents (proof of identity plus proof of address)
• Deposit the minimum (100 dollars) and choose the preferred platform

Account Types

Unlike many brokers offering several account types at different spread and commission levels, Markets.com offers just one, the standard account (Standard). That approach carries both advantages and drawbacks.

The main advantage of that approach is simplicity. There is no need to compare account types, or to worry about picking the wrong one, and every trader gets the same terms.

The drawback is the absence of raw-spread (Raw Spread) or ECN accounts, which professional traders and scalpers (Scalpers) tend to prefer. Anyone chasing the tightest spread paired with a fixed commission may find better options at brokers such as IC Markets or Pepperstone.

The professional account (Professional) is open to traders who meet specific criteria under the European ESMA rules. The principal difference is higher leverage, up to 1:300 instead of 1:30, together with the loss of some regulatory safeguards, including a waiver of negative balance protection in certain cases.

The Islamic account: This is a material weakness at Markets.com for traders in the Arab region. On the information available, the company does not offer a swap-free Islamic account. Whether trading with Markets.com is permissible depends on which religious ruling a trader follows, but the absence of an Islamic account option means overnight financing applies to every position still open when the market closes for the day. Where an Islamic account is a firm requirement, alternatives such as eToro or Exness, both of which offer one, are worth considering.

Fees and Trading Costs

Trading costs are the factor with the greatest bearing on a trader’s profitability over the long run. The published spreads across the trading day are set out below and compared with three direct competitors: eToro, Plus500 and Capital.com.

Spreads

On the rates published during February 2026, Markets.com prices on a variable spread model (Variable Spread) that tightens through high-liquidity hours and widens around news and significant economic events. The spread on EURUSD ranges from 0.6 pips at the best times to around 1.5 pips through periods of high volatility.

The table below sets out the approximate average spread on the most heavily traded instruments against three competitors. The figures are approximate, drawn from the schedules published in the first quarter of 2026 and from independent review sources.

As the table shows, the Markets.com spread sits in the middle of the field: below eToro on most currency pairs, particularly GBPUSD and gold, close to Plus500 on most instruments, but above Capital.com, which quotes appreciably tighter. The Capital.com review carries the detailed comparison.

Commissions

Markets.com charges no commission on any instrument. The cost is built entirely into the spread. That simple model means the full cost of a trade is known the moment the quoted spread is visible. As noted above, though, the absence of a raw-spread account paired with a fixed commission means active traders may pay more over time than they would on an ECN account elsewhere.

Overnight Financing Charges (Swap)

Overnight financing applies to every position still open when the market closes for the day. The charge varies by instrument, by the direction of the position, and with prevailing market interest rates. On Wednesdays the swap is charged three times over to cover the weekend. On the rates Markets.com publishes, overnight financing sits close to the industry average rather than notably high.

The absence of an Islamic account means there is no route to avoiding these charges for anyone who wants to hold a position for more than a single day.

Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

Markets.com charges nothing on deposits or withdrawals from its own side, and card deposits are credited immediately on the published terms. Worth noting, though, is the currency conversion charge of 0.6% where the deposit currency differs from the account currency, a rate above the industry average.

Inactivity Fees

This is a noticeable negative. Markets.com charges an inactivity fee of 10 dollars a month after 90 days without trading. Anyone planning a period away from the market is better off withdrawing the balance, or placing a small trade to reset the clock. The charge is similar to what brokers such as Plus500 levy, and lower than at some others.

Overall Assessment of the Fees

The Markets.com fee structure is simple and, for the most part, transparent. The absence of commissions is a clear advantage for a beginner. But the spread is not the tightest available, and the inactivity fee together with the currency conversion charge add costs that are easy to overlook. Taken as a whole, the fees sit mid-table against the competition.

Desktop Trading Platforms

Markets.com publishes a range of trading platforms covering the needs of different traders, from beginner through to professional.

The Markets.com Web Trader platform: The firm’s own platform is the strongest part of the offering. It runs straight in the browser with no software to install. The interface is clean and easy to move around, with advanced charting powered by TradingView carrying more than 100 technical indicators. It also includes sentiment analysis tools, market news and an economic calendar. One-click trading is available for quick entry into and exit from a position.

MetaTrader 4 (MT4): The most widely used platform in the forex world. It supports automated trading through expert advisors (Expert Advisors) and provides a broad set of technical indicators and charting tools. Its interface is familiar to most experienced traders. MT4 is offered on Markets.com accounts for both desktop and mobile.

MetaTrader 5 (MT5): The newer MetaTrader generation, with additional features: 21 timeframes against 9 on MT4, market depth (DOM), a built-in economic calendar and an advanced strategy tester. MT5 also supports further order types and more advanced analysis tools.

For a closer look at what each trading platform does well and badly, see the guide to the different trading platforms and how they compare.

On the published feature sets, a beginner is best served by the Web Trader platform from Markets.com for its simplicity, while advanced traders who need automated trading or custom indicators will find MT4 and MT5 a better fit.

Mobile Trading Apps

For trading from a phone, Markets.com offers an app for smartphones alongside a Social Trading app and the official MetaTrader apps. The detail on the main Markets.com app below is taken from the Android store listing as of February 2026.

The Markets.com app on Google Play carries a good store rating and more than a million downloads. The interface is clean and laid out logically: positions can be opened and closed quickly, open trades monitored, charts reviewed and the account managed, deposits and withdrawals included.

There are negatives as well. Some users in the app stores report that the app freezes occasionally during periods of high market volatility. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is also unavailable inside the app, which raises a legitimate security concern.

Anyone weighing up mobile trading who wants to set one broker’s app against another can consult the guide to the best trading apps.

Tradable Instruments

This is the strongest part of the Markets.com offering. With more than 2,200 instruments spread across 8 asset classes, the company lists one of the widest selections among contract-for-difference brokers. The categories below follow the broker’s own breakdown.

The range of CFD shares is the standout, with more than 1,837 shares drawn from 12 major markets. That comfortably exceeds what many competitors list. Plus500, for instance, lists around 2,000 shares, a comparable figure, while other competitors such as eToro offer fewer in the CFD share category specifically.

The number of forex pairs, 65 of them, is acceptable but not the highest in the industry. Forex specialists such as OANDA or Saxo list more than 100 pairs. The commodity range (28 commodities) and the index range (38 indices) are both good and cover most of the main markets.

The Blends feature, a set of thematic portfolios, allows a group of shares inside one sector or theme, technology or renewable energy for instance, to be traded in a single position. The idea is close to an exchange-traded fund but with more flexibility. Readers interested in learning to analyse the markets can consult the guide to financial analysis and its tools.

Order Execution

Markets.com advertises execution in as little as 0.35 milliseconds. That figure comes from the company itself, no independent measurement of it exists, and none is asserted here. What can be set out is the execution model the firm runs and the order types its platforms support.

On slippage (Slippage), no figure is published by the broker and none is asserted here. Slippage on the major pairs is a function of liquidity and of volatility around scheduled economic releases, American data in particular. It is the firm’s order-execution policy, rather than any measurement, that governs how far a filled price may differ from the price requested.

Markets.com operates a market maker model (Market Maker), which means the company is the counterparty to a client’s trades. That model brings advantages such as fast execution and stable pricing, though some traders prefer ECN or STP models where orders pass directly to liquidity providers. Being a market maker does not in itself imply a conflict of interest, particularly for an entity supervised by strict authorities such as FCA and CySEC.

The order types available include immediate market orders and pending orders (Buy Limit, Sell Limit, Buy Stop and Sell Stop), stop loss, take profit and the trailing order (Trailing Stop). On MT4 and MT5 further order types are available, such as Buy Stop Limit and Sell Stop Limit.

Deposit Methods

Markets.com offers a set of deposit methods covering the basic needs of traders in the Arab region, though the choice is narrower than at some competitors. On the published terms, a card deposit is credited immediately.

The positive point is that every deposit method is free from Markets.com’s side. The currency conversion charge of 0.6% does need watching where a deposit is made in a currency other than the account currency. On an account denominated in American dollars and funded in Saudi riyals by credit card, for example, the bank’s own conversion charge applies on top of the 0.6% from Markets.com.

On the published processing times, a bank card deposit is the fastest and most direct route. E-wallets (Skrill and Neteller) are a good option too for anyone who prefers not to use a bank card directly.

Withdrawal Methods

The withdrawal routes at Markets.com mirror the deposit list, with funds returned by the same method used for the original deposit, in order to comply with anti-money-laundering rules. A withdrawal is requested from the account dashboard.

Can money be withdrawn from Markets.com, and what about the withdrawal problems? This is one of the most frequent queries when this broker is searched for. No withdrawal has been made from an account for this review, so no timing is asserted here. On the terms published in February 2026, a card withdrawal is returned to the same card, while an e-wallet route such as Skrill is the quicker one. The published processing windows and fees appear in the table below.

The complaints that surface from time to time in the forums about withdrawal problems at Markets.com mostly concern accounts where identity verification was incomplete, or attempts to withdraw by a method other than the one used to deposit. For a fully verified account using the same payment method, no evidence of a systemic withdrawal problem appears in the public record.

Customer Support

Support at this broker runs mainly in English, since the Arabic cover is limited. The channels the company publishes, the languages each of them handles and the response targets it states are set out below, as they stood in February 2026.

Live Chat: Live chat is the broker’s primary support route, reachable from the public site and from the client area. It publishes no target response time, and reply speed and answer quality are not assessed here. Arabic cover on the channel is limited.

Telephone support: Published as available Monday to Friday around the clock (24/5). Answer times on the line are not assessed here, but having a direct telephone route at all is an advantage over brokers that offer none.

Email: An email address is published for written enquiries, including questions about the account types on offer. No target response time is published for email, and reply times are not assessed here.

The principal drawback is the limited Arabic-language cover. The site advertises multilingual support, but Arabic does not reach the standard set by brokers such as Exness or XM, which run full Arabic desks around the clock. That matters for Arabic-speaking traders who would rather deal in a first language, particularly in an urgent situation.

Research and Educational Material

The educational and research material Markets.com publishes sits in the middle of the field. It is varied and covers a wide range of subjects, but it lacks depth in some areas.

Educational content: The site carries a learning centre with articles, videos and courses covering trading basics, technical analysis, risk management and trading strategies. The material suits beginners and intermediate traders. As reviewed in February 2026, a large share of it is in English, with limited Arabic translation.

Daily analysis: Markets.com publishes daily and weekly market commentary covering the significant economic events and their effect on the markets. The platform also runs live video sessions with the company’s own experts and guest analysts setting out their view of the markets.

Analysis tools: The Web Trader platform includes market sentiment tools (Sentiment Analysis) showing the proportion of traders buying against those selling on each instrument. Fundamental analysis tools and technical indicators built into the charts are available as well.

The economic calendar: Built into the platform, listing upcoming economic events with forecasts and previous figures. A useful tool for anyone trading on news and economic data.

Overall, the educational and research material at Markets.com is above average for a broker in this bracket, though it does not reach the depth and coverage of brokers such as IG or Saxo. The Arabic content is limited, which is a weak point for an Arabic-speaking trader.

Fund Safety and Safeguards

Fund safety is among the most important factors in choosing a brokerage, particularly in a market carrying this level of risk. On the policies Markets.com published in February 2026, the safeguards operate in several layers that differ by regulated entity.

Client money segregation: Markets.com states that client money is held in bank accounts separate from the company’s own operating funds. That separation is required by every regulator supervising the company (CySEC, FCA, ASIC and FSCA), though the intensity of oversight on how it is carried out differs from one authority to another.

Negative balance protection: Applied by the CySEC and FCA entities under the ESMA rules, so an account held with either cannot fall below zero. It matters most where leverage is in use.

Compensation arrangements:

• The FCA entity falls within the statutory financial services compensation arrangements that apply to authorised firms in its jurisdiction
• The Cypriot CySEC entity falls within the investor compensation fund (ICF), whose stated ceiling is 20,000 euros
• The ASIC and FSCA entities have local protection arrangements of their own
• The BVI entity has no comparable state compensation scheme

Institutional oversight: Markets.com forming part of the Finalto group, itself a subsidiary of Playtech and listed on the London Stock Exchange, adds a further layer of transparency. Companies listed there face strict financial disclosure requirements and regular independent audit.

In summary on fund safety: Markets.com is well placed on regulatory supervision against many competitors, particularly for an account held with the CySEC or FCA entity. Three tier-one authorities, plus membership of a group listed on the London Stock Exchange, amount to a reasonable backstop. Checking which entity will hold the account at the point of opening it remains important.

Conclusion

On its published terms and its regulatory record as they stood in the first quarter of 2026, Markets.com is a licensed and credible broker offering a straightforward trading experience across a wide instrument range, with several material drawbacks that an Arabic-speaking trader in particular needs to weigh.

Who Markets.com suits:

• Traders who want a wide range of more than 2,200 instruments from a single platform
• Beginners who want a simple interface and clear, commission-free pricing
• Anyone who values supervision by several authorities (FCA, CySEC and ASIC)
• CFD share traders who need access to shares from several international markets

Who it may not suit:

• Muslim traders who need a swap-free Islamic account, which is not offered
• Scalpers and active traders looking for a raw spread with a fixed commission, given the single account type
• Anyone who needs full Arabic-language support around the clock
• Traders who do not intend to deal regularly, given the inactivity fee of 10 dollars a month

Addressing the common concerns:

On the question “is Markets.com a scam or a fraud?” that recurs in Arabic-language search: on the registers, the answer is no. The company holds licences from four established authorities, belongs to a group listed on the London Stock Exchange, and has operated since 2008. That does not mean every dealing with the company will go smoothly. 72.4% of retail client accounts lose money trading contracts for difference, and that is a fact every trader should keep in mind. For more on telling a trustworthy firm from a fraudulent one, read the guide to fraud in the trading market.

On “is Markets.com banned in Saudi Arabia?” there is no formal prohibition from the Saudi Capital Market Authority (CMA) on dealing with Markets.com. The company is not licensed locally in Saudi Arabia, though. Trading with international brokers authorised by foreign regulators is common practice in the region, but it sits outside the local regulatory framework.

Taken as a whole, this is a solid broker with a wide instrument range, supervision by strong regulators and an easy platform. But the absence of an Islamic account, the single account type and the limited Arabic support narrow its appeal for a trader in the Arab region. Only one rating per broker is published on this site, and it is derived from the weights set out in the rating methodology rather than stated in the body copy. Comparing against other options on the broker reviews page is worthwhile before deciding.

Related reviews on this site: NAGA.